WEBVTT

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 We hope that you enjoy this teaching from Christ Church.

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 This material is copyrighted and no unauthorized duplication,

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 redistribution, or any other use of any part is permitted without prior consent from Christ Church.

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 Hey, Ms. Jesse, I'm on staff here at Christ Church, and I'll be the scripture reading, do the scripture reading for today.

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 It's from Acts chapter 16, verses 16 through 34.

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 And I know you just sat down, but let's rise for the scripture reading.

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 Thanks.

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 Acts 16, starting at verse 16.

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 Once, when we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a female slave who had a spirit by which she predicted the future.

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 She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling.

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 She followed Paul and the rest of us shouting,

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 These men are servants of the Most High God who are telling you the way to be saved.

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 She kept this up for many days.

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 Finally, Paul became so annoyed that he turned around and said to the spirit,

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 In the name of Jesus Christ, I command you to come out of her.

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 At that moment, the spirit left her.

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 When her owners realized that their hope of making money was gone,

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 they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to face the authorities.

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 They brought them before the magistrates and said,

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 These men are Jews and are throwing our city into an uproar by advocating customs unlawful for us Romans to accept or practice.

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 The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas,

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 and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten with rods.

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 After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison,

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 and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully.

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 When he received these orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.

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 About midnight, Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God,

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 and the other prisoners were listening to them.

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 Suddenly, there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken.

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 At once, all the prison doors flew open, and everyone's chains came loose.

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 The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open,

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 he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped.

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 But Paul shouted,

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 Don't harm yourself. We are all here.

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 The jailer called for lights, rushed in, and fell trembling before Paul and Silas.

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 He then brought them out and said,

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 Sirs, what must I do to be saved?

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 They replied,

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 Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.

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 Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house.

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 At that hour of the night, the jailer took them and washed their wounds.

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 Then immediately, he and all his household were baptized.

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 The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them.

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 He was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God, he and his whole household.

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 This is the word of the Lord.

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 Thanks be to God.

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 You may be seated.

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 Thanks for that reading, Jesse.

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 Again, I'm going to introduce Christine to come up here.

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 There are a lot of things I could tell you about Christine, where she's from, what she does for Foster the Bay.

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 But the thing that stands out to me the most is just her love for Jesus and her love for her neighbors.

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 Oftentimes, in our meetings with Christine doing Foster the Bay type things, she'll have to stop herself and say,

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 I'm sorry, I just started to preach.

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 But everyone else in the meeting is like, no, just keep going, keep going.

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 So we're going to get some of that right now.

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 Will you welcome Christine up as she comes to bring God's word to us?

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 Peace.

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 Thank you, Pastor Andrew.

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 Well, good morning, Christ Church.

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 It's really good to be with you this morning.

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 I've actually been really looking forward to this since Pastor Andrew invited me to be here

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 and to actually have a privilege of weaving this study that we're continuing in through Acts

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 with this message really around Foster the Bay.

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 And like Pastor Andrew said, this is actually the last Foster the Bay vision cast that I'll ever be doing

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 because Foster the Bay is becoming Foster the City.

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 What's happened is that churches like you joining this coalition across the Bay area

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 has made such an impact across our community that we're seeing churches from other regions

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 wanting to engage and wanting to bring this into the other regions.

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 And so this Thursday, we're becoming Foster the City, and we're going to be launching in Southern California.

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 So we are now Foster the City, and we're the Bay area.

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 There were 155 churches, including Christ Church.

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 I have a special place in my heart for this church because this church is the birthplace of Project Peace.

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 And any church that has Micah 6-8 on your landing page is a church I want to be a part of,

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 that we would be people who act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with God.

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 And Jen McKillips and I are allies together in this work across the Bay area

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 on behalf of some of the most vulnerable populations.

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 And so I'm really privileged to be here too.

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 And Shea Gilbert is another warrior, powerhouse warrior,

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 that has been a big instrument in bringing Foster the Bay to this church.

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 So I'm really glad to be here with you this morning.

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 Well, like I mentioned, we're going to be in Acts 16 this morning as we continue this journey.

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 Pastor Jonathan last week said that this is our summer reading.

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 Are you reading Acts on the beach this summer?

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 Good for you.

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 You guys are so spiritual.

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 But that's, he said that's the summer reading.

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 I really like that idea actually.

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 And the question that he posed is, what kind of church does God want us to be?

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 What kind of church does God want us to be?

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 And I would like to suggest that God is inviting us to be a church empowered and led by the Spirit,

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 joining him in his restorative work within our community.

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 Imagine what it would be like if every person sitting in this room would be literally led by the Spirit every morning.

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 That as we wake up and we begin our day, we listen for what the Spirit is saying to us

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 and how he wants us to move on behalf of the people in our sphere of influence.

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 Imagine the ripple effect of the power of Jesus through his Spirit in our community.

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 I believe that is what he pictures for the church.

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 Specifically this morning, we're going to see that when God is on the move through his people,

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 the chains of bondage and oppression are broken by the power of the Spirit of Jesus.

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 We see the disciples invited to be conduits.

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 And just like disciples, we are invited to be conduits of the power of God.

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 You see this in the theme verse of Acts, right?

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 In chapter 1, verse 8, it says,

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 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you,

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 and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea, and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

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 And here we are at the ends of the earth.

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 The power, this power, this power of the Spirit shows up in a variety of incredible ways

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 because our God is very creative.

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 It's very surprising following the Spirit.

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 Have you experienced that?

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 Following the Spirit is a wild adventure.

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 He surprises us again and again.

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 And he does this all throughout the book of Acts.

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 When I was reading Acts for preparation this morning,

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 I just kept seeing how surprising he was in the way that he moved again and again.

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 And that's how he continues to move, in jaw-dropping ways.

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 I love what N.T. Wright suggests.

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 He says,

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 That, after all, is what the Lord's Prayer is all about.

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 And that is what we are about.

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 But we get to colonize this place where we live with the life of heaven,

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 empowered by the Spirit in the name of Jesus,

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 doing the work that only he can do when we say,

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 Yes, yes, use me as that conduit.

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 We see this happening all through the book of Acts.

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 Glimpses of heaven on earth.

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 And you'll hear me kind of coming back to that.

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 What does heaven on earth look like?

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 Jesus invites his people.

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 Jesus invites you to bring a taste of his kingdom wherever you go.

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 Remember those Baskin and Robbins little pink spoons?

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 Did you ever have?

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 I love those.

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 And there was no limit.

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 You could have like ten.

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 I love that picture.

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 That we would be so much more than that.

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 But that our encounters with people in our community and in our world

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 would be like a taste of heaven.

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 Is that how people feel when you walk in the room?

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 Jesus wants to break every chain that binds you.

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 He wants to set you free.

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 And then he invites you to be a part of the beautiful,

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 redemptive work he's doing in this world.

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 And honestly, I believe that we experience increasing freedom through Jesus

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 when we join him in his work in the world.

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 Partnering with him in what he's doing is healing for us.

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 I really encourage you to check that out in Isaiah 58.

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 You will see how we can actually step into a whole level of healing ourselves

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 when we engage with the most marginalized and vulnerable in our communities.

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 Jesus invites us to be a church led by the voice of the Spirit.

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 You see that all through acts.

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 The Spirit told them to do this.

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 The Spirit said, don't go over there.

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 The Spirit empowered them to do this.

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 The Spirit set this person free.

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 The Spirit raised this person from the dead.

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 They were completely empowered by the Spirit.

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 And that is what we get the same Spirit.

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 We have the same Spirit living in us.

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 And we get to move in the power of the Spirit across this Bay Area.

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 How exciting is that?

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 That is the reason to get up out of bed this morning.

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 So we pick up the story of Paul as he and his companions

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 had been led by the Holy Spirit to Europe.

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 Here they are in Philippi, which is actually modern-day Greece.

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 And there were not very many Jews in this particular community.

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 And so there was no synagogue there.

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 And so what they would do is they would meet by the river.

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 Followers of God would meet by the river on the Sabbath.

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 They would discuss the Hebrew Scriptures there.

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 And this is where Paul would go to share Jesus.

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 The completion, the fullness of the Hebrew Scriptures.

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 So we see this in Acts 16, 13.

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 It says there when Paul meets Lydia.

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 On the Sabbath, we went outside the city gate to the river

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 where we expected to find a place of prayer.

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 We sat down and began to speak to the women who had gathered there.

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 So you see, this is kind of the place that they would show up

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 and share Jesus.

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 All right, so while they're kind of proclaiming Jesus through the city,

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 the slave girl shows up.

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 She's following Paul.

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 She's very likely possessed by what was known as a python spirit,

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 connected to the temple, the local temple of Delphi,

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 known for sorcery where people would worship gods

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 that would be able to predict the future.

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 Who does not want to know the future?

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 This is still super popular in our day and age, right?

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 Tell me what's going to happen.

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 I want to know the future.

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 Right?

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 And so these guys were making all kinds of money,

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 pimping this girl out,

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 selling her and her gift for their own financial gain.

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 And power.

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 You see, power and money always tied, right, with oppressors.

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 She was vulnerable and these men found her

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 and they took advantage of her for their own financial gain.

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 She was shadowing.

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 It's kind of interesting.

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 I heard kind of Jesse kind of like giggle

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 while he was reading that part where it's like Paul's annoyed.

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 Like what is going on here?

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 She was shadowing them and crying out behind them,

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 these men are servants of the most high God.

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 They're telling you the way to be saved.

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 She's actually speaking the truth, right?

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 She's speaking the truth.

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 The spirit inside of her, it knows that this is truth.

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 And so she's following.

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 And I wonder if she was drawn to them

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 because she knew that around them she could be set free.

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 I don't know.

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 Why was she drawn to them?

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 Why did she keep following them?

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 Why did she keep proclaiming this truth?

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 It's so interesting that this slave girl

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 is literally proclaiming deliverance through these men.

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 In verse 16, or excuse me, verse 18,

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 we see Paul annoyed and agitated.

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 I'm not sure why he didn't address it sooner.

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 Why did he wait a few days?

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 I don't know.

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 But it gets to the point where she is so disruptive

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 that he confronts her.

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 I think it's really important to remember,

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 when I was reading this, I thought to myself,

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 man, when we are around people that are enslaved

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 to any number of things, our fight is not with them.

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 Ephesians 6.12 says,

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 for we are not fighting against flesh and blood enemies,

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 but against evil rulers and authorities,

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 powers and principalities of the unseen world,

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 against mighty powers in this dark world,

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 and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.

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 It's real easy to make enemies out of everyone,

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 but we need to remember who the real enemy is.

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 Here we see, again, as is evident throughout all of Acts,

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 the power in the name of Jesus.

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 The power in the name of Jesus.

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 Paul is calling on the authority of Jesus

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 over this demonic spirit,

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 and the spirit obeys Paul

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 and comes out of this precious slave girl in an instant.

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 I remember learning about the power of the name of Jesus

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 when I was a little girl,

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 and I would have bad dreams in the middle of the night,

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 and I would bolt to my mama's bedroom,

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 and she'd snuggle up with me for a little bit,

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 and then she'd walk me back to my room,

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 and she'd say,

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 Christy, whenever you're afraid,

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 just say the name of Jesus out loud,

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 and his presence will be with you,

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 and darkness will flee.

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 The enemy hates the name of Jesus,

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 so just say the name of Jesus.

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 That provided me great comfort as a little girl

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 to speak the name of Jesus when I was scared.

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 There is power, and there is power,

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 in the name of Jesus.

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 Because when we call on his name,

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 we're calling on his character,

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 his works, his reputation,

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 his resurrection power.

00:14:33.659 --> 00:14:35.939
 We're calling on everything that he is.

00:14:39.220 --> 00:14:41.179
 We're saying we need you to come

00:14:41.179 --> 00:14:44.240
 and invade this space with your power

00:14:44.240 --> 00:14:45.439
 and your love and your life

00:14:45.439 --> 00:14:46.779
 and your hope and your restoration.

00:14:48.559 --> 00:14:50.139
 And this girl, her chains,

00:14:50.399 --> 00:14:50.939
 are gone.

00:14:52.059 --> 00:14:53.220
 These chains that bind her,

00:14:53.360 --> 00:14:54.439
 the demonic spirit,

00:14:54.620 --> 00:14:55.779
 heaven has touched earth,

00:14:56.639 --> 00:14:58.100
 and when heaven invades earth,

00:14:58.259 --> 00:14:59.860
 chains fall off,

00:15:00.179 --> 00:15:01.840
 and people are set free.

00:15:02.139 --> 00:15:03.600
 And the powers that be,

00:15:03.879 --> 00:15:05.299
 the ones who benefit from people

00:15:05.299 --> 00:15:06.539
 being oppressed and enslaved,

00:15:06.919 --> 00:15:08.179
 well, they get very angry.

00:15:10.480 --> 00:15:12.299
 They get very, very angry.

00:15:13.360 --> 00:15:15.120
 And when we step into the stories

00:15:15.120 --> 00:15:15.980
 of the most vulnerable,

00:15:16.379 --> 00:15:18.480
 you will find yourself up against oppressors

00:15:18.480 --> 00:15:20.879
 that maybe you never experienced before.

00:15:21.920 --> 00:15:24.080
 When you begin to identify yourself

00:15:24.080 --> 00:15:26.139
 with the most marginalized.

00:15:27.159 --> 00:15:28.800
 In verse 19 through 21,

00:15:28.879 --> 00:15:29.399
 you see this.

00:15:30.600 --> 00:15:31.639
 Evidently, the people of Philippi

00:15:31.639 --> 00:15:32.779
 are fine with Paul and Silas

00:15:32.779 --> 00:15:36.159
 until they start messing with their money,

00:15:36.480 --> 00:15:36.720
 right?

