WEBVTT

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 You are listening to a message from Southwood Presbyterian Church in Huntsville, Alabama.

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 Our passion is to experience and express grace. Join us.

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 Wow. I missed worshiping here.

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 Can't tell me how many times I've sat in a church in Africa worshiping and been strengthened and encouraged,

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 remembering worshiping here and remembering that you were here doing the same thing across an ocean.

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 That song may get me through another year of being over there and remembering that.

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 So I hope the clerical collar doesn't throw you off too much.

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 In Africa, I actually work for the Episcopal Church of Sudan in South Sudan,

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 and this is what we would normally wear when we're over there.

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 And since I've been back and walking through places like Party City,

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 I've seen that this actually is sold here as a costume.

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 So I hope it's not too frightening for you, but I figured with heyday, it kind of serves a dual purpose.

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 And speaking of heyday, I'm really glad to come back for that, to be here for that kind of fellowship,

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 that kind of candy.

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 And also because I assume that since most of you are going, I have until 3 o'clock to preach.

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 So it'll be just like an African service going all day.

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 There's been a lot to happen in my life in the last year and a half since I've been over there.

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 There's a lot to come and tell you about.

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 A lot to tell you about what God has been doing.

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 I think I've boiled it down to a little less than three hours, so we'll see.

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 But for those of you who don't know, back in March in 2014,

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 I boarded a plane and I headed to Africa.

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 My plans, since signing up to be a missionary with what was at that time World Harvest and is now called Surge,

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 were to go and to serve as a pastor in the community of Mundri, South Sudan.

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 Seemed like a simple plan.

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 Plans change.

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 In fact, before I even departed for South Sudan, my plans had changed drastically.

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 Because in December of 2013, the president of South Sudan, Salva Kir,

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 accused his former vice president, who he had just fired, Rick Makar, of staging a coup.

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 Now, whether this happened or not, it did send the country into a civil war.

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 That is still going on.

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 South Sudan has been at war for 42 of the last 60 years.

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 It's kind of something they're used to.

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 It was not something I was used to.

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 But since the civil war broke out again,

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 the team that I had signed up to join also decided to go its different ways

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 and is now scattered in the States and in Kenya and various other places.

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 So the team that I wanted to join was no longer on the field,

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 and the field that I wanted to go to was no longer safe to go to,

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 and my plans seemed to be falling right and left.

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 So I came up with a new plan, a lot of them.

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 And I asked, and they allowed me to go ahead and to move to Nairobi, Kenya,

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 and to spend some time there waiting for the new team to get ready to come

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 and waiting for South Sudan to get peaceful enough for me to go in.

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 And so I joined a team in Nairobi.

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 I started learning about chronological Bible storytelling

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 and teaching seminars across Kenya.

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 I started helping out with the interns

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 and just really getting adjusted to African life.

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 It was a great, great experience for those few months,

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 helping me to ease into life there.

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 And by the end of July,

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 they had decided that it was peaceful enough,

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 safe enough,

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 for me to go ahead and move into South Sudan.

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 And so I did.

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 I went to Mundry to wait on my new team.

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 I spent several weeks by myself on the compound

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 waiting for them to come.

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 And by the end of September,

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 the whole team was then on the ground,

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 raring to go,

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 ready to see the work happen there,

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 to learn the language,

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 to get involved with the community,

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 to start preaching,

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 start teaching,

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 start working with everybody there.

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 And we started to see our plans unfold.

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 And then we started to see our plans fall apart.

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 By February,

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 my team leader and his family

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 had to be medically evacuated.

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 And a few weeks later,

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 the three of us that remained as a team

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 were evacuated for safety.

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 As we found out that

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 new government forces were on their way up to town

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 and we weren't sure just what they would do,

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 given their past record of

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 shooting first and asking questions never.

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 By the grace of God,

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 we were evacuated within 24 hours

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 and back to Kenya,

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 where we had no idea what we were going to do,

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 and thankfully God did.

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 We found work for the three of us

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 as our team leaders decided to stay in Nairobi

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 and not go back permanently

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 for the sake of their family and health.

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 And the three of us found our way

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 to a third team for me,

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 the Kajabi team,

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 working in the mountains of Kenya,

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 where it's much colder than South Sudan,

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 and I did not have any jackets.

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 We worked teaching at a missionary boarding school there.

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 And there we were also able to start

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 making yet another plan

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 to get back to South Sudan.

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 And this time we did it in a slightly roundabout way

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 by going to Uganda first

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 to look for a permanent backup site,

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 working with the refugees of our tribal group there,

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 the Moru tribe.

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 From there we saw that it was going to be able

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 to easier get into South Sudan

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 on some quick trips,

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 and by the end of August,

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 just a couple months ago,

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 we took one of those trips in

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 to take some relief to the community there

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 that had been so devastated by the fighting.

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 And then we came back,

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 and the three of us,

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 Will and Teresa and I,

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 returned to the States in mid-September,

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 a lot earlier than we expected,

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 and came home to regroup,

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 to refresh,

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 and to recruit,

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 if anybody's interested in serving overseas

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 in a war-torn area.

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 You can talk to me afterwards.

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 Especially doctors and engineers.

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 I know there's a few of those here.

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 So we're back in the States.

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 And yet again,

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 going back to the drawing board,

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 trying to find a plan

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 for returning

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 when we go back in January

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 to Uganda

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 and to South Sudan

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 to work.

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 And the violence

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 since we've been home

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 has increased

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 and gotten worse.

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 And much of Mundry

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 is no longer there.

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 And sometimes words

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 just don't come.

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 And plans don't seem

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 to be forming.

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 My teammate, Will,

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 was reflecting on this recently.

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 When we make plans

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 as a team,

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 generally I'm the one

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 that's sitting in the back

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 quiet

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 and has to be coaxed

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 into giving the opinion

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 right at the end.

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 And we kind of make Will speak first.

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 And since we think so much alike,

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 I tend to just say ditto

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 and go with whatever Will says.

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 And as Will has been back

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 reflecting on the same things

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 and thinking about having no words

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 but trying to figure out plans,

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 he wrote a blog recently.

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 And since he tends to

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 speak for me anyway,

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 I figured I'd let him do it

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 this morning.

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 So I want to share with you

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 just a little bit

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 about what he said

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 that led me to my passage

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 for today.

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 Will said,

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 in the midst of the uncertainty

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 and instability,

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 God has been clear

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 since we've been back

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 in the USA.

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 We're continuing

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 to pursue life

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 and ministry in Mundry.

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 This is the place

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 where I want to tell you

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 our great plan

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 and that it will be

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 to guarantee success.

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 But I don't have one.

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 I've realized recently

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 that God is more concerned

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 with my obedience

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 than my success.

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 I'm not saying

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 he doesn't want me

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 to be successful.

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 I'm saying my willingness

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 to be obedient

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 in the midst of uncertainty

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 and lack of understanding

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 is far more important

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 than having a guarantee

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 of success.

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 Paul seems to be

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 a great example of this.

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 I doubt he ever got on a boat

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 or entered a new city

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 thinking,

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 success will be

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 this ship wrecking

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 or success will only happen

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 after I've been arrested.

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 All Paul did

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 was continue to say yes

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 when God asked him

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 to do something.

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 He let God define success

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 by being open

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 to the guidance of the Spirit

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 and looking for opportunities

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 to sacrificially love others.

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 This is our aim,

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 to continue to say yes

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 when God asks us

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 to do something

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 so we've said yes.

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 Ditto.

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 We'll wrap it up

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 so perfectly

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 of what we've been feeling,

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 what we've been thinking

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 in this time

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 of waiting on the Lord,

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 making plans

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 but waiting for him

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 to direct them

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 and just being willing

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 to say yes.

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 And as Will and I

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 have been looking

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 at the Scriptures

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 for guidance

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 since we've been back

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 is Paul really has been

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 a great help to study.

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 And that's what led me

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 to the passage

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 I want to share with you

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 this morning.

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 Because like us,

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 like Paul,

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 I would bet

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 that there's a number

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 of you who have seen

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 your plans change

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 over the past years

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 and over the extent

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 of your life

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 and a number of you

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 who have been rocked

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 by uncertainty.

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 So I want to look

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 at how Scripture

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 deals with that.

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 How Paul made his plans

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 despite knowing

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 that God was likely

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 to change them.

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 How Paul surrounded

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 those plans in prayer

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 and how all of this

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 led him

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 and can lead us

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 to peace.

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 So if you would

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 turn with me

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 to Romans chapter 15.

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 Starting in verse 23,

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 let's see what Paul

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 has to say

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 about making plans.

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 In Romans 15,

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 Paul says,

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 but now,

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 since I no longer

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 have any room

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 for work in these regions

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 and since I've longed

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 for many years

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 to come to you,

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 I hope to see you

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 in passing

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 as I go to Spain

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 and to be helped

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 on my journey there

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 by you

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 once I have enjoyed

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 your company

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 for a while.

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 At present,

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 however,

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 I'm going to Jerusalem,

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 bringing aid

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 to the saints

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 from Macedonia

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 and Achaia

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 have been pleased

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 to make some contribution

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 for the poor

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 among the saints

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 in Jerusalem.

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 For they were pleased

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 to do it

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 and indeed

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 they owe it to them.

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 For if the Gentiles

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 have come to share

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 in the spiritual blessings,

00:10:30.039 --> 00:10:30.840
 they ought also

00:10:30.840 --> 00:10:31.639
 to be of service

00:10:31.639 --> 00:10:32.059
 to them

00:10:32.059 --> 00:10:32.980
 in material blessings.

00:10:34.000 --> 00:10:34.720
 When therefore

00:10:34.720 --> 00:10:36.019
 I have completed this

00:10:36.019 --> 00:10:36.960
 and have delivered

00:10:36.960 --> 00:10:37.480
 to them

00:10:37.480 --> 00:10:38.720
 what has been collected,

00:10:38.919 --> 00:10:39.600
 I will leave

00:10:39.600 --> 00:10:40.059
 for Spain

00:10:40.059 --> 00:10:40.759
 by way of you.

00:10:41.919 --> 00:10:42.580
 I know that

00:10:42.580 --> 00:10:43.360
 when I come to you,

00:10:43.740 --> 00:10:44.379
 I will come

00:10:44.379 --> 00:10:45.000
 in the fullness

00:10:45.000 --> 00:10:45.700
 of the blessing

00:10:45.700 --> 00:10:46.179
 of Christ.

00:10:47.460 --> 00:10:48.320
 And I appeal

00:10:48.320 --> 00:10:48.679
 to you,

00:10:48.799 --> 00:10:49.019
 brothers,

00:10:49.659 --> 00:10:50.360
 by our Lord

00:10:50.360 --> 00:10:51.159
 Jesus Christ,

00:10:51.259 --> 00:10:51.899
 by the love

00:10:51.899 --> 00:10:52.580
 of the Spirit

00:10:52.580 --> 00:10:53.939
 to strive together

00:10:53.939 --> 00:10:54.360
 with me

00:10:54.360 --> 00:10:55.039
 in your prayers

00:10:55.039 --> 00:10:55.559
 to God

00:10:55.559 --> 00:10:56.500
 on my behalf,

00:10:57.039 --> 00:10:58.659
 that I may be

00:10:58.659 --> 00:10:59.200
 delivered from

00:10:59.200 --> 00:10:59.799
 the unbelievers

00:10:59.799 --> 00:11:00.480
 in Judea,

00:11:01.200 --> 00:11:02.000
 and that my service

00:11:02.000 --> 00:11:02.600
 for Jerusalem

00:11:02.600 --> 00:11:03.419
 may be acceptable

00:11:03.419 --> 00:11:04.080
 to the saints,

00:11:04.759 --> 00:11:06.200
 so that by God's will

00:11:06.200 --> 00:11:07.639
 I may come to you

00:11:07.639 --> 00:11:08.120
 with joy

00:11:08.120 --> 00:11:08.899
 and be refreshed

00:11:08.899 --> 00:11:09.559
 in your company.

00:11:10.179 --> 00:11:10.860
 May the God

00:11:10.860 --> 00:11:11.399
 of peace

00:11:11.399 --> 00:11:12.440
 be with you all.

00:11:13.240 --> 00:11:13.600
 Amen.

00:11:14.660 --> 00:11:15.280
 It's the word

00:11:15.280 --> 00:11:15.700
 of the Lord.

