>>> COMPLETES PREPARE FOR A SECOND. LET ME JUST IN THIS MOMENT ASK YOU A QUESTION. BEFORE WE GO ANY FURTHER TODAY. IS THERE A STRONGHOLD MAYBE IN YOUR LIFE, SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN JUST RIPPING THE CIRCUMSTANCES AROUND YOU, HAS BEEN CAPTURING YOUR MIND, SOMETHING THAT IS LIKE THE LAST THING THAT IS ON YOUR MIND WHEN YOU FALL ASLEEP, THE FIRST THING YOU THINK ABOUT WHEN YOU WAKE UP, MAYBE IT'S A TEMPTATION IN YOUR LIFE THAT SEEMS TO BE WINNING IN THIS PARTICULAR SEASON. IT SEEMS LIKE YOU'RE TRYING TO BATTLE THE ITEMS, BUT THE ITEMS KEEPS PUNCHING YOU OUT. THERE MIGHT BE UNCERTAINTY IN YOUR LIFE, THE LIFE OF SOMEONE YOU LOVE. THEY HEARD THE CANCER IS BACK, YOU LOVE THAT PERSON, YOU'RE SLEEPING LAST NIGHT, WHAT DOES THAT LOCAL IN THE LIFE OF MY MOM, THE LIFE OF MY GRANDPARENT, MAYBE IT'S A STRONGHOLD IN YOUR LIFE JUST NOT KNOWING WHAT TOMORROW IS GOING TO LOOKS LIKE IN THIS PANDEMIC SEASON FOR YOUR DAD AND HIS JOB. I DON'T KNOW, WE COULD TROUBLESHOOT ALL DAY LONG. IT COULD BE JUST WHATEVER IT IS. THERE'S A-- IF THERE'S A STRONGHOLD OR A MOMENT OR SOMETHING THAT SEEMS BIGGER THAN YOU, I WANT US TO JUST IF WE COULD TO SPEAK THE NAME OF JESUS OVER IT, UNDER IT, ALL AROUND IT, AMEN. SO JUST -- WOULD YOU JUST RIGHT NOW IF YOU'RE VISITING US FOR CFAW, WE'RE SO GLAD YOU'RE HERE. THE BIGGER PICTURE IS THAT YOU WON'T SEE LIBERTY, YOU'D SEE JESUS. THAT IS THE NAME THAT CAN GIVE YOU HOPE, WHATEVER THE MOUNTAIN IS. WHATEVER YOUR DEALING WITH IT'S REAL, IT'S BIG, BUT IT'S NOT BIGGER THAN JESUS. IF YOU COULD RIGHT NOW BRING WHATEVER IT BEFOREHAND. JESUS YOUR PROPHET, JESUS YOUR PRIEST, JESUS YOUR KING, JESUS YOUR REOPENED DOOR, THE LAMB THAT WAS SLAIN, JESUS, YOU'RE THE GOOD SHEPHERD, JESUS, YOU'RE POWER, JESUS YOU'RE GENTLENESS. YOU'RE LIVING WATER, JESUS, TO A THIRSTY SOUL. YOU'RE THE CHAIN BREAKER. STRONG HOLDS HAVE NO POWER OVER YOU. WE SPEAK YOUR NAME, JESUS, NOT JUST SAVING POWER, BUT REDEEMING POWER. SUSTAINING POWER, SANCTIFYING POWER, GLORIFYING POWER, JESUS. HONEY ON OUR LIPS, JESUS, YOUR NAME OVER EVERYTHING, YOUR NAME OVER OUR MARRIAGE, OUR FRIENDSHIPS, OUR FINANCES, WHATEVER COLLEGE WE GO TO, YOUR NAME ON EVERY SINGLE FACET OF OUR LIFE, WE JUST SPEAK YOUR NAME. JUST IF YOU WOULD RIGHT NOW JUST SAY HIS NAME. JESUS. YOU'RE EVERYTHING, JESUS. EVERYTHING ELSE IS A DISTANT SECOND TO YOU, JESUS. COME ON, LET'S SING THAT FOR US ONE MORE TIME. >> WE THANK YOU, REDEEMER, HOW YOU SET US FREE, THE NAME OF JESUS WOULD NOT BE THE NAME THAT COVERS US, BUT THE NAME THAT WE PROCLAIM. THAT JESUS WOULD BE NOT JUST ON OUR LIPS AS IT AFFECTS OUR OWN LIFE, BUT THAT WE WOULD SPEAK JESUS OVER THE NAME OF OTHERS AND THAT PEOPLE WOULD VIBRANCY US, THEY WOULD SEE THE WAYS IN JESUS, THE TRUTH OF JESUS, THE LIFE OF JESUS COMING OUT OF OUR LIPS. THIS COMES TO YOU, GOD. WE PRAY THIS IN YOUR NAME, AMEN. AS YOU'RE HAVING A SEAT CAN WE THANK THE WORSHIP COLLECTIVE FOR LEADING US TODAY. [ APPLAUSE ] >> HOW ARE YOU TODAY? ARE YOU DOING WELL? MY NAME IS DAVID HERE, BY THE WAY, I'M THE CAMPUS PASTOR. WELCOME TO ALL OF OUR CFAW COLLEGE GUESTS. FROM WHAT I'M TOLD WE'RE REPRESENTING MULTIPLE NATIONS THIS PARTICULAR CFAW. WE JUST WANT YOU TO FEEL AT HOME. I CANNOT TELL YOU MORE GENUINELY THAT YOU HAVE COME TO ONE OF THE MOST HOSPITABLE PLACES ON ON THE PLANET. IF YOU'RE WALKING AROUND THE CAMPUS, ALL THESE BRICK BUILDINGS, LOOK THE SAME, THE NEXT PERSON YOU SEE WILL STOP, MAKE YOU FEEL WELCOME, ASK YOU IF YOU'RE LOST. IF YOU SENSE SOMETHING IS SPECIAL AROUND HERE IT'S NOT THE $600 MILLION WORTH OF INSTRUCTION IN FIVE YEARS. EVERYTHING LOOKS COOL AND NEW. IT'S NOT NECESSARILY THE BUILDINGS OR THE WAY THIS PLACE IS LAID OUT. IT'S CHRIST, IT'S HIS PRESENCE IN THE LIFE OF PEOPLE, SO I HOPE MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE THAT YOU'LL BE IMPRESSED WITH HIS SPIRIT IN AND THROUGH THE LIFE OF PEOPLE. YOU MIGHT NOT CHOOSE LIBERTY AS YOUR SCHOOL. I THINK YOU SHOULD, MY OWN KIDS GO HERE, BUT IF YOU DON'T, WE WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT WE FOUND THIS WEEKEND TO BE HOPEFULLY A SPIRIT TO MINISTER TO YOU. TODAY WILL BE NO EXCEPTION TO THAT JOINING US FOR CONVO. THERE ARE ABOUT 150 OF YOU IN THIS ROOM, BUT THOSE OF YOU NOT IN THIS ROOM AND YOU'RE WATCHING VIA LIVE STREAM, AGAIN, JUST FEEL AS THOUGH, ALL RIGHT, YOU CAN JUST TAKE, ADVANTAGE, ALL RIGHT, OF EVERYONE THAT IS HERE BECAUSE OUR JOB IS TO MAKE YOU FEEL AT HOME WHILE YOU'RE HOME. YOU ALSO HAPPEN TO BE HERE ON A SPECIAL DAY FOR US IN THE SENSE THAT WE HAPPEN TO HAVE THIS WEEK HAD OUR STUDENT GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION ELECTIONS, WE HAVE A BRAND-NEW PRESIDENT AND BRAND-NEW HAVEN'T. I'VE ASKED OUR CURRENT VICE PRESIDENT AND PRESIDENT TO COME UP WITH OUR BRAND-NEW VICE