WEBVTT

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 Good morning. My name is Tommy. I'm a pastor here at Church of the Advent. We are in the

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 middle of a season now called the Home Campaign, which we're very excited about. This is our

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 endeavor to secure a permanent home here in Washington, D.C., so that we can make good on

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 the commitment that we made when we started this church, which is to love the city long-term,

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 meaning for multiple generations, to be the presence and the ministry, the hands and feet

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 of Christ here until he comes again. And so that's what the Home Campaign is all about. This is

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 something that we have prayed a lot about, something that we feel called to, something that a number of

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 us, including me and my wife, have already made a commitment to support. It's something that we're

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 very excited about, but make no mistake, it's a risk. It's hands down the biggest financial risk

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 I think we've ever taken as a church community. And we need to be honest about that. We need to

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 be honest about the risk that we're taking together, even if it's one that we've prayed a lot about.

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 And so that's what I want to talk about this morning. I want to talk about risk in the Christian

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 life. We're looking at Matthew chapter 25, verses 14 through 30. It's a very well-known parable,

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 and it falls within a section of teaching where Jesus is talking about the characteristics of

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 faithful disciples. When we think about discipleship, I think it's easy to think about things like,

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 well, faithful disciples have a good, solid prayer life. They regularly study Scripture. They

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 regularly worship in a local church with a church community. These are things that most people

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 would think of, but I'm not sure how many of us would think that another characteristic of faithful

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 discipleship is that faithful disciples take risks, that faithful disciples are willing to take risks.

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 So that's what we're going to look at this morning as we look at this parable. We're going to look at

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 first the calling to be risk-takers, and then we'll see the reasons that we are not risk-takers.

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 Why this is so hard for us, and then finally, the way to become risk-takers. So let me pray,

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 and then we will dive in together. Lord, I thank you and just praise you for the joy of being

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 together here in person. And I praise you, and for those who are joining us online or watching this,

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 Lord, I thank you that in all these ways we can gather together around your Word.

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 And we pray that it wouldn't be our agenda or even the wisdom or insights of human beings that we put

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 our hope in this morning, but that we would be hopeful because you're the kind of God who is

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 living and active and present with us, and that you can do your work in us through your Word.

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 And that's really what we need, Lord. So we pray that you would do that. We pray that you would bless

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 our time of turning our hearts and eyes and ears to your Word. And we pray this in your Son's holy name.

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 Amen. So first of all, let me just unpack this parable. It's somewhat familiar to many of us,

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 but I just want to make sure that we understand what's happening here. Jesus is telling a story

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 about a rich master who goes away on a long journey. He's going to be gone for a while,

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 and before he leaves, he entrusts eight talents of his wealth to three of his servants. Now,

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 a talent is a unit of monetary value. It's a unit of weight originally, and it's hard to know exactly

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 how much a talent would be worth, but it's probably worth upwards of 20 years worth of earnings for a

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 laborer. It's about 20 years worth of earnings for a laborer, so it's a lot of money. So this rich

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 master entrusts five talents to the first servant, two talents to the next servant, and then one talent

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 to the third servant, and then he goes away. And while the master is gone, we are told that the

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 first two servants invest the money that they've been given, and they make a return on that investment.

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 And then we're told that the third servant buries his talent to keep it safe. Now, when the master

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 returns, the first servant comes and says, look what I've done. I've doubled the investment. Second

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 servant comes and says, look what I've done. I've doubled the investment. And in both cases,

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 the master responds in exactly the same way. He says, well done, good and faithful servant.

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 You've been faithful over a little. I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.

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 Identical responses. Doesn't matter the amount of money returned. Identical responses in both cases.

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 But when he finds out what the third servant has done, he calls him a, quote, wicked and slothful

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 servant. And then he casts him into the outer darkness. And then he takes the talent away from

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 that servant, and he gives it to the first servant. And he says, to everyone who has, will more be given.

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 And he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.

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 Now, what's happening? Well, first we begin to see the calling to be risk takers. This parable,

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 first of all, I want you to notice a couple of things here. First of all, this parable is about

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 much more than money. It's actually where we get our modern understanding of talent. That actually

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 comes from this parable. The idea being that God really entrusts all kinds of resources to us

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 as his people. We often hear this referred to as our time, talent, and treasure. The time and energy

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 that we have, our natural abilities, as well as our gifts of the Spirit, and then all of our resources,

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 including our wealth, that all of that is entrusted to us by God. So it's parables about much more

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 than just money. The second thing to notice is this. The master commends the first two servants

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 who took a risk by investing the money that they were given. And we just need to understand,

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 they could have very easily lost the money. Right? It's very possible that the master comes back and

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 they say, you know, I went to trade this to try to invest it, and I ended up losing it. I made a bad deal.

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 Anytime you invest in anything, it's a risk. There are no guarantees when it comes to investments.

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 But the master doesn't call them reckless. He doesn't say, how dare you risk losing my money?

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 He commends them, and he commends both of them in the same way. And then thirdly, and I think most

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 importantly for our focus, look what the master says to the third servant. He calls him wicked.

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 Wicked. Now that's strong language. As strong then as it would have been today. You know, most of the

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 time, if you're anything like me, we think of wickedness as doing a bad thing. You did a wicked thing.