00:11:19.740 --> 00:11:20.600
 There's so much

00:11:20.600 --> 00:11:21.260
 in this passage

00:11:21.260 --> 00:11:21.760
 that has meant

00:11:21.760 --> 00:11:22.500
 so much to me.

00:11:24.120 --> 00:11:25.140
 In the first half

00:11:25.140 --> 00:11:25.440
 of it,

00:11:26.000 --> 00:11:27.280
 more than just

00:11:27.280 --> 00:11:27.980
 the first half of it,

00:11:28.000 --> 00:11:28.740
 we see Paul

00:11:28.740 --> 00:11:29.700
 making his plans.

00:11:30.500 --> 00:11:31.460
 For a much more

00:11:31.460 --> 00:11:32.380
 detailed description

00:11:32.380 --> 00:11:33.020
 of these plans,

00:11:33.120 --> 00:11:34.020
 feel free to turn

00:11:34.020 --> 00:11:34.600
 to the book of Acts

00:11:34.600 --> 00:11:35.080
 and just read

00:11:35.080 --> 00:11:35.760
 the whole thing.

00:11:36.720 --> 00:11:37.560
 There you'll find

00:11:37.560 --> 00:11:38.920
 all that Paul planned

00:11:38.920 --> 00:11:40.340
 and all that God

00:11:40.340 --> 00:11:41.620
 changed in his plans,

00:11:41.620 --> 00:11:42.259
 which was a whole

00:11:42.259 --> 00:11:42.700
 lot of it.

00:11:44.620 --> 00:11:45.519
 So here,

00:11:45.600 --> 00:11:46.200
 he doesn't get

00:11:46.200 --> 00:11:47.419
 so much into the details.

00:11:47.539 --> 00:11:48.019
 He gives just

00:11:48.019 --> 00:11:48.820
 a bit of a rough

00:11:48.820 --> 00:11:49.940
 outline to the Romans

00:11:49.940 --> 00:11:51.379
 talking about

00:11:51.379 --> 00:11:52.460
 what he hopes to do,

00:11:52.580 --> 00:11:53.200
 what he's done,

00:11:54.039 --> 00:11:55.120
 what kind of part

00:11:55.120 --> 00:11:55.600
 they'll play

00:11:55.600 --> 00:11:56.340
 in those plans,

00:11:56.980 --> 00:11:58.200
 and then he asks

00:11:58.200 --> 00:11:58.600
 for prayer.

00:12:00.440 --> 00:12:01.179
 He doesn't get

00:12:01.179 --> 00:12:01.940
 into the details

00:12:01.940 --> 00:12:03.019
 of the ups and downs

00:12:03.019 --> 00:12:03.799
 of his journeys

00:12:03.799 --> 00:12:05.179
 across Macedonia,

00:12:05.519 --> 00:12:06.000
 of Greece,

00:12:06.200 --> 00:12:06.879
 and Asia Minor.

00:12:07.379 --> 00:12:08.299
 He only indicates

00:12:08.299 --> 00:12:09.639
 that he sees

00:12:09.639 --> 00:12:10.320
 his work there

00:12:10.320 --> 00:12:10.980
 as being done.

00:12:12.140 --> 00:12:12.700
 The seeds

00:12:12.700 --> 00:12:13.400
 have been planted.

00:12:13.840 --> 00:12:15.020
 Paul was a church planter.

00:12:15.780 --> 00:12:16.920
 That job was done.

00:12:17.879 --> 00:12:18.400
 And he left

00:12:18.400 --> 00:12:19.020
 the church there

00:12:19.020 --> 00:12:19.879
 in the capable hands

00:12:19.879 --> 00:12:20.500
 of others

00:12:20.500 --> 00:12:22.379
 to tend to it

00:12:22.379 --> 00:12:23.260
 and to help it grow.

00:12:24.640 --> 00:12:25.140
 And in fact,

00:12:25.180 --> 00:12:26.100
 we can actually see

00:12:26.100 --> 00:12:27.060
 some of that growth

00:12:27.060 --> 00:12:27.760
 of those churches

00:12:27.760 --> 00:12:28.460
 that he's planted

00:12:28.460 --> 00:12:29.500
 right here

00:12:29.500 --> 00:12:30.160
 as Paul speaks

00:12:30.160 --> 00:12:31.420
 immediately of his plan

00:12:31.420 --> 00:12:32.320
 to take aid

00:12:32.320 --> 00:12:33.600
 to the poor in Jerusalem,

00:12:34.060 --> 00:12:35.360
 to take relief

00:12:35.360 --> 00:12:36.060
 that has been given

00:12:36.060 --> 00:12:37.080
 to him by the churches

00:12:37.080 --> 00:12:37.760
 that he planted.

00:12:37.759 --> 00:12:39.720
 The fruits

00:12:39.720 --> 00:12:40.860
 of their spiritual growth

00:12:40.860 --> 00:12:41.759
 are manifesting

00:12:41.759 --> 00:12:42.379
 in the fruits

00:12:42.379 --> 00:12:43.759
 of their labors

00:12:43.759 --> 00:12:45.620
 being shared

00:12:45.620 --> 00:12:46.840
 with this universal church.

00:12:48.559 --> 00:12:49.159
 Coming home

00:12:49.159 --> 00:12:50.200
 as a missionary,

00:12:50.580 --> 00:12:51.580
 it would be really easy

00:12:51.580 --> 00:12:52.620
 to look at this passage

00:12:52.620 --> 00:12:54.059
 and take it out of context

00:12:54.059 --> 00:12:54.980
 and preach it

00:12:54.980 --> 00:12:55.580
 to my benefit

00:12:55.580 --> 00:12:57.080
 and talk about

00:12:57.080 --> 00:12:58.299
 financial support

00:12:58.299 --> 00:13:00.340
 and caring for the needy

00:13:00.340 --> 00:13:00.899
 and for those

00:13:00.899 --> 00:13:01.919
 going on these journeys,

00:13:02.519 --> 00:13:03.379
 to preach a health

00:13:03.379 --> 00:13:04.179
 and wealth gospel

00:13:04.179 --> 00:13:04.639
 and tell you

00:13:04.639 --> 00:13:05.559
 you'll do really well

00:13:05.559 --> 00:13:06.439
 if you give all your money

00:13:06.440 --> 00:13:07.960
 away to a starving missionary

00:13:07.960 --> 00:13:08.600
 and Africans.

00:13:10.280 --> 00:13:11.060
 But that's not

00:13:11.060 --> 00:13:12.020
 what he's saying here.

00:13:14.340 --> 00:13:15.040
 It's not about

00:13:15.040 --> 00:13:16.000
 just financial support.

00:13:16.100 --> 00:13:16.760
 That's not why

00:13:16.760 --> 00:13:17.780
 he tells the church

00:13:17.780 --> 00:13:18.080
 in Rome

00:13:18.080 --> 00:13:18.540
 that he's going

00:13:18.540 --> 00:13:19.020
 to Jerusalem.

00:13:19.240 --> 00:13:20.160
 He's not doing it

00:13:20.160 --> 00:13:20.820
 to guilt them

00:13:20.820 --> 00:13:21.340
 into saying,

00:13:21.720 --> 00:13:22.320
 oh, look what

00:13:22.320 --> 00:13:23.520
 the new churches did.

00:13:23.600 --> 00:13:25.100
 They gave to the poor.

00:13:25.220 --> 00:13:25.720
 What about you,

00:13:25.800 --> 00:13:26.260
 Church of Rome?

00:13:26.300 --> 00:13:26.860
 You've got to have

00:13:26.860 --> 00:13:27.760
 a lot of money over there.

00:13:27.820 --> 00:13:28.620
 Why don't you start giving?

00:13:29.800 --> 00:13:30.920
 He's not guilt-tripping

00:13:30.920 --> 00:13:31.460
 the church

00:13:31.460 --> 00:13:32.080
 and telling them

00:13:32.080 --> 00:13:33.520
 to give more money.

00:13:34.740 --> 00:13:35.760
 He's not doing it

00:13:35.759 --> 00:13:36.559
 just to make himself

00:13:36.559 --> 00:13:37.059
 look good

00:13:37.059 --> 00:13:37.460
 and say,

00:13:37.600 --> 00:13:38.779
 when I come see you,

00:13:38.860 --> 00:13:39.679
 you better be ready

00:13:39.679 --> 00:13:40.639
 to celebrate me

00:13:40.639 --> 00:13:41.960
 because I'm the one

00:13:41.960 --> 00:13:42.939
 out taking care

00:13:42.939 --> 00:13:43.419
 of these people.

00:13:43.500 --> 00:13:44.419
 It's not for his own

00:13:44.419 --> 00:13:44.939
 celebration.

00:13:48.419 --> 00:13:49.600
 He's telling the church

00:13:49.600 --> 00:13:50.080
 of Rome

00:13:50.080 --> 00:13:50.799
 his plans

00:13:50.799 --> 00:13:51.879
 to take aid

00:13:51.879 --> 00:13:52.439
 to the poor

00:13:52.439 --> 00:13:53.799
 because he needs

00:13:53.799 --> 00:13:54.259
 their help

00:13:54.259 --> 00:13:54.939
 on a different level.

00:13:55.960 --> 00:13:57.059
 Because he wants them

00:13:57.059 --> 00:13:57.819
 to join him

00:13:57.819 --> 00:13:58.399
 in this trip

00:13:58.399 --> 00:13:59.279
 spiritually.

00:14:01.039 --> 00:14:01.919
 He wants them

00:14:01.919 --> 00:14:02.899
 to come together.

00:14:02.899 --> 00:14:04.899
 You know,

00:14:04.939 --> 00:14:05.759
 Paul uses phrase

00:14:05.759 --> 00:14:06.539
 like they owe it

00:14:06.539 --> 00:14:06.840
 to them

00:14:06.840 --> 00:14:07.639
 and if we were

00:14:07.639 --> 00:14:08.360
 to preach that

00:14:08.360 --> 00:14:10.720
 in such a demanding way

00:14:10.720 --> 00:14:11.379
 without looking

00:14:11.379 --> 00:14:12.559
 at the love behind it

00:14:12.559 --> 00:14:13.439
 that compels

00:14:13.439 --> 00:14:14.740
 this duty

00:14:14.740 --> 00:14:15.639
 and this obligation,

00:14:16.340 --> 00:14:17.319
 we would make

00:14:17.319 --> 00:14:18.559
 idols of our works

00:14:18.559 --> 00:14:20.159
 and set them up

00:14:20.159 --> 00:14:21.079
 for our own salvation

00:14:21.079 --> 00:14:22.019
 instead of Christ.

00:14:23.879 --> 00:14:25.059
 Paul does stress

00:14:25.059 --> 00:14:26.360
 a moral obligation here

00:14:26.360 --> 00:14:28.559
 but if we fail

00:14:28.559 --> 00:14:29.039
 to emphasize

00:14:29.039 --> 00:14:29.519
 the love

00:14:29.519 --> 00:14:30.199
 that compels

00:14:30.199 --> 00:14:30.879
 this act,

00:14:30.879 --> 00:14:33.200
 we miss everything.

00:14:34.960 --> 00:14:35.960
 Paul doesn't leave it

00:14:35.960 --> 00:14:37.039
 at simple obligation.

00:14:39.360 --> 00:14:40.559
 He points out

00:14:40.559 --> 00:14:41.980
 what a spiritual joy

00:14:41.980 --> 00:14:42.580
 it is for them

00:14:42.580 --> 00:14:43.279
 to come together

00:14:43.279 --> 00:14:43.679
 with him.

00:14:44.439 --> 00:14:45.720
 He asks for them

00:14:45.720 --> 00:14:46.659
 to pray for him

00:14:46.659 --> 00:14:47.039
 in this,

00:14:47.600 --> 00:14:48.559
 to come together

00:14:48.559 --> 00:14:49.299
 in the struggle

00:14:49.299 --> 00:14:50.500
 and fight in prayer

00:14:50.500 --> 00:14:53.779
 and he asks for them

00:14:53.779 --> 00:14:54.399
 to come together

00:14:54.399 --> 00:14:55.159
 so that when he is

00:14:55.159 --> 00:14:55.919
 face to face

00:14:55.919 --> 00:14:57.039
 they may share

00:14:57.039 --> 00:14:57.659
 in the joy

00:14:57.659 --> 00:14:58.399
 of this message,

00:14:58.740 --> 00:14:59.500
 the joy of hearing

00:14:59.500 --> 00:15:00.700
 your prayers worked,

00:15:00.879 --> 00:15:02.539
 God's word

00:15:02.539 --> 00:15:03.120
 is planted

00:15:03.120 --> 00:15:03.620
 in the hearts

00:15:03.620 --> 00:15:04.000
 of many.