PRESIDENT AND PRESIDENT. I WANTED TO HONOR JOEL AND CONSTANCE. THEY ARE INCREDIBLE LEADERS. GETTING TO KNOW YOU, CONSTANCE, AS A STUDENT, AND REALLY OUR VERY FIRST FEMALE PRESIDENT, AND GETTING TO KNOW YOU, JOEL, HAS BEEN A GIFT IN MY LIFE AND JENNIFER'S LIFE. THANK YOU. BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO THE NEXT SEASON, WE HAVE A LOT OF -- A LOT TO CELEBRATE. I WANT TO US PAUSE A SECOND. THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU HAVE DONE. YOU HAVE LED WELL, YOU HAVE SERVED WELL. WELL DONE, GOOD AND FAITH SERVANTS. CAN WE THANK THEM? [ APPLAUSE ] >> I LOVE YOU BOTH. YOU HAVE DONE SUCH A GOOD JOB. I WANT YOU TO INTRODUCE THEM. >> THIS IS EVAN AND JESS. THE ELECTIONS WERE THIS PAST WEDNESDAY AND THEY WON. SO WE'RE JUST REALLY EXCITED TO WALK WITH THIS IN THIS SEASON, HELP THEM TRANSITION, TEACH THEM EVERYTHING THEY'VE LEARNED, OBVIOUSLY WALKING IN PRAYER WITH THEM, TOO. >> IF YOU DON'T MIND, WHY DON'T WE PUT OUR HANDS TOWARDS OUR NEW PRESIDENT AND NEW VICE PRESIDENT. LET'S PRAY OVER THEM. >> FATHER, THANK YOU, SO MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY JUST TO BE HERE. THANK YOU, SO MUCH FOR THE CFAW VISITORS THAT ARE HERE AS WELL. BE WITH THEM AND BLESS THEM. WAY FOR JESS AS THE INCOMING VICE PRESIDENT ELECTRIC. PRAY THAT YOUR SPIRIT IS BEAUTIFUL, GIVE THEM YOUR PEACE, THEIR IDENTITY WOULD BE SET IN YOU IN TERMS OF BUILDING THEIR PERSONAL KINGDOM. I PRAY THAT WE WOULD BE FOCUSED ON THE BINGER KINGDOM OF YOU, BUILDING YOUR KINGDOM, GOD, ABOVE EVERYTHING ELSE. WE PRAY FOR WISDOM AND DISCERNMENT, THAT THEY WOULD KNOW THAT THEY ARE AT ALL TIMES YOUR SON AND YOUR DAUGHTER, AND THAT'S THE ONLY TITLE THAT MATTERS, GOD. IT'S THE WAY THAT YOU SEE US. SO I JUST PRAY FOR THEM IN THE WE'RE 2021 AND 2022, YOU INCREASE THE BURDENS IN THEIR HEART TO CARE FOR MORE PEOPLE AND GIVE THEM THE CONFIDENCE AND WISDOM TO DO THAT. WE THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY IN JESUS' NAME. >> GOD, I PRAY FOR EVAN, I PRAY THAT YOU WOULD GO BEFORE HIM AND BEHIND HIM. RENEW YOURSELF TO THEM AS YOU HAVE TO US THIS YEAR. I THANK YOU FOR HOW GOOD YOU'VE BEEN THIS PAST YEAR, LORD. PRAY THAT YOU INCREASE THAT TENFOLD THE NEXT YEAR. LEAD THEM INTO UNDERSTANDING THAT THEIR ROLE IS REALLY TO REPRESENT EVERY STUDENT HERE, GOD. THAT YOU WOULD LEAD THEM IN' ALLOWING EVERY STUDENT TO -- I PRAY THAT YOUR SPIRIT WOULD MOVE THEM IN MEETINGS, LORD, WITH STUDENTS AND ADMINISTRATORS, THAT YOU ALLOW THEM TO BE WISE SERVANTS. I THANK YOU FOR THE BLESSING -- THAT YOU WOULD DO ABUNDANTLY MORE FOR THE STUDENTS THAN THEY COULD EVER IMAGINE AS YOU HAVE FOR US, GOD. I THANK YOU FOR THE LEADERS THEY ALREADY ARE. THIS NEXT WILL BE -- NOT JUST FOR THEM, BUT THE STUDENT BODY, TOO. I CALL EVERY STUDENT TO LOOK AT THEM NOT AS LEADERS, BUT AS PEERS. EVERY SINGLE STUDENT NO MATTER, WHERE THEY'RE FROM, WHAT THEY LOOKS LIKE, WHAT THEY'RE STUDYING, I PRAY THEY'LL HAVE A PLACE IN OUR SCHOOL, THEY FEEL LIKE THEY'RE PART OF THAT CONVERSATION, LIKE THEY HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE. I JUST THANK YOU, LORD, FOR BEING SO GOOD. I PRAY FOR THIS WEEKEND THAT EVERY STUDENT WOULD SEE YOUR FACE AND EVERY PERSON THEY MEET. I THANK YOU, THEY'RE EVEN HERE IN THE FIRST PLACE, LORD. >> WHILE WE'RE PRAYING IT MADE ME THINK ABOUT THE PRAYER WALK. YOU ARE RESCHEDULING THAT BECAUSE OF WEATHER? >> YES. THAT IS POSTPONED TO MAY 1 AT 10 A.M. WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY AS STUDENTS TO PRAY FOR REALLY THE FUTURE, PAST, PRESENT OF OUR SCHOOL. >> [ INDISCERNIBLE ]. >> THANK THEM AGAIN. CONGRATULATIONS, GUYS. I GOT A LOT OF ANNOUNCEMENTS. SORRY. SERVE LYNCHBURG IS COMING UP NEXT, WEEKEND, AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO SERVE OUR CITY AND COUNTY. THERE ARE ABOUT 1,000 PEOPLE SIGNED UP. WE STILL HAVE SOME REMAINING SPOTS. STUDENTS, SIGN UP FOR THAT, A GREAT OPPORTUNITY ON FRIDAY AND SATURDAY FOR US TO WALK INTO ALL THESE DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITIES TO JUST SERVE PEOPLE IN OUR CITY, SO IT'S A BIG DEAL FOR US, OUR FACULTY AND OUR STAFF ARE GOING TO BE JOINING AS WELL, I'LL BE GOING AROUND TO THE DIFFERENT SERVE SITES TO ENCOURAGE YOU, BRING A BOTTLE OF WATER TO YOU AND CHAMPION YOU AND CHEER YOU ON. COME AND BE A PART OF THAT IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY SIGNED UP. ALSO WANT TO REMIND YOU THAT NEXT WEEK WE'RE HOSTING AFRICAN-AMERICAN LEADERSHIP FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD THAT ARE COMING, AND THEN AFRICAN LEADERS THAT ARE COMING LITERALLY HEADS OF STATE AND PRESIDENTS FROM OUR NATIONS ARE GOING TO BE HERE NEXT WEEK AND THEY'RE GOING TO BE WALKING AROUND CAMPUS. BE MINDFUL OF THAT. IF YOU SEE A BIG OWNTURE ROGER OF PEOPLE AND THEY'RE GETTING ON