00:15:36.720 --> 00:15:39.680
 And the power that came with that money.

00:15:39.840 --> 00:15:40.060
 And so,

00:15:40.600 --> 00:15:43.840
 these guys falsely accuse Paul and Silas.

00:15:44.200 --> 00:15:44.700
 They tell them,

00:15:44.920 --> 00:15:45.060
 you know,

00:15:45.080 --> 00:15:45.720
 in 19 through 21,

00:15:45.779 --> 00:15:47.540
 you can see those false lies

00:15:47.540 --> 00:15:48.620
 that they tell against them.

00:15:49.240 --> 00:15:50.480
 They want to make them suffer

00:15:50.480 --> 00:15:52.040
 for messing with their business venture.

00:15:53.200 --> 00:15:53.840
 Because like I said,

00:15:53.879 --> 00:15:54.800
 when the gospel spreads,

00:15:54.879 --> 00:15:55.779
 we see the dismantling

00:15:55.779 --> 00:15:57.000
 of the power of oppressors.

00:15:57.360 --> 00:15:57.920
 The gospel,

00:15:58.220 --> 00:15:59.899
 when the true gospel spreads,

00:16:00.379 --> 00:16:01.460
 the power of oppressors

00:16:01.460 --> 00:16:02.440
 is dismantled

00:16:02.440 --> 00:16:03.759
 by the power of the spirit

00:16:03.759 --> 00:16:04.740
 through the name of Jesus.

00:16:04.740 --> 00:16:09.899
 And as spirit-filled followers of Jesus,

00:16:10.200 --> 00:16:11.560
 we are invited to be part

00:16:11.560 --> 00:16:12.740
 of the restoration stories

00:16:13.399 --> 00:16:14.840
 that God wants to write.

00:16:15.039 --> 00:16:16.240
 Not because we're so great,

00:16:16.480 --> 00:16:17.960
 because just like Pastor Andrew said,

00:16:18.060 --> 00:16:19.980
 we have been rescued,

00:16:20.659 --> 00:16:21.879
 and therefore we point others

00:16:21.879 --> 00:16:22.580
 to the rescuer.

00:16:22.960 --> 00:16:24.019
 We have been set free,

00:16:24.279 --> 00:16:25.360
 and so we point to the one

00:16:25.360 --> 00:16:26.220
 who sets us free.

00:16:26.460 --> 00:16:27.519
 We have been given bread,

00:16:27.740 --> 00:16:28.580
 and so we share bread.

00:16:28.740 --> 00:16:30.139
 This is not about us

00:16:30.139 --> 00:16:31.060
 being some kind of hero.

00:16:31.759 --> 00:16:32.899
 This is about us sharing

00:16:32.899 --> 00:16:34.620
 what God has been given to us

00:16:34.620 --> 00:16:35.740
 and we can extend it

00:16:35.740 --> 00:16:37.620
 to anyone in our sphere of influence

00:16:37.620 --> 00:16:39.899
 who has open hands.

00:16:43.500 --> 00:16:44.820
 I wanted to take a moment

00:16:44.820 --> 00:16:45.639
 just to consider

00:16:45.639 --> 00:16:47.120
 who are some of the most

00:16:47.120 --> 00:16:48.580
 oppressed people

00:16:48.580 --> 00:16:50.179
 within our community.

00:16:52.759 --> 00:16:53.940
 I would suggest that

00:16:53.940 --> 00:16:55.340
 kids who find themselves

00:16:55.340 --> 00:16:56.120
 in foster care

00:16:56.120 --> 00:16:58.360
 are among the most vulnerable.

00:16:59.500 --> 00:17:00.659
 In the lives of these children,

00:17:00.659 --> 00:17:01.480
 we see the convergence

00:17:01.480 --> 00:17:02.379
 of the chains

00:17:02.379 --> 00:17:04.579
 of layers of brokenness,

00:17:05.099 --> 00:17:06.079
 systemic brokenness,

00:17:06.139 --> 00:17:07.519
 societal, familial,

00:17:08.019 --> 00:17:08.659
 and individual.

00:17:08.899 --> 00:17:09.960
 All this brokenness

00:17:09.960 --> 00:17:11.279
 converged in the life

00:17:11.279 --> 00:17:12.379
 of a child

00:17:12.379 --> 00:17:13.500
 entering in foster care

00:17:13.500 --> 00:17:15.059
 through no fault of their own.

00:17:18.680 --> 00:17:19.680
 The slave girl

00:17:19.680 --> 00:17:20.859
 being used here in Acts

00:17:20.859 --> 00:17:22.920
 while the first century

00:17:22.920 --> 00:17:23.460
 feels like,

00:17:23.539 --> 00:17:23.819
 oh,

00:17:23.940 --> 00:17:25.259
 this is so far away from us,

00:17:25.259 --> 00:17:26.579
 it's not really that far away.

00:17:26.579 --> 00:17:28.939
 as there are girls

00:17:28.939 --> 00:17:30.919
 enslaved within our community

00:17:30.919 --> 00:17:35.059
 being sold

00:17:35.059 --> 00:17:35.819
 and pimped out.

00:17:41.159 --> 00:17:42.179
 The reality is

00:17:42.179 --> 00:17:43.339
 60% of the kids

00:17:43.339 --> 00:17:44.559
 rescued from a human trafficking

00:17:44.559 --> 00:17:45.819
 ring a few years back.

00:17:45.960 --> 00:17:46.359
 They were kids

00:17:46.359 --> 00:17:47.199
 who spent time

00:17:47.199 --> 00:17:48.019
 in foster care.

00:17:49.679 --> 00:17:50.799
 Traffickers look for ways

00:17:50.799 --> 00:17:51.720
 to insert themselves

00:17:51.720 --> 00:17:52.619
 into environments

00:17:52.619 --> 00:17:53.699
 with vulnerable children

00:17:53.700 --> 00:17:54.759
 and manipulate them,

00:17:54.920 --> 00:17:56.000
 promising them love

00:17:56.000 --> 00:17:56.880
 and belonging.

00:17:57.980 --> 00:17:58.660
 Love and belonging

00:17:58.660 --> 00:18:00.620
 is the most basic human need.

00:18:01.299 --> 00:18:01.940
 And so when you can go

00:18:01.940 --> 00:18:02.380
 to places

00:18:02.380 --> 00:18:03.460
 where people don't have it

00:18:03.460 --> 00:18:04.400
 and give them

00:18:04.400 --> 00:18:05.340
 that false sense

00:18:05.340 --> 00:18:06.360
 of belonging and love,

00:18:07.360 --> 00:18:12.720
 I've seen this firsthand

00:18:12.720 --> 00:18:14.759
 when a 17-year-old

00:18:14.759 --> 00:18:15.440
 in our home

00:18:15.440 --> 00:18:17.240
 was propositioned

00:18:17.240 --> 00:18:17.940
 at a work program

00:18:17.940 --> 00:18:18.759
 for foster youth

00:18:18.759 --> 00:18:20.519
 by a 15-year-old kid

00:18:20.519 --> 00:18:22.240
 in the same program.

00:18:22.240 --> 00:18:24.120
 He approached her

00:18:24.120 --> 00:18:24.960
 and he said,

00:18:25.579 --> 00:18:26.339
 you and I can make

00:18:26.339 --> 00:18:27.680
 a lot of money together.

00:18:28.599 --> 00:18:29.559
 Let's work together.

00:18:32.380 --> 00:18:33.039
 She said,

00:18:33.120 --> 00:18:33.680
 no thanks.

00:18:33.940 --> 00:18:34.880
 And when I picked her up

00:18:34.880 --> 00:18:35.680
 and she told me

00:18:35.680 --> 00:18:36.220
 what had happened,

00:18:36.640 --> 00:18:37.140
 she added,

00:18:37.279 --> 00:18:38.099
 I might have said yes

00:18:38.099 --> 00:18:38.740
 a year ago.

00:18:43.099 --> 00:18:44.019
 Because she was

00:18:44.019 --> 00:18:45.240
 in a safe and loving home,

00:18:45.960 --> 00:18:47.200
 not a perfect home,

00:18:48.359 --> 00:18:48.980
 but because she was

00:18:48.980 --> 00:18:50.259
 in a safe and loving home

00:18:50.259 --> 00:18:52.720
 with food and internet access

00:18:52.720 --> 00:18:53.960
 and she was able

00:18:53.960 --> 00:18:54.960
 to go to the high school

00:18:54.960 --> 00:18:56.019
 that she really wanted

00:18:56.019 --> 00:18:56.559
 to go to,

00:18:57.559 --> 00:18:58.819
 she saw another path

00:18:58.819 --> 00:18:59.359
 for herself.

00:19:01.420 --> 00:19:03.059
 But you've got oppressors

00:19:03.059 --> 00:19:04.640
 sending in 15-year-old kids.

00:19:04.720 --> 00:19:04.920
 She said,

00:19:04.980 --> 00:19:06.240
 he was really cool about it.

00:19:07.180 --> 00:19:08.240
 He was really cool about it.

00:19:08.299 --> 00:19:08.980
 Of course he was.

00:19:10.220 --> 00:19:11.619
 This is darkness

00:19:11.619 --> 00:19:13.240
 disguised as light.

00:19:14.500 --> 00:19:15.700
 It's darkness disguised

00:19:15.700 --> 00:19:17.059
 as love and belonging.

00:19:17.059 --> 00:19:22.179
 The vulnerability

00:19:22.179 --> 00:19:25.099
 of kids who age out

00:19:25.099 --> 00:19:25.779
 of foster care

00:19:25.779 --> 00:19:29.000
 is so incredibly intense.

00:19:29.419 --> 00:19:30.299
 My brothers and sisters,

00:19:30.399 --> 00:19:31.679
 the outcomes for these kids

00:19:31.679 --> 00:19:33.039
 who are never welcomed

00:19:33.039 --> 00:19:34.240
 into safe and loving home,

00:19:34.659 --> 00:19:35.259
 they're heartbreaking.

00:19:35.879 --> 00:19:36.679
 Half of these kids

00:19:36.679 --> 00:19:37.299
 who age out

00:19:37.299 --> 00:19:37.799
 will develop

00:19:37.799 --> 00:19:38.980
 a substance abuse problem.

00:19:39.359 --> 00:19:40.440
 Half will be unemployed

00:19:40.440 --> 00:19:41.559
 by the time they're 24.

00:19:41.960 --> 00:19:43.220
 A third will deal

00:19:43.220 --> 00:19:43.859
 with homelessness.

00:19:44.440 --> 00:19:45.099
 You look around

00:19:45.099 --> 00:19:45.559
 and you wonder

00:19:45.559 --> 00:19:46.980
 who that's suffering

00:19:46.980 --> 00:19:47.719
 in our community

00:19:47.719 --> 00:19:49.259
 was a former foster youth

00:19:49.259 --> 00:19:52.019
 that we just couldn't

00:19:52.019 --> 00:19:52.740
 find a place for.

00:19:57.019 --> 00:19:57.819
 Three percent,

00:19:57.959 --> 00:19:58.639
 only three percent

00:19:58.639 --> 00:19:59.559
 of kids who age

00:19:59.559 --> 00:20:00.339
 out of foster care

00:20:00.339 --> 00:20:01.639
 without ever being welcomed

00:20:01.639 --> 00:20:02.179
 into a loving,

00:20:02.319 --> 00:20:02.579
 safe home,

00:20:02.639 --> 00:20:03.339
 only three percent

00:20:03.339 --> 00:20:04.299
 will graduate from college.

00:20:06.500 --> 00:20:07.279
 But this is where

00:20:07.279 --> 00:20:08.059
 we're invited to stay,

00:20:08.159 --> 00:20:08.939
 not on my watch,

00:20:09.539 --> 00:20:10.500
 not on my watch,

00:20:10.659 --> 00:20:11.519
 not in my city,

00:20:11.519 --> 00:20:15.000
 not if I have anything

00:20:15.000 --> 00:20:15.619
 to do with it.

00:20:16.660 --> 00:20:17.819
 We can make a difference

00:20:17.819 --> 00:20:19.279
 by welcoming these kids

00:20:19.279 --> 00:20:19.859
 into our homes

00:20:19.859 --> 00:20:21.299
 when they are most vulnerable

00:20:21.299 --> 00:20:22.619
 and seeking to prevent

00:20:22.619 --> 00:20:23.639
 these outcomes.

00:20:23.759 --> 00:20:24.619
 Let's go upstream.

00:20:25.319 --> 00:20:26.220
 Let's go upstream.

00:20:27.799 --> 00:20:29.460
 I believe that in this room

00:20:29.460 --> 00:20:30.480
 there are people

00:20:30.480 --> 00:20:31.559
 that God is inviting

00:20:31.559 --> 00:20:32.279
 into the lives

00:20:32.279 --> 00:20:33.500
 of kids in foster care.

00:20:34.160 --> 00:20:34.740
 It's been said

00:20:34.740 --> 00:20:35.240
 that when you have

00:20:35.240 --> 00:20:36.019
 biological children,

00:20:36.139 --> 00:20:37.579
 you get to co-create with God.

00:20:38.019 --> 00:20:38.680
 And when you step

00:20:38.680 --> 00:20:39.519
 into the life of a child

00:20:39.519 --> 00:20:40.139
 in foster care,

00:20:40.140 --> 00:20:40.820
 you have the privilege

00:20:40.820 --> 00:20:42.340
 of co-redeeming with God.

00:20:43.480 --> 00:20:45.000
 What story does he want to write

00:20:45.000 --> 00:20:47.100
 in the life of that child,

00:20:47.200 --> 00:20:47.780
 that teenager?