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 But this man didn't do anything wrong. Right? He didn't try to steal the money. He didn't go blow it

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 all in Vegas. He kept it safe. He returned every penny safe and sound. The master comes back and says,

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 hey, I kept this safe. I protected it. And now that you're back, here's every penny that you gave me.

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 There it all is. All accounted for. And Jesus, via this parable, pronounces that this man is wicked.

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 So clearly, we learn something about wickedness here. Wickedness doesn't just apply to things that we

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 do. It can also apply equally to things that we don't do. If you're familiar with Anglican worship

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 and the Anglican prayer book, you know that very often when we come to our confession of sin,

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 we not only confess things that we have done, but we also confess things that we have left undone.

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 Jesus condemns this man as wicked because he has left something undone. He refused to take a risk.

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 He refused to invest his talent. In other words, he condemns this man as wicked for playing it safe.

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 Now, that should wake us up. It certainly woke me up when I realized this. And what we really begin

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 to see here is the point of the parable, the reason Jesus is telling us this story in the first place.

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 The point is not simply that we should be reckless, right? Jesus isn't saying, you know, faithful

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 disciples go base jumping. He's not saying faithful disciples take risks for the sake of risk-taking.

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 They live on the edge. They love adrenaline. That's not what he's saying. The point of the parable is

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 that God has given us all kinds of resources. He's given us all kinds of resources. And the point

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 is that God gives us the thing that he gives us for a reason. For a reason. Think of it all as God's capital

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 investment. God has taken his capital and he has given it to you and I. And he's entrusted us with this

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 capital for a reason. And the point of this parable is that faithful disciples are willing to take risks

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 in order to invest God's capital into God's kingdom. Faithful disciples take risks

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 in order to invest God's capital, all that we've been given, into God's kingdom. And when you're

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 investing your time and your talent and your treasure in God's kingdom, what that means is you're not just

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 trying to maximize your financial return. You're not just using your time and your talents and your

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 treasure to get the most financial return you can back. And in many cases, it means that you might

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 actually be willing to take a hit. Because you have another bottom line that you're thinking about.

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 You're trying to have kingdom impact, which means maybe you're investing in making disciples.

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 Maybe you're investing in doing the work of justice and mercy in a place like Washington, D.C.

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 Maybe you're investing in the common good. You're investing in things that are going to lead to

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 greater flourishing for all people in that community. Maybe you're investing in things that

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 bring glory to God. But in all of these ways, you're measuring the return on investment

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 not just based on whether or not you get the maximum financial return. You're thinking about a

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 completely different set of metrics. What we need to understand, though, is that just like any

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 investment, those investments are all risks. Every investment is a risk. There is no guarantee.

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 But according to this parable, the worst thing that we can do is not to invest and lose out.

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 The worst thing that we can do is nothing. The worst thing that we can do is to play it safe.

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 So what we want to ask now is what's the difference between people who are willing to take risks and

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 invest and people who are not? What's the difference between the first two servants and the third

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 servant? Reasons we're not risk takers. Notice first the excuse that the third servant gives.

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 Master comes, says, what'd you do? He says, well, I buried your money and here's why. He says,

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 Master, I knew you to be a hard man. I knew you to be a hard man. You ever known somebody who kind of

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 wrongs you or hurts you and then tells you it's your fault? Well, I only did this because of what

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 you did to me, right? I knew you to be a hard man. It's actually your fault. I was afraid of you and I

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 went and I hid your talent in the ground. Now, let's just sort of give this servant a little bit of

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 grace here and assume maybe he's being totally honest. And let's just think about what that

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 might mean for us. There is a legitimate concern here for some of us. And that is, in other words,

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 maybe one of the reasons some of us refuse to take risks and invest what we have for the sake of the

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 kingdom is ultimately that is rooted in our view of God, right? Maybe that's rooted in our view of God.

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 If you've ever read Cormac McCarthy's The Crossing, in The Crossing, there is a father who has lost his

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 son in a terrible earthquake. And it's a tragic, awful thing. And it says that despite the father

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 losing his son in this earthquake, he never actually stopped believing in God. And it says, you know,

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 it's actually a lot harder to do that than you might think. But here's what it says.

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 It was never that this man ceased to believe in God. It was rather that he came to believe

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 terrible things about him. Right? For some of us, we've had experiences in our lives that lead us to

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 believe terrible things about God. It's not that we gave up our faith. It's that we came to believe

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 terrible things. We came to doubt God's goodness. We came to see God as harsh or capricious,

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 unpredictable. If that is your view of God, then it makes sense why you wouldn't invest what God has

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 entrusted to you in God's kingdom and take real risks with it. Why? Because God is capricious. I can't

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 trust God. I don't know what God might do to me tomorrow. And so the things that I have, I'm going to

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 hold on to them because this might be all I get. I have no way of knowing and I can't trust God.