THE ELEVATOR, ALL OF A SUDDEN IT SLOWS EVERYTHING DOWN, BE GRACIOUS AND PATIENT AS WE JUST AGAIN HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO HOST THESE GREAT MEN AND GREAT WOMEN. WHAT AN HONOR WE GET TO DO THAT AS THEY'RE WITH US NEXT WEEK. ALL OF THESE PRESIDENTS AND ALL THESE HEADS OF STATE, THEY'RE ALL GOING TO HAVE BODY GUARDS WITH THEM AND THEY'RE GOING TO NEED US TO BE PATIENT AS WE DOVETAIL WHAT IS HAPPENING RIGHT THERE AND WITH WHAT IS GOING ON ON A REGULAR CLASS SCHEDULE. WHAT A GIFT THAT WE GET TO BE A PART OF THAT. ONE LAST THING BEFORE I INTRODUCE OUR GUEST. I ANNOUNCED TWO DAYS AGO THAT THIS IS MY LAST SEMESTER. JENNIFER AND I'S LAST SEMESTER AT CAMPUS PASTOR HERE. WE LOVE YOU. IT HAS BEEN SUCH AN HONOR TO BE ABLE TO SERVE ALONGSIDE YOU. WE'RE GOING TO NASHVILLE TO BE A PART OF A NONPROFIT THAT I'LL TELL YOU MORE ABOUT IN THE COMING TIME, BUT WHEN I WALK OFF STAGE ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT I HAD 740 TEXTS. JUST OVERWHELMING. TO JUST HEAR SOME KINDNESS AND SO MANY PRAYERS AND WISHES. JUST ON BEHALF OF JENNIFER AND I, WE'RE SO THANKFUL FOR THE WAY YOU'VE BEEN LIFTING US UP IN THIS APPEARED OF TRANSITION. NO REASON TO FUNNY LIES IT. I'LL BE BACK TO PREACH AT CONVO AND CAMPUS COMMUNITY AND ALWAYS BE A PART OF LIBERTY. MY OWN DAUGHTER WILL BE HERE AT LIBERTY AS WELL NEXT SEMI PERFECT. OUR SPECIAL GUEST IS DR. SCOTT SAULS. IF YOU DON'T KNOW HIM, YOU'RE GOING TO LOVE HIM TODAY, YOU'RE GOING TO GRAB ONE OF HIS BOOKS, GOOGLE HIS NAME, WATCH HIS SERMONS AND HIS CONVERSATIONS. HE REALLY IS TO ME ONE OF THE GREAT PEACE MAKERS OF OUR TIME. THE FIRST TIME WE WERE TOGETHER UTAH PASTOR'S GATHERING HE BEGAN TO SHARE HIS HEART ABOUT JUST THE WAY THAT WE CAN DISAGREE WELL AS BELIEVERS, HOW WE CAN HOLD PEOPLE WITH DIGNITY IF THEY'RE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE, THAT WE CAN VALUE ONE ANOTHER, WE CAN DISAGREE WITHOUT BEING RESPECTFUL. IMMEDIATELY IN MY SPIRIT THERE WAS SUCH AN AFTER FISSURE MAKES THAT HE NEEDS TO BE IN FRONT OF US AND TALK TO US IN THESE VERY VOLATILE TIMES, VERY UNSTABLE TIMES ABOUT OUR GROUNDING IN CHRIST, ALLOWING US TO LOVE EVERY SINGLE PERSON BECAUSE IF THEY'RE VALUABLE TO GOD, THEY'RE VALUABLE TO US. HE'S A PASTOR IN NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE. GOD HAS REALLY BLESSED THIS CHURCH. CHRIST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. I CAN'T WAIT FOR YOU TO HEAR MORE ABOUT HIM TODAY. PUT YOUR HANDS TOGETHER FOR DR. SAULS SAWS, PASTOR. THANKS, EVERYBODY. >> WELL HELLO TO LIBERTY UNIVERSITY. I'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO VISIT HERE. MY WIFE PATTY AND I, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE'VE EVER SET FOOT ON LIBERTY'S CAMPUS. GRATEFUL, PASTOR DAVID, FOR THE GENEROUS INVITATION AND THE GENEROUS INTRODUCTION, AND ABSOLUTELY, THIS HAS BEEN AN INCREDIBLY HOSPITABLE CAMPUS FOR US FOR THE BRIEF TIME WE'VE BEEN HERE. ALSO, FUN RUNNING INTO SOME PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS IN THE HOTEL. THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE MAYBE CONSIDERING LIBERTY, WHO ENCOURAGED BY YOUR VISIT AS WELL. WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO IS START JUST BY NAMING THE OBJECT JUST ABOUT THE YEAR -- OBVIOUS ABOUT THE YEAR BEHIND US, JUST 2020. I CAME UPON A MEME. IT'S A HANDFUL OF JOHNNY ON THE SPOTS AT A CONSTRUCTION SITE AND THEY'RE ALL ON FIRE AND THE CAPITOL SHUN SAYS IF 2020 WERE A SURRENDERED CANDLE, THIS IS WHAT IT WOULD LOOKS LIKE. IT WAS A ROUGH YEAR. WORDS THAT COME TO MIND, IF THERE ARE CANDIDATES FOR WORD OF THE YEAR, MAYBE POLARIZED, TRIBE LIESED, RARE LIESED, POLITICAL-SIZED, OUTRAGED, FILLED WITH CONTEMPT, US AGAINST THEM, AND, OF COURSE, EVERYONE'S FAVORITE WORD, UNPRECEDENTED. I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT I'M REALLY EXCITED TO GET BACK TO PRESS DENTALLED TIMES, RIGHT? LET'S JUST PAUSE FOR A SECOND AND ASK OURSELVES HONESTLY WITH THESE UNPRECEDENTED TIMES BECAUSE IF WE GO ALL THE WAY BACK TO THE BEGINNING IN GENESIS CHAPTER THREE WHEN MAN AND WOMAN, ADAM AND EVE, THE WHOLE HUMAN RACE AT THAT TIME DECIDED TO GO INDEPENDENT FROM GOD, IMMEDIATELY THEY STARTED TURNING ON EACH OTHER AND THEY STARTED TURNING ON GOD. YOU GO TO THE NEXT CHAPTER, CHAPTER 4, YOU GOT ONE BROTHER TURNING AGAINST ANOTHER BROTHER BECAUSE HE'S JEALOUS. WE GET HISTORY'S FIRST MURDER WHEN CANE MURDERS ABLE. IT'S BEEN LIKE THAT EVER SINCE. THIS IS TOGETHER EASY TO MISS, WHERE IT'S COMFORTABLE AND CELEBRATED TO BE A PERSON OF FAITH. SOMETIMES WE MISS THE REALITY THAT EXCEPT FOR A HANDFUL OF BOOKS, THE SONG OF SOLOMON, WHICH IS IN ITS OWN CATEGORY, PROVERBS, WHICH IS ALSO IN ITS OWN CATEGORY, AND ECCLESIASTES, WHICH WAS WRITTEN BY A WEALTHY, MISERABLE MAN,, BESIDES THOSE