00:15:04.799 --> 00:15:05.419
 God's church

00:15:05.419 --> 00:15:06.100
 is growing

00:15:06.100 --> 00:15:07.039
 despite the struggles.

00:15:07.360 --> 00:15:08.340
 He tells the church

00:15:08.340 --> 00:15:09.439
 so that they

00:15:09.439 --> 00:15:10.299
 can share

00:15:10.299 --> 00:15:11.299
 in the joy of it.

00:15:14.439 --> 00:15:15.340
 One of the reasons

00:15:15.340 --> 00:15:16.100
 I've come home

00:15:16.100 --> 00:15:18.320
 to tell you

00:15:18.320 --> 00:15:19.019
 about the seeds

00:15:19.019 --> 00:15:19.840
 that have been planted,

00:15:20.480 --> 00:15:21.720
 to share

00:15:21.720 --> 00:15:22.559
 and make that joy

00:15:22.559 --> 00:15:23.019
 complete.

00:15:25.419 --> 00:15:26.039
 Paul's work

00:15:26.039 --> 00:15:26.779
 is not going

00:15:26.779 --> 00:15:27.480
 to be over

00:15:27.480 --> 00:15:28.960
 with just one trip.

00:15:28.960 --> 00:15:32.780
 the church

00:15:32.780 --> 00:15:33.100
 is going

00:15:33.100 --> 00:15:33.540
 to continue

00:15:33.540 --> 00:15:34.000
 to grow

00:15:34.000 --> 00:15:35.340
 and the church

00:15:35.340 --> 00:15:35.600
 is going

00:15:35.600 --> 00:15:35.980
 to continue

00:15:35.980 --> 00:15:36.480
 to struggle

00:15:36.480 --> 00:15:37.460
 then just

00:15:37.460 --> 00:15:38.200
 as it is now.

00:15:41.000 --> 00:15:41.920
 Paul lived

00:15:41.920 --> 00:15:42.580
 this way,

00:15:42.900 --> 00:15:43.400
 lived out

00:15:43.400 --> 00:15:44.040
 his love

00:15:44.040 --> 00:15:46.200
 because he saw

00:15:46.200 --> 00:15:47.280
 it as his obligation,

00:15:47.420 --> 00:15:47.820
 his duty,

00:15:47.900 --> 00:15:48.680
 his only way

00:15:48.680 --> 00:15:49.100
 of living.

00:15:51.000 --> 00:15:51.740
 Bids me come

00:15:51.740 --> 00:15:52.259
 and die

00:15:52.259 --> 00:15:52.720
 and find

00:15:52.720 --> 00:15:53.340
 that I might

00:15:53.340 --> 00:15:54.060
 truly live,

00:15:54.160 --> 00:15:54.500
 we sang.

00:15:54.500 --> 00:15:56.460
 that's what

00:15:56.460 --> 00:15:57.399
 Paul is living here.

00:15:57.740 --> 00:15:58.139
 That's what

00:15:58.139 --> 00:15:58.799
 he has lived

00:15:58.799 --> 00:15:59.600
 before the churches

00:15:59.600 --> 00:16:00.100
 in Greece

00:16:00.100 --> 00:16:00.799
 and Asia Minor

00:16:00.799 --> 00:16:01.539
 that are giving

00:16:01.539 --> 00:16:02.980
 because they

00:16:02.980 --> 00:16:04.039
 followed Paul's example

00:16:04.039 --> 00:16:05.000
 even as he follows

00:16:05.000 --> 00:16:06.100
 the example of Christ

00:16:06.100 --> 00:16:07.659
 just as Paul told

00:16:07.659 --> 00:16:08.419
 the Corinthian church

00:16:08.419 --> 00:16:08.779
 to do.

00:16:13.279 --> 00:16:14.139
 Paul lived

00:16:14.139 --> 00:16:14.740
 that example

00:16:14.740 --> 00:16:15.299
 of love

00:16:15.299 --> 00:16:17.700
 and wants

00:16:17.700 --> 00:16:18.559
 the church of Rome

00:16:18.559 --> 00:16:19.799
 to live that example

00:16:19.799 --> 00:16:20.259
 of love.

00:16:20.500 --> 00:16:21.000
 He wants to

00:16:21.000 --> 00:16:22.220
 eventually go to Spain

00:16:22.220 --> 00:16:23.340
 so that he can live

00:16:23.340 --> 00:16:23.940
 that example

00:16:23.940 --> 00:16:24.560
 of love

00:16:24.560 --> 00:16:27.280
 so that little

00:16:27.280 --> 00:16:27.780
 by little

00:16:27.780 --> 00:16:29.139
 more of this world

00:16:29.139 --> 00:16:30.160
 can know the love

00:16:30.160 --> 00:16:31.320
 of Christ

00:16:31.320 --> 00:16:33.379
 who died

00:16:33.379 --> 00:16:34.320
 that we might live

00:16:34.320 --> 00:16:35.080
 that love.

00:16:38.580 --> 00:16:39.460
 He plans

00:16:39.460 --> 00:16:40.139
 to live this way

00:16:40.139 --> 00:16:41.120
 everywhere he goes.

00:16:42.660 --> 00:16:43.620
 He plans

00:16:43.620 --> 00:16:44.460
 and he plans

00:16:44.460 --> 00:16:46.500
 and it'd be easy

00:16:46.500 --> 00:16:47.280
 to focus on

00:16:47.280 --> 00:16:47.860
 the contents

00:16:47.860 --> 00:16:48.660
 of those plans

00:16:48.660 --> 00:16:51.240
 to not look

00:16:51.240 --> 00:16:51.660
 underneath

00:16:51.660 --> 00:16:52.160
 to say

00:16:52.160 --> 00:16:52.960
 okay well Paul

00:16:52.960 --> 00:16:53.920
 is a church planter

00:16:53.920 --> 00:16:54.680
 and then also

00:16:54.680 --> 00:16:55.340
 takes time

00:16:55.340 --> 00:16:56.780
 to see to the needs

00:16:56.780 --> 00:16:57.300
 of the poor

00:16:57.300 --> 00:16:57.820
 and those sound

00:16:57.820 --> 00:16:58.600
 like really good things

00:16:58.600 --> 00:16:59.220
 so let's go back

00:16:59.220 --> 00:16:59.700
 to our church

00:16:59.700 --> 00:17:00.379
 and what we should do

00:17:00.379 --> 00:17:01.019
 is we should start

00:17:01.019 --> 00:17:02.080
 a Pauline program

00:17:02.080 --> 00:17:03.580
 and that program

00:17:03.580 --> 00:17:04.360
 is going to be really good

00:17:04.360 --> 00:17:05.079
 we'll church plant

00:17:05.079 --> 00:17:05.660
 and we'll take money

00:17:05.660 --> 00:17:06.160
 to the poor

00:17:06.160 --> 00:17:06.799
 and that'll be good

00:17:06.799 --> 00:17:07.920
 everybody will like us.

00:17:08.980 --> 00:17:10.299
 If we only focused

00:17:10.299 --> 00:17:11.079
 on the content

00:17:11.079 --> 00:17:12.120
 if we only focused

00:17:12.120 --> 00:17:12.819
 on the programs

00:17:12.819 --> 00:17:14.440
 and didn't dig

00:17:14.440 --> 00:17:15.539
 deeper and deeper

00:17:15.539 --> 00:17:16.299
 into the heart

00:17:16.299 --> 00:17:17.720
 that was behind Paul

00:17:17.720 --> 00:17:19.539
 didn't dig

00:17:19.539 --> 00:17:20.319
 into the love

00:17:20.319 --> 00:17:21.480
 that compelled him

00:17:21.480 --> 00:17:22.119
 to live

00:17:22.119 --> 00:17:24.419
 then we miss

00:17:24.419 --> 00:17:25.460
 everything in these plans.

00:17:27.960 --> 00:17:28.879
 See Paul has learned

00:17:28.879 --> 00:17:30.240
 not only to live

00:17:30.240 --> 00:17:30.919
 a life of love

00:17:30.919 --> 00:17:32.500
 but to make those plans

00:17:32.500 --> 00:17:34.519
 founded completely

00:17:34.519 --> 00:17:35.139
 on faith.

00:17:36.319 --> 00:17:37.299
 He lives in a bit

00:17:37.299 --> 00:17:38.059
 of a paradox.

00:17:40.059 --> 00:17:41.579
 He lives being certain

00:17:41.579 --> 00:17:42.319
 and uncertain

00:17:42.319 --> 00:17:42.980
 about everything

00:17:42.980 --> 00:17:43.779
 at the same time.

00:17:46.480 --> 00:17:47.339
 Paul has seen

00:17:47.339 --> 00:17:48.379
 so many of his plans

00:17:48.380 --> 00:17:48.880
 change.

00:17:50.140 --> 00:17:50.820
 He knows

00:17:50.820 --> 00:17:52.680
 these new ones

00:17:52.680 --> 00:17:53.720
 are bound to plan

00:17:53.720 --> 00:17:55.300
 to change as well.

00:17:56.460 --> 00:17:57.880
 He opens his letter

00:17:57.880 --> 00:17:58.460
 to the Romans

00:17:58.460 --> 00:17:59.440
 in chapter 1

00:17:59.440 --> 00:17:59.980
 talking about

00:17:59.980 --> 00:18:00.820
 these same things

00:18:00.820 --> 00:18:01.400
 saying that

00:18:01.400 --> 00:18:03.300
 he hopes by the will

00:18:03.300 --> 00:18:03.780
 of God

00:18:03.780 --> 00:18:04.860
 that he will at last

00:18:04.860 --> 00:18:06.100
 finally be able to come

00:18:06.100 --> 00:18:06.900
 and see the church

00:18:06.900 --> 00:18:07.300
 of Rome.

00:18:07.760 --> 00:18:08.740
 He's got many friends

00:18:08.740 --> 00:18:09.460
 there but he's never

00:18:09.460 --> 00:18:10.280
 been able to see it.

00:18:13.480 --> 00:18:14.320
 But he says

00:18:14.320 --> 00:18:15.680
 by God's will

00:18:15.680 --> 00:18:16.340
 at last.

00:18:16.840 --> 00:18:17.620
 If you look deeper

00:18:17.619 --> 00:18:18.719
 at it you see

00:18:18.719 --> 00:18:20.419
 how he is unsure

00:18:20.419 --> 00:18:21.519
 that he'll even make it.

00:18:22.299 --> 00:18:23.000
 When you look at

00:18:23.000 --> 00:18:23.679
 the prayer later

00:18:23.679 --> 00:18:24.339
 in our passage

00:18:24.339 --> 00:18:25.379
 you see how unsure

00:18:25.379 --> 00:18:25.959
 he is

00:18:25.959 --> 00:18:28.519
 and he's right

00:18:28.519 --> 00:18:29.039
 to be unsure

00:18:29.039 --> 00:18:29.459
 of this.

00:18:30.439 --> 00:18:31.279
 There are people

00:18:31.279 --> 00:18:31.959
 in Jerusalem

00:18:31.959 --> 00:18:33.259
 people across the world

00:18:33.259 --> 00:18:34.139
 where he's been ministering

00:18:34.139 --> 00:18:35.139
 that want to kill him

00:18:35.139 --> 00:18:36.699
 that are out

00:18:36.699 --> 00:18:37.539
 to take his life.

00:18:39.399 --> 00:18:40.159
 And if it weren't

00:18:40.159 --> 00:18:41.019
 just people looking out

00:18:41.019 --> 00:18:41.419
 to kill him

00:18:41.419 --> 00:18:42.259
 he's got to travel

00:18:42.259 --> 00:18:44.559
 all over the world

00:18:44.559 --> 00:18:47.460
 in not terribly

00:18:47.460 --> 00:18:48.240
 safe conditions.