00:20:48.660 --> 00:20:48.960
 And this,

00:20:49.180 --> 00:20:49.940
 I just want to tell you,

00:20:50.120 --> 00:20:51.240
 this is not just for a small,

00:20:51.340 --> 00:20:51.600
 oh, well,

00:20:51.620 --> 00:20:52.440
 I'm not a young family.

00:20:52.520 --> 00:20:53.300
 I'm an empty nester.

00:20:53.580 --> 00:20:53.900
 Perfect!

00:20:55.360 --> 00:20:56.380
 Empty nesters are perfect.

00:20:56.660 --> 00:20:57.100
 I'm single.

00:20:57.200 --> 00:20:58.280
 I've always wanted to be married

00:20:58.280 --> 00:20:58.860
 and I've always wanted

00:20:58.860 --> 00:20:59.420
 to have kids,

00:20:59.520 --> 00:21:01.060
 but I've got to wait

00:21:01.060 --> 00:21:02.040
 until my man comes.

00:21:02.120 --> 00:21:02.920
 No, you don't!

00:21:04.800 --> 00:21:05.680
 It's so easy

00:21:05.680 --> 00:21:06.700
 to talk ourselves out

00:21:06.700 --> 00:21:07.660
 of doing hard things.

00:21:08.080 --> 00:21:09.400
 And all I want to do

00:21:09.400 --> 00:21:10.220
 is invite you

00:21:10.220 --> 00:21:11.720
 to ask God

00:21:11.720 --> 00:21:14.240
 what he is asking of you.

00:21:18.220 --> 00:21:19.140
 So picking it up

00:21:19.140 --> 00:21:19.800
 in verse 22,

00:21:20.200 --> 00:21:20.720
 Paul and Silas

00:21:20.720 --> 00:21:21.680
 are severely beaten

00:21:21.680 --> 00:21:22.300
 and then immediately

00:21:22.300 --> 00:21:23.000
 thrown into jail.

00:21:24.080 --> 00:21:25.060
 According to the commentator

00:21:25.060 --> 00:21:26.080
 J.B. Polhill,

00:21:26.220 --> 00:21:27.240
 the author of Acts

00:21:27.240 --> 00:21:27.820
 points out

00:21:27.820 --> 00:21:28.220
 that their feet

00:21:28.220 --> 00:21:29.460
 are placed in stalks

00:21:29.460 --> 00:21:31.060
 because often such stalks

00:21:31.060 --> 00:21:32.040
 were used as instruments

00:21:32.040 --> 00:21:32.759
 of torture.

00:21:33.200 --> 00:21:33.740
 They had a number

00:21:33.740 --> 00:21:34.800
 of holes for the legs

00:21:34.800 --> 00:21:35.220
 which allowed

00:21:35.220 --> 00:21:36.180
 for severe stretching

00:21:36.180 --> 00:21:36.660
 of the torso

00:21:36.660 --> 00:21:37.720
 and thus created

00:21:37.720 --> 00:21:38.779
 excruciating pain.

00:21:39.360 --> 00:21:40.080
 This is the context

00:21:40.080 --> 00:21:41.080
 of them singing these hymns.

00:21:42.500 --> 00:21:42.940
 Ironically,

00:21:43.100 --> 00:21:43.980
 they are jailed

00:21:43.980 --> 00:21:45.080
 for setting

00:21:45.080 --> 00:21:46.400
 this slave girl free.

00:21:46.860 --> 00:21:47.540
 When you move

00:21:47.540 --> 00:21:48.580
 in the power of the Spirit,

00:21:48.820 --> 00:21:49.360
 when you move

00:21:49.360 --> 00:21:50.080
 in the power of Jesus,

00:21:50.259 --> 00:21:51.160
 it doesn't mean

00:21:51.160 --> 00:21:52.040
 that all is going

00:21:52.040 --> 00:21:52.759
 to be hunky-dory

00:21:52.759 --> 00:21:53.200
 and beautiful

00:21:53.200 --> 00:21:53.900
 in your life

00:21:53.900 --> 00:21:55.000
 because you are

00:21:55.000 --> 00:21:55.759
 stepping straight

00:21:55.759 --> 00:21:56.360
 into the middle

00:21:56.360 --> 00:21:57.519
 of brokenness

00:21:57.519 --> 00:21:57.940
 and pain

00:21:57.940 --> 00:21:58.640
 and chaos

00:21:58.640 --> 00:22:00.160
 and into an empire

00:22:00.160 --> 00:22:01.600
 that is anti-God.

00:22:01.599 --> 00:22:03.459
 And so you are

00:22:03.459 --> 00:22:04.419
 going to expect

00:22:04.419 --> 00:22:05.980
 to get some pushback

00:22:05.980 --> 00:22:07.359
 when you step

00:22:07.359 --> 00:22:08.079
 into these stories.

00:22:10.699 --> 00:22:11.679
 God will be closer

00:22:11.679 --> 00:22:12.179
 than ever

00:22:12.179 --> 00:22:14.019
 because as we see

00:22:14.019 --> 00:22:14.639
 in Matthew 28,

00:22:14.719 --> 00:22:15.500
 he identifies

00:22:15.500 --> 00:22:16.859
 with the most marginalized.

00:22:17.579 --> 00:22:17.819
 He says,

00:22:17.899 --> 00:22:18.319
 when you do it

00:22:18.319 --> 00:22:18.639
 for the least,

00:22:18.719 --> 00:22:19.179
 you are doing it

00:22:19.179 --> 00:22:19.480
 for me.

00:22:19.779 --> 00:22:20.259
 So we see,

00:22:20.459 --> 00:22:20.980
 we experience

00:22:20.980 --> 00:22:21.699
 his presence there

00:22:21.699 --> 00:22:22.179
 more than ever

00:22:22.179 --> 00:22:24.099
 but it is hard.

00:22:24.419 --> 00:22:25.059
 And here they are

00:22:25.059 --> 00:22:25.779
 in this state,

00:22:26.000 --> 00:22:26.939
 in these stalks,

00:22:27.039 --> 00:22:28.059
 bloodied from being

00:22:28.059 --> 00:22:29.139
 tortured

00:22:29.140 --> 00:22:30.540
 and it says,

00:22:30.900 --> 00:22:31.220
 at midnight,

00:22:31.320 --> 00:22:31.820
 Paul and Silas

00:22:31.820 --> 00:22:32.400
 were praying

00:22:32.400 --> 00:22:33.220
 and singing hymns

00:22:33.220 --> 00:22:33.600
 to God

00:22:33.600 --> 00:22:35.020
 and the other prisoners

00:22:35.020 --> 00:22:36.480
 were listening to them.

00:22:37.520 --> 00:22:38.460
 This verse alone

00:22:38.460 --> 00:22:40.060
 is so powerful to me.

00:22:40.420 --> 00:22:40.860
 I don't know

00:22:40.860 --> 00:22:41.500
 if they were singing

00:22:41.500 --> 00:22:42.060
 because they're like,

00:22:42.120 --> 00:22:42.620
 it's okay,

00:22:42.800 --> 00:22:43.460
 it's all good,

00:22:43.540 --> 00:22:44.180
 let's sing

00:22:44.180 --> 00:22:44.600
 in the middle

00:22:44.600 --> 00:22:45.240
 of the storm

00:22:45.240 --> 00:22:46.720
 or if they were singing

00:22:46.720 --> 00:22:48.540
 as a defiant gesture

00:22:48.540 --> 00:22:49.440
 of worship

00:22:49.440 --> 00:22:50.220
 in the middle

00:22:50.220 --> 00:22:50.860
 of the hard.

00:22:55.040 --> 00:22:55.900
 Here they are

00:22:55.900 --> 00:22:57.780
 and I see the prisoners

00:22:57.780 --> 00:22:58.240
 at the edge

00:22:58.240 --> 00:22:58.680
 of their seats

00:22:58.680 --> 00:22:58.860
 and it's like,

00:22:59.019 --> 00:22:59.880
 what is happening

00:22:59.880 --> 00:23:00.500
 with these guys?

00:23:01.120 --> 00:23:01.700
 They're a complete

00:23:01.700 --> 00:23:02.039
 bloody,

00:23:02.200 --> 00:23:02.779
 tortured mess

00:23:02.779 --> 00:23:03.820
 and here they are singing

00:23:03.820 --> 00:23:05.039
 and I wonder

00:23:05.039 --> 00:23:05.759
 what they were singing.

00:23:06.440 --> 00:23:08.019
 We have probably

00:23:08.019 --> 00:23:08.680
 what they were singing

00:23:08.680 --> 00:23:09.519
 in our psalms

00:23:09.519 --> 00:23:10.080
 because that was

00:23:10.080 --> 00:23:10.860
 their song book

00:23:10.860 --> 00:23:12.080
 and these were Jewish boys

00:23:12.080 --> 00:23:13.759
 that had been raised up

00:23:13.759 --> 00:23:14.560
 as Jewish boys.

00:23:15.060 --> 00:23:16.100
 I wonder if they were singing,

00:23:16.560 --> 00:23:17.440
 the Lord is my shepherd,

00:23:18.400 --> 00:23:19.420
 I will lack nothing.

00:23:20.759 --> 00:23:21.380
 Even though I walk

00:23:21.380 --> 00:23:22.420
 through the darkest valley,

00:23:22.519 --> 00:23:23.440
 I will fear no evil

00:23:23.440 --> 00:23:24.440
 because you're with me.

00:23:25.039 --> 00:23:25.720
 Surely your goodness

00:23:25.720 --> 00:23:26.779
 and mercy will follow me

00:23:26.779 --> 00:23:27.820
 all the days of my life

00:23:27.819 --> 00:23:29.039
 or bless the Lord

00:23:29.039 --> 00:23:29.599
 oh my soul,

00:23:29.720 --> 00:23:30.579
 all my inmost being,

00:23:30.700 --> 00:23:31.720
 bless his holy name.

00:23:32.279 --> 00:23:33.019
 What were they singing?

00:23:33.419 --> 00:23:34.099
 Where can I go

00:23:34.099 --> 00:23:34.720
 from your presence?

00:23:34.819 --> 00:23:35.399
 Where can I flee

00:23:35.399 --> 00:23:35.960
 from your spirit?

00:23:36.159 --> 00:23:37.179
 Even if I go to the depths

00:23:37.179 --> 00:23:38.059
 you are still with me.

00:23:41.159 --> 00:23:42.659
 Their faith and joy

00:23:42.659 --> 00:23:43.740
 in the midst of suffering

00:23:43.740 --> 00:23:44.720
 is a beautiful picture

00:23:44.720 --> 00:23:46.619
 of how heaven invades earth

00:23:46.619 --> 00:23:48.119
 when the people of God

00:23:48.119 --> 00:23:50.059
 experience his presence

00:23:50.059 --> 00:23:51.419
 even in the most

00:23:51.419 --> 00:23:52.559
 horrific moments.

00:23:52.559 --> 00:23:54.159
 and I know that there

00:23:54.159 --> 00:23:54.899
 are people in this room

00:23:54.899 --> 00:23:55.720
 who can testify

00:23:55.720 --> 00:23:56.599
 to the reality

00:23:56.599 --> 00:23:58.079
 of the nearness of God

00:23:58.079 --> 00:23:59.179
 when things are very,

00:23:59.299 --> 00:23:59.720
 very dark.

00:24:01.440 --> 00:24:02.379
 I know sometimes

00:24:02.379 --> 00:24:03.419
 he's felt far too.

00:24:04.019 --> 00:24:05.159
 Sometimes he's felt very far.

00:24:07.500 --> 00:24:08.179
 Paul and Silas

00:24:08.179 --> 00:24:09.139
 seem to have the sense

00:24:09.139 --> 00:24:09.779
 that their lives

00:24:09.779 --> 00:24:10.740
 were in the hands of God.

00:24:10.819 --> 00:24:11.339
 They may have had

00:24:11.339 --> 00:24:12.639
 these physical constraints

00:24:12.639 --> 00:24:13.919
 but their spirits were free

00:24:13.919 --> 00:24:15.119
 and they seem to be

00:24:15.119 --> 00:24:17.019
 at peace as we read further.

00:24:17.200 --> 00:24:18.460
 I just want to remind you

00:24:18.460 --> 00:24:18.839
 this morning

00:24:18.839 --> 00:24:20.720
 that God is with you.

00:24:20.720 --> 00:24:23.120
 God is with you.

00:24:23.240 --> 00:24:24.400
 God is for you.

00:24:25.400 --> 00:24:26.299
 No matter what

00:24:26.299 --> 00:24:27.360
 you're walking through

00:24:27.360 --> 00:24:28.880
 he is there.

00:24:31.079 --> 00:24:32.480
 He is wanting to give you

00:24:32.480 --> 00:24:33.200
 what you need

00:24:33.200 --> 00:24:34.200
 sustaining you

00:24:34.200 --> 00:24:34.980
 and guiding you

00:24:34.980 --> 00:24:35.779
 and loving you

00:24:35.779 --> 00:24:36.860
 and offering his healing

00:24:36.860 --> 00:24:37.500
 to you.

00:24:39.079 --> 00:24:40.460
 I love how Pastor Tyler Staten

00:24:40.460 --> 00:24:41.200
 of Bridgetown's Church

00:24:41.200 --> 00:24:42.360
 suggests that this story

00:24:42.360 --> 00:24:43.039
 shows quote

00:24:43.039 --> 00:24:44.259
 the power of worship

00:24:44.259 --> 00:24:45.339
 when it's a choice

00:24:45.339 --> 00:24:46.579
 not a feeling.