BOOKS, EVERY OTHER BOOK IN THE BIBLE WAS WRITTEN TO US BY SOMEBODY AS THEY WERE WRITING WHO WAS A SLAVE, A PRISONER, SEEKING ASYLUM, UNDER PERSECUTION, AWAITING THEIR OWN DEATH. THE SCRIPTURES, THE GRACE AND TRUTH THAT WE GET IT IN 66 BOOKS OF THE BIBLE, THE STORY OF CHRIST, THE HOPE OF CHRIST, IT ALL IS BIRTHED TO US IN A BOOK BRIN BY SUFFERERS. LEADS LEADS ME THAT MY PANDEMIC EXPERIENCE IS WHAT PARADISE MUST LOOKS LIKE FOR MOST OF THE WORLD TODAY AND ALSO FOR MOST PEOPLE WHO HAVE EVER LIVED AND ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE WHO GAVE US THE BIBLE. EVEN THOUGH IT'S BEEN VERY HARD, AND I DON'T WANT TO MINIMIZE HOW HARD THE PANDEMIC HAS BEEN FOR EVERYBODY, BUT TO PUT IT INTO PERSPECTIVE, THESE THINGS AREN'T UNPRECEDENTED. IT IS IN THE HUMAN HEART TO GO ON THE ATTACK, TO RAGE AND OUTRAGE AND SELF-DEFEND AND DEMAND OUR RIGHTS AND MAYBE EVEN TRAM PELL ON THE RIGHTS OF OTHER PEOPLE AS WE DO THAT. IT'S IN THE HUMAN HEARTED. AND SO ALONG COME TWO WELL-KNOWN PEOPLE IN THE PAST COUPLE YEARS TO COUNTER THIS OUTRAGEOUS ENVIRONMENT THAT WE'RE IN. ONE IS TED LASSO. HAS ANYBODY HEARD OF HIM? IF YOU'VE HEARD OF THAT SHOW. IT'S THIS FICTITIOUS, KIND HEARTED GUY WHO JUST SEES THE BEST IN EVERYBODY. AND THEN ANOTHER PERSON IS A REAL PERSON NAMED FRED RODGERS, WHO HELPED RAISE ME AND WHO HELPED RAISE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO GREW UP IN MY GENERATION. HE WAS THE LEAD PERSON ON A SHOW FOR CHILDREN ON THE PUBLIC BROADCASTING SYSTEM CALLED MR. RODGERS NEIGHBORHOOD. HE HAS BECOME WILDLY POPULAR AGAIN AND HE HAS EMBODIED A COUPLE OF SCRIPTURE THURSDAY THAT I'D LIKE TO ESPECIALLY FOCUS ON TODAY IN HIS LIFE AND IN THE WAY HE TREATED PEOPLE. ONE IS PROVERBS CHAPTER 15, VERSE 1, WHERE IT SAYS A GENTLE ANSWER TURNS AWAY WRATH. HOW HUNGRY, HOW THIRST YOU ARE WE FOR A GENTLE ANSWER. IT'S ALMOST AS IF WE'VE FORGOTTEN WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE IN A POLARIZED CLIMATE. THE OTHER ONE IS JESUS' EIGHTH IM STATEMENT, IF YOU'RE A BIBLE READER, YOU MAY BE FAMILIAR WITH THE SEVEN I AM STATEMENTS JESUS MAKES IN JOHN'S GOSPEL. I'M THE RESURRECTION, THE WAY AND IT THROUGH OF LIFE, THE VINE, SEVEN I AM STATEMENTS, BUT MAT YOU'S GOSPEL GIVES US AN EIGHTH, WHERE JESUS SAYS I AM GENTLE AND HUMBLE IN HEART. HE SAYS TO ME COME -- HE SAYS TO US COME TO ME ALL WHO ARE WEARY AND BURDENED AND I WILL GIVE YOU REST FOR I AM GENTLE AND HUMBLE IN HEART AND YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. SO LET'S TALK ABOUT MR. RODGERS AND HOW MR. RODGERS AS ALL KIND HEARTED PEOPLE CAN BE, IS A PICTURE OF WHAT CHRIST IS TO ALL OF US. HE WAS KIND. HIS FAVORITE WORDS WERE, I LIKE YOU. AND PLEASE, WON'T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR. HE WAS NERDY, CAD AGAIN SWEATER WEARING, SOFT SPOKEN, WIRY GUY WHO RAN THIS INCREDIBLY POPULAR LOW BUDGET SHOW FOR CHILDREN. AND HE'S RECENTLY REEMERGED AS AN ICON IN AMERICAN CULTURE. A FEW YEARS AGO THERE WAS A DOCUMENTARY THAT WAS RELEASED ABOUT HIS LIFE, AND IT WAS INCREDIBLY POPULAR. WENT VIRAL. PEOPLE ARE SOME DRAWN TO HIS GENTLENESS. HOLLYWOOD DECIDED TO DO A MOVIE ABOUT HIM AND TOM HANKS TOOK THE PART OF FRED RODGERS. WHEN TOM HANKS TAKES THE PART, IT MEANS THERE'S SOMETHING GOING ON. AND THAT WAS A HOLLYWOOD BLOCKBUSTER AS WELL. I THINK THAT THE RENEWED POPULARITY OF FRED RODGERS IS AN INDICATOR OF HOW PEOPLE ARE REALLY FEELING ABOUT THE CLIMATE THAT WE ARE IN RIGHT NOW. I THINK PEOPLE ARE FEELING ANXIOUS, RESTLESS, SCARED, DISCOURAGED, TIRED, ESPECIALLY OF ALL THE BIGGERRING, OF ALL THE INFIGHT FIGHTING, OF ALL THE US AGAINST THEM, I THINK PEOPLE ARE EXHAUSTED. I THINK THERE'S A QUIET MAJORITY THAT CONTRACT TRACE THE KIND OF KINDNESS THAT MR. RODGERS REPRESENTED AND THAT JESUS CALLED HIS OWN IDENTITY, I AM GENTLE, I AM HUMBLE IN MY HEART, I'M A REST GIVER. IF YOU'VE EVER SEEN THE MOVIE "WONDER," YOU MIGHT REMEMBER THE CONCLUSION THAT THE PRO TAGGIST DREW AT THE END OF THE FILM. AFTER HE'S ENCOUNTERED EVERY KIND OF STUDENT IN HIS SCHOOL. FILLED WITH SHARKS AND-MINUTE KNOWS, FILLED WITH PEOPLE -- WHO ARE TREATING EACH OTHER POORLY. WITH THE QUITE KIDS, NERDY KIDS, KIDS WHO DROP OUT, TAKE DRUGS, GET INVOLVED WITH ALL KINDS OF SELF-DESTRUCTIVE THINGS, HE INTERACTION WITH EVERYBODY AND HIS CONCLUSION IS THIS, BE KIND. BECAUSE EVERY PERSON YOU MEET IS FIGHTING A HARD, HIDDEN BATTLE. AND SO BACK TO MR. RODGERS, HE'S WHAT I'VE CALLED THE ANTI-2020. KIND, HARM, SAFE, APPROACHABLE, FRIENDLY, LOVING, GENTLE. HE HAD THIS REPUTATION FOR TREATING EVERY KIND OF PERSON WITH DIGNITY. HE OFTEN GOT CRITICIZED FOR TREATING CERTAIN OUTSIDER GROUPS AND OUTSIDER PEOPLE WITH INCREDIBLE DIGNITY. HE TRIED TO SAY WORDS AS OFTEN AS HE COULD, I LIKE YOU. I LIKE YOU. THE BIBLE TALKS ABOUT BEING THE AROMA OF CHRIST IN THE