00:18:49.359 --> 00:18:50.159
 He's not sure

00:18:50.159 --> 00:18:50.740
 that he'll make it

00:18:50.740 --> 00:18:51.240
 to Jerusalem

00:18:51.240 --> 00:18:51.759
 let alone

00:18:51.759 --> 00:18:52.359
 all the way back

00:18:52.359 --> 00:18:53.039
 to Rome again.

00:18:57.059 --> 00:18:57.839
 But he plans

00:18:57.839 --> 00:18:58.440
 on it anyway.

00:19:00.059 --> 00:19:00.960
 He plans on it

00:19:00.960 --> 00:19:01.679
 because the foundation

00:19:01.679 --> 00:19:02.720
 of his plan

00:19:02.720 --> 00:19:05.480
 is the phrase

00:19:05.480 --> 00:19:06.339
 thy will be done

00:19:06.339 --> 00:19:06.599
 Lord.

00:19:08.399 --> 00:19:09.119
 He's unsure

00:19:09.119 --> 00:19:10.000
 about what will happen

00:19:10.000 --> 00:19:10.759
 but he's sure

00:19:10.759 --> 00:19:12.359
 absolutely sure

00:19:12.359 --> 00:19:14.679
 that whatever happens

00:19:14.679 --> 00:19:16.119
 he's got to follow

00:19:16.119 --> 00:19:16.819
 God in it.

00:19:17.579 --> 00:19:18.319
 And when he does

00:19:18.319 --> 00:19:19.039
 God will be there.

00:19:20.799 --> 00:19:21.899
 What a way

00:19:21.899 --> 00:19:22.799
 to make a plan.

00:19:25.619 --> 00:19:26.419
 I can't say

00:19:26.419 --> 00:19:27.079
 that all the plans

00:19:27.079 --> 00:19:27.579
 that I've made

00:19:27.579 --> 00:19:28.379
 in the last two years

00:19:28.379 --> 00:19:29.319
 have been made this way

00:19:29.319 --> 00:19:31.259
 but I can definitely

00:19:31.259 --> 00:19:31.699
 tell you

00:19:31.699 --> 00:19:32.459
 I have seen

00:19:32.459 --> 00:19:33.159
 God's will

00:19:33.159 --> 00:19:34.219
 triumph in all of them.

00:19:36.279 --> 00:19:37.199
 And that has helped

00:19:37.199 --> 00:19:37.779
 greatly

00:19:37.779 --> 00:19:39.259
 in knowing that

00:19:39.259 --> 00:19:40.019
 whatever is about

00:19:40.019 --> 00:19:40.559
 to happen

00:19:40.559 --> 00:19:41.879
 as I try to return

00:19:41.880 --> 00:19:42.900
 to Africa in January

00:19:42.900 --> 00:19:43.540
 God's will

00:19:43.540 --> 00:19:44.360
 will triumph still.

00:19:45.960 --> 00:19:46.960
 It wasn't my plan

00:19:46.960 --> 00:19:47.680
 to go to Nairobi.

00:19:47.980 --> 00:19:48.700
 When they first

00:19:48.700 --> 00:19:49.220
 recruited me

00:19:49.220 --> 00:19:49.680
 they told me

00:19:49.680 --> 00:19:50.300
 about Nairobi

00:19:50.300 --> 00:19:50.980
 and I kind of

00:19:50.980 --> 00:19:52.100
 pushed it away

00:19:52.100 --> 00:19:52.680
 not thinking

00:19:52.680 --> 00:19:54.060
 I would be really

00:19:54.060 --> 00:19:54.760
 interested in

00:19:54.760 --> 00:19:55.620
 chronological Bible

00:19:55.620 --> 00:19:56.180
 storytelling.

00:19:57.620 --> 00:19:58.880
 And when I got there

00:19:58.880 --> 00:20:00.980
 I was amazed

00:20:00.980 --> 00:20:02.000
 by what a great

00:20:02.000 --> 00:20:02.980
 tool it is

00:20:02.980 --> 00:20:03.440
 for preaching

00:20:03.440 --> 00:20:04.000
 the gospel.

00:20:04.500 --> 00:20:05.620
 And that method

00:20:05.620 --> 00:20:06.160
 would go on

00:20:06.160 --> 00:20:07.040
 to help me greatly

00:20:07.040 --> 00:20:08.700
 as I took those stories

00:20:08.700 --> 00:20:09.560
 and had my

00:20:09.559 --> 00:20:11.379
 my tutor

00:20:11.379 --> 00:20:12.579
 translate some

00:20:12.579 --> 00:20:13.079
 into Arabic

00:20:13.079 --> 00:20:13.599
 so that I could

00:20:13.599 --> 00:20:14.419
 start ministering

00:20:14.419 --> 00:20:15.059
 in the community

00:20:15.059 --> 00:20:17.139
 both in South Sudan

00:20:17.139 --> 00:20:18.279
 and again with refugees

00:20:18.279 --> 00:20:20.019
 in Uganda.

00:20:20.220 --> 00:20:20.779
 And if I hadn't

00:20:20.779 --> 00:20:22.119
 gone to Kenya

00:20:22.119 --> 00:20:23.119
 and learned that method

00:20:23.119 --> 00:20:24.940
 I never would have

00:20:24.940 --> 00:20:25.379
 been prepared

00:20:25.379 --> 00:20:26.259
 to preach in that way.

00:20:28.960 --> 00:20:30.000
 More than just that

00:20:30.000 --> 00:20:30.819
 I met a team

00:20:30.819 --> 00:20:31.720
 that surrounded me

00:20:31.720 --> 00:20:32.259
 with community

00:20:32.259 --> 00:20:32.879
 and helped me

00:20:32.879 --> 00:20:33.819
 to adjust to Africa

00:20:33.819 --> 00:20:34.720
 that loved me

00:20:34.720 --> 00:20:36.920
 and that would

00:20:36.920 --> 00:20:37.500
 be there

00:20:37.500 --> 00:20:38.600
 and be familiar

00:20:38.600 --> 00:20:39.559
 in loving me

00:20:39.559 --> 00:20:40.680
 when I had to evacuate

00:20:40.680 --> 00:20:42.160
 a year later.

00:20:44.500 --> 00:20:45.339
 I didn't think

00:20:45.339 --> 00:20:46.059
 I'd ever return

00:20:46.059 --> 00:20:46.579
 to Kenya

00:20:46.579 --> 00:20:47.440
 and Nairobi

00:20:47.440 --> 00:20:49.360
 when I left them.

00:20:50.600 --> 00:20:51.539
 Certainly didn't plan

00:20:51.539 --> 00:20:52.059
 to evacuate.

00:20:53.140 --> 00:20:53.920
 I didn't plan

00:20:53.920 --> 00:20:54.360
 to go into

00:20:54.360 --> 00:20:54.880
 South Sudan

00:20:54.880 --> 00:20:56.059
 and live on the compound

00:20:56.059 --> 00:20:56.799
 for a little over

00:20:56.799 --> 00:20:57.660
 a month by myself.

00:20:59.420 --> 00:21:00.360
 I was excited

00:21:00.360 --> 00:21:00.880
 that Serge

00:21:00.880 --> 00:21:01.539
 is so

00:21:01.539 --> 00:21:03.360
 adamant

00:21:03.359 --> 00:21:04.399
 about having teams

00:21:04.399 --> 00:21:05.039
 and community

00:21:05.039 --> 00:21:05.879
 and loving one another

00:21:05.879 --> 00:21:06.979
 and building one another up.

00:21:08.639 --> 00:21:09.399
 And then I

00:21:09.399 --> 00:21:10.559
 went to the community

00:21:10.559 --> 00:21:11.240
 by myself.

00:21:15.159 --> 00:21:15.959
 But being there

00:21:15.959 --> 00:21:16.639
 by myself

00:21:16.639 --> 00:21:17.619
 that community

00:21:17.619 --> 00:21:18.379
 surrounded me

00:21:18.379 --> 00:21:18.819
 with love

00:21:18.819 --> 00:21:19.399
 and instantly

00:21:19.399 --> 00:21:20.299
 came to take care

00:21:20.299 --> 00:21:20.619
 of me.

00:21:21.959 --> 00:21:22.759
 I'd have the boys

00:21:22.759 --> 00:21:23.819
 coming up to the compound

00:21:23.819 --> 00:21:24.559
 every day

00:21:24.559 --> 00:21:25.399
 or every other day

00:21:25.399 --> 00:21:26.859
 not simply to eat

00:21:26.859 --> 00:21:27.240
 my food

00:21:27.240 --> 00:21:27.879
 but also just

00:21:27.879 --> 00:21:28.740
 to check on me

00:21:28.740 --> 00:21:29.779
 not sure that

00:21:29.779 --> 00:21:31.059
 this new guy

00:21:31.059 --> 00:21:31.899
 would even be able

00:21:31.900 --> 00:21:33.740
 to tie his own shoes

00:21:33.740 --> 00:21:34.200
 if they didn't

00:21:34.200 --> 00:21:34.680
 come and help.

00:21:36.500 --> 00:21:37.720
 And I was brought

00:21:37.720 --> 00:21:38.500
 into the community

00:21:38.500 --> 00:21:39.200
 instantly

00:21:39.200 --> 00:21:41.519
 seeing their love

00:21:41.519 --> 00:21:41.920
 for me

00:21:41.920 --> 00:21:42.740
 and building

00:21:42.740 --> 00:21:43.640
 such a deep love

00:21:43.640 --> 00:21:44.080
 for them

00:21:44.080 --> 00:21:44.540
 quickly.

00:21:46.100 --> 00:21:47.160
 And then my new team

00:21:47.160 --> 00:21:47.500
 came.

00:21:50.540 --> 00:21:51.640
 Certainly didn't plan

00:21:51.640 --> 00:21:53.400
 for my team leaders

00:21:53.400 --> 00:21:54.560
 to have to be evacuated

00:21:54.560 --> 00:21:55.480
 for medical reasons

00:21:55.480 --> 00:21:56.480
 or for the rest

00:21:56.480 --> 00:21:57.160
 of the three of us

00:21:57.160 --> 00:21:57.940
 to have to evacuate

00:21:57.940 --> 00:21:58.440
 at all.

00:21:58.440 --> 00:22:02.920
 But God had plans

00:22:02.920 --> 00:22:03.380
 even there.

00:22:03.980 --> 00:22:04.840
 Had the whole team

00:22:04.840 --> 00:22:05.519
 been on the ground

00:22:05.519 --> 00:22:06.000
 when we needed

00:22:06.000 --> 00:22:06.660
 to evacuate

00:22:06.660 --> 00:22:08.259
 space on the plane

00:22:08.259 --> 00:22:08.600
 would have been

00:22:08.600 --> 00:22:09.100
 a little tough

00:22:09.100 --> 00:22:09.820
 for getting all of us

00:22:09.820 --> 00:22:10.680
 out at the same time.

00:22:11.440 --> 00:22:12.400
 But because our team

00:22:12.400 --> 00:22:13.140
 leaders went first

00:22:13.140 --> 00:22:14.140
 they were in Nairobi

00:22:14.140 --> 00:22:15.180
 able to help us

00:22:15.180 --> 00:22:16.059
 make plans

00:22:16.059 --> 00:22:16.700
 when we couldn't.

00:22:18.500 --> 00:22:19.360
 And the three of us

00:22:19.360 --> 00:22:19.759
 got out.

00:22:21.799 --> 00:22:22.620
 Not only that

00:22:22.620 --> 00:22:23.220
 the three of us

00:22:23.220 --> 00:22:23.720
 would become

00:22:23.720 --> 00:22:24.620
 the whole team

00:22:24.619 --> 00:22:27.039
 and those weeks

00:22:27.039 --> 00:22:27.579
 together

00:22:27.579 --> 00:22:29.519
 that evacuation

00:22:29.519 --> 00:22:30.099
 together

00:22:30.099 --> 00:22:30.679
 was a great

00:22:30.679 --> 00:22:31.739
 bonding experience.

00:22:33.439 --> 00:22:34.399
 A foundational

00:22:34.399 --> 00:22:34.959
 peace

00:22:34.959 --> 00:22:36.359
 in what's

00:22:36.359 --> 00:22:36.739
 building up

00:22:36.739 --> 00:22:37.199
 our team.