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 All right? So maybe that is the reason why some of us, and I think I can say safely that there are

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 some of us in this room for whom that is the main reason we don't take risks. We look at God and we

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 say, I believe you to be a hard man. But when it comes to this servant, there's another reason

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 lurking under the surface that I don't want us to miss here that may apply to others of us in this

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 room. Look at what the master says to the servant in verses 26 and 27. He says basically this, you

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 know, there's nothing to indicate here whether or not this servant or this master is actually a hard

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 man. We don't really know what this master is like. Based on the behavior of the first two servants,

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 we might actually think that this master is a much more gracious man than the way he's portrayed

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 by the third servant. Nevertheless, here's what he says to the servant. He says essentially this,

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 if you were truly afraid of me, if you truly were concerned that I was such a hard man, as you say,

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 you would have at least taken my money to the bank where I could earn some interest. So essentially,

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 he's calling BS on the servant. He's saying, you're blaming it on me. You're saying that I'm a hard

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 man. I don't actually think that's the reason that you didn't make any investment. And then he goes

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 on, and if we look at his language, he not only accuses the servant of being wicked, but he says

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 what? Wicked and slothful. Now there's a key right there. Most people think of slothfulness as mere

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 laziness. And he's saying you're lazy because you didn't do anything. And you know, that is one way that

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 sloth manifests itself, laziness. But there's a lot more to sloth than simple laziness. Here's what

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 Frederick Buechner says about sloth. He says, sloth is not to be confused with laziness.

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 A slothful man may be a very busy man. He's a man who goes through the motions, who flies on automatic

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 pilot. He knows something's wrong with him, but not wrong enough to do anything about. He's letting

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 things run their course. He's getting through his life. He's getting through his life on autopilot.

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 So sloth can look like laziness, or at the other end of the continuum of sloth, if laziness is over

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 here, then you have unnecessary busyness over here. But it's the same continuum and the same

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 underlying issue, which is this. Sloth at its core is avoidance, escape, disengagement. Sloth is a refusal

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 to fully inhabit our lives. It's living on autopilot. It's path of least resistance.

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 Here's another quote about sloth.

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 Evenings without number, obliterated by television, evenings neither of entertainment nor of education,

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 but a narcotic defense against time and duty. And when he wrote those words, the iPhone didn't exist yet.

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 All right, we can fill up our time with unnecessary, meaningless, busy work. Maybe it looks like we're

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 doing kingdom work, but there's no real investment. There's no real risk. You know, we can spend several

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 hours a day. Does anybody else on Sunday mornings every week, I get my screen time report for the week?

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 And I don't know why Apple makes that happen on Sunday morning, but it's perfect for me.

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 Because I, every single week, have very specific things to confess when we come to the confession.

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 In our liturgy, I was up an average of two hours and 30 minutes. Help me, Jesus.

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 Jesus. And so we can fill up our lives and we can spend several hours a day scrolling through posts

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 from people we don't even know. Right? I can attend to those kinds of people, but we are too busy to

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 take 10 minutes to walk out of our door, across the street, knock on the door, and introduce ourselves

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 to our neighbors. So imagine if I took all of that screen time reading posts from people I don't even

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 know or honestly even really care about. And instead, I invested 10 minutes of that time

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 in getting to know the person who literally lives across the street from me. Right? But I'm too busy

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 to do that. Am I really too busy? No. That involves real risk. That involves being awkward. I hate social

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 awkwardness. That involves, you know, thinking we might get rejected. They might give you a funny look

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 and be like, get off my property before I call the police. Who does that anymore? Right?

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 It's real risk.

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 We spend hundreds of dollars a month

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 on television streaming services

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 and alcohol

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 and unnecessary Amazon purchases

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 or, I would say,

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 our narcotic defenses

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 against reality.

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 But when it comes to giving money away for the sake of the kingdom,

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 we say,

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 I'm not sure if I can afford that.

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 Because it's risky.

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 You know?

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 It involves an investment in something where there's no guarantee.

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 For some of us, I think,

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 it is true that we don't

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 risk because we don't ultimately trust

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 and believe in God's

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 goodness.

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 For some of us, that's the issue.

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 But I think for some of us,

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 we don't take risks

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 because we don't believe God is worth it.

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 Maybe He's good.

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 Maybe I can trust Him.

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 But He's just not worth it.

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 There's nothing of value

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 that is worth giving up

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 my narcotic defenses

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 against reality.

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 Because I think ultimately,

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 and maybe I'm just speaking for myself here,

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 I think many of us just want an easy Christianity.

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 I've never really been tempted

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 to give up Christianity.

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 I've just been tempted

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 to embrace an easy Christianity.

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 That's the thing that I struggle with.

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 In other words,

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 a Christianity that doesn't ask

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 anything real of us.

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 Because I think really deep down,

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 we don't want a faith

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 that calls us to risk.

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 We don't want a faith

00:20:39.240 --> 00:20:40.320
 that calls us to risk

00:20:40.320 --> 00:20:42.539
 being open about our Christian faith

00:20:42.539 --> 00:20:43.779
 around non-Christian

00:20:43.779 --> 00:20:45.360
 friends and coworkers.

00:20:45.900 --> 00:20:47.000
 We don't want a faith

00:20:47.000 --> 00:20:47.980
 that calls us to risk

00:20:47.980 --> 00:20:49.320
 investing in friendships

00:20:49.319 --> 00:20:51.359
 with people who may move away

00:20:51.359 --> 00:20:52.659
 in a few years.