WORLD. TO ACTUALLY GO OUT AND TRY IN A SORT OF SYMBOLIC WAY TO SMELL CHRIST. TO POSTURE OURSELVES IN SUCH A WAY THAT PEOPLE WHO KNOW WHO CHRIST IS RECOGNIZE SOMETHING OF HIM IN AND AROUND AND ABOUT US. THE BIBLE SAYS THERE ARE ESPECIALLY TWO THINGS THAT SUMMARIZE THE ARROW MA OF CHRIST. HE'S FULL OF GRACE, SIN ACTUALNESS, CERTAINLY FITS UNDER THAT CATEGORY AND HE'S FULL OF TRUTH. I KNOW BOTH OF THOSE. MAJOR EMPHASIS AMONG LIBERTY STUDENTS AND FACULTY ESPECIALLY UNDER PASTOR DAVID'S LEADERSHIP. AND SO WHAT MIGHT BE SURPRISING TO KNOW IS THE ENERGY BEHIND MR. RODGERS GENTLENESS AND KINDNESS WAS ANGER. WAS ANGER. PASTOR DAVID MENTIONED -- I ACTUALLY HAVE A FEW BOOKS OUT, MY LATEST PROJECT IS "A GENTLE ANSWER," AND WHAT I -- WHEN I GET INTO CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THIS PROJECT, PEOPLE WHO HAVE READ THE TABLE OF CONTENTS, BUT HAVE NOT READ THE BOOK YET ARE SURPRISED, ESPECIALLY BY THE TITLE OF CHAPTER 5, WHICH SAYS THAT GENTLE PEOPLE DO ANGER WELL. AND THAT RAISES A QUESTION. CAN ANGER AND GENTLENESS GO TOGETHER. ONE CAN'T CANCEL OUT THE OTHER. WHAT I WANT TO SUGGEST IS YOU CAN'T HAVE HEALTHY ANGER WITHOUT GENTLENESS AND YOU CAN'T HAVE HEALTHY GENTLENESS WITHOUT ANGER. IN BOTH OF THE PSALMS AND IN EPHESIANS, THE BIBLE SAYS BE ANGRY AND DO NOT SIN. I KNOW SOME OF OUR ENGLISH TRANCE LOCATIONS SAY IN YOUR ANGER DO NOT SIN. IF YOU GO ALL THE WAY BACK TO THE HEBREW LANGUAGE IN THE SONGS, GO ALL THE WAY BACK TO THE GREEK LANGUAGE IN EPHESIANS, IT'S A COMMAND. IT SAYS BE ANGRY AND DO NOT SIN. PAUL PUTS IT ANOTHER WAY IN ROMANS. HATED WHAT IS EVIL. PART OF HATING WHAT IS EVIL IS CLINGING TO WHAT IS GOOD. PART OF CLINGING TO WHAT IS GOOD IS YOU HAVE TO HATE WHAT IS EVIL. I LOVE MY TWO DAUGHTERS ABBY AND ELLIE SO MUCH THAT IF SOMEBODY ATTACKS ONE OF THEM, I AM ANGRY PATTERN. I AM HATING WHAT IS HAPPENING TO MY DAUGHTERS IN SOMEBODY IS TRYING TO HURT THEM, RIGHT, AND I'LL DO EVERYTHING I CAN TO DEFEND AND PROTECT THEM BECAUSE I HATE THE EVIL THAT IS BEING DONE TO THEM. THE BIBLE ENCOURAGES THIS AS WELL. ANGER IS A LOT LINING FIRE. THERE'S THE RAGING FIRE, THE KIND OF FIRE THAT CAN BURN A HOUSE DOWN, THAT CAN DECIMATE THE CALIFORNIA LANDSCAPE AS HAS BEEN HAPPENING THE LAST FEW YEARS WITH ALL THE WILDFIRES THERE, THERE'S A RAGING FIRE, BUT THEN THERE'S A RIGHTEOUS FIRE. THE RIGHTEOUS FIRE IS THE KIND OF FIRE THAT BOOKS ACT -- COOKS BACTERIA OUT OF OUR FOOD, SO WE DON'T GET SICK, THE KIND OF FIRE THAT KEEPS HOMES WARM IN A COLD WINTER SEASON, PROTECTS US FROM GETTING FROSTBITE, IT'S THE FIRE THAT CAUSES A COLUMBUS SHUN ENGINE TO WORK, MOVE FORWARD, SO YOU CAN DRIVE A CAR, IT WILL LIGHT A CANDLE AND SET AN AMBIANCE FOR A GATHERING OF FRIENDS. IT ALL DEPENDS ON THE CONTEXT. >> LEFT2: ESES WAS FILLED WITH RIGHTEOUS FIRE. HE WAS NOT A NICE GUY. IN OTHER WORDS, NON-THREATENING TO INBOUND. HE WAS GENTLE, BUT HE WAS NOT NON-THREATENING TO EVERYONE. IF YOU WERE A BULLY, YOU BETTER WATCH OUT IF JESUS IS IN THE ROOM. JESUS GOT AGGRESSIVE, HE ALSO BOWED UP ON PEOPLE WHO TRIED TO TURN THE TEMPLE INTO A PLACE FOR MAKING PROPHET. MOST OF YOU AREN'T OLD ENOUGH TO REMEMBER WHO BOBBY KNIGHT WAS. IF HE GOT MAD AT THE REFEREES HE'D PICK UP A CHAIR AND HURL IT ACROSS THE BASKETBALL COURT. IMAGINE JESUS DOING THAT IN CHURCH. TAKING A TABLE AND FLIPPING IT OVER BECAUSE HE'S SO ANGRY. HE GOT FURIOUS, HE GOTTEN RAINFALL AT DEATH BECAUSE DEATH VANDALIZES HUMAN FLOURISHING AND HUMAN LIFE. HE GOT ANGRY AT THINGS THAT HURT, PEOPLE PLACES AND THINGS THAT HE LOVED. WITH THE BULLIES, IF YOU GO TO THE LATER CHAPTERS OF MATTHEW, IF YOU WERE A SHAMER, IF YOU WERE AGGRESSIVE, IF YOU HURT PEOPLE WHO WERE WEAKER THAN YOU, JESUS ACTUALLY HAD SOME CHOICE WORDS FOR THAT. HYPOCRITES, BLIND GUYS, FOOLS, SONS OF HELL, AGREEDY, ANGRY -- GREEDY, ANGRY. HE LOST HIS COOL SOMETIMES, BUT NEVER LOST HIS CHARACTER. HE HATED WHAT IS EVIL BECAUSE OF HOW PASSIONATE HE IS FOR THE GOOD. HE ALSO GOT SAD. ONE OF MY FAVORITE VERSES IN THE BIBLE IS THE SHORTEST VERSE WHERE IT SAYS THAT JESUS WE WANT. HE'S ENTERING INTO THE PAIN AND THE SADNESS OF MARRY AND MARTHA, EVEN KNOWING HE'S GOING TO CALL LAZARUS BACK TO LIFE. BEFORE HE DID THAT HE TOOK TIME TO ENTER THEIR PAIN, VARIOUS ROW, EMPATHIZE AND SIT WITH THEM IN THEIR HURT. I LOVE THAT ABOUT JESUS. HE WAS A LION, BUT HE'S ALSO A LAMB. HE'S SEVERE, BUT ALSO KIND. ROMANS SAYS CONSIDER THE KINDNESS AND SEVERITY OF CHRIST. HE'S ALWAYS GENTLE AND HUMBLE TOWARD THE WEAK AND ALSO ALWAYS A FER ROBBER US DEFENDER OF THE WEAK. IF YOU'RE GOING TO TRY TO BULLY JESUS, GOOD LUCK WITH THAT. BUT THEY TRIED. THEY WERE JEALOUS OF HIS INFLUENCE, THEY WANTED TO DISCREDIT HIM, THEY WANTED TO, YOU KNOW, CATCH HIM IN HIS WORDS, AND IN COMES AN UNINVITED, UNANNOUNCED PROSTITUTE, DESCRIBED AS A WOMAN