00:22:39.399 --> 00:22:40.339
 When we came

00:22:40.339 --> 00:22:40.899
 to Kajabi

00:22:40.899 --> 00:22:42.579
 we definitely

00:22:42.579 --> 00:22:43.479
 didn't see ourselves

00:22:43.479 --> 00:22:44.419
 as coming to Africa

00:22:44.419 --> 00:22:45.319
 to teach missionaries

00:22:45.319 --> 00:22:45.659
 kids.

00:22:46.979 --> 00:22:47.979
 We had no idea

00:22:47.979 --> 00:22:48.559
 what would happen

00:22:48.559 --> 00:22:49.139
 since we couldn't

00:22:49.139 --> 00:22:49.919
 go back in the country

00:22:49.919 --> 00:22:50.619
 but God did.

00:22:50.619 --> 00:22:54.059
 It wasn't just

00:22:54.059 --> 00:22:54.899
 that three jobs

00:22:54.899 --> 00:22:55.639
 opened up

00:22:55.639 --> 00:22:56.899
 at Rift Valley Academy

00:22:56.899 --> 00:22:58.099
 it was that three jobs

00:22:58.099 --> 00:22:59.239
 perfectly opened up

00:22:59.239 --> 00:23:00.079
 at the last minute

00:23:00.079 --> 00:23:00.899
 the week before

00:23:00.899 --> 00:23:02.839
 the term was supposed

00:23:02.839 --> 00:23:03.319
 to start

00:23:03.319 --> 00:23:04.000
 we moved up

00:23:04.000 --> 00:23:04.479
 to teach

00:23:04.479 --> 00:23:07.019
 because three teachers

00:23:07.019 --> 00:23:07.739
 had emergencies

00:23:07.739 --> 00:23:09.459
 a kindergarten teacher

00:23:09.459 --> 00:23:10.219
 a PE teacher

00:23:10.219 --> 00:23:11.379
 and an AP English teacher

00:23:11.379 --> 00:23:12.839
 and Teresa just happens

00:23:12.839 --> 00:23:14.159
 to be a primary educator

00:23:14.159 --> 00:23:16.419
 Will is far better shape

00:23:16.419 --> 00:23:17.379
 and much more patient

00:23:17.379 --> 00:23:18.059
 with small kids

00:23:18.059 --> 00:23:18.699
 to teach PE

00:23:18.699 --> 00:23:19.679
 to elementary students

00:23:19.680 --> 00:23:21.779
 and I was an AP English

00:23:21.779 --> 00:23:22.560
 teacher in the states.

00:23:24.279 --> 00:23:25.380
 How could we deny

00:23:25.380 --> 00:23:26.259
 that God's hand

00:23:26.259 --> 00:23:28.580
 was in preparing

00:23:28.580 --> 00:23:29.200
 for us

00:23:29.200 --> 00:23:30.039
 even in Kajabi?

00:23:30.920 --> 00:23:31.720
 More than that

00:23:31.720 --> 00:23:32.779
 Kajabi was the home

00:23:32.779 --> 00:23:33.840
 to our area director

00:23:33.840 --> 00:23:35.080
 and to former teammates

00:23:35.080 --> 00:23:35.880
 from South Sudan

00:23:35.880 --> 00:23:36.740
 who would be able

00:23:36.740 --> 00:23:37.500
 to come and see us

00:23:37.500 --> 00:23:38.120
 face to face

00:23:38.120 --> 00:23:39.460
 to help us get through this

00:23:39.460 --> 00:23:41.160
 and to make plans

00:23:41.160 --> 00:23:42.080
 for our next steps.

00:23:43.100 --> 00:23:43.900
 Plans that haven't

00:23:43.900 --> 00:23:44.779
 exactly worked out

00:23:44.779 --> 00:23:45.539
 but they were there.

00:23:47.360 --> 00:23:48.460
 When we went to Uganda

00:23:48.460 --> 00:23:49.259
 we never expected

00:23:49.259 --> 00:23:50.779
 to meet a missionary community

00:23:50.779 --> 00:23:51.819
 that would take us in

00:23:51.819 --> 00:23:53.299
 provide us a home

00:23:53.299 --> 00:23:54.619
 provide us a way

00:23:54.619 --> 00:23:55.559
 into Moondry

00:23:55.559 --> 00:23:56.400
 that was safer

00:23:56.400 --> 00:23:57.119
 and faster.

00:23:59.440 --> 00:24:00.420
 I never planned

00:24:00.420 --> 00:24:01.420
 to come home

00:24:01.420 --> 00:24:01.980
 this early

00:24:01.980 --> 00:24:04.940
 but God knew

00:24:04.940 --> 00:24:05.660
 that the three of us

00:24:05.660 --> 00:24:06.200
 would need

00:24:06.200 --> 00:24:06.940
 to come home

00:24:06.940 --> 00:24:07.660
 and be refreshed

00:24:07.660 --> 00:24:08.740
 after this year and a half.

00:24:09.799 --> 00:24:11.019
 That we would need

00:24:11.019 --> 00:24:12.099
 the body of Christ

00:24:12.099 --> 00:24:13.160
 again around us

00:24:13.160 --> 00:24:14.400
 in a familiar place

00:24:14.400 --> 00:24:15.119
 to love us

00:24:15.119 --> 00:24:15.799
 to strengthen us

00:24:15.799 --> 00:24:16.599
 so that we could go back

00:24:16.599 --> 00:24:17.219
 and do it again.

00:24:20.819 --> 00:24:21.839
 So here I am

00:24:21.839 --> 00:24:23.699
 back in the States

00:24:23.699 --> 00:24:25.779
 back making plans again

00:24:25.779 --> 00:24:27.859
 waiting on the Lord

00:24:27.859 --> 00:24:28.819
 to direct them.

00:24:30.439 --> 00:24:31.179
 We tend

00:24:31.179 --> 00:24:32.579
 to want to wait

00:24:32.579 --> 00:24:33.099
 on the Lord

00:24:33.099 --> 00:24:33.980
 and think that

00:24:33.980 --> 00:24:35.079
 that phrase means

00:24:35.079 --> 00:24:36.039
 that we should be inactive

00:24:36.039 --> 00:24:37.579
 that we get frustrated

00:24:37.579 --> 00:24:38.480
 seeing so many

00:24:38.480 --> 00:24:39.459
 of our plans fail

00:24:39.459 --> 00:24:40.619
 and we start to think

00:24:40.619 --> 00:24:40.879
 that

00:24:40.879 --> 00:24:43.319
 I'll just wait on Him

00:24:43.319 --> 00:24:44.259
 He'll do all the work

00:24:44.259 --> 00:24:45.140
 I'll just sit back

00:24:45.140 --> 00:24:45.779
 and wait.

00:24:47.859 --> 00:24:48.960
 Being stagnant

00:24:48.960 --> 00:24:50.259
 is not waiting.

00:24:51.799 --> 00:24:52.539
 Stagnant waters

00:24:52.539 --> 00:24:53.299
 breed disease

00:24:53.299 --> 00:24:54.119
 they breed death.

00:24:54.859 --> 00:24:55.859
 We need living

00:24:55.859 --> 00:24:56.879
 moving waters.

00:24:58.700 --> 00:24:59.539
 We want instead

00:24:59.539 --> 00:25:00.000
 to learn

00:25:00.000 --> 00:25:01.259
 as Paul has learned here

00:25:01.259 --> 00:25:02.559
 to be actively

00:25:02.559 --> 00:25:03.619
 waiting on the Lord.

00:25:05.160 --> 00:25:05.680
 Well think about it

00:25:05.680 --> 00:25:06.099
 this way

00:25:06.099 --> 00:25:06.740
 and for those of you

00:25:06.740 --> 00:25:07.079
 who know me

00:25:07.079 --> 00:25:07.559
 way too well

00:25:07.559 --> 00:25:08.180
 try not to laugh

00:25:08.180 --> 00:25:08.559
 too much

00:25:08.559 --> 00:25:09.240
 at this illustration.

00:25:10.440 --> 00:25:11.180
 Think about a guy

00:25:11.180 --> 00:25:12.140
 who's finally got the nerve

00:25:12.140 --> 00:25:12.920
 up to ask a girl

00:25:12.920 --> 00:25:13.440
 on a date

00:25:13.440 --> 00:25:14.320
 and she says yes.

00:25:16.680 --> 00:25:17.820
 What if he prepared

00:25:17.820 --> 00:25:18.480
 for that date

00:25:18.480 --> 00:25:19.060
 the whole week

00:25:19.060 --> 00:25:20.279
 by sitting on his couch

00:25:20.279 --> 00:25:21.220
 and being stagnant?

00:25:22.620 --> 00:25:23.300
 He just says

00:25:23.300 --> 00:25:24.200
 alright she said yes

00:25:24.200 --> 00:25:24.960
 good I'll go home

00:25:24.960 --> 00:25:25.580
 and wait for the day

00:25:25.580 --> 00:25:25.900
 to come

00:25:25.900 --> 00:25:27.680
 and he sits on his couch

00:25:27.680 --> 00:25:29.680
 he dreams of all

00:25:29.680 --> 00:25:30.279
 the great things

00:25:30.279 --> 00:25:30.840
 that could happen

00:25:30.840 --> 00:25:31.360
 on the date

00:25:31.360 --> 00:25:32.180
 he worries over

00:25:32.180 --> 00:25:33.160
 every bad thing

00:25:33.160 --> 00:25:33.680
 that could happen

00:25:33.680 --> 00:25:34.019
 on the date

00:25:34.019 --> 00:25:34.500
 but he doesn't

00:25:34.500 --> 00:25:35.180
 actually get ready

00:25:35.180 --> 00:25:35.800
 he does nothing

00:25:35.800 --> 00:25:36.560
 but sit there.

00:25:38.240 --> 00:25:39.000
 Doesn't even take

00:25:39.000 --> 00:25:39.460
 a shower

00:25:39.460 --> 00:25:40.360
 and get dressed up

00:25:40.360 --> 00:25:41.420
 or ready for the date

00:25:41.420 --> 00:25:42.400
 or make any plans

00:25:42.400 --> 00:25:43.259
 just knows

00:25:43.259 --> 00:25:44.040
 the date's coming

00:25:44.040 --> 00:25:44.940
 so something

00:25:44.940 --> 00:25:45.300
 will happen

00:25:45.300 --> 00:25:45.740
 that day.

00:25:47.340 --> 00:25:48.019
 I'd imagine

00:25:48.019 --> 00:25:48.720
 that date

00:25:48.720 --> 00:25:49.680
 doesn't go very well

00:25:49.680 --> 00:25:50.820
 and doesn't go very long

00:25:50.820 --> 00:25:51.560
 especially after

00:25:51.560 --> 00:25:52.740
 she starts to smell him.

00:25:54.900 --> 00:25:56.100
 But what if instead

00:25:56.100 --> 00:25:57.180
 he was active

00:25:57.180 --> 00:25:57.720
 in his waiting?

00:25:58.660 --> 00:25:59.920
 What if she said yes

00:25:59.920 --> 00:26:02.000
 and for that whole week

00:26:02.000 --> 00:26:02.900
 leading up to it

00:26:02.900 --> 00:26:05.320
 he used that joy

00:26:05.320 --> 00:26:06.940
 to actively wake

00:26:06.940 --> 00:26:07.780
 to make plans?

00:26:08.780 --> 00:26:09.660
 He started thinking about

00:26:09.660 --> 00:26:10.280
 well what would her

00:26:10.279 --> 00:26:11.279
 favorite activity be

00:26:11.279 --> 00:26:12.399
 or what would her

00:26:12.399 --> 00:26:13.319
 favorite music be

00:26:13.319 --> 00:26:14.420
 and he decides to

00:26:14.420 --> 00:26:15.180
 set up a picnic

00:26:15.180 --> 00:26:15.819
 in the park

00:26:15.819 --> 00:26:17.579
 or decides to

00:26:17.579 --> 00:26:18.379
 find dinner

00:26:18.379 --> 00:26:19.539
 and a concert

00:26:19.539 --> 00:26:20.440
 at her favorite music.

00:26:20.879 --> 00:26:22.240
 There's no thing

00:26:22.240 --> 00:26:23.079
 he can do

00:26:23.079 --> 00:26:24.319
 no one thing

00:26:24.319 --> 00:26:25.899
 that makes that day

00:26:25.899 --> 00:26:26.759
 come any faster.