00:20:54.099 --> 00:20:55.339
 We don't want to risk

00:20:55.339 --> 00:20:56.879
 speaking truth in love

00:20:56.879 --> 00:20:59.759
 to someone who might reject us,

00:20:59.939 --> 00:21:03.139
 where the friendship might be in peril.

00:21:03.960 --> 00:21:05.059
 We don't want to risk

00:21:05.059 --> 00:21:06.000
 loving someone

00:21:06.000 --> 00:21:08.240
 who may not ever love us back

00:21:08.240 --> 00:21:10.759
 or appreciate what we're doing.

00:21:11.639 --> 00:21:12.799
 We don't want to risk

00:21:12.799 --> 00:21:14.059
 setting work boundaries

00:21:14.059 --> 00:21:15.059
 around the Sabbath

00:21:15.059 --> 00:21:17.539
 knowing that it's probably

00:21:17.539 --> 00:21:18.759
 going to cost us advancement.

00:21:19.960 --> 00:21:20.960
 We don't want to risk

00:21:20.960 --> 00:21:22.779
 giving so much money away

00:21:22.779 --> 00:21:24.039
 that it impacts

00:21:24.039 --> 00:21:25.859
 our financial security

00:21:25.859 --> 00:21:27.839
 on a real level.

00:21:28.179 --> 00:21:29.079
 I don't think really

00:21:29.079 --> 00:21:29.980
 in many of our hearts

00:21:29.980 --> 00:21:30.659
 we want that.

00:21:30.740 --> 00:21:31.359
 What we want

00:21:31.359 --> 00:21:32.599
 is an easy Christianity.

00:21:32.839 --> 00:21:33.480
 We want a God

00:21:33.480 --> 00:21:33.919
 who says,

00:21:34.059 --> 00:21:35.099
 I just want you to be happy.

00:21:35.399 --> 00:21:36.139
 I just want you to live

00:21:36.139 --> 00:21:36.619
 as you please.

00:21:36.720 --> 00:21:37.419
 Put your feet up.

00:21:37.679 --> 00:21:38.599
 We want Christianity

00:21:38.599 --> 00:21:40.039
 as a spiritual sedative.

00:21:41.639 --> 00:21:42.960
 Our narcotic defense

00:21:42.960 --> 00:21:43.799
 against reality.

00:21:45.360 --> 00:21:46.740
 If any of this sounds

00:21:46.740 --> 00:21:48.279
 familiar to you

00:21:48.279 --> 00:21:50.180
 as it does to me,

00:21:51.059 --> 00:21:53.019
 the question then becomes

00:21:53.019 --> 00:21:56.039
 how do we become risk takers?

00:21:56.100 --> 00:21:57.220
 How do we become people

00:21:57.220 --> 00:21:58.539
 who are like

00:21:58.539 --> 00:22:00.840
 these first two servants?

00:22:02.100 --> 00:22:03.380
 What does that require?

00:22:04.640 --> 00:22:05.519
 And I would say

00:22:05.519 --> 00:22:06.519
 that the way to become

00:22:06.519 --> 00:22:08.779
 a risk taker in your life

00:22:08.779 --> 00:22:10.519
 is to realize this,

00:22:10.519 --> 00:22:13.119
 that even as Jesus

00:22:13.119 --> 00:22:15.180
 is telling this parable,

00:22:15.920 --> 00:22:17.539
 even as he is telling

00:22:17.539 --> 00:22:18.279
 this story,

00:22:18.779 --> 00:22:20.240
 even as he is challenging

00:22:20.240 --> 00:22:21.160
 his disciples

00:22:21.160 --> 00:22:22.960
 to give up personal safety,

00:22:23.240 --> 00:22:24.819
 to take risks,

00:22:25.000 --> 00:22:25.879
 to risk everything

00:22:25.879 --> 00:22:26.539
 they've been given

00:22:26.539 --> 00:22:27.460
 for the sake of the kingdom,

00:22:27.720 --> 00:22:28.960
 even as he's saying this,

00:22:29.119 --> 00:22:30.420
 he knows what's about

00:22:30.420 --> 00:22:30.980
 to happen.

00:22:32.359 --> 00:22:33.579
 And if you move down

00:22:33.579 --> 00:22:34.680
 a little bit in the passage,

00:22:35.019 --> 00:22:36.319
 at the end of this section

00:22:36.319 --> 00:22:36.779
 of teaching,

00:22:36.859 --> 00:22:37.480
 it says this

00:22:37.480 --> 00:22:39.299
 in chapter 26 verse 1.

00:22:40.059 --> 00:22:41.519
 When Jesus had finished

00:22:41.519 --> 00:22:42.860
 all of these sayings,

00:22:43.500 --> 00:22:44.860
 he said to his disciples,

00:22:45.519 --> 00:22:47.099
 you know that after two days

00:22:47.099 --> 00:22:48.299
 the Passover is coming

00:22:48.299 --> 00:22:49.819
 and the Son of Man

00:22:49.819 --> 00:22:51.220
 will be delivered up

00:22:51.220 --> 00:22:52.500
 to be crucified.