WHO LIVED A SINFUL LIFE IN THAT TOWN. SCANDALOUS WOMAN, THE KIND OF WOMAN THAT IF YOU SAW HER IN PUBLIC YOU'D GRAB YOUR CHILDREN AND YOU'D WALK THE OTHER WAY. AND WHAT THIS WOMAN DOES WAS SO SCANDALOUS, SO UNEXPECTED IN THAT CULTURE, SHE TAKES THREE OF THE PRIMARY TOOLS OF HER TRADE AS A PROSTITUTE. HER HAIR, HER LIPS, AND HER PERFUME. AND SHE TENDS TO JESUS' FEET WITH ALL THREE. KISSING HIS FEET, ANOINTING HIS FEET WITH HER TEARS, WIPING HIS FEET WITH HER HAIR. THE RELIGIOUS BULLIES ARE APPALLED. WE'VE GOT ALL WE NEED. HE'S CLEARLY NOT A PROPHET BECAUSE HE'S ASSOCIATING WITH THAT THING OVER THERE. THEY DON'T EVEN CALL HER A HER. BUT JESUS DOES. HE SAYS DO YOU ALL SEE THIS WOMAN? WOULD YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT SHE HAS JUST DONE? YOU'VE GOT THE WHOLE BIBLE MEMORIZED, BUT YOU DON'T KNOW THE FIRST THING ABOUT WHAT IT ACTUALLY SAYS OR MEANS. THE WHOLE THING IS ABOUT LOVE. GOT THE WHOLE THING MEMORIZED. GUESS WHAT, SO DO THE DEMONS. SATAN HAS THE WHOLE BIBLE MEMORIZED, BUT IT'S UNSUBMITTED TO IT, UNSURRENDERED TO IT. EVEN THE DEMONS BELIEVE AND SHOULDER, THE SCRIPTURES TELL US. BUT THIS WOMAN, MAYBE NO BIBLE TRAINING, BUT SHE JUST PUT ON A CLINIC FOR YOUR SCRIBES AND PHARISEES, FOR YOUR CHURCH LEADERS ABOUT WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE TO LOVE GOD. LEARN SOMETHING FROM HER. THOSE WHO ARE FORGIVEN MUCH AND KNOW IT ARE THE GREATEST LOVERS. THIS IS WHO HE IS. HE'S A LION WHO DOUBLES DOWN ON US WHEN WE THINK THAT WE'RE SUPERIOR TO OTHERS AND TREAT OTHERS IN THAT WAY. HE'S ALSO THE LAMB WHO DOUBLES DOWN ON THOSE AREAS, WHERE WE LIKE OURSELVES THE LEAST. THE THING YOU HATE ABOUT YOURSELF THE MOST. THE THING THAT MAKES IT HARDEST FOR YOU TO LOOK IN THE MIRROR AND LIKE YOURSELF, THAT IS THE PLACE WHERE JESUS WANTS TO LOVE YOU THE MOST. THAT PLACE. HOW DO I KNOW THIS? YOU SEE ISAIAH, YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH HIS CALL IN ISAIAH CHAPTER 6, I'M A MAN OF UNCLEAN LIPS. WHAT DOES GOD DO? HE SENDS AN ANGEL STRAIGHT FOR ISAIAH'S LIPS, HIS OWN SOURCE OF SHAME AND HE TOUCHES THE LIPS AND HE HAS THIS HAS TOUCHED YOUR LIPS, YOUR GUILTY IS REMOVED. I'LL DO ANYTHING FOR YOU, ISAIAH SAYS. THE REST OF MY LIFE, YOURS. OR ZACHARIAS, THE TAX COLLECTOR, THE CROOK, NO FRIENDS. WHEN HE GOES HOME, HE GOES HOME ALONE. WHEN HE EATS, HE LET'S ALONE. WHEN HE DOES ANYTHING, HE DOES IT ALL ALONE. NOBODY LIKES ZACHARIAS. NOBODY WANTS TO BE A FRIEND TO ZACHARIAS. ZACHARIAS KNOWS THIS AND FEELS IT SO MUCH THAT IN ORDER TO GET A GLIMPSE OF JESUS, HE DOESN'T WALK UP TO JESUS, HE DOESN'T INTRODUCE HIMSELF. HE CLIMBS UP IN A TREE JUST SO HE CAN LOOK FROM A DISTANCE BECAUSE HE DOESN'T THINK THAT JESUS OR ANYONE WILL GIVE HIM THE TIME OF DAY. WHAT DOES JESUS DO? HE LOOKS UP IN THE TREE AND CALLS HIM BY NAME. ZACHARIAS. WAIT, HE KNOWS MY NAME. THERE'S MORE. YOU, COME DOWN FROM THAT TREE. I DON'T LIKE THE CHILDREN'S SONG, WHERE THEY DO THE MOTION, YOU COME DOWN. JESUS IS SCOLDING HIM. HE'S NOT SCOLDING HIM. HE'S LOVING HIM WHERE HE'S MOST ASHAMED. HE'S ISOLATED HIMSELF. HE SAYS COME ON DOWN, WE'RE GOING TO YOUR HOUSE TODAY. I'M GOING TO SHOW YOU A HOSPITALITY IN YOUR OWN HOUSE LIKE YOU'VE NEVER SEEN. ZACHARIAS MUST BE LIKE I HAVEN'T HAD SOMEBODY TO MY HOUSE IN YEARS. OH, WE'RE COMING. AND WE'RE GOING TO TRANSFORM THAT PLACE. ZACHARIAS IMMEDIATELY, HE BECOMES A FRIEND MAKER. FROM THAT POINT FORWARD BECAUSE BEING LOVED IN THIS WAY, BECAUSE YOU CAME STRAIGHT FOR THE SOURCE OF MY SHAME, MY LONELINESS, ISOLATION, HE DIDN'T CALL ME AN SOB, INSTEAD OF CALLED ME A SON OF ABRAHAM, YOU INCLUDED ME IN THAT PROMISE THAT GOD MADE CENTURIES AGO IN EVERY NATION, EVERY TRIED -- TRIBE, EVERY TONGUE, IF I DEFRAUDED SOMEBODY, I'LL GIVE AWAY FIVE TIMES WHAT I TOOK. I'LL GIVE AWAY HALF MY POSSESSIONS. I'M GOING TO BE A FRIEND MAKER FROM THIS POINT FORWARD BECAUSE I'VE BEEN LOVED IN THIS WAY BECAUSE JESUS HAS CALLED ME FRIEND. MARK WROTE PERTER'S PERSPECTIVE ON WHAT IT WAS LIKE TO WALK IN CHRIST. SOME STRONG WOMEN SHOW UP AT THIS TOMB TO ANOINT JESUS'S DEAD BODY. AN ANGEL COMES AND ANNOUNCES HE IS RISEN JUST AS HE SAID. IN MARK'S GOSPEL ALONE IT DOESN'T JUST SAY GO TELL THE OTHERS. IT SAYS TELL THE OTHERS IN PETER THAT CHRIST IS COMING TO THEM. PETER WHO DENIED CHRIST THE MOST, WHO WONDERING IF HE IS NOW QUALIFIED -- DISQUALIFIED, IF HE IS ON THE OUTSIDE WITH JUDAS. I WANT YOU TO GO AHEAD AND LET PETER KNOW HE'LL BE OKAY. MY AGENDA IS AN AGENDA OF GRACE. MY AGENDA IS TO REVERSE HIS NAME AND TO UNDO HIS NEGATIVE VERDICTS. MY AGENDA IS TO HELP HIM STOP HATING HIMSELF FOR WHAT HE DID TO ME BECAUSE OF HOW MUCH I LOVE HIM. ARE YOU HESITANT TO COME TO JESUS, LIKE TO REALLY COME TO HIM, LIKE BOLDLY, WITH ALL THAT YOU ARE, THE WORST THINGS ABOUT YOU STIRS HIS LOVE -- STIRS