00:26:29.559 --> 00:26:30.940
 There's no one thing

00:26:30.940 --> 00:26:31.460
 he can do

00:26:31.460 --> 00:26:32.160
 that will ensure

00:26:32.160 --> 00:26:33.440
 that all of his plans

00:26:33.440 --> 00:26:34.399
 actually work.

00:26:36.139 --> 00:26:37.079
 Sometimes things

00:26:37.079 --> 00:26:37.759
 just go wrong.

00:26:40.679 --> 00:26:41.539
 But when he gets

00:26:41.539 --> 00:26:42.259
 to that day

00:26:42.259 --> 00:26:46.079
 and when they go out

00:26:46.079 --> 00:26:46.619
 on that picnic

00:26:46.619 --> 00:26:47.439
 if it rains

00:26:47.439 --> 00:26:49.879
 so what?

00:26:51.079 --> 00:26:51.879
 And if he forgets

00:26:51.879 --> 00:26:52.839
 the tickets to the concert

00:26:52.839 --> 00:26:53.359
 and they end up

00:26:53.359 --> 00:26:54.000
 taking a walk

00:26:54.000 --> 00:26:54.799
 in the park instead

00:26:54.799 --> 00:26:55.839
 and talking all night

00:26:55.839 --> 00:26:57.439
 so what?

00:26:58.619 --> 00:26:59.359
 She can see

00:26:59.359 --> 00:27:00.079
 that these plans

00:27:00.079 --> 00:27:00.500
 were made

00:27:00.500 --> 00:27:01.359
 that he prepared

00:27:01.359 --> 00:27:02.119
 himself

00:27:02.119 --> 00:27:05.500
 out of that puppy dog love

00:27:05.500 --> 00:27:06.180
 he got ready

00:27:06.180 --> 00:27:07.319
 because that was

00:27:07.319 --> 00:27:07.880
 what he was looking

00:27:07.880 --> 00:27:08.539
 forward to.

00:27:09.220 --> 00:27:10.779
 It drove him

00:27:10.779 --> 00:27:12.980
 to wait on that day.

00:27:15.819 --> 00:27:16.940
 How much more

00:27:16.940 --> 00:27:18.319
 does God look down

00:27:18.319 --> 00:27:19.119
 on us with joy

00:27:19.119 --> 00:27:19.900
 as we're making

00:27:19.900 --> 00:27:20.460
 these plans

00:27:20.460 --> 00:27:20.980
 when we say

00:27:20.980 --> 00:27:22.240
 Lord my plan

00:27:22.240 --> 00:27:23.059
 is to serve you

00:27:23.059 --> 00:27:23.920
 now here's how

00:27:23.920 --> 00:27:24.799
 I'm going to do it

00:27:24.799 --> 00:27:26.059
 and he stops listening

00:27:26.059 --> 00:27:26.759
 after the

00:27:26.759 --> 00:27:28.099
 Lord I'm going to serve you

00:27:28.099 --> 00:27:29.039
 and kicks in

00:27:29.039 --> 00:27:29.779
 with his own plans

00:27:29.779 --> 00:27:31.579
 but what joy

00:27:31.579 --> 00:27:32.180
 he takes.