00:22:54.079 --> 00:22:56.559
 Not just a possible outcome,

00:22:56.920 --> 00:23:01.120
 an absolutely certain outcome,

00:23:01.680 --> 00:23:03.779
 an event that had been laid down

00:23:03.779 --> 00:23:05.640
 for thousands upon thousands

00:23:05.640 --> 00:23:07.880
 of years ordained to happen

00:23:07.880 --> 00:23:10.120
 was about to take place.

00:23:10.640 --> 00:23:11.860
 And what we realize is

00:23:11.860 --> 00:23:12.980
 that no matter how much

00:23:12.980 --> 00:23:13.759
 we risk,

00:23:14.040 --> 00:23:14.740
 no matter how much

00:23:14.740 --> 00:23:15.759
 we put out there,

00:23:15.980 --> 00:23:17.060
 and no matter how certain

00:23:17.060 --> 00:23:18.980
 the proposition might be,

00:23:19.220 --> 00:23:19.940
 no matter how much

00:23:19.940 --> 00:23:21.440
 we think that we are risking,

00:23:22.640 --> 00:23:24.259
 there is no loss

00:23:24.259 --> 00:23:25.780
 that we can ever suffer

00:23:25.780 --> 00:23:27.060
 that is greater

00:23:27.060 --> 00:23:28.460
 than what Jesus experienced

00:23:28.460 --> 00:23:29.720
 on the cross for our sake.

00:23:30.080 --> 00:23:32.380
 You will never lose more

00:23:32.380 --> 00:23:33.660
 than what he was willing

00:23:33.660 --> 00:23:34.540
 to give up for you.

00:23:34.539 --> 00:23:36.079
 You will never suffer

00:23:36.079 --> 00:23:37.319
 a loss like that.

00:23:37.440 --> 00:23:38.500
 And what this means,

00:23:38.579 --> 00:23:39.619
 and this is very important,

00:23:40.460 --> 00:23:43.500
 even though we may suffer

00:23:43.500 --> 00:23:45.579
 some loss in this life,

00:23:46.059 --> 00:23:47.720
 we will never suffer

00:23:47.720 --> 00:23:48.960
 ultimate loss.

00:23:49.500 --> 00:23:50.759
 We will never suffer

00:23:50.759 --> 00:23:51.799
 the kind of loss

00:23:51.799 --> 00:23:53.879
 of being cut off

00:23:53.879 --> 00:23:55.259
 from the Father,

00:23:55.359 --> 00:23:56.240
 the kind of loss

00:23:56.240 --> 00:23:58.599
 of taking all of the sin

00:23:58.599 --> 00:24:00.259
 of the world onto yourself

00:24:00.259 --> 00:24:02.139
 and suffering to atone for it.

00:24:02.140 --> 00:24:03.860
 We will never experience

00:24:03.860 --> 00:24:04.840
 that kind of loss

00:24:04.840 --> 00:24:05.780
 because it happened

00:24:05.780 --> 00:24:07.220
 to Jesus already

00:24:07.220 --> 00:24:08.820
 instead of us.

00:24:09.860 --> 00:24:11.140
 And what this means

00:24:11.140 --> 00:24:13.780
 is that for those of us

00:24:13.780 --> 00:24:15.020
 who are tempted

00:24:15.020 --> 00:24:16.640
 to doubt God's goodness,

00:24:16.800 --> 00:24:17.620
 we see God

00:24:17.620 --> 00:24:19.200
 as a hard master,

00:24:19.780 --> 00:24:21.480
 as a capricious master.

00:24:23.680 --> 00:24:24.759
 Look at the cross.

00:24:24.759 --> 00:24:28.500
 you cannot reconcile

00:24:28.500 --> 00:24:31.759
 that view of God

00:24:31.759 --> 00:24:33.579
 with the cross.

00:24:34.920 --> 00:24:36.359
 Now, it's not always easy

00:24:36.359 --> 00:24:38.640
 to get from A to B.

00:24:39.119 --> 00:24:39.539
 In other words,

00:24:39.579 --> 00:24:40.319
 it's not always easy

00:24:40.319 --> 00:24:41.359
 to understand why

00:24:41.359 --> 00:24:43.039
 in this moment of your life

00:24:43.039 --> 00:24:44.500
 you are facing such

00:24:44.500 --> 00:24:45.900
 catastrophic hardship

00:24:45.900 --> 00:24:46.519
 and suffering.

00:24:46.519 --> 00:24:49.079
 But the one thing

00:24:49.079 --> 00:24:49.740
 that you do know,

00:24:49.799 --> 00:24:51.139
 even when you don't understand

00:24:51.139 --> 00:24:52.220
 God's actions,

00:24:53.299 --> 00:24:56.000
 we can always know

00:24:56.000 --> 00:24:56.680
 God's motives

00:24:56.680 --> 00:24:58.519
 and we can always

00:24:58.519 --> 00:24:59.420
 trust God's heart

00:24:59.420 --> 00:25:01.220
 because that's what

00:25:01.220 --> 00:25:02.039
 we see on the cross.