HIS LOVE TOWARDS YOU THE MOST. HE IS NOT DISGUSTED WITH YOU. HE WANTS YOU. HE'S COMING TO YOUR HOUSE. ONE OF OUR FRIENDS IN NASHVILLE IS ALSO A MUSICIAN. HIS NAME IS AND DO PETER. HE'S GOT THIS GREAT SONG. SOME OF THE LYRICS GO THIS WAY. I THINK THIS IS ESPECIALLY A VERDICT FOR CHRISTIANS. BE KIND TO YOURSELF BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO LEARN TO LOVE YOUR ENEMY, TOO. ISN'T IT TRUE THAT MOST OF US DISLIKE OURSELVES MORE THAN WE DISLIKE ANYBODY ELSE? PART OF THE WAY THAT WE MISTREAT PEOPLE IS OUR OWN WORKING OUT OF HOW SMALL WE FEEL OURSELVES. THAT IS LIKE THE PSYCHOLOGY OF A BULLY. A BULLY ACTS BIG BECAUSE THE BULLY FEELS SO SMALL. TRYING TO COMPENSATE FOR SOME THINGS. GUESS WHAT? CHRIST LOVES YOU. HOW DOES THIS PLAY OUT RELATIONALLY? THIS IS GOING TO IMPACT THE WAY THAT WE RESPOND IN COMMUNITY WHEN PEOPLE LIKE THE PROSTITUTE SHOW UP. A FEW YEARS AGO WE HAD A VISITOR COME TO OUR CHURCH, NEVER MET BEFORE, CUTS LIKE A SAILOR, YOU CAN SMELL THE CIGARETTE SMOKE FROM 15 -- 15 FEET AWAY. HE WEARS THE CHOSEY PARENTS LIKE YOUR PARENTS USED TO AWARE, RIPPED UP T-SHIRT, FLIP-FLOPS, ET CETERA. SINGING THE MUSIC. TRYING TO FIT IN. THE FIRST TIME HE'S BEEN TO CHURCH IN A LONG TIME. HE'S GOT NEEDLE STREAKS RUNNING DOWN HIS ARMS. I'M LIKE, OH, MAN, THIS IS WONDERFUL. THAT MOMENT WAS RUINED FOR ME, I'LL CALL HIM CHURCH GUY, TAPS ME ON THE SHOULDER AND HE'S GOT THIS BIG, BIG STUDY BIBLE THAT LOOKS LIKE IT'S NEVER BEEN READ, THE SHINY THING ON THE OUTER PAGES IS STILL THERE. WHEN A GUY COMES TO CHURCH WITH A BIG STUDY BIBLE THAT HAS NEVER BEEN READ, THAT IS ABOUT SOMETHING ELSE. THAT IS WHAT YOU CALL A DISPLAY, A SHOW, THE KINDS OF THINGS JESUS SPOKE AGAINST IN THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT. YOU SEE THAT GUY OVER THERE? YEAH, I DO. HE SAYS HE'S A DISTRACTION TO MY WORSHIP. DANCING AROUND. I'M LIKE YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO DANCE. EVER READ THE PSALMS? READ THE LAST ONE. OTHER PEOPLE DANCE IN HERE, SO WHAT'S THE PROBLEM. WELL HE SMELLS LIKE SEG RESTITUTION. -- CIGARETTES. HE HASN'T DRESSED VERY RESPECTFULLY FOR THE MOMENT. I'M LIKE LOOK, I'M SEEING THE NEEDLE STREAKS, I'VE GOT THIS, YOU DON'T GO TALK TO HIM. NO, YOU DON'T FIX THIS. WHAT I DID WAS I WENT AND FOUND MARK. MARK HAD JUST COME OUT OF REHAB A YEAR BEFORE. I SAID MARK -- BY THE WAY, MARK BECAME ONE OF THE BEST ELDERS I'VE EVER WORKED WITH. HE RECOVERED, BECOMES A LEADER IN THE CHURCH, BECOMES LIKE THE WOMAN WHO BARGED INTO THE PHARISEES PARTY LOOKING FOR ANYONE TO LOVE, REMINDS ME WHAT ELIZABETH COOPER ROSS SAID, SHE SAID BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE DON'T JUST HAPPEN. BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE HAPPEN WHEN THEY SUFFERED. WHEN THEY HAVE HIT BOTTOM. WHEN THEY HAVE BEEN IN A PIT. AND COME OUT OF IT CHANGED. TO PARAPHRASE. SHE SAID BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE DON'T JUST HAPPEN. MARK IS A BEAUTIFUL PERSON. HEY, BEAUTIFUL PERSON, GO OVER TO THIS OTHER IMAGE -- SHOW HIM, SO HOSPITALITY, TELL HIM YOU'RE COMING TO HIS HOUSE TODAY, WHATEVER VERSION OF THAT IS TO YOU. MARK DID, BEGAN A FRIENDSHIP. I JUST THOUGHT ABOUT THE CHURCH GUY'S POSTURE AND I THOUGHT TO MYSELF AND I STILL THINK THIS, NOTHING DISTRICT CREDITS THE CHRISTIAN WITNESS MORE THAN CHRISTIANS WHO SCOLD. I'VE BEEN A CHRISTIAN FOR ALMOST 35 YEARS, I'VE BEEN A PASTOR FOR ROUGHLY 25. I HAVE NEVER ONCE MET SOMEBODY WITH THE STORY I FELL IN LOVE WITH JESUS BECAUSE A GROUP OF CHRISTIANS ELECTRIC TURD ME BECAUSE OF MY ETHICS OR LIFESTYLE. NEVER MET A PERSON LIKE THAT. I'VE MET THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHO SAID I BECAME A CHRISTIAN BECAUSE CHRISTIANS LOVE ME IN SPITE OF ME. BE KIND, BECAUSE EVERY PERSON YOU MEET IS FIGHTING A HARD HIDDEN BATTLE. YOU REALIZE THAT EVEN AS JEWS BETRAYED JESUS, YOU REMEMBER WHAT JESUS CALLED THEM? TREND. SOME HEADED TOWARDS HIS OWN TRAGIC PERIL FOREVER UNDER THE JUDGMENT OF GOD. THE OTHER DISCIPLES CAN'T CALL HIM ANYTHING, BUT THE BETRAYER. BUT JESUS SAYS FRIEND, DO WHAT YOU SAME HERE FOR. BETRAY ME AS YOU MUST TO FULFILL WHAT HAS BEEN WRITTEN FROM BEFORE THE BEGINNING OF TIME. SO I DRIVE AWAY FROM CHURCH THAT DAY. THIS IS ONE OF THOSE DAYS I HAD ADVICE FOR GOD. I SAID GOD, THE CHURCH WOULD BE SO MUCH BETTER IF YOU JUST GET RID OF ALL THE CHURCH GUYS. I'M A PRESBYTERIAN, SO THE HOLY SPIRIT DOESN'T SPEAK OUT LOUD. SOMETIMES I WANT TO BE A PENTECOSTAL SO I CAN HEAR IT MORE EASILY. HE SPOKE TO ME. IT WAS THIS. SCOTT, BE REALLY CAREFUL LEST YOU BECOME THE CHURCH GUY BECAUSE THERE IS SUCH THING, SCOTT, AS A GRACE FAIR TEE. THAT IN THE NAME OF GRACE, IN THE NAME OF THE LOVE OF GOD, YOU BECOME AN UNLOVING PHARISEE TOWARD UNLOVING PHARISEES AND GUESS WHAT? THERE WERE TWO