00:27:33.660 --> 00:27:34.599
 It's like the father

00:27:34.599 --> 00:27:35.819
 whose son

00:27:35.819 --> 00:27:36.480
 at five

00:27:36.480 --> 00:27:37.240
 wants to come in

00:27:37.240 --> 00:27:37.939
 and sees his dad

00:27:37.939 --> 00:27:38.359
 shaving

00:27:38.359 --> 00:27:39.779
 and wants to come in

00:27:39.779 --> 00:27:40.679
 and imitate his father

00:27:40.679 --> 00:27:42.419
 so the father

00:27:42.419 --> 00:27:43.279
 and son stand

00:27:43.279 --> 00:27:44.500
 side by side

00:27:44.500 --> 00:27:45.019
 in front of the

00:27:45.019 --> 00:27:45.719
 bathroom mirror

00:27:45.719 --> 00:27:46.359
 and the son

00:27:46.359 --> 00:27:47.159
 gets all

00:27:47.159 --> 00:27:48.000
 lathered up

00:27:48.000 --> 00:27:49.740
 dad gives him

00:27:49.740 --> 00:27:50.079
 the little

00:27:50.079 --> 00:27:50.980
 bladeless razor

00:27:50.980 --> 00:27:53.299
 and they slowly

00:27:53.299 --> 00:27:54.599
 mimic each other's moves

00:27:54.599 --> 00:27:55.839
 and his dad

00:27:55.839 --> 00:27:56.679
 slowly scrapes

00:27:56.679 --> 00:27:57.419
 down one side

00:27:57.419 --> 00:27:58.359
 his son scrapes

00:27:58.359 --> 00:27:59.559
 knocks off

00:27:59.559 --> 00:28:00.279
 the shaving cream

00:28:00.279 --> 00:28:01.379
 and it's not really

00:28:01.379 --> 00:28:02.039
 doing any good

00:28:02.039 --> 00:28:02.619
 his son doesn't

00:28:02.619 --> 00:28:03.500
 need to shave

00:28:03.500 --> 00:28:05.420
 but he wants

00:28:05.420 --> 00:28:06.220
 to be like his dad

00:28:06.220 --> 00:28:10.480
 and doing it

00:28:10.480 --> 00:28:11.519
 showing him

00:28:11.519 --> 00:28:11.980
 how to be

00:28:11.980 --> 00:28:12.799
 like his father

00:28:12.799 --> 00:28:14.460
 is helping him

00:28:14.460 --> 00:28:15.019
 to grow up

00:28:15.019 --> 00:28:15.420
 that way

00:28:15.420 --> 00:28:17.359
 it's helping

00:28:17.359 --> 00:28:18.099
 in the long run

00:28:18.099 --> 00:28:18.920
 whether he can

00:28:18.920 --> 00:28:19.339
 see it now

00:28:19.339 --> 00:28:19.759
 or not

00:28:19.759 --> 00:28:22.140
 what delight

00:28:22.140 --> 00:28:22.779
 our father

00:28:22.779 --> 00:28:23.440
 takes in us

00:28:23.440 --> 00:28:24.140
 as he looks

00:28:24.140 --> 00:28:24.960
 down at his child

00:28:24.960 --> 00:28:25.480
 and says

00:28:25.480 --> 00:28:27.059
 that's my boy

00:28:27.059 --> 00:28:29.859
 imitate me

00:28:29.859 --> 00:28:31.660
 follow my example

00:28:31.660 --> 00:28:34.560
 our plans

00:28:34.560 --> 00:28:35.180
 don't have

00:28:35.180 --> 00:28:35.900
 to work out

00:28:35.900 --> 00:28:37.160
 because his do

00:28:37.160 --> 00:28:38.540
 and because he

00:28:38.540 --> 00:28:40.400
 takes great delight

00:28:40.400 --> 00:28:41.180
 in the love

00:28:41.180 --> 00:28:42.220
 that drives us

00:28:42.220 --> 00:28:43.920
 to make those plans

00:28:43.920 --> 00:28:45.019
 and to serve him

00:28:45.019 --> 00:28:45.560
 no matter what

00:28:45.560 --> 00:28:46.019
 happens

00:28:46.019 --> 00:28:49.480
 it's that kind

00:28:49.480 --> 00:28:50.080
 of love

00:28:50.080 --> 00:28:51.340
 that imitating

00:28:51.340 --> 00:28:51.840
 life

00:28:51.840 --> 00:28:52.740
 that Paul

00:28:52.740 --> 00:28:53.680
 wants for himself

00:28:53.680 --> 00:28:54.340
 and that Paul

00:28:54.340 --> 00:28:55.060
 wants the church

00:28:55.060 --> 00:28:55.660
 to act out

00:28:55.660 --> 00:28:56.279
 here in Rome

00:28:56.279 --> 00:28:57.440
 and everywhere he goes

00:28:57.440 --> 00:28:59.220
 to act out

00:28:59.220 --> 00:29:00.140
 a life of love

00:29:00.140 --> 00:29:02.539
 to have faith

00:29:02.539 --> 00:29:03.440
 enough to realize

00:29:03.440 --> 00:29:04.120
 that we may

00:29:04.120 --> 00:29:05.120
 plan our course

00:29:05.120 --> 00:29:06.340
 but the Lord

00:29:06.340 --> 00:29:07.320
 determines our steps

00:29:07.320 --> 00:29:09.160
 and that's really good

00:29:09.160 --> 00:29:11.860
 to that end

00:29:11.860 --> 00:29:13.059
 Paul doesn't

00:29:13.059 --> 00:29:13.920
 just make plans

00:29:13.920 --> 00:29:15.640
 he makes sure

00:29:15.640 --> 00:29:16.259
 that they're

00:29:16.259 --> 00:29:17.059
 bathed in prayer

00:29:17.059 --> 00:29:19.680
 Paul knows

00:29:19.680 --> 00:29:20.320
 that his path

00:29:20.320 --> 00:29:20.860
 is difficult

00:29:20.860 --> 00:29:22.920
 instead of living

00:29:22.920 --> 00:29:23.460
 in fear

00:29:23.460 --> 00:29:24.320
 he fights

00:29:24.320 --> 00:29:25.720
 in faith

00:29:25.720 --> 00:29:27.740
 look at verse 30

00:29:27.740 --> 00:29:29.400
 he appeals

00:29:29.400 --> 00:29:30.299
 to the church

00:29:30.299 --> 00:29:30.660
 in Rome

00:29:30.660 --> 00:29:31.640
 to pray for him

00:29:31.640 --> 00:29:32.319
 he says

00:29:32.319 --> 00:29:33.720
 strive with me

00:29:33.720 --> 00:29:36.779
 struggle

00:29:36.779 --> 00:29:38.660
 wrestle with me

00:29:38.660 --> 00:29:39.960
 fight with me

00:29:39.960 --> 00:29:40.620
 in prayer

00:29:40.620 --> 00:29:41.860
 this prayer

00:29:41.860 --> 00:29:42.640
 he's living

00:29:42.640 --> 00:29:44.880
 it's not your standard

00:29:44.880 --> 00:29:45.960
 southern blessing

00:29:45.960 --> 00:29:46.559
 of a meal

00:29:46.559 --> 00:29:47.860
 of good bread

00:29:47.860 --> 00:29:48.539
 good meat

00:29:48.539 --> 00:29:49.039
 good God

00:29:49.039 --> 00:29:49.420
 let's eat

00:29:49.420 --> 00:29:49.860
 this is

00:29:49.860 --> 00:29:51.140
 this is a prayer

00:29:51.140 --> 00:29:52.539
 of a passionate

00:29:52.539 --> 00:29:53.740
 heart-wrenching

00:29:53.740 --> 00:29:55.660
 broken man

00:29:55.660 --> 00:29:56.759
 going down

00:29:56.759 --> 00:29:57.580
 a broken road

00:29:57.580 --> 00:29:58.880
 knowing the detours

00:29:58.880 --> 00:29:59.779
 and the pitfalls

00:29:59.779 --> 00:30:01.180
 are well worth

00:30:01.180 --> 00:30:01.779
 the home

00:30:01.779 --> 00:30:02.360
 with his savior

00:30:02.360 --> 00:30:03.259
 that lies at the end

00:30:03.259 --> 00:30:06.600
 so he beseeches

00:30:06.600 --> 00:30:07.340
 the church

00:30:07.340 --> 00:30:09.320
 to fight

00:30:09.320 --> 00:30:09.640
 with them

00:30:09.640 --> 00:30:10.040
 in prayer

00:30:10.040 --> 00:30:13.720
 he knows

00:30:13.720 --> 00:30:14.240
 that his life

00:30:14.240 --> 00:30:14.900
 is under threat

00:30:14.900 --> 00:30:17.080
 that there are

00:30:17.080 --> 00:30:17.480
 those

00:30:17.480 --> 00:30:18.259
 where he has been

00:30:18.259 --> 00:30:18.840
 and preached

00:30:18.840 --> 00:30:20.400
 that want to kill him

00:30:20.400 --> 00:30:21.540
 for what he has preached

00:30:21.539 --> 00:30:25.500
 and he prays

00:30:25.500 --> 00:30:27.079
 that his work

00:30:27.079 --> 00:30:28.139
 be made acceptable

00:30:28.139 --> 00:30:29.119
 to the saints there

00:30:29.119 --> 00:30:30.659
 he's not trying

00:30:30.659 --> 00:30:31.779
 to please the saints

00:30:31.779 --> 00:30:32.920
 with acceptable works

00:30:32.920 --> 00:30:35.319
 he's trying

00:30:35.319 --> 00:30:36.200
 to see that life

00:30:36.200 --> 00:30:36.599
 of love

00:30:36.599 --> 00:30:37.500
 break down the wall

00:30:37.500 --> 00:30:38.200
 between the Jews

00:30:38.200 --> 00:30:39.059
 in Jerusalem

00:30:39.059 --> 00:30:40.099
 and the Gentiles

00:30:40.099 --> 00:30:41.279
 sending them support

00:30:41.279 --> 00:30:42.700
 he's trying

00:30:42.700 --> 00:30:43.240
 to make sure

00:30:43.240 --> 00:30:43.960
 that pray

00:30:43.960 --> 00:30:45.659
 that when these Gentiles

00:30:45.659 --> 00:30:46.819
 who have now learned

00:30:46.819 --> 00:30:47.460
 the gospel

00:30:47.460 --> 00:30:49.659
 send their love

00:30:49.660 --> 00:30:50.180
 to this church

00:30:50.180 --> 00:30:50.779
 that this church

00:30:50.779 --> 00:30:51.800
 responds and says

00:30:51.800 --> 00:30:54.080
 they really are part

00:30:54.080 --> 00:30:54.940
 of the body of Christ

00:30:54.940 --> 00:30:57.220
 and that love

00:30:57.220 --> 00:30:58.300
 in those gifts

00:30:58.300 --> 00:30:59.779
 breaks down the walls

00:30:59.779 --> 00:31:00.400
 that are keeping

00:31:00.400 --> 00:31:01.120
 the church apart

00:31:01.120 --> 00:31:02.240
 between Jew and Gentile

00:31:02.240 --> 00:31:06.700
 he wants the church

00:31:06.700 --> 00:31:07.180
 in Jerusalem

00:31:07.180 --> 00:31:08.200
 not only to have

00:31:08.200 --> 00:31:09.380
 their needs taken care of

00:31:09.380 --> 00:31:10.880
 but to have their hearts

00:31:10.880 --> 00:31:11.440
 realize

00:31:11.440 --> 00:31:14.779
 that the body of Christ

00:31:14.779 --> 00:31:15.740
 is a beautiful thing

00:31:15.740 --> 00:31:18.440
 strikes me the most

00:31:18.440 --> 00:31:18.640
 though

00:31:18.640 --> 00:31:19.400
 is perhaps that

00:31:19.400 --> 00:31:20.720
 his greatest desire

00:31:20.720 --> 00:31:21.140
 in this

00:31:21.140 --> 00:31:21.680
 is that

00:31:21.680 --> 00:31:22.980
 the church

00:31:22.980 --> 00:31:23.940
 share in his joy

00:31:23.940 --> 00:31:24.700
 and be refreshed

00:31:24.700 --> 00:31:25.400
 by one another

00:31:25.400 --> 00:31:27.120
 missions is a huge

00:31:27.120 --> 00:31:27.740
 part of this

00:31:27.740 --> 00:31:28.900
 but it's not just

00:31:28.900 --> 00:31:29.340
 missions

00:31:29.340 --> 00:31:30.000
 it's fellowship

00:31:30.000 --> 00:31:30.500
 that he wants

00:31:30.500 --> 00:31:31.160
 to focus on

00:31:31.160 --> 00:31:32.019
 he focuses on

00:31:32.019 --> 00:31:32.920
 mutually encouraging

00:31:32.920 --> 00:31:33.360
 each other

00:31:33.360 --> 00:31:35.160
 as iron sharpens iron

00:31:35.160 --> 00:31:36.080
 so one man

00:31:36.080 --> 00:31:36.820
 builds another up

00:31:36.820 --> 00:31:37.960
 but it's not just

00:31:37.960 --> 00:31:38.519
 about preparing

00:31:38.519 --> 00:31:39.100
 for the fight

00:31:39.100 --> 00:31:40.100
 it's softening

00:31:40.100 --> 00:31:40.600
 the blows

00:31:40.600 --> 00:31:41.259
 in the fight

00:31:41.259 --> 00:31:42.900
 it's taking care

00:31:42.900 --> 00:31:43.540
 and binding up

00:31:43.540 --> 00:31:44.040
 the wounds

00:31:44.040 --> 00:31:44.900
 after the fight

00:31:44.900 --> 00:31:46.140
 it's standing together

00:31:46.140 --> 00:31:46.940
 as one body

00:31:46.940 --> 00:31:49.660
 Paul plans

00:31:49.660 --> 00:31:51.259
 he prays

00:31:51.259 --> 00:31:52.559
 he does all of this

00:31:52.559 --> 00:31:53.360
 so that joy

00:31:53.360 --> 00:31:54.880
 may be complete

00:31:54.880 --> 00:31:56.580
 that joy of the Lord

00:31:56.580 --> 00:31:57.440
 be his strength

00:31:57.440 --> 00:31:59.320
 and he does it all

00:31:59.320 --> 00:31:59.660
 by the

00:31:59.660 --> 00:32:00.759
 God's will

00:32:00.759 --> 00:32:02.620
 saying that

00:32:02.620 --> 00:32:03.480
 would be a scary thought

00:32:03.480 --> 00:32:04.080
 for all of us

00:32:04.080 --> 00:32:05.299
 if we didn't know

00:32:05.299 --> 00:32:06.100
 who God was

00:32:06.100 --> 00:32:08.820
 the one who loves us

00:32:08.820 --> 00:32:09.580
 beyond measure

00:32:09.580 --> 00:32:11.460
 who gave his son

00:32:11.460 --> 00:32:12.259
 up for us

00:32:12.259 --> 00:32:14.619
 that by his grace

00:32:14.619 --> 00:32:15.759
 we might be refreshed

00:32:15.759 --> 00:32:17.099
 and see peace

00:32:17.099 --> 00:32:17.559
 that passes

00:32:17.559 --> 00:32:18.339
 all understanding

00:32:18.339 --> 00:32:21.400
 and that's what

00:32:21.400 --> 00:32:22.259
 all of this leads to

00:32:22.259 --> 00:32:23.799
 a life of peace

00:32:23.799 --> 00:32:24.379
 at heart

00:32:24.379 --> 00:32:28.039
 looking at this

00:32:28.039 --> 00:32:29.119
 and finding that peace

00:32:29.119 --> 00:32:29.960
 one commentator

00:32:29.960 --> 00:32:30.640
 stood out to me

00:32:30.640 --> 00:32:31.000
 this week

00:32:31.000 --> 00:32:31.700
 as I was studying

00:32:31.700 --> 00:32:32.319
 that I want to bring

00:32:32.319 --> 00:32:32.579
 to you

00:32:32.579 --> 00:32:33.059
 he says

00:32:33.059 --> 00:32:35.220
 grace brings peace

00:32:35.220 --> 00:32:36.460
 the latter is both

00:32:36.460 --> 00:32:36.980
 a state

00:32:36.980 --> 00:32:38.259
 that of reconciliation

00:32:38.259 --> 00:32:38.940
 with God

00:32:38.940 --> 00:32:39.740
 and a condition

00:32:39.740 --> 00:32:41.259
 the inner conviction

00:32:41.259 --> 00:32:42.160
 that consequently

00:32:42.160 --> 00:32:42.940
 all is well

00:32:42.940 --> 00:32:44.940
 it's the great blessing

00:32:44.940 --> 00:32:45.619