00:24:47.420 --> 00:24:48.559
 Remember that those

00:24:48.559 --> 00:24:49.759
 jail cells flew open

00:24:49.759 --> 00:24:50.620
 when Paul and Silas

00:24:50.619 --> 00:24:51.679
 were singing in a prison

00:24:51.679 --> 00:24:52.199
 at midnight

00:24:52.199 --> 00:24:53.279
 when it was hard.

00:24:53.459 --> 00:24:54.579
 Not when the band

00:24:54.579 --> 00:24:55.799
 was playing their favorite song

00:24:55.799 --> 00:24:56.599
 and there was caffeine

00:24:56.599 --> 00:24:57.659
 coursing through their veins.

00:24:59.559 --> 00:25:00.639
 Worship is powerful.

00:25:00.759 --> 00:25:01.259
 It's a powerful way

00:25:01.259 --> 00:25:02.500
 to push back the darkness

00:25:02.500 --> 00:25:03.939
 and live into the truth

00:25:03.939 --> 00:25:05.279
 and I've had that experience

00:25:05.279 --> 00:25:06.299
 where all

00:25:06.299 --> 00:25:07.659
 I'm just feeling discouraged

00:25:07.659 --> 00:25:08.399
 and defeated

00:25:08.399 --> 00:25:09.739
 and like just hopeless

00:25:09.739 --> 00:25:12.219
 and I choose

00:25:12.219 --> 00:25:13.819
 to step into worship

00:25:13.819 --> 00:25:15.179
 whether through

00:25:15.179 --> 00:25:16.179
 it's a gratitude practice

00:25:16.179 --> 00:25:17.559
 or through music

00:25:17.559 --> 00:25:18.099
 and you

00:25:18.099 --> 00:25:19.239
 it's not like

00:25:19.240 --> 00:25:20.339
 it fixes everything

00:25:20.339 --> 00:25:21.740
 but there's

00:25:21.740 --> 00:25:23.259
 some of that darkness

00:25:23.259 --> 00:25:23.839
 lifts

00:25:23.839 --> 00:25:25.359
 because we remember

00:25:25.359 --> 00:25:26.500
 that God is with us

00:25:26.500 --> 00:25:27.019
 in it.

00:25:28.759 --> 00:25:29.819
 I wonder what was going

00:25:29.819 --> 00:25:30.620
 through the jailer's mind

00:25:30.620 --> 00:25:31.799
 as he listened to their songs

00:25:31.799 --> 00:25:33.380
 and saw their unbroken spirits.

00:25:33.700 --> 00:25:34.799
 When heaven invades earth

00:25:34.799 --> 00:25:35.539
 when Jesus' followers

00:25:35.539 --> 00:25:36.220
 move in the power

00:25:36.220 --> 00:25:36.700
 of the spirit

00:25:36.700 --> 00:25:38.799
 suffering is transformed.

00:25:39.500 --> 00:25:40.680
 There's supernatural joy

00:25:40.680 --> 00:25:42.000
 right in the middle of pain

00:25:42.000 --> 00:25:43.579
 and it's this defiant joy.

00:25:44.519 --> 00:25:45.839
 Gratitude is the pathway

00:25:45.839 --> 00:25:46.420
 of joy

00:25:46.420 --> 00:25:48.080
 in the midst of pain

00:25:48.080 --> 00:25:49.120
 and then the earthquake

00:25:49.120 --> 00:25:50.740
 and the chains come loose.

00:25:52.460 --> 00:25:53.700
 I read that living in Philippi

00:25:53.700 --> 00:25:54.620
 was similar to living

00:25:54.620 --> 00:25:55.600
 on the San Andreas Fault

00:25:55.600 --> 00:25:57.560
 that there was earthquakes

00:25:57.560 --> 00:25:58.200
 that would happen

00:25:58.200 --> 00:25:58.940
 frequently there

00:25:58.940 --> 00:25:59.860
 but this one was a biggie.

00:26:00.980 --> 00:26:01.560
 The jailer knew

00:26:01.560 --> 00:26:02.279
 that he was responsible

00:26:02.279 --> 00:26:03.600
 and we saw this earlier in Acts

00:26:03.600 --> 00:26:04.840
 that when Peter escaped

00:26:04.840 --> 00:26:06.080
 all the jailers were killed

00:26:06.080 --> 00:26:08.600
 and so this guy knows

00:26:08.600 --> 00:26:09.620
 he's responsible

00:26:09.620 --> 00:26:11.620
 these prisoners are going to go

00:26:11.620 --> 00:26:12.440
 he's just going to

00:26:12.440 --> 00:26:13.400
 he's going to off himself

00:26:13.400 --> 00:26:13.900
 right there

00:26:13.900 --> 00:26:15.980
 but Paul knew this

00:26:15.980 --> 00:26:16.640
 and so he cried out

00:26:16.640 --> 00:26:17.500
 we're still here!

00:26:19.880 --> 00:26:21.039
 We're not going anywhere!

00:26:22.839 --> 00:26:23.700
 Paul knew

00:26:23.700 --> 00:26:25.500
 that he was already free.

00:26:25.759 --> 00:26:27.120
 No chains could bind him

00:26:27.120 --> 00:26:28.620
 and he was more concerned

00:26:28.620 --> 00:26:29.980
 about this jailer's life

00:26:29.980 --> 00:26:30.839
 and soul

00:26:30.839 --> 00:26:31.779
 than he was

00:26:31.779 --> 00:26:32.920
 about his own

00:26:32.920 --> 00:26:33.559
 physical freedom

00:26:33.559 --> 00:26:34.440
 and I want to say that again.

00:26:35.319 --> 00:26:36.440
 He was more concerned

00:26:36.440 --> 00:26:38.259
 about this jailer's life

00:26:38.259 --> 00:26:38.819
 and soul

00:26:38.819 --> 00:26:39.579
 than he was

00:26:39.579 --> 00:26:40.079
 about his own

00:26:40.079 --> 00:26:40.819
 physical freedom.

00:26:41.380 --> 00:26:41.860
 Paul knew

00:26:41.860 --> 00:26:42.360
 that the person

00:26:42.360 --> 00:26:43.460
 who was really in chains

00:26:43.460 --> 00:26:44.500
 was the jailer.

00:26:44.500 --> 00:26:46.380
 As Paul points out

00:26:46.380 --> 00:26:47.460
 the miracle served

00:26:47.460 --> 00:26:48.660
 not to deliver them

00:26:48.660 --> 00:26:50.900
 but to deliver the jailer.

00:26:52.460 --> 00:26:54.079
 When heaven invades earth

00:26:54.079 --> 00:26:54.920
 the people of God

00:26:54.920 --> 00:26:55.900
 are more concerned

00:26:55.900 --> 00:26:57.339
 for the souls of others

00:26:57.339 --> 00:26:58.940
 the lives of others

00:26:58.940 --> 00:26:59.680
 than they are

00:26:59.680 --> 00:27:01.000
 for their own comfort

00:27:01.000 --> 00:27:01.880
 and safety.

00:27:01.880 --> 00:27:07.020
 This I believe

00:27:07.020 --> 00:27:08.040
 is one of the greatest

00:27:08.040 --> 00:27:08.820
 challenges

00:27:08.820 --> 00:27:10.180
 of the American church

00:27:10.180 --> 00:27:11.700
 our incredible addiction

00:27:11.700 --> 00:27:12.880
 to our own safety

00:27:12.880 --> 00:27:13.780
 and security

00:27:13.780 --> 00:27:15.460
 and comfort.

00:27:19.600 --> 00:27:20.660
 This is the invitation

00:27:20.660 --> 00:27:21.420
 into foster care.

00:27:22.260 --> 00:27:22.960
 It's this willingness

00:27:22.960 --> 00:27:24.080
 to get uncomfortable

00:27:24.080 --> 00:27:24.920
 for the sake

00:27:24.920 --> 00:27:25.840
 of a vulnerable child.

00:27:26.440 --> 00:27:27.200
 James 1.27

00:27:27.200 --> 00:27:28.260
 is such a common verse

00:27:28.260 --> 00:27:29.120
 used in this context.

00:27:29.119 --> 00:27:29.819
 It says

00:27:29.819 --> 00:27:30.939
 pure and genuine religion

00:27:30.939 --> 00:27:32.339
 in the sight of God the Father

00:27:32.339 --> 00:27:33.779
 means caring for orphans

00:27:33.779 --> 00:27:34.219
 and widows

00:27:34.219 --> 00:27:34.879
 in their distress

00:27:34.879 --> 00:27:35.739
 and refusing

00:27:35.739 --> 00:27:36.799
 to let the world

00:27:36.799 --> 00:27:37.500
 corrupt you.

00:27:42.619 --> 00:27:43.799
 This passage is saying

00:27:43.799 --> 00:27:44.579
 what we see

00:27:44.579 --> 00:27:45.519
 throughout all the scriptures

00:27:45.519 --> 00:27:47.019
 Old and New Testaments

00:27:47.019 --> 00:27:48.339
 that the most pure expression

00:27:48.339 --> 00:27:49.339
 of a true relationship

00:27:49.339 --> 00:27:49.759
 with God

00:27:49.759 --> 00:27:50.679
 is how we're engaging

00:27:50.679 --> 00:27:51.500
 with the most vulnerable

00:27:51.500 --> 00:27:52.519
 in our communities.

00:27:52.759 --> 00:27:53.639
 How we're speaking up

00:27:53.639 --> 00:27:54.539
 for those who can't speak

00:27:54.539 --> 00:27:55.079
 for themselves.

00:27:55.379 --> 00:27:56.000
 What we're doing

00:27:56.000 --> 00:27:57.079
 on behalf of the powerless

00:27:57.079 --> 00:27:58.039
 the voiceless

00:27:58.039 --> 00:27:59.039
 the marginalized

00:27:59.039 --> 00:28:00.279
 and I know that among

00:28:00.279 --> 00:28:01.059
 the most vulnerable

00:28:01.059 --> 00:28:01.720
 and powerless

00:28:01.720 --> 00:28:03.039
 are beloved children

00:28:03.039 --> 00:28:04.759
 removed from their families

00:28:04.759 --> 00:28:05.439
 because of abuse

00:28:05.439 --> 00:28:06.079
 or neglect.

00:28:06.179 --> 00:28:06.379
 Do you remember

00:28:06.379 --> 00:28:06.980
 how Jesus felt

00:28:06.980 --> 00:28:07.500
 about children?

00:28:07.819 --> 00:28:08.539
 Remember when the disciples

00:28:08.539 --> 00:28:09.519
 were like

00:28:09.519 --> 00:28:12.240
 we don't have time for them

00:28:12.240 --> 00:28:12.799
 and Jesus is like

00:28:12.799 --> 00:28:14.339
 indignant it says.

00:28:14.679 --> 00:28:15.339
 He was indignant.

00:28:15.460 --> 00:28:16.619
 Let the children come to me.

00:28:17.339 --> 00:28:18.619
 This is what the kingdom is like.

00:28:20.099 --> 00:28:20.919
 Can you imagine

00:28:20.919 --> 00:28:21.919
 how Jesus would feel

00:28:21.919 --> 00:28:23.319
 about the vulnerable children

00:28:23.319 --> 00:28:24.379
 entering in foster care?

00:28:24.380 --> 00:28:30.600
 how he must be saying

00:28:30.600 --> 00:28:31.840
 my people

00:28:31.840 --> 00:28:33.420
 you are my body.

00:28:36.700 --> 00:28:37.800
 You are the answer

00:28:37.800 --> 00:28:38.400
 to the cries

00:28:38.400 --> 00:28:39.220
 of these children.

00:28:40.500 --> 00:28:41.120
 Just like

00:28:41.120 --> 00:28:42.760
 in Exodus 2

00:28:42.760 --> 00:28:44.440
 I'm going off.

00:28:44.840 --> 00:28:45.740
 In Exodus 2

00:28:45.740 --> 00:28:47.020
 when Moses

00:28:47.020 --> 00:28:49.040
 when the people

00:28:49.040 --> 00:28:49.840
 of Israel

00:28:49.840 --> 00:28:50.720
 are chained

00:28:50.720 --> 00:28:51.260
 in slavery

00:28:51.260 --> 00:28:51.860
 in Egypt

00:28:51.860 --> 00:28:53.620
 and they're crying out

00:28:53.620 --> 00:28:54.240
 for their deliverance.

00:28:54.380 --> 00:28:54.920
 and it says

00:28:54.920 --> 00:28:56.340
 their cries

00:28:56.340 --> 00:28:57.140
 went up

00:28:57.140 --> 00:28:57.920
 and God heard

00:28:57.920 --> 00:28:58.440
 their groaning.

00:28:59.360 --> 00:29:00.180
 What does God do

00:29:00.180 --> 00:29:01.000
 in the very next chapter?

00:29:01.260 --> 00:29:01.980
 Does he come down?

00:29:03.760 --> 00:29:04.160
 No.

00:29:05.580 --> 00:29:06.880
 He invites Moses.

00:29:07.640 --> 00:29:08.340
 He shows up

00:29:08.340 --> 00:29:09.020
 in a burning bush

00:29:09.020 --> 00:29:09.520
 after this guy

00:29:09.520 --> 00:29:10.700
 was 40 years

00:29:10.700 --> 00:29:11.220
 shepherding

00:29:11.220 --> 00:29:12.600
 thinking his time

00:29:12.600 --> 00:29:13.120
 was over.

00:29:13.240 --> 00:29:13.660
 By the way

00:29:13.660 --> 00:29:14.840
 he thought his time

00:29:14.840 --> 00:29:15.220
 was over.