00:25:03.220 --> 00:25:04.339
 I don't understand

00:25:04.339 --> 00:25:05.460
 why this is happening to me

00:25:05.460 --> 00:25:06.139
 but I know

00:25:06.139 --> 00:25:07.759
 that God is good

00:25:07.759 --> 00:25:08.960
 and I know

00:25:08.960 --> 00:25:09.819
 that God loves me

00:25:09.819 --> 00:25:12.519
 because that's what I see

00:25:12.519 --> 00:25:13.460
 when I look at the cross.

00:25:14.019 --> 00:25:15.079
 A God who is willing

00:25:15.079 --> 00:25:16.440
 to do that out of love

00:25:16.440 --> 00:25:18.000
 is the kind of God

00:25:18.000 --> 00:25:18.740
 that we can trust

00:25:18.740 --> 00:25:19.740
 even when our lives

00:25:19.740 --> 00:25:20.420
 don't make sense.

00:25:22.200 --> 00:25:23.380
 And then for those of us

00:25:23.380 --> 00:25:24.500
 who don't think

00:25:24.500 --> 00:25:26.259
 that God is worth it

00:25:26.259 --> 00:25:26.940
 or don't think

00:25:26.940 --> 00:25:28.860
 the kingdom is worth it,

00:25:28.920 --> 00:25:29.759
 it's not worth

00:25:29.759 --> 00:25:30.700
 having to fully

00:25:30.700 --> 00:25:32.180
 inhabit our lives.

00:25:32.259 --> 00:25:32.920
 We would prefer

00:25:32.920 --> 00:25:34.279
 the narcotic defenses

00:25:34.279 --> 00:25:35.920
 against reality.

00:25:37.000 --> 00:25:38.039
 The fact is

00:25:38.039 --> 00:25:39.420
 that God has put you here

00:25:39.420 --> 00:25:40.100
 for a reason.

00:25:42.059 --> 00:25:43.340
 God has given you

00:25:43.340 --> 00:25:43.900
 your gifts

00:25:43.900 --> 00:25:44.759
 and your talents

00:25:44.759 --> 00:25:45.700
 and your resources

00:25:45.700 --> 00:25:46.600
 for a reason.

00:25:47.960 --> 00:25:49.160
 And Jesus Christ

00:25:49.160 --> 00:25:49.740
 has come

00:25:49.740 --> 00:25:51.480
 to restore God's purposes

00:25:51.480 --> 00:25:53.160
 in and through you

00:25:53.160 --> 00:25:53.960
 and there are things

00:25:53.960 --> 00:25:55.240
 that God is desiring

00:25:55.240 --> 00:25:56.640
 to do through you

00:25:56.640 --> 00:25:57.940
 in this world.

00:25:58.340 --> 00:26:00.220
 And until you understand

00:26:00.220 --> 00:26:00.600
 that,

00:26:00.680 --> 00:26:01.880
 your life is never

00:26:01.880 --> 00:26:02.980
 going to make sense.

00:26:03.720 --> 00:26:04.660
 And I suspect

00:26:04.660 --> 00:26:05.720
 that deep down

00:26:05.720 --> 00:26:07.420
 I'm not going to have

00:26:07.420 --> 00:26:08.160
 to convince you

00:26:08.160 --> 00:26:08.519
 of that

00:26:08.519 --> 00:26:09.080
 because I think

00:26:09.080 --> 00:26:10.039
 on a deep level

00:26:10.039 --> 00:26:11.860
 we all know that.

00:26:11.859 --> 00:26:14.399
 even behind

00:26:14.399 --> 00:26:14.979
 our desire

00:26:14.979 --> 00:26:15.759
 to check out,

00:26:16.500 --> 00:26:16.879
 our desire

00:26:16.879 --> 00:26:17.539
 to numb out

00:26:17.539 --> 00:26:18.619
 and live on autopilot,

00:26:18.819 --> 00:26:19.859
 there's a little voice

00:26:19.859 --> 00:26:20.279
 in your head

00:26:20.279 --> 00:26:20.639
 that says,

00:26:20.779 --> 00:26:21.619
 but there has to be

00:26:21.619 --> 00:26:22.279
 more to life.

00:26:22.439 --> 00:26:23.539
 There has to be more.

00:26:23.799 --> 00:26:24.959
 There has to be meaning

00:26:24.959 --> 00:26:26.119
 to my existence.

00:26:27.719 --> 00:26:28.439
 And the gospel

00:26:28.439 --> 00:26:29.379
 says there is.

00:26:30.179 --> 00:26:31.039
 But you're only

00:26:31.039 --> 00:26:31.639
 going to find that

00:26:31.639 --> 00:26:32.059
 in Jesus.

00:26:32.599 --> 00:26:33.240
 And you're going to

00:26:33.240 --> 00:26:34.159
 only find that

00:26:34.159 --> 00:26:34.939
 when you recognize

00:26:34.939 --> 00:26:35.699
 that all that you

00:26:35.699 --> 00:26:36.199
 have been given

00:26:36.199 --> 00:26:37.199
 is God's capital

00:26:37.199 --> 00:26:37.859
 and it's meant

00:26:37.859 --> 00:26:38.639
 to be invested

00:26:38.639 --> 00:26:39.439
 in what God

00:26:39.439 --> 00:26:40.119
 is doing in the world

00:26:40.119 --> 00:26:41.079
 right around you.