 which Christ

00:32:45.619 --> 00:32:47.099
 by his atoning sacrifice

00:32:47.099 --> 00:32:48.420
 bestowed upon the church

00:32:48.420 --> 00:32:49.559
 it surpasses

00:32:49.559 --> 00:32:50.539
 all understanding

00:32:50.539 --> 00:32:52.319
 it's not the reflection

00:32:52.319 --> 00:32:53.579
 of an unclouded sky

00:32:53.579 --> 00:32:54.460
 and tranquil waters

00:32:54.460 --> 00:32:55.599
 of a picturesque lake

00:32:55.599 --> 00:32:57.279
 rather it's the cleft

00:32:57.279 --> 00:32:57.819
 of the rock

00:32:57.819 --> 00:32:58.599
 in which the Lord

00:32:58.599 --> 00:32:59.400
 hides his children

00:32:59.400 --> 00:33:00.480
 when the storm is raging

00:33:00.480 --> 00:33:01.779
 it's the hiding place

00:33:01.779 --> 00:33:02.519
 under the wings

00:33:02.519 --> 00:33:03.220
 to which the hen

00:33:03.220 --> 00:33:04.140
 gathers her broods

00:33:04.140 --> 00:33:04.980
 that the little chicks

00:33:04.980 --> 00:33:05.480
 are safe

00:33:05.480 --> 00:33:06.059
 while the storm

00:33:06.059 --> 00:33:06.599
 bursts loose

00:33:06.599 --> 00:33:07.259
 in all its fury

00:33:07.259 --> 00:33:07.960
 upon herself

00:33:07.960 --> 00:33:11.840
 we're reconciled

00:33:11.840 --> 00:33:12.259
 to God

00:33:12.259 --> 00:33:14.039
 we're at peace

00:33:14.039 --> 00:33:14.400
 with him

00:33:14.400 --> 00:33:15.720
 have you ever been

00:33:15.720 --> 00:33:16.440
 in a pickup game

00:33:16.440 --> 00:33:16.880
 of soccer

00:33:16.880 --> 00:33:17.539
 and your team

00:33:17.539 --> 00:33:18.680
 is doing so miserably

00:33:18.680 --> 00:33:19.039
 poor

00:33:19.039 --> 00:33:19.980
 and you have nothing

00:33:19.980 --> 00:33:20.340
 added

00:33:20.340 --> 00:33:20.900
 and the other team

00:33:20.900 --> 00:33:21.880
 is just trouncing you

00:33:21.880 --> 00:33:22.980
 and all of a sudden

00:33:22.980 --> 00:33:23.740
 they decide to

00:33:23.740 --> 00:33:25.059
 stop and be merciful

00:33:25.059 --> 00:33:26.500
 and switch one player out

00:33:26.500 --> 00:33:27.980
 and all of a sudden

00:33:27.980 --> 00:33:28.539
 you end up

00:33:28.539 --> 00:33:29.420
 on the winning team

00:33:29.420 --> 00:33:30.240
 despite having

00:33:30.240 --> 00:33:31.299
 done nothing

00:33:31.299 --> 00:33:35.240
 God's reconciling

00:33:35.240 --> 00:33:35.779
 us to him

00:33:35.779 --> 00:33:36.620
 after being at war

00:33:36.620 --> 00:33:36.960
 with him

00:33:36.960 --> 00:33:37.840
 and broken by sin

00:33:37.840 --> 00:33:38.600
 is even greater

00:33:38.600 --> 00:33:41.200
 nothing of our own

00:33:41.200 --> 00:33:42.620
 and yet he trades places

00:33:42.620 --> 00:33:43.160
 and puts us

00:33:43.160 --> 00:33:44.019
 on the winning side

00:33:44.019 --> 00:33:46.019
 he makes us

00:33:46.019 --> 00:33:47.000
 at peace with him

00:33:47.000 --> 00:33:49.299
 and being at peace

00:33:49.299 --> 00:33:49.900
 with him

00:33:49.900 --> 00:33:50.880
 gives us a peace

00:33:50.880 --> 00:33:51.299
 within

00:33:51.299 --> 00:33:53.860
 it's such a rich word

00:33:53.860 --> 00:33:54.360
 to Paul

00:33:54.360 --> 00:33:55.059
 and to the Romans

00:33:55.059 --> 00:33:55.740
 and to the church

00:33:55.740 --> 00:33:56.120
 itself

00:33:56.120 --> 00:33:57.299
 the very greeting

00:33:57.299 --> 00:33:57.880
 of the Jews

00:33:57.880 --> 00:33:58.380
 at the day

00:33:58.380 --> 00:33:59.960
 peace be with you

00:33:59.960 --> 00:34:02.579
 and it's because of it

00:34:02.579 --> 00:34:03.160
 that we're able

00:34:03.160 --> 00:34:04.480
 to come before him

00:34:04.480 --> 00:34:06.759
 to live for him

00:34:06.759 --> 00:34:09.519
 I pray for peace

00:34:09.519 --> 00:34:09.900
 in Moondry

00:34:09.900 --> 00:34:10.480
 every day

00:34:10.480 --> 00:34:13.260
 I pray for peace

00:34:13.260 --> 00:34:14.139
 of my own heart

00:34:14.139 --> 00:34:15.940
 especially on those days

00:34:15.940 --> 00:34:16.860
 when I get angry

00:34:16.860 --> 00:34:17.840
 at the evils

00:34:17.840 --> 00:34:18.679
 that are being done there

00:34:18.679 --> 00:34:19.980
 and yet

00:34:19.980 --> 00:34:21.659
 things are getting worse

00:34:21.659 --> 00:34:24.179
 Moondry's in ashes

00:34:24.179 --> 00:34:26.280
 burned to the ground

00:34:26.280 --> 00:34:27.860
 my friends have fled

00:34:27.860 --> 00:34:31.300
 so how can I say

00:34:31.300 --> 00:34:32.420
 that I'm at peace

00:34:32.420 --> 00:34:34.860
 I can't every day

00:34:34.860 --> 00:34:36.820
 am I nothing more

00:34:36.820 --> 00:34:37.400
 than the duck

00:34:37.400 --> 00:34:38.059
 on water

00:34:38.059 --> 00:34:39.099
 who looks calm

00:34:39.099 --> 00:34:39.539
 at top

00:34:39.539 --> 00:34:40.120
 but is kicking

00:34:40.120 --> 00:34:41.019
 furiously underneath

00:34:41.019 --> 00:34:43.420
 or truly

00:34:43.420 --> 00:34:45.039
 what does it take

00:34:45.039 --> 00:34:45.880
 to be able to say

00:34:45.880 --> 00:34:48.180
 whatever my lot

00:34:48.180 --> 00:34:49.220
 God has taught me

00:34:49.220 --> 00:34:49.599
 to say

00:34:49.599 --> 00:34:50.160
 it is well

00:34:50.160 --> 00:34:51.320
 it is well

00:34:51.320 --> 00:34:51.980
 with my soul

00:34:51.980 --> 00:34:54.360
 it's my friends

00:34:54.360 --> 00:34:54.780
 in Moondry

00:34:54.780 --> 00:34:55.300
 who have really

00:34:55.300 --> 00:34:56.079
 taught that to me

00:34:56.079 --> 00:34:57.279
 because every time

00:34:57.279 --> 00:34:57.819
 I call them

00:34:57.819 --> 00:34:58.719
 despite how bad

00:34:58.719 --> 00:34:59.319
 things are

00:34:59.319 --> 00:35:00.619
 they tell me

00:35:00.619 --> 00:35:01.239
 two things

00:35:01.239 --> 00:35:03.659
 first they say

00:35:03.659 --> 00:35:04.480
 don't stop praying

00:35:04.480 --> 00:35:05.059
 for us

00:35:05.059 --> 00:35:07.340
 and second

00:35:07.340 --> 00:35:07.819
 they say

00:35:07.819 --> 00:35:08.239
 God

00:35:08.239 --> 00:35:09.559
 is greater

00:35:09.559 --> 00:35:11.559
 and because

00:35:11.559 --> 00:35:12.219
 they know

00:35:12.219 --> 00:35:12.920
 who he is

00:35:12.920 --> 00:35:13.880
 they have a peace

00:35:13.880 --> 00:35:14.400
 within

00:35:14.400 --> 00:35:14.880
 despite

00:35:14.880 --> 00:35:16.000
 never having

00:35:16.000 --> 00:35:16.539
 peace without

00:35:16.539 --> 00:35:19.279
 and we can have

00:35:19.279 --> 00:35:19.719
 that too

00:35:19.719 --> 00:35:22.359
 if we know

00:35:22.359 --> 00:35:23.119
 who he is

00:35:23.119 --> 00:35:24.699
 and stand

00:35:24.699 --> 00:35:25.500
 together for it

00:35:25.500 --> 00:35:28.299
 I don't

00:35:28.299 --> 00:35:29.059
 know what

00:35:29.059 --> 00:35:30.279
 your story is

00:35:30.279 --> 00:35:30.759
 for the last

00:35:30.759 --> 00:35:31.219
 two years

00:35:31.219 --> 00:35:31.859
 or for your lives

00:35:31.859 --> 00:35:32.319
 I don't know

00:35:32.319 --> 00:35:32.779
 what plans

00:35:32.779 --> 00:35:33.219
 you've had

00:35:33.219 --> 00:35:33.980
 that have changed

00:35:33.980 --> 00:35:37.219
 I do know

00:35:37.219 --> 00:35:39.319
 that you have

00:35:39.319 --> 00:35:39.819
 a God

00:35:39.819 --> 00:35:40.959
 who is there

00:35:40.959 --> 00:35:41.219
 for you

00:35:41.219 --> 00:35:41.799
 no matter what

00:35:41.799 --> 00:35:45.279
 I know

00:35:45.279 --> 00:35:45.659
 that all

00:35:45.659 --> 00:35:46.159
 those friends

00:35:46.159 --> 00:35:46.659
 who have been

00:35:46.659 --> 00:35:47.279
 spread across

00:35:47.279 --> 00:35:47.739
 the world

00:35:47.739 --> 00:35:48.199
 and spread

00:35:48.199 --> 00:35:49.179
 across South Sudan

00:35:49.179 --> 00:35:49.839
 and scattered

00:35:49.839 --> 00:35:50.759
 like seeds

00:35:50.759 --> 00:35:51.299
 are still

00:35:51.299 --> 00:35:51.839
 in the hands

00:35:51.839 --> 00:35:52.299
 of the one

00:35:52.299 --> 00:35:52.919
 who can cause

00:35:52.919 --> 00:35:53.399
 them to grow

00:35:53.399 --> 00:35:54.279
 wherever they are

00:35:54.279 --> 00:35:56.319
 whether they're

00:35:56.319 --> 00:35:57.379
 in an IDP camp

00:35:57.379 --> 00:35:58.000
 or a refugee

00:35:58.000 --> 00:35:58.500
 settlement

00:35:58.500 --> 00:35:59.460
 God will spread

00:35:59.460 --> 00:35:59.960
 the gospel

00:35:59.960 --> 00:36:01.019
 even in this

00:36:01.019 --> 00:36:03.119
 that he will

00:36:03.119 --> 00:36:03.919
 cause it to grow

00:36:03.919 --> 00:36:05.099
 if we are willing

00:36:05.099 --> 00:36:06.179
 to say yes

00:36:06.179 --> 00:36:06.719
 to serve

00:36:06.719 --> 00:36:08.940
 yes to pray

00:36:08.940 --> 00:36:10.039
 for one another

00:36:10.039 --> 00:36:11.579
 to build one another

00:36:11.579 --> 00:36:11.859
 up

00:36:11.859 --> 00:36:13.079
 and to trust

00:36:13.079 --> 00:36:13.519
 in him

00:36:13.519 --> 00:36:14.679
 and be at peace

00:36:14.679 --> 00:36:18.199
 so let me

00:36:18.199 --> 00:36:18.759
 reassure you

00:36:18.760 --> 00:36:19.200
 by joining

00:36:19.200 --> 00:36:19.700
 my voice

00:36:19.700 --> 00:36:20.140
 to Paul

00:36:20.140 --> 00:36:21.280
 because a lot

00:36:21.280 --> 00:36:21.820
 of these stories

00:36:21.820 --> 00:36:22.460
 from South Sudan

00:36:22.460 --> 00:36:23.340
 can be pretty heavy

00:36:23.340 --> 00:36:24.240
 if you don't

00:36:24.240 --> 00:36:24.620
 remember

00:36:24.620 --> 00:36:25.860
 the joy

00:36:25.860 --> 00:36:26.480
 of the Lord

00:36:26.480 --> 00:36:27.760
 being the one

00:36:27.760 --> 00:36:28.520
 controlling them all

00:36:28.520 --> 00:36:30.940
 I've come home

00:36:30.940 --> 00:36:31.400
 that we might

00:36:31.400 --> 00:36:31.900
 be mutually

00:36:31.900 --> 00:36:32.580
 encouraged

00:36:32.580 --> 00:36:34.260
 be refreshed

00:36:34.260 --> 00:36:35.520
 by the fellowship

00:36:35.520 --> 00:36:36.220
 of this body

00:36:36.220 --> 00:36:37.420
 and the joy

00:36:37.420 --> 00:36:38.180
 of his spirit

00:36:38.180 --> 00:36:38.900
 dwelling in you

00:36:38.900 --> 00:36:39.220
 and me

00:36:39.220 --> 00:36:40.500
 crying out

00:36:40.500 --> 00:36:41.380
 to rejoice

00:36:41.380 --> 00:36:42.300
 and be glad

00:36:42.300 --> 00:36:43.440
 knowing that he

00:36:43.440 --> 00:36:44.460
 is a good God

00:36:44.460 --> 00:36:46.480
 that he will guide you

00:36:46.480 --> 00:36:47.000
 in the path

00:36:47.000 --> 00:36:47.539
 of righteousness

00:36:47.539 --> 00:36:49.019
 for his name's sake

00:36:49.019 --> 00:36:51.240
 so may the God

00:36:51.240 --> 00:36:51.800
 of peace

00:36:51.800 --> 00:36:52.780
 be with you all

00:36:52.780 --> 00:36:53.740
 amen

00:36:53.740 --> 00:36:54.960
 will you pray

00:36:54.960 --> 00:36:55.800
 with me

00:36:55.800 --> 00:36:58.820
 Father almighty

00:36:58.820 --> 00:36:59.760
 what a great gift

00:36:59.760 --> 00:37:00.440
 it is to know

00:37:00.440 --> 00:37:01.000
 that you are

00:37:01.000 --> 00:37:01.639
 a good God

00:37:01.639 --> 00:37:02.760
 that you are

00:37:02.760 --> 00:37:03.199
 a father

00:37:03.199 --> 00:37:03.639
 who cares

00:37:03.639 --> 00:37:04.380
 about his child

00:37:04.380 --> 00:37:05.380
 that lets us

00:37:05.380 --> 00:37:06.019
 come to you

00:37:06.019 --> 00:37:07.320
 and in your name

00:37:07.320 --> 00:37:08.280
 ask whatever

00:37:08.280 --> 00:37:08.940
 in it be given

00:37:08.940 --> 00:37:10.260
 we ask

00:37:10.260 --> 00:37:10.760
 that Lord

00:37:10.760 --> 00:37:12.039
 you bring peace

00:37:12.039 --> 00:37:12.480
 to Moondry

00:37:12.480 --> 00:37:12.980
 that you bring

00:37:12.980 --> 00:37:13.900
 peace to our hearts

00:37:13.900 --> 00:37:14.700
 that you help us

00:37:14.700 --> 00:37:15.200
 to remember

00:37:15.200 --> 00:37:16.099
 that you are

00:37:16.099 --> 00:37:16.740
 a good God

00:37:16.740 --> 00:37:18.820
 to live by faith

00:37:18.820 --> 00:37:19.940
 and to live

00:37:19.940 --> 00:37:20.639
 your love

00:37:20.639 --> 00:37:21.360
 that this world

00:37:21.360 --> 00:37:22.079
 might know you

00:37:22.079 --> 00:37:22.980
 and not ourselves

00:37:22.980 --> 00:37:25.059
 that they may know

00:37:25.059 --> 00:37:25.559
 your son

00:37:25.559 --> 00:37:27.480
 and he be glorified

00:37:27.480 --> 00:37:28.660
 we ask in your son's

00:37:28.660 --> 00:37:29.220
 precious name

00:37:29.220 --> 00:37:29.800
 amen

00:37:29.800 --> 00:37:35.639
 for more information

00:37:35.639 --> 00:37:36.960
 visit us online

00:37:36.960 --> 00:37:38.260
 at southwood.org

00:37:43.900 --> 00:37:47.260
 we ask

00:38:04.079 --> 00:38:04.539
 you