00:29:15.400 --> 00:29:16.400
 No that's for other people.

00:29:16.960 --> 00:29:17.980
 That's for the younger people.

00:29:18.800 --> 00:29:19.360
 No no no no no.

00:29:19.840 --> 00:29:20.300
 God said

00:29:20.300 --> 00:29:21.780
 I have heard

00:29:21.780 --> 00:29:22.660
 the cries of my people

00:29:22.660 --> 00:29:23.980
 and I am sending you.

00:29:25.240 --> 00:29:26.640
 You are the answer

00:29:26.640 --> 00:29:27.480
 to the cries

00:29:27.480 --> 00:29:27.900
 of the people

00:29:27.900 --> 00:29:28.400
 in your community.

00:29:28.520 --> 00:29:28.740
 They're saying

00:29:28.740 --> 00:29:29.740
 God where are you?

00:29:30.220 --> 00:29:31.460
 And then God taps on you

00:29:31.460 --> 00:29:32.340
 and sends you.

00:29:32.339 --> 00:29:38.339
 The second half

00:29:38.339 --> 00:29:38.819
 of this passage

00:29:38.819 --> 00:29:39.079
 it says

00:29:39.079 --> 00:29:39.859
 refusing to let

00:29:39.859 --> 00:29:40.919
 the world corrupt us.

00:29:41.619 --> 00:29:42.279
 How does the world

00:29:42.279 --> 00:29:42.919
 corrupt us?

00:29:44.159 --> 00:29:45.439
 Perhaps more than anything

00:29:45.439 --> 00:29:46.059
 the world's most

00:29:46.059 --> 00:29:47.179
 enticing invitation

00:29:47.179 --> 00:29:47.980
 is to seek

00:29:47.980 --> 00:29:49.059
 my own comfort

00:29:49.059 --> 00:29:50.099
 in every way

00:29:50.099 --> 00:29:51.299
 to care for myself.

00:29:51.419 --> 00:29:52.019
 This is my pleasure

00:29:52.019 --> 00:29:52.639
 my satisfaction

00:29:52.639 --> 00:29:52.939
 my

00:29:52.939 --> 00:29:54.299
 it's my happiness

00:29:54.299 --> 00:29:54.879
 it's my children

00:29:54.879 --> 00:29:55.359
 it's my house

00:29:55.359 --> 00:29:56.039
 it's my country

00:29:56.039 --> 00:29:57.839
 it's my money

00:29:57.839 --> 00:29:59.359
 mine mine mine mine

00:29:59.359 --> 00:30:00.500
 like the seagulls

00:30:00.500 --> 00:30:01.139
 in Finding Nemo

00:30:01.139 --> 00:30:05.039
 but in the kingdom

00:30:05.039 --> 00:30:05.419
 of God

00:30:05.419 --> 00:30:06.559
 we belong to each other

00:30:06.559 --> 00:30:07.979
 someone else's problem

00:30:07.979 --> 00:30:09.579
 is our problem.

00:30:12.219 --> 00:30:13.119
 The way of Jesus

00:30:13.119 --> 00:30:13.939
 invites us to lose

00:30:13.939 --> 00:30:14.500
 our life

00:30:14.500 --> 00:30:15.240
 that we might

00:30:15.240 --> 00:30:15.959
 find it

00:30:15.959 --> 00:30:17.199
 and he is with us

00:30:17.199 --> 00:30:18.199
 every step

00:30:18.199 --> 00:30:19.199
 of the way.

00:30:19.819 --> 00:30:20.419
 The reality is

00:30:20.419 --> 00:30:21.419
 our Bay Area communities

00:30:21.419 --> 00:30:22.139
 are in crisis

00:30:22.139 --> 00:30:22.859
 there are more children

00:30:22.859 --> 00:30:23.740
 entering foster care

00:30:23.740 --> 00:30:24.899
 right here in Alameda County

00:30:24.899 --> 00:30:25.639
 than there are families

00:30:25.640 --> 00:30:26.240
 to welcome them.

00:30:27.280 --> 00:30:27.620
 Do you know that

00:30:27.620 --> 00:30:28.840
 50% of the kids

00:30:28.840 --> 00:30:29.320
 who enter

00:30:29.320 --> 00:30:30.980
 are sent out

00:30:30.980 --> 00:30:31.540
 of county

00:30:31.540 --> 00:30:32.880
 they're displaced

00:30:32.880 --> 00:30:33.560
 from their communities

00:30:33.560 --> 00:30:34.120
 because there's not

00:30:34.120 --> 00:30:34.680
 enough homes

00:30:34.680 --> 00:30:35.500
 here for them.

00:30:36.020 --> 00:30:36.920
 Kids from 0

00:30:36.920 --> 00:30:37.920
 to 21.

00:30:38.660 --> 00:30:39.140
 Can you imagine

00:30:39.140 --> 00:30:39.820
 being a teenager

00:30:39.820 --> 00:30:40.340
 in Oakland

00:30:40.340 --> 00:30:41.759
 removed from your home

00:30:41.759 --> 00:30:44.120
 and you're moved

00:30:44.120 --> 00:30:44.560
 to Merced?