00:26:43.279 --> 00:26:44.559
 And then for all of us

00:26:44.559 --> 00:26:45.559
 who fear

00:26:45.559 --> 00:26:47.619
 what we may lose

00:26:47.619 --> 00:26:48.519
 if we start to take

00:26:48.519 --> 00:26:49.479
 real risks

00:26:49.479 --> 00:26:50.059
 for the sake

00:26:50.059 --> 00:26:50.619
 of the kingdom,

00:26:50.959 --> 00:26:51.879
 we can know

00:26:51.879 --> 00:26:52.659
 that because of

00:26:52.659 --> 00:26:53.799
 Jesus' resurrection

00:26:53.799 --> 00:26:55.000
 and because of

00:26:55.000 --> 00:26:55.899
 Jesus' promise

00:26:55.899 --> 00:26:56.679
 to come again

00:26:56.679 --> 00:26:57.299
 and restore

00:26:57.299 --> 00:26:58.219
 all of creation,

00:26:58.599 --> 00:26:59.399
 here's the point,

00:26:59.899 --> 00:27:01.159
 every investment

00:27:01.159 --> 00:27:01.879
 we make

00:27:01.879 --> 00:27:02.819
 in God's kingdom

00:27:02.819 --> 00:27:04.259
 will yield a return.

00:27:05.239 --> 00:27:05.979
 Now I said,

00:27:06.119 --> 00:27:06.399
 you know,

00:27:06.479 --> 00:27:07.599
 a few times

00:27:07.599 --> 00:27:08.439
 this morning

00:27:08.439 --> 00:27:09.339
 that every investment

00:27:09.339 --> 00:27:10.059
 involves risk.

00:27:10.299 --> 00:27:10.819
 Absolutely,

00:27:11.000 --> 00:27:11.819
 every investment

00:27:11.819 --> 00:27:12.759
 does involve risk.

00:27:13.079 --> 00:27:13.919
 And the return

00:27:13.919 --> 00:27:15.079
 may not be a return

00:27:15.079 --> 00:27:16.019
 that you ever see

00:27:16.019 --> 00:27:16.779
 in your lifetime.

00:27:17.339 --> 00:27:18.299
 But because of

00:27:18.299 --> 00:27:18.759
 the resurrection

00:27:18.759 --> 00:27:19.639
 and because of

00:27:19.639 --> 00:27:20.119
 the promise

00:27:20.119 --> 00:27:20.899
 of new creation,

00:27:21.359 --> 00:27:22.299
 every investment

00:27:22.299 --> 00:27:22.959
 we make

00:27:22.959 --> 00:27:23.719
 in God's kingdom

00:27:23.719 --> 00:27:25.399
 will yield

00:27:25.399 --> 00:27:26.399
 a return.

00:27:28.959 --> 00:27:29.779
 All of what

00:27:29.779 --> 00:27:30.699
 we're talking about

00:27:30.699 --> 00:27:31.579
 here this morning

00:27:31.579 --> 00:27:32.639
 can be summed up

00:27:32.639 --> 00:27:34.159
 in the words

00:27:34.159 --> 00:27:34.819
 of one of my

00:27:34.819 --> 00:27:35.839
 great heroes,

00:27:36.500 --> 00:27:37.319
 Lilius Trotter.

00:27:37.359 --> 00:27:39.079
 And this is a quote

00:27:39.079 --> 00:27:39.799
 that I come back

00:27:39.799 --> 00:27:40.379
 to again

00:27:40.379 --> 00:27:40.939
 and again

00:27:40.939 --> 00:27:41.579
 and again.

00:27:42.659 --> 00:27:43.199
 She says,

00:27:43.359 --> 00:27:43.799
 holiness,

00:27:44.220 --> 00:27:45.399
 not safety,

00:27:45.819 --> 00:27:46.539
 is the end

00:27:46.539 --> 00:27:47.119
 of our calling.

00:27:50.139 --> 00:27:50.980
 Now just sit

00:27:50.980 --> 00:27:51.699
 with that for a minute.

00:27:53.419 --> 00:27:53.859
 Holiness,

00:27:54.319 --> 00:27:56.699
 not safety,

00:27:56.700 --> 00:27:59.000
 is the end

00:27:59.000 --> 00:27:59.620
 of our calling.

00:28:01.480 --> 00:28:02.340
 Lilius was born

00:28:02.340 --> 00:28:02.920
 into a life

00:28:02.920 --> 00:28:03.580
 of privilege

00:28:03.580 --> 00:28:04.580
 in England.

00:28:05.360 --> 00:28:06.440
 She was an extremely

00:28:06.440 --> 00:28:07.120
 gifted painter.

00:28:07.119 --> 00:28:07.159
 painter.

00:28:07.939 --> 00:28:09.000
 And she was lucky

00:28:09.000 --> 00:28:09.439
 enough to be

00:28:09.439 --> 00:28:10.359
 mentored by

00:28:10.359 --> 00:28:11.119
 the great

00:28:11.119 --> 00:28:11.959
 John Ruskin

00:28:11.959 --> 00:28:12.500
 who was sort

00:28:12.500 --> 00:28:12.979
 of a local

00:28:12.979 --> 00:28:13.579
 celebrity.