PRODUCT CULL SONS, NOT ONE, IN LUKE 15. THIS WAS THE ONE WHO WENT OUT WITH WILD LIVING, SQUANDERING THE FAMILY WEALTH, AND THERE IS THE ONE WHO STAYED HOME OBEDIENT AND BITTER. CRITICIZING EVERYONE. AND THE FATHER, INVITES BOTH OF THEM. NOT JUST ONE OF THEM. INTO THE FAMILY'S CULTURE OF LOVE. YOU KNOW, WHEN I THINK ABOUT THE CHURCH VISITOR WITH THE NEEDLE STREAKS ON HIS ARM AND LIKE THE CRITIQUE OF LIKE THE NICOTINE SMELL, I THINK TO MYSELF WHAT DO YOU CALL IT WHEN YOU TRADE A HEROINE ADDICTION -- HE WAS IN RECOVERY, BY THE WAY, PEOPLE IN RECOVERY SAID GET SOME RELIGION BECAUSE THE STATS ARE BETTER FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE RELIGION TO NOT RELAPSE. WHAT DO YOU CALL IT WHEN SOMEBODY TRADES IN A HEROIN ADDICTION FOR A NICOTINE ADDICTION? I CALL IT PROGRESS, SANCTIFICATION. I CALL IT, GOD, AT WORK. YOU KNOW, THE GROWTH PROCESS IS GRADUAL, GUYS. THIS IS WHAT A GENTLE ANSWER LOOKS LIKE. IF I'M HERE TOWARD BECOMING LIKE CHRIST, AND SOMEBODY ELSE IS HERE, I HAVE NO CONTEMPT, NO CRITICISM, NO CRITIQUE IN MY HEARTED BECAUSE WE'RE BOTH FIGHTING A HARD HIDDEN BATTLE AND NEITHER OF US IS HERE AND BOTH OF THE OF US HAVE TO JUMP ALL THE WAY ACROSS THE GRAND CANYON IF WE'RE GOING TO DO IT ON OUR OWN WITHOUT THE GRACE OF GOD. AND, OF COURSE, NOBODY HAS EVER DONE THAT AND NOBODY EVER WILL ON A MOTORCYCLE. WE ARE IN THE SAME BOAT. WE ARE IN THE SAME BOAT. WE ARE ALL JUNKIES. MAYBE SOME OF US, WE'RE NOT ADDICTED TO THE HEROIN OR NICOTINE, BUT WE'RE ADDICTED TO PRIDE, AMBITION, WE'RE ADDICTED TO FILL IN THE BLANK. ADDICTED TO RELIGION. SO I'LL CLOSE HERE WITH MR. RECOMMENDATIONERS. BACK BACK TO HIM. HE WAS A PRESBYTERIAN PASTOR, WHICH I'M PROUD TO SAY. WE LIKE TO CLAIM HIM. THERE ARE MONDAY A FEW OF US. IN ALL SERIOUSNESS, HE WAS DRIVEN BY HIS FAITH IN CHRIST. THAT IS WHY HE WAS SO KIND, THAT'S WHY IT WAS SO IMPORTANT THAT EVERYBODY HE KNEW LIKED HIM. WHAT DROVE HIS GENTLENESS WAS ANGER, HURT, LONELINESS, SADNESS, AND SHAME. ONE TRUE THING ABOUT MR. RODGERS A LOT OF PEOPLE DIDN'T KNOW HE WAS HE -- BULLIED AS A CHILD, BECAUSE HE WAS OVERWEIGHT. HE WAS BODY SHAMED AND HAD NO ADULTS TO STEP IN. HE MADE A VOW TO HIMSELF THAT EVERY CHILD WOULD EXPERIENCE THEIR DIGNITY AND THAT NO CHILD AS FAR AS IT DEPENDED ON HIM WOULD EVER BE MADE TO FEEL LIKE HE FELT WHEN EVERYBODY CALLED HIM FAT FRED. WHOEVER SAID STICKS AND STONES MAY BREAK MY BONES, BUT WORDS WILL NEVER HURT ME WAS SELL LOOSAL. WORDS ARE SO POWERFUL. WORDS PUT THE GAL EXIES INTO EXISTENS. THE WORD OF GOD WILL DETERMINE YOUR LIFE AND YOUR FOREVER. IT'S THE ONLY THING THAT WILL NEVER FADE OR PERISH. WORDS ARE POWERFUL. ONLY SAY WORDS THAT MAKE OTHER SOULS STRONGER. THAT IS THE WORKING OF GENTLENESS. FRED RODGERS' RESPONSE TO BULLYING WAS KINDNESS AND GENTLENESS. MY FRIEND'S MARK'S RESPONSE TO A FELLOW ADDICT WAS TO TREAT HIM AS A APPEAR, NOT AS A PROJECT -- PIER. NOT AS A PROJECT. THERE IS A QUIET MAJORITY THAT PRAYS -- TO MAKE CHRISTIANITY BEAUTIFUL AGAIN. LET'S PRAY TOGETHER. IT IS TRUE THAT EVERY PERSON WE MEET IS FIGHTING A HARD HIDDEN BATTLE, LORD, INCLUDING THE PERSON WE SEE IN THE MIRROR. START WITH OUR HEARTS, LORD, HELP US EXPERIENCE THE LIBERATING LOVE THAT WAS EXPERIENCED BY ISAIAH, BY PETER, BY THE PROSTITUTE, BY ZACHARIAS. HELP US TO KNOW THAT LOVE AS WELL THAT WE MIGHT BE LIBERATED ALSO TO GIVE OURSELVES FULLY TO YOU AND PASSIONATELY TO YOU AND LOVINGLY AND GENTLY AND KINDLY AND PATIENTLY TO OUR NEIGHBORS. THANK YOU, JESUS, THAT YOU CAME TO REVERSE THE NEGATIVE VERDICTS. THANK YOU, JESUS, THAT YOU LOVE US MOST WHERE WE DOUBT OURSELVES THE MOST. IN JESUS' NAME WE PRAY, AMEN. >> CAN WE THANK PASTOR. [ APPLAUSE ] >> MAN. IF YOU WOULD, JUST BE PRAYING FOR PASTOR SCOTT AND HIS WIFE, BY THE WAY, WHO IS ALSO WITH US TODAY. MAN, WHEN YOU PREACH THAT MESSAGE, THE ENEMY JUST SEES THAT AS SUCH, A WEAPON AGAINST HIS AGENDA. AND SO IT BECOMES ONE OF THOSE THINGS WHERE THE ENEMY BEGINS TO ATTACK PATTY AND BEGINS TO ATTACK SCOTT AND BEGINS TO ATTACK THEIR CHURCH BECAUSE THE LAST THING THE ENEMY WOULD WANT IS TO BE RECONCILERS, VALUE PEOPLE, SEE PEOPLE IN THEIR VALUE AND WORTH AS CHRIST SEES HIM. YOU DON'T SPEAK WHAT HE JUST SPOKE OUT LOUD WITHOUT HAVING JUST ENORMOUS AMOUNTS OF JUST SPIRIT WILL WARFARE COME DOWN ON YOU. AND SO I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT I NEEDED TO HEAR THAT TODAY. THANK THEM BOTH, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. PATTY, THANK YOU FOR COMING ALONG AS WELL. BOTH OF HIS BOOKS ARE AT BARNES & NOBLES ON OUR CAMPUS. YOU CAN HEAR HIM PREACH JUST BY PUTTING HIS NAME IN GOOGLE AND IT JUST SHOWS UP EVERYWHERE. WE LOVE YOU. HOPE YOU HAVE A GREAT DAY IF YOU'RE VISITING ON CAMPUS AND THAT GOD BLESSES YOU THAT TREMENDOUS WAY. WE LOVE YOU. YOU'RE DISMISSED. GO WITH GOD.