00:30:47.560 --> 00:30:48.740
 You lose your high school

00:30:48.740 --> 00:30:49.480
 your community

00:30:49.480 --> 00:30:50.240
 your friends

00:30:50.240 --> 00:30:51.259
 your extended family

00:30:51.259 --> 00:30:52.240
 the smells

00:30:52.240 --> 00:30:52.900
 of your neighborhood

00:30:52.900 --> 00:30:55.040
 on top of losing

00:30:55.039 --> 00:30:56.259
 your biological family

00:30:56.259 --> 00:30:58.559
 as broken as it is

00:30:58.559 --> 00:30:59.319
 it's still your family

00:30:59.319 --> 00:31:01.220
 the displacement

00:31:01.220 --> 00:31:02.000
 of these kids

00:31:02.000 --> 00:31:02.899
 is tragic

00:31:02.899 --> 00:31:04.399
 and as followers

00:31:04.399 --> 00:31:04.899
 of Jesus

00:31:04.899 --> 00:31:05.700
 the invitation

00:31:05.700 --> 00:31:06.639
 to love our neighbor

00:31:06.639 --> 00:31:07.579
 is on the top

00:31:07.579 --> 00:31:08.159
 of the list

00:31:08.159 --> 00:31:09.819
 and we're sending

00:31:09.819 --> 00:31:10.500
 our most vulnerable

00:31:10.500 --> 00:31:11.200
 neighbors away

00:31:11.200 --> 00:31:11.980
 saying

00:31:11.980 --> 00:31:13.180
 we just can't do it

00:31:13.180 --> 00:31:14.460
 this is not my problem

00:31:14.460 --> 00:31:15.879
 I can't do it

00:31:15.879 --> 00:31:20.079
 Foster the Bay

00:31:20.079 --> 00:31:21.039
 is simply a coalition

00:31:21.039 --> 00:31:21.619
 of churches

00:31:21.619 --> 00:31:22.639
 including Christ Church

00:31:22.639 --> 00:31:23.220
 that are committed

00:31:23.220 --> 00:31:24.059
 to ending this crisis

00:31:24.059 --> 00:31:24.759
 we want to see

00:31:24.759 --> 00:31:25.700
 a waiting list

00:31:25.700 --> 00:31:26.200
 of families

00:31:26.200 --> 00:31:26.839
 instead of a waiting

00:31:26.839 --> 00:31:27.500
 list of children

00:31:27.500 --> 00:31:29.319
 if every church

00:31:29.319 --> 00:31:30.119
 just a fraction

00:31:30.119 --> 00:31:30.500
 of churches

00:31:30.500 --> 00:31:31.119
 raised up one

00:31:31.119 --> 00:31:31.759
 foster family

00:31:31.759 --> 00:31:32.819
 and wrapped that

00:31:32.819 --> 00:31:33.299
 family with the

00:31:33.299 --> 00:31:33.940
 support of four

00:31:33.940 --> 00:31:34.920
 support friends

00:31:34.920 --> 00:31:35.720
 who took the journey

00:31:35.720 --> 00:31:36.099
 with them

00:31:36.099 --> 00:31:36.559
 in the context

00:31:36.559 --> 00:31:37.099
 of the community

00:31:37.099 --> 00:31:38.160
 we'd have more

00:31:38.160 --> 00:31:38.839
 than enough families

00:31:38.839 --> 00:31:39.759
 to meet the needs

00:31:39.759 --> 00:31:40.180
 of these kids

00:31:40.180 --> 00:31:40.779
 entering care

00:31:40.779 --> 00:31:42.900
 we need a waiting

00:31:42.900 --> 00:31:43.619
 list not just

00:31:43.619 --> 00:31:44.400
 for the 0 to 2

00:31:44.400 --> 00:31:46.680
 we need a waiting

00:31:46.680 --> 00:31:47.420
 list for the 15

00:31:47.420 --> 00:31:47.799
 year old

00:31:47.799 --> 00:31:49.400
 for the 13

00:31:49.400 --> 00:31:50.039
 and 11 year old

00:31:50.039 --> 00:31:50.539
 siblings

00:31:50.539 --> 00:31:52.980
 can you imagine

00:31:52.980 --> 00:31:54.039
 being taken

00:31:54.039 --> 00:31:54.779
 from your parents

00:31:54.779 --> 00:31:55.759
 and your sibling

00:31:55.759 --> 00:31:56.180
 is placed

00:31:56.180 --> 00:31:56.559
 in a different

00:31:56.559 --> 00:31:56.980
 home than you

00:31:56.980 --> 00:31:57.180
 are

00:31:57.180 --> 00:32:04.599
 so that's the

00:32:04.599 --> 00:32:04.980
 invitation

00:32:04.980 --> 00:32:06.480
 into the

00:32:06.480 --> 00:32:07.359
 restoration story

00:32:07.359 --> 00:32:07.899
 that God wants

00:32:07.899 --> 00:32:08.259
 to write

00:32:08.259 --> 00:32:09.539
 in your life

00:32:09.539 --> 00:32:10.319
 and the lives

00:32:10.319 --> 00:32:11.099
 of kids in foster

00:32:11.099 --> 00:32:11.399
 care

00:32:11.399 --> 00:32:12.480
 there's two ways

00:32:12.480 --> 00:32:13.159
 you can get involved

00:32:13.159 --> 00:32:13.539
 one

00:32:13.539 --> 00:32:14.399
 we need foster

00:32:14.399 --> 00:32:14.799
 parents

00:32:14.799 --> 00:32:16.940
 if you have

00:32:16.940 --> 00:32:17.579
 a nudge

00:32:17.579 --> 00:32:18.000
 at all

00:32:18.000 --> 00:32:19.419
 if you have

00:32:19.419 --> 00:32:19.759
 a nudge

00:32:19.759 --> 00:32:20.279
 at all

00:32:20.279 --> 00:32:21.319
 around these

00:32:21.319 --> 00:32:21.659
 kids

00:32:21.659 --> 00:32:23.059
 just take

00:32:23.059 --> 00:32:23.379
 the next

00:32:23.379 --> 00:32:23.639
 step

00:32:23.639 --> 00:32:24.960
 this is a

00:32:24.960 --> 00:32:25.359
 time in their

00:32:25.359 --> 00:32:25.680
 life where

00:32:25.680 --> 00:32:25.980
 they need

00:32:25.980 --> 00:32:26.259
 someone

00:32:26.259 --> 00:32:27.779
 who will

00:32:27.779 --> 00:32:28.480
 say we're

00:32:28.480 --> 00:32:29.460
 still here

00:32:29.460 --> 00:32:31.240
 we're not

00:32:31.240 --> 00:32:31.799
 going anywhere

00:32:31.799 --> 00:32:33.039
 and I realize

00:32:33.039 --> 00:32:33.720
 that this is a

00:32:33.720 --> 00:32:34.180
 big ask

00:32:34.180 --> 00:32:34.779
 to consider

00:32:34.779 --> 00:32:35.579
 opening your

00:32:35.579 --> 00:32:36.000
 home up

00:32:36.000 --> 00:32:36.379
 to a kid

00:32:36.379 --> 00:32:36.759
 in foster

00:32:36.759 --> 00:32:37.059
 care

00:32:37.059 --> 00:32:38.960
 but if not

00:32:38.960 --> 00:32:39.419
 the resurrection

00:32:39.419 --> 00:32:40.019
 people

00:32:40.019 --> 00:32:40.919
 then who

00:32:40.919 --> 00:32:44.159
 if not us

00:32:44.159 --> 00:32:44.559
 then who

00:32:44.559 --> 00:32:45.639
 stepping into

00:32:45.639 --> 00:32:46.099
 these stories

00:32:46.099 --> 00:32:46.519
 will be filled

00:32:46.519 --> 00:32:47.359
 with unspeakable

00:32:47.359 --> 00:32:47.940
 joy and

00:32:47.940 --> 00:32:48.500
 heart-wrenching

00:32:48.500 --> 00:32:48.899
 pain

00:32:48.899 --> 00:32:49.819
 you're stepping

00:32:49.819 --> 00:32:50.519
 straight into

00:32:50.519 --> 00:32:51.200
 chaos and

00:32:51.200 --> 00:32:51.700
 brokenness

00:32:51.700 --> 00:32:52.480
 it's complicated

00:32:52.480 --> 00:32:53.259
 and it's hard

00:32:53.259 --> 00:32:53.839
 and it's

00:32:53.839 --> 00:32:54.259
 beautiful

00:32:54.259 --> 00:32:55.059
 and it will

00:32:55.059 --> 00:32:55.500
 change you

00:32:55.500 --> 00:32:55.879
 in ways you

00:32:55.879 --> 00:32:56.599
 can't imagine

00:32:56.599 --> 00:32:58.899
 let me tell

00:32:58.899 --> 00:32:59.339
 you I used

00:32:59.339 --> 00:32:59.919
 to think life

00:32:59.919 --> 00:33:00.799
 was you

00:33:00.799 --> 00:33:01.299
 did this

00:33:01.299 --> 00:33:01.679
 and this

00:33:01.679 --> 00:33:01.940
 and then you

00:33:01.940 --> 00:33:02.519
 get this

00:33:02.519 --> 00:33:03.519
 until I

00:33:03.519 --> 00:33:03.859
 stepped into

00:33:03.859 --> 00:33:04.379
 foster care

00:33:04.379 --> 00:33:05.980
 and the

00:33:05.980 --> 00:33:06.619
 messiness

00:33:06.619 --> 00:33:07.440
 of what it

00:33:07.440 --> 00:33:07.839
 means to be

00:33:07.839 --> 00:33:08.179
 human

00:33:08.179 --> 00:33:11.099
 and how

00:33:11.099 --> 00:33:11.559
 different it

00:33:11.559 --> 00:33:11.919
 is to be

00:33:11.919 --> 00:33:12.220
 born into

00:33:12.220 --> 00:33:12.539
 the family

00:33:12.539 --> 00:33:13.039
 I was born

00:33:13.039 --> 00:33:13.319
 into

00:33:13.319 --> 00:33:14.460
 the family

00:33:14.460 --> 00:33:14.899
 of the

00:33:14.899 --> 00:33:15.559
 child that

00:33:15.559 --> 00:33:15.819
 we took

00:33:15.819 --> 00:33:16.059
 when he

00:33:16.059 --> 00:33:16.879
 was three

00:33:16.879 --> 00:33:17.179
 and his

00:33:17.179 --> 00:33:17.460
 mom had

00:33:17.460 --> 00:33:18.019
 been trafficked

00:33:18.019 --> 00:33:18.799
 at 16

00:33:18.799 --> 00:33:19.339
 from a bus

00:33:19.339 --> 00:33:19.619
 stop

00:33:19.619 --> 00:33:21.240
 by a

00:33:21.240 --> 00:33:21.759
 Romeo pimp

00:33:21.759 --> 00:33:22.240
 pretending to

00:33:22.240 --> 00:33:22.619
 be her

00:33:22.619 --> 00:33:23.720
 boyfriend

00:33:23.720 --> 00:33:27.220
 within two

00:33:27.220 --> 00:33:27.519
 months of

00:33:27.519 --> 00:33:27.960
 meeting her

00:33:27.960 --> 00:33:28.559
 she was out

00:33:28.559 --> 00:33:29.119
 on international

00:33:29.119 --> 00:33:29.399
 bull

00:33:29.399 --> 00:33:30.720
 he brought

00:33:30.720 --> 00:33:30.960
 her up

00:33:30.960 --> 00:33:31.359
 from LA

00:33:31.359 --> 00:33:36.759
 why

00:33:36.759 --> 00:33:37.039
 why is that

00:33:37.039 --> 00:33:37.539
 her path

00:33:37.539 --> 00:33:39.279
 why do I

00:33:39.279 --> 00:33:39.819
 get to be

00:33:39.819 --> 00:33:40.199
 born into

00:33:40.199 --> 00:33:40.599
 a family

00:33:40.599 --> 00:33:40.939
 who from

00:33:40.939 --> 00:33:41.240
 the day

00:33:41.240 --> 00:33:41.740
 I'm born

00:33:41.740 --> 00:33:42.039
 the day

00:33:42.039 --> 00:33:42.740
 I'm conceived

00:33:42.740 --> 00:33:43.959
 I'm celebrated

00:33:43.959 --> 00:33:44.539
 and loved

00:33:44.539 --> 00:33:44.859
 and everything

00:33:44.859 --> 00:33:45.319
 is paid

00:33:45.319 --> 00:33:45.599
 for

00:33:45.599 --> 00:33:45.799
 and you

00:33:45.799 --> 00:33:46.019
 can do

00:33:46.019 --> 00:33:46.619
 anything

00:33:46.619 --> 00:33:49.839
 what I

00:33:49.839 --> 00:33:50.159
 have been

00:33:50.159 --> 00:33:50.539
 given

00:33:50.539 --> 00:33:52.219
 wow

00:33:52.219 --> 00:33:52.599
 I am

00:33:52.599 --> 00:33:53.240
 responsible

00:33:53.240 --> 00:33:53.779
 to share

00:33:53.779 --> 00:33:54.039
 what I

00:33:54.039 --> 00:33:54.259
 have been

00:33:54.259 --> 00:33:54.559
 given

00:33:54.559 --> 00:33:56.240
 as many

00:33:56.240 --> 00:33:56.519
 of us

00:33:56.519 --> 00:33:56.779
 in this

00:33:56.779 --> 00:33:56.939
 room

00:33:56.939 --> 00:33:57.179
 are

00:33:57.179 --> 00:33:58.559
 whatever

00:33:58.559 --> 00:33:59.240
 we have

00:33:59.240 --> 00:34:00.099
 we give

00:34:00.099 --> 00:34:01.960
 the second

00:34:01.960 --> 00:34:02.259
 role you

00:34:02.259 --> 00:34:02.559
 could step

00:34:02.559 --> 00:34:02.919
 into is

00:34:02.919 --> 00:34:03.139
 that of

00:34:03.139 --> 00:34:03.519
 a support

00:34:03.519 --> 00:34:03.819
 friend

00:34:03.819 --> 00:34:04.759
 who come

00:34:04.759 --> 00:34:05.079
 around

00:34:05.079 --> 00:34:06.079
 those foster

00:34:06.079 --> 00:34:06.519
 families

00:34:06.519 --> 00:34:07.099
 offering them

00:34:07.099 --> 00:34:07.500
 tangible

00:34:07.500 --> 00:34:08.279
 spiritual

00:34:08.279 --> 00:34:08.759
 emotional

00:34:08.759 --> 00:34:09.279
 support

00:34:09.279 --> 00:34:09.599
 because

00:34:09.599 --> 00:34:09.980
 foster

00:34:09.980 --> 00:34:10.279
 parenting

00:34:10.279 --> 00:34:10.539
 is

00:34:10.539 --> 00:34:10.980
 challenging

00:34:10.980 --> 00:34:13.119
 50 to

00:34:13.119 --> 00:34:13.719
 60%

00:34:13.719 --> 00:34:14.179
 of folks

00:34:14.179 --> 00:34:14.440
 quit

00:34:14.440 --> 00:34:14.880
 after the

00:34:14.880 --> 00:34:15.279
 first year

00:34:15.279 --> 00:34:15.579
 but we've

00:34:15.579 --> 00:34:15.860
 seen this

00:34:15.860 --> 00:34:16.199
 radically

00:34:16.199 --> 00:34:16.799
 change

00:34:16.799 --> 00:34:17.500
 when you

00:34:17.500 --> 00:34:17.860
 have

00:34:17.860 --> 00:34:18.460
 support

00:34:18.460 --> 00:34:18.719
 the

00:34:18.719 --> 00:34:19.019
 support

00:34:19.019 --> 00:34:19.299
 of your

00:34:19.299 --> 00:34:19.539
 church

00:34:19.539 --> 00:34:20.059
 community

00:34:20.059 --> 00:34:21.259
 committed

00:34:21.259 --> 00:34:22.059
 to you

00:34:22.059 --> 00:34:22.579
 not saying

00:34:22.579 --> 00:34:23.059
 hey let me

00:34:23.059 --> 00:34:23.320
 know if you

00:34:23.320 --> 00:34:23.679
 need something

00:34:23.679 --> 00:34:24.259
 that's amazing

00:34:24.259 --> 00:34:24.699
 I can never

00:34:24.699 --> 00:34:25.259
 do that

00:34:25.259 --> 00:34:26.259
 call me

00:34:26.259 --> 00:34:27.340
 no

00:34:27.340 --> 00:34:29.940
 that is not

00:34:29.940 --> 00:34:30.180
 a support

00:34:30.180 --> 00:34:30.340
 friend

00:34:30.340 --> 00:34:30.720
 a support

00:34:30.720 --> 00:34:30.980
 friend is

00:34:30.980 --> 00:34:31.340
 someone who

00:34:31.340 --> 00:34:31.860
 actually

00:34:31.860 --> 00:34:32.680
 commits

00:34:32.680 --> 00:34:33.940
 to

00:34:33.940 --> 00:34:35.000
 showing

00:34:35.000 --> 00:34:35.680
 up for

00:34:35.680 --> 00:34:35.940
 you

00:34:35.940 --> 00:34:36.280
 on a

00:34:36.280 --> 00:34:36.740
 consistent

00:34:36.740 --> 00:34:37.740
 long term

00:34:37.740 --> 00:34:38.240
 regular

00:34:38.240 --> 00:34:38.740
 basis

00:34:38.740 --> 00:34:44.380
 support

00:34:44.380 --> 00:34:44.780
 friends

00:34:44.780 --> 00:34:45.900
 can be

00:34:45.900 --> 00:34:46.360
 there for

00:34:46.360 --> 00:34:46.860
 devoted

00:34:46.860 --> 00:34:47.539
 prayer and

00:34:47.539 --> 00:34:48.059
 encouragement

00:34:48.059 --> 00:34:48.680
 on hard

00:34:48.680 --> 00:34:49.059
 days

00:34:49.059 --> 00:34:50.220
 they can be

00:34:50.220 --> 00:34:50.440
 there to

00:34:50.440 --> 00:34:50.740
 bring a

00:34:50.740 --> 00:34:50.980
 meal

00:34:50.980 --> 00:34:51.579
 to provide

00:34:51.579 --> 00:34:52.280
 child care

00:34:52.280 --> 00:34:52.880
 to help

00:34:52.880 --> 00:34:53.200
 you fix

00:34:53.200 --> 00:34:53.440
 up your

00:34:53.440 --> 00:34:53.620
 home

00:34:53.620 --> 00:34:53.860
 to get

00:34:53.860 --> 00:34:54.360
 licensed

00:34:54.360 --> 00:34:55.260
 to maybe

00:34:55.260 --> 00:34:55.720
 do fix

00:34:55.720 --> 00:34:56.059
 it and

00:34:56.059 --> 00:34:56.420
 repairs

00:34:56.420 --> 00:34:56.840
 to

00:34:56.840 --> 00:34:58.420
 help

00:34:58.420 --> 00:34:58.800
 with yard

00:34:58.800 --> 00:34:58.960
 work

00:34:58.960 --> 00:34:59.240
 to pay

00:34:59.240 --> 00:34:59.480
 for your

00:34:59.480 --> 00:34:59.680
 house

00:34:59.680 --> 00:34:59.900
 to be

00:34:59.900 --> 00:35:00.140
 clean

00:35:00.140 --> 00:35:01.420
 knowing

00:35:01.420 --> 00:35:01.700
 that you

00:35:01.700 --> 00:35:02.100
 have this

00:35:02.100 --> 00:35:02.440
 village

00:35:02.440 --> 00:35:03.039
 around you

00:35:03.039 --> 00:35:03.380
 when you're

00:35:03.380 --> 00:35:03.780
 walking through

00:35:03.780 --> 00:35:04.280
 such a hard

00:35:04.280 --> 00:35:05.440
 story can

00:35:05.440 --> 00:35:05.980
 make all the

00:35:05.980 --> 00:35:06.340
 difference

00:35:06.340 --> 00:35:06.820
 we've seen

00:35:06.820 --> 00:35:07.660
 90% of our

00:35:07.660 --> 00:35:08.620
 families sustain

00:35:08.620 --> 00:35:09.980
 beyond a year

00:35:09.980 --> 00:35:10.900
 and foster the

00:35:10.900 --> 00:35:11.640
 bay because of

00:35:11.640 --> 00:35:12.059
 the support

00:35:12.059 --> 00:35:12.620
 friend structure

00:35:12.620 --> 00:35:13.120
 around these

00:35:13.120 --> 00:35:13.440
 families

00:35:13.440 --> 00:35:14.260
 that's powerful

00:35:14.260 --> 00:35:18.200
 we're all

00:35:18.200 --> 00:35:19.039
 called show up

00:35:19.039 --> 00:35:19.559
 for vulnerable

00:35:19.559 --> 00:35:20.079
 children within

00:35:20.079 --> 00:35:20.519
 our community

00:35:20.519 --> 00:35:21.160
 in some way

00:35:21.160 --> 00:35:21.780
 the question

00:35:21.780 --> 00:35:22.260
 is how

00:35:22.260 --> 00:35:23.519
 so I'd like

00:35:23.519 --> 00:35:24.019
 to just invite

00:35:24.019 --> 00:35:24.460
 you to simply

00:35:24.460 --> 00:35:25.059
 take the next

00:35:25.059 --> 00:35:25.420
 step

00:35:25.420 --> 00:35:26.240
 we have

00:35:26.240 --> 00:35:26.599
 a table

00:35:26.599 --> 00:35:26.920
 and our

00:35:26.920 --> 00:35:27.619
 fantastic

00:35:27.619 --> 00:35:28.139
 advocates

00:35:28.139 --> 00:35:28.720
 Sharon and

00:35:28.720 --> 00:35:29.159
 Shay will be

00:35:29.159 --> 00:35:29.619
 at the table

00:35:29.619 --> 00:35:29.980
 and there's

00:35:29.980 --> 00:35:30.700
 a card in

00:35:30.700 --> 00:35:30.980
 the back

00:35:30.980 --> 00:35:32.280
 over here

00:35:32.280 --> 00:35:32.599
 in this

00:35:32.599 --> 00:35:33.220
 community area

00:35:33.220 --> 00:35:34.119
 and you can

00:35:34.119 --> 00:35:34.639
 fill that out

00:35:34.639 --> 00:35:35.079
 and we're

00:35:35.079 --> 00:35:35.280
 going to have

00:35:35.280 --> 00:35:35.559
 a meeting

00:35:35.559 --> 00:35:36.119
 here at

00:35:36.119 --> 00:35:36.720
 regeneration

00:35:36.720 --> 00:35:37.360
 in Oakland

00:35:37.360 --> 00:35:38.039
 on July

00:35:38.039 --> 00:35:38.680
 31st

00:35:38.680 --> 00:35:39.500
 if you feel

00:35:39.500 --> 00:35:40.280
 at all

00:35:40.280 --> 00:35:41.220
 moved

00:35:41.220 --> 00:35:41.840
 by what

00:35:41.840 --> 00:35:42.119
 you've heard

00:35:42.119 --> 00:35:42.440
 today

00:35:42.440 --> 00:35:43.180
 at all

00:35:43.180 --> 00:35:43.539
 wanting to

00:35:43.539 --> 00:35:43.920
 hear a little

00:35:43.920 --> 00:35:44.320
 bit more

00:35:44.320 --> 00:35:44.720
 just take

00:35:44.720 --> 00:35:44.980
 the next

00:35:44.980 --> 00:35:45.099
 step

00:35:45.099 --> 00:35:45.420
 I'm not

00:35:45.420 --> 00:35:45.579
 going to

00:35:45.579 --> 00:35:45.800
 drop a

00:35:45.800 --> 00:35:46.079
 child in

00:35:46.079 --> 00:35:46.420
 foster care

00:35:46.420 --> 00:35:46.720
 off with

00:35:46.720 --> 00:35:46.840
 you

00:35:46.840 --> 00:35:47.159
 tomorrow

00:35:47.159 --> 00:35:49.920
 this is the

00:35:49.920 --> 00:35:50.079
 thing

00:35:50.079 --> 00:35:50.680
 when God

00:35:50.680 --> 00:35:51.760
 invites us

00:35:51.760 --> 00:35:52.159
 into doing

00:35:52.159 --> 00:35:52.800
 hard things

00:35:52.800 --> 00:35:54.100
 we just jump

00:35:54.100 --> 00:35:54.539
 to ten

00:35:54.539 --> 00:35:54.980
 steps

00:35:54.980 --> 00:35:55.460
 we think

00:35:55.460 --> 00:35:55.840
 oh but I

00:35:55.840 --> 00:35:56.420
 can't do

00:35:56.420 --> 00:35:57.140
 this tomorrow

00:35:57.140 --> 00:35:58.400
 well you don't

00:35:58.400 --> 00:35:58.740
 have to do

00:35:58.740 --> 00:35:59.160
 this tomorrow

00:35:59.160 --> 00:36:00.080
 you just take

00:36:00.080 --> 00:36:00.780
 the next step

00:36:00.780 --> 00:36:01.340
 and then wait

00:36:01.340 --> 00:36:01.820
 for God to show

00:36:01.820 --> 00:36:02.140
 you the next

00:36:02.140 --> 00:36:02.500
 step and then

00:36:02.500 --> 00:36:02.820
 you take the

00:36:02.820 --> 00:36:03.140
 next step

00:36:03.140 --> 00:36:03.660
 and this is how

00:36:03.660 --> 00:36:03.940
 it is with

00:36:03.940 --> 00:36:04.480
 anything in life

00:36:04.480 --> 00:36:04.840
 that God's

00:36:04.840 --> 00:36:05.200
 speaking to you

00:36:05.200 --> 00:36:05.500
 about this

00:36:05.500 --> 00:36:05.720
 morning

00:36:05.720 --> 00:36:06.060
 whether it's

00:36:06.060 --> 00:36:06.420
 foster care

00:36:06.420 --> 00:36:06.760
 or something

00:36:06.760 --> 00:36:07.100
 else he's

00:36:07.100 --> 00:36:07.460
 inviting you

00:36:07.460 --> 00:36:07.620
 into

00:36:07.620 --> 00:36:08.260
 you just

00:36:08.260 --> 00:36:08.519
 take the

00:36:08.519 --> 00:36:08.800
 next step

00:36:08.800 --> 00:36:09.160
 don't worry

00:36:09.160 --> 00:36:09.500
 about step

00:36:09.500 --> 00:36:09.780
 ten

00:36:09.780 --> 00:36:10.980
 he'll worry

00:36:10.980 --> 00:36:11.260
 about that

00:36:11.260 --> 00:36:11.440
 when you

00:36:11.440 --> 00:36:11.760
 get there

00:36:11.760 --> 00:36:12.820
 just do it

00:36:12.820 --> 00:36:13.380
 right now

00:36:13.380 --> 00:36:15.260
 so Paul's

00:36:15.260 --> 00:36:15.519
 phrase

00:36:15.519 --> 00:36:16.080
 we're still

00:36:16.080 --> 00:36:16.300
 here

00:36:16.300 --> 00:36:16.600
 kind of

00:36:16.600 --> 00:36:17.080
 summing it

00:36:17.080 --> 00:36:17.420
 up here

00:36:22.800 --> 00:36:24.400
 every child

00:36:24.400 --> 00:36:25.000
 is someone

00:36:25.000 --> 00:36:25.880
 fighting for

00:36:25.880 --> 00:36:26.140
 them

00:36:26.140 --> 00:36:26.880
 much like

00:36:26.880 --> 00:36:27.460
 that story

00:36:27.460 --> 00:36:28.539
 that Jesus

00:36:28.539 --> 00:36:28.940
 tells the

00:36:28.940 --> 00:36:29.440
 prodigal son

00:36:29.440 --> 00:36:30.060
 who's waiting

00:36:30.060 --> 00:36:31.260
 this father

00:36:31.260 --> 00:36:32.360
 is waiting

00:36:32.360 --> 00:36:32.780
 at the door

00:36:32.780 --> 00:36:33.320
 for his son

00:36:33.320 --> 00:36:33.780
 to return

00:36:33.780 --> 00:36:34.560
 I'm still

00:36:34.560 --> 00:36:35.080
 here

00:36:35.080 --> 00:36:35.700
 right

00:36:35.700 --> 00:36:36.180
 that's that

00:36:36.180 --> 00:36:36.580
 posture

00:36:36.580 --> 00:36:37.180
 I'm not

00:36:37.180 --> 00:36:37.880
 going anywhere

00:36:37.880 --> 00:36:38.900
 I will wait

00:36:38.900 --> 00:36:39.760
 and I will

00:36:39.760 --> 00:36:40.260
 be here

00:36:40.260 --> 00:36:41.060
 always

00:36:41.060 --> 00:36:42.660
 back to the

00:36:42.660 --> 00:36:43.060
 last few

00:36:43.060 --> 00:36:43.519
 verses of the

00:36:43.519 --> 00:36:44.019
 text today

00:36:44.019 --> 00:36:44.420
 the story

00:36:44.420 --> 00:36:44.880
 ends with

00:36:44.880 --> 00:36:45.300
 the jailer

00:36:45.300 --> 00:36:45.640
 asking

00:36:45.640 --> 00:36:46.200
 what must

00:36:46.200 --> 00:36:46.539
 I do

00:36:46.539 --> 00:36:46.800
 to be

00:36:46.800 --> 00:36:47.360
 saved

00:36:47.360 --> 00:36:49.060
 the faith

00:36:49.060 --> 00:36:49.300
 of these

00:36:49.300 --> 00:36:49.620
 men was

00:36:49.620 --> 00:36:50.380
 so compelling

00:36:50.380 --> 00:36:50.680
 the fact

00:36:50.680 --> 00:36:50.920
 that they

00:36:50.920 --> 00:36:51.460
 stayed

00:36:51.460 --> 00:36:51.900
 instead of

00:36:51.900 --> 00:36:52.320
 leaving

00:36:52.320 --> 00:36:53.620
 their joy

00:36:53.620 --> 00:36:53.920
 and their

00:36:53.920 --> 00:36:54.220
 suffering

00:36:54.220 --> 00:36:55.140
 their compassion

00:36:55.140 --> 00:36:55.760
 for him

00:36:55.760 --> 00:36:56.360
 when they

00:36:56.360 --> 00:36:56.680
 could have

00:36:56.680 --> 00:36:57.000
 left

00:36:57.000 --> 00:36:57.940
 this is all

00:36:57.940 --> 00:36:59.080
 just stunning

00:36:59.080 --> 00:36:59.440
 and it

00:36:59.440 --> 00:37:00.420
 captivates him

00:37:00.420 --> 00:37:01.260
 and he wants

00:37:01.260 --> 00:37:01.660
 what they

00:37:01.660 --> 00:37:02.220
 have

00:37:02.220 --> 00:37:03.420
 and so

00:37:03.420 --> 00:37:03.980
 they invite

00:37:03.980 --> 00:37:04.300
 him to

00:37:04.300 --> 00:37:05.039
 believe in

00:37:05.039 --> 00:37:05.360
 Jesus

00:37:05.360 --> 00:37:05.760
 and be

00:37:05.760 --> 00:37:06.220
 saved

00:37:06.220 --> 00:37:07.440
 the miracle

00:37:07.440 --> 00:37:07.780
 for the

00:37:07.780 --> 00:37:08.140
 jailer

00:37:08.140 --> 00:37:08.400
 was that

00:37:08.400 --> 00:37:08.580
 these

00:37:08.580 --> 00:37:09.039
 prisoners

00:37:09.039 --> 00:37:09.960
 stayed put

00:37:09.960 --> 00:37:10.320
 and this

00:37:10.320 --> 00:37:11.100
 leads to

00:37:11.100 --> 00:37:11.539
 immediate

00:37:11.539 --> 00:37:12.080
 transformation

00:37:12.080 --> 00:37:12.500
 in his

00:37:12.500 --> 00:37:12.880
 own life

00:37:12.880 --> 00:37:13.220
 he didn't

00:37:13.220 --> 00:37:13.700
 care

00:37:13.700 --> 00:37:14.480
 about their

00:37:14.480 --> 00:37:14.800
 wounds

00:37:14.800 --> 00:37:15.380
 until now

00:37:15.380 --> 00:37:15.680
 and now

00:37:15.680 --> 00:37:16.140
 he dresses

00:37:16.140 --> 00:37:16.480
 them

00:37:16.480 --> 00:37:17.320
 and feeds

00:37:17.320 --> 00:37:17.700
 them

00:37:17.700 --> 00:37:19.559
 cares for

00:37:19.559 --> 00:37:19.720
 them

00:37:19.720 --> 00:37:20.400
 and what's

00:37:20.400 --> 00:37:20.900
 so beautiful

00:37:20.900 --> 00:37:21.340
 is not

00:37:21.340 --> 00:37:21.680
 just the

00:37:21.680 --> 00:37:22.080
 jailer

00:37:22.079 --> 00:37:22.380
 is set

00:37:22.380 --> 00:37:22.519
 free

00:37:22.519 --> 00:37:22.819
 but his

00:37:22.819 --> 00:37:23.159
 whole

00:37:23.159 --> 00:37:23.900
 family

00:37:23.900 --> 00:37:24.819
 is swept

00:37:24.819 --> 00:37:25.219
 up into

00:37:25.219 --> 00:37:25.579
 the wonder

00:37:25.579 --> 00:37:26.079
 of Jesus

00:37:26.079 --> 00:37:26.500
 his whole

00:37:26.500 --> 00:37:27.179
 household

00:37:27.179 --> 00:37:27.920
 and they

00:37:27.920 --> 00:37:28.500
 all believe

00:37:28.500 --> 00:37:28.759
 and are

00:37:28.759 --> 00:37:29.119
 baptized

00:37:29.119 --> 00:37:30.179
 Jesus

00:37:30.179 --> 00:37:30.860
 love

00:37:30.860 --> 00:37:31.599
 embodied

00:37:31.599 --> 00:37:32.019
 in you

00:37:32.019 --> 00:37:32.639
 his people

00:37:32.639 --> 00:37:33.579
 changes

00:37:33.579 --> 00:37:34.500
 everything

00:37:34.500 --> 00:37:35.900
 because when you

00:37:35.900 --> 00:37:36.840
 live like this

00:37:36.840 --> 00:37:37.679
 people are like

00:37:37.679 --> 00:37:38.719
 what do you

00:37:38.719 --> 00:37:39.500
 what are you

00:37:39.500 --> 00:37:39.940
 doing

00:37:39.940 --> 00:37:40.639
 and why

00:37:40.639 --> 00:37:42.039
 people get

00:37:42.039 --> 00:37:42.380
 to know

00:37:42.380 --> 00:37:42.779
 and see

00:37:42.779 --> 00:37:43.239
 Jesus

00:37:43.239 --> 00:37:44.139
 reflected in

00:37:44.139 --> 00:37:44.360
 you

00:37:44.360 --> 00:37:44.980
 and I

00:37:44.980 --> 00:37:45.279
 believe that

00:37:45.279 --> 00:37:45.539
 when we

00:37:45.539 --> 00:37:45.920
 are filled

00:37:45.920 --> 00:37:46.239
 by the

00:37:46.239 --> 00:37:46.539
 spirit

00:37:46.539 --> 00:37:47.279
 that there

00:37:47.279 --> 00:37:47.559
 are times

00:37:47.559 --> 00:37:47.819
 when we

00:37:47.819 --> 00:37:48.119
 walk

00:37:48.119 --> 00:37:48.719
 into spaces

00:37:48.719 --> 00:37:49.400
 and there

00:37:49.400 --> 00:37:50.159
 is a light

00:37:50.159 --> 00:37:50.739
 and there

00:37:50.739 --> 00:37:51.420
 is a hope

00:37:51.420 --> 00:37:52.119
 and there

00:37:52.119 --> 00:37:53.159
 is a power

00:37:53.159 --> 00:37:53.819
 that we

00:37:53.819 --> 00:37:54.719
 hold and

00:37:54.719 --> 00:37:55.299
 carry with

00:37:55.299 --> 00:37:55.519
 us

00:37:55.519 --> 00:37:56.239
 that people

00:37:56.239 --> 00:37:56.799
 see

00:37:56.799 --> 00:37:57.899
 and that

00:37:57.899 --> 00:37:58.619
 draws them

00:37:58.619 --> 00:37:59.179
 to Jesus

00:37:59.179 --> 00:37:59.659
 and then let

00:37:59.659 --> 00:38:00.259
 him do the

00:38:00.259 --> 00:38:00.819
 heavy lifting

00:38:00.819 --> 00:38:02.059
 we don't have

00:38:02.059 --> 00:38:02.519
 to convince

00:38:02.519 --> 00:38:02.940
 anyone of

00:38:02.940 --> 00:38:03.199
 anything

00:38:03.199 --> 00:38:04.719
 we live

00:38:04.719 --> 00:38:05.259
 our lives

00:38:05.259 --> 00:38:05.799
 embodied in

00:38:05.799 --> 00:38:06.039
 the love

00:38:06.039 --> 00:38:06.399
 of Jesus

00:38:06.399 --> 00:38:07.259
 and trust

00:38:07.259 --> 00:38:08.019
 him to do

00:38:08.019 --> 00:38:08.719
 the work

00:38:08.719 --> 00:38:08.960
 that he

00:38:08.960 --> 00:38:09.319
 wants to

00:38:09.319 --> 00:38:09.519
 do

00:38:09.519 --> 00:38:11.460
 what does

00:38:11.460 --> 00:38:11.799
 Jesus

00:38:11.799 --> 00:38:12.219
 want

00:38:12.219 --> 00:38:13.920
 to do

00:38:13.920 --> 00:38:14.279
 in your

00:38:14.279 --> 00:38:14.659
 life

00:38:14.659 --> 00:38:15.619
 how is

00:38:15.619 --> 00:38:16.119
 he drawing

00:38:16.119 --> 00:38:16.619
 himself

00:38:16.619 --> 00:38:17.899
 to

00:38:17.899 --> 00:38:19.000
 how are

00:38:19.000 --> 00:38:19.319
 you being

00:38:19.319 --> 00:38:19.739
 drawn to

00:38:19.739 --> 00:38:20.019
 him

00:38:20.019 --> 00:38:21.500
 and invited

00:38:21.500 --> 00:38:22.039
 to leave

00:38:22.039 --> 00:38:22.759
 what's safe

00:38:22.759 --> 00:38:23.599
 and comfortable

00:38:23.599 --> 00:38:24.699
 to follow

00:38:24.699 --> 00:38:26.480
 the powerful

00:38:26.480 --> 00:38:27.039
 spirit

00:38:27.039 --> 00:38:27.920
 wherever he

00:38:27.920 --> 00:38:28.299
 leads

00:38:28.299 --> 00:38:29.480
 Jesus

00:38:29.480 --> 00:38:30.319
 he is the

00:38:30.319 --> 00:38:30.980
 chain breaker

00:38:30.980 --> 00:38:31.579
 he sets

00:38:31.579 --> 00:38:32.259
 people free

00:38:32.259 --> 00:38:33.000
 and then we

00:38:33.000 --> 00:38:33.339
 get to be

00:38:33.339 --> 00:38:34.119
 conduits of

00:38:34.119 --> 00:38:34.679
 this chain

00:38:34.679 --> 00:38:34.960
 breaking

00:38:34.960 --> 00:38:35.359
 freedom

00:38:35.359 --> 00:38:35.599
 that he

00:38:35.599 --> 00:38:35.980
 wants to

00:38:35.980 --> 00:38:36.359
 bring into

00:38:36.359 --> 00:38:36.819
 the lives

00:38:36.819 --> 00:38:37.139
 of the people

00:38:37.139 --> 00:38:37.339
 in our

00:38:37.339 --> 00:38:37.739
 community

00:38:37.739 --> 00:38:40.119
 as you

00:38:40.119 --> 00:38:40.639
 consider what

00:38:40.639 --> 00:38:41.039
 it looks

00:38:41.039 --> 00:38:41.519
 like to

00:38:41.519 --> 00:38:41.980
 move in

00:38:41.980 --> 00:38:42.480
 the power

00:38:42.480 --> 00:38:42.739
 of the

00:38:42.739 --> 00:38:42.960
 spirit

00:38:42.960 --> 00:38:43.599
 wherever he

00:38:43.599 --> 00:38:44.000
 leads

00:38:44.000 --> 00:38:44.559
 I just

00:38:44.559 --> 00:38:44.760
 want to

00:38:44.760 --> 00:38:45.119
 remind you

00:38:45.119 --> 00:38:45.460
 of this

00:38:45.460 --> 00:38:45.760
 poem

00:38:45.760 --> 00:38:46.739
 of St.

00:38:46.900 --> 00:38:47.239
 Teresa

00:38:47.239 --> 00:38:47.780
 of Avila

00:38:47.780 --> 00:38:49.820
 I'm going

00:38:49.820 --> 00:38:50.059
 to close

00:38:50.059 --> 00:38:50.559
 with this

00:38:50.559 --> 00:38:53.320
 Christ has

00:38:53.320 --> 00:38:53.920
 no body

00:38:53.920 --> 00:38:55.039
 but yours

00:38:55.039 --> 00:38:57.260
 no hands

00:38:57.260 --> 00:38:58.440
 no feet

00:38:58.440 --> 00:38:58.900
 on earth

00:38:58.900 --> 00:38:59.860
 but yours

00:38:59.860 --> 00:39:01.820
 yours are

00:39:01.820 --> 00:39:02.320
 the eyes

00:39:02.320 --> 00:39:03.019
 with which

00:39:03.019 --> 00:39:03.420
 he looks

00:39:03.420 --> 00:39:04.000
 compassion

00:39:04.000 --> 00:39:04.860
 on this

00:39:04.860 --> 00:39:05.199
 world

00:39:05.199 --> 00:39:06.900
 yours are

00:39:06.900 --> 00:39:07.380
 the feet

00:39:07.380 --> 00:39:08.420
 with which

00:39:08.420 --> 00:39:08.900
 he walks

00:39:08.900 --> 00:39:09.300
 to do

00:39:09.300 --> 00:39:09.619
 good

00:39:09.619 --> 00:39:11.380
 yours are

00:39:11.380 --> 00:39:12.000
 the hands

00:39:12.000 --> 00:39:12.659
 with which

00:39:12.659 --> 00:39:13.480
 he blesses

00:39:13.480 --> 00:39:14.380
 all the

00:39:14.380 --> 00:39:14.719
 world

00:39:14.719 --> 00:39:16.240
 yours are

00:39:16.240 --> 00:39:16.760
 the hands

00:39:16.760 --> 00:39:17.940
 yours are

00:39:17.940 --> 00:39:18.400
 the feet

00:39:18.400 --> 00:39:20.000
 yours are

00:39:20.000 --> 00:39:20.740
 the eyes

00:39:20.740 --> 00:39:21.840
 you are

00:39:21.840 --> 00:39:22.460
 his body

00:39:22.460 --> 00:39:24.320
 Christ

00:39:24.320 --> 00:39:25.240
 has no

00:39:25.240 --> 00:39:25.920
 body now

00:39:25.920 --> 00:39:27.460
 but yours

00:39:27.460 --> 00:39:29.440
 so Jesus

00:39:29.440 --> 00:39:30.240
 we give you

00:39:30.240 --> 00:39:31.000
 our bodies

00:39:31.000 --> 00:39:31.500
 right now

00:39:31.500 --> 00:39:35.539
 we give you

00:39:35.539 --> 00:39:36.219
 our hands

00:39:36.219 --> 00:39:38.079
 our feet

00:39:38.079 --> 00:39:38.800
 our hearts

00:39:38.800 --> 00:39:39.480
 and our eyes

00:39:39.480 --> 00:39:40.480
 love

00:39:40.480 --> 00:39:43.500
 I pray

00:39:43.500 --> 00:39:43.900
 that everyone

00:39:43.900 --> 00:39:44.519
 in this

00:39:44.519 --> 00:39:44.780
 room

00:39:44.780 --> 00:39:46.179
 that is

00:39:46.179 --> 00:39:46.699
 moved

00:39:46.699 --> 00:39:47.659
 by compassion

00:39:47.659 --> 00:39:48.760
 I pray

00:39:48.760 --> 00:39:49.039
 that their

00:39:49.039 --> 00:39:50.159
 compassion

00:39:50.159 --> 00:39:50.500
 would be

00:39:50.500 --> 00:39:50.980
 embodied

00:39:50.980 --> 00:39:51.679
 in actions

00:39:51.679 --> 00:39:51.960
 in the

00:39:51.960 --> 00:39:52.260
 world

00:39:52.260 --> 00:39:54.260
 I pray

00:39:54.260 --> 00:39:54.960
 that as

00:39:54.960 --> 00:39:55.199
 we

00:39:55.199 --> 00:39:57.179
 spend time

00:39:57.179 --> 00:39:57.980
 studying your

00:39:57.980 --> 00:39:58.300
 Bible

00:39:58.300 --> 00:40:00.179
 that it

00:40:00.179 --> 00:40:00.420
 would be

00:40:00.420 --> 00:40:01.440
 metabolized

00:40:01.440 --> 00:40:02.099
 into our

00:40:02.099 --> 00:40:02.740
 world

00:40:02.740 --> 00:40:03.280
 in the way

00:40:03.280 --> 00:40:03.480
 that we

00:40:03.480 --> 00:40:03.900
 live

00:40:03.900 --> 00:40:04.440
 and move

00:40:04.440 --> 00:40:07.179
 I pray

00:40:07.179 --> 00:40:07.559
 that for

00:40:07.559 --> 00:40:07.900
 anyone in

00:40:07.900 --> 00:40:08.320
 this room

00:40:08.320 --> 00:40:08.639
 who's

00:40:08.639 --> 00:40:08.960
 feeling

00:40:08.960 --> 00:40:09.940
 that they

00:40:09.940 --> 00:40:10.220
 are in

00:40:10.220 --> 00:40:10.740
 chains

00:40:10.740 --> 00:40:11.039
 that are

00:40:11.039 --> 00:40:12.220
 binding

00:40:12.220 --> 00:40:12.619
 them in

00:40:12.619 --> 00:40:12.920
 some way

00:40:12.920 --> 00:40:13.200
 I pray

00:40:13.200 --> 00:40:13.500
 that in

00:40:13.500 --> 00:40:14.039
 Jesus name

00:40:14.039 --> 00:40:14.280
 in the

00:40:14.280 --> 00:40:15.059
 powerful name

00:40:15.059 --> 00:40:15.420
 of Jesus

00:40:15.420 --> 00:40:15.740
 that you

00:40:15.740 --> 00:40:16.119
 would set

00:40:16.119 --> 00:40:16.539
 them free

00:40:16.539 --> 00:40:18.539
 and I

00:40:18.539 --> 00:40:18.820
 pray that

00:40:18.820 --> 00:40:19.139
 as we

00:40:19.139 --> 00:40:19.599
 walk in

00:40:19.599 --> 00:40:19.920
 freedom

00:40:19.920 --> 00:40:20.800
 as you

00:40:20.800 --> 00:40:21.360
 continue to

00:40:21.360 --> 00:40:21.860
 keep setting

00:40:21.860 --> 00:40:22.320
 us free

00:40:22.320 --> 00:40:22.559
 that we

00:40:22.559 --> 00:40:23.200
 would extend

00:40:23.200 --> 00:40:23.980
 what you

00:40:23.980 --> 00:40:24.340
 have given

00:40:24.340 --> 00:40:24.720
 us to

00:40:24.720 --> 00:40:25.000
 others

00:40:25.000 --> 00:40:25.260
 Lord

00:40:25.260 --> 00:40:26.420
 we give

00:40:26.420 --> 00:40:26.800
 ourselves

00:40:26.800 --> 00:40:27.139
 to you

00:40:27.139 --> 00:40:27.360
 and I

00:40:27.360 --> 00:40:27.679
 pray that

00:40:27.679 --> 00:40:28.099
 anything

00:40:28.099 --> 00:40:28.480
 that you're

00:40:28.480 --> 00:40:28.840
 saying

00:40:28.840 --> 00:40:29.200
 in this

00:40:29.200 --> 00:40:29.420
 room

00:40:29.420 --> 00:40:29.720
 I pray

00:40:29.720 --> 00:40:30.159
 that every

00:40:30.159 --> 00:40:30.500
 answer

00:40:30.500 --> 00:40:31.099
 to you

00:40:31.099 --> 00:40:31.420
 would be

00:40:31.420 --> 00:40:31.900
 yes

00:40:31.900 --> 00:40:32.780
 yes

00:40:32.780 --> 00:40:32.840
 yes

00:40:32.840 --> 00:40:33.579
 yes

00:40:33.579 --> 00:40:34.159
 in Jesus

00:40:34.159 --> 00:40:34.400
 name

00:40:34.400 --> 00:40:34.719
 I pray

00:40:34.719 --> 00:40:35.360
 amen