00:28:14.559 --> 00:28:15.379
 And he was

00:28:15.379 --> 00:28:16.339
 a cultural elite

00:28:16.339 --> 00:28:17.419
 who told her

00:28:17.419 --> 00:28:18.019
 that she had

00:28:18.019 --> 00:28:18.519
 the potential

00:28:18.519 --> 00:28:19.139
 to be one

00:28:19.139 --> 00:28:20.219
 of England's

00:28:20.219 --> 00:28:20.819
 greatest

00:28:20.819 --> 00:28:22.000
 living painters.

00:28:22.679 --> 00:28:23.479
 And he had

00:28:23.479 --> 00:28:24.199
 the cachet,

00:28:24.459 --> 00:28:25.279
 the credibility,

00:28:26.559 --> 00:28:28.239
 the access

00:28:28.239 --> 00:28:29.759
 to open

00:28:29.759 --> 00:28:30.599
 all the right

00:28:30.599 --> 00:28:31.039
 doors

00:28:31.039 --> 00:28:32.500
 to give

00:28:32.500 --> 00:28:32.919
 that life

00:28:32.919 --> 00:28:33.500
 to Lilius.

00:28:33.500 --> 00:28:35.140
 But Lilius

00:28:35.140 --> 00:28:35.980
 also felt

00:28:35.980 --> 00:28:36.619
 called to

00:28:36.619 --> 00:28:37.900
 invest time

00:28:37.900 --> 00:28:38.519
 and energy

00:28:38.519 --> 00:28:39.440
 not into

00:28:39.440 --> 00:28:39.839
 painting

00:28:39.839 --> 00:28:40.339
 but in

00:28:40.339 --> 00:28:41.019
 serving the

00:28:41.019 --> 00:28:42.019
 poor women

00:28:42.019 --> 00:28:42.500
 and the

00:28:42.500 --> 00:28:43.220
 poor children

00:28:43.220 --> 00:28:44.539
 in London.

00:28:45.440 --> 00:28:46.019
 And Ruskin

00:28:46.019 --> 00:28:47.079
 recognized the

00:28:47.079 --> 00:28:48.140
 competition there

00:28:48.140 --> 00:28:49.279
 for her time

00:28:49.279 --> 00:28:49.839
 and energy

00:28:49.839 --> 00:28:50.640
 and so he

00:28:50.640 --> 00:28:51.559
 demanded that

00:28:51.559 --> 00:28:52.319
 she give up

00:28:52.319 --> 00:28:53.240
 all of that

00:28:53.240 --> 00:28:53.880
 other work

00:28:53.880 --> 00:28:55.099
 and focus

00:28:55.099 --> 00:28:56.220
 exclusively

00:28:56.220 --> 00:28:57.559
 to her art.

00:28:58.180 --> 00:28:58.799
 And that was

00:28:58.799 --> 00:29:00.059
 his challenge

00:29:00.059 --> 00:29:00.500
 to her.

00:29:00.599 --> 00:29:01.140
 I can open

00:29:01.140 --> 00:29:01.880
 all these doors

00:29:01.880 --> 00:29:02.299
 for you.

00:29:02.400 --> 00:29:02.920
 I can make

00:29:02.920 --> 00:29:03.560
 you famous

00:29:03.560 --> 00:29:04.140
 but you

00:29:04.140 --> 00:29:04.460
 have to

00:29:04.460 --> 00:29:04.800
 invest

00:29:04.800 --> 00:29:05.620
 everything

00:29:05.620 --> 00:29:06.519
 in your

00:29:06.519 --> 00:29:06.820
 art.

00:29:07.160 --> 00:29:07.440
 And so

00:29:07.440 --> 00:29:08.120
 Lilius had

00:29:08.120 --> 00:29:08.940
 to choose.

00:29:09.880 --> 00:29:10.440
 Do I

00:29:10.440 --> 00:29:10.940
 play it

00:29:10.940 --> 00:29:11.380
 safe

00:29:11.380 --> 00:29:12.560
 which meant

00:29:12.560 --> 00:29:13.120
 for her

00:29:13.120 --> 00:29:14.240
 get married

00:29:14.240 --> 00:29:15.840
 follow

00:29:15.840 --> 00:29:16.380
 Ruskin's

00:29:16.380 --> 00:29:16.840
 advice

00:29:16.840 --> 00:29:18.140
 focus

00:29:18.140 --> 00:29:19.060
 exclusively

00:29:19.060 --> 00:29:19.660
 on her

00:29:19.660 --> 00:29:20.100
 career

00:29:20.100 --> 00:29:21.360
 and

00:29:21.360 --> 00:29:22.019
 eventually

00:29:22.019 --> 00:29:23.279
 enter into

00:29:23.279 --> 00:29:23.740
 fame

00:29:23.740 --> 00:29:24.620
 and fortune

00:29:24.620 --> 00:29:25.480
 and celebrity

00:29:25.480 --> 00:29:26.019
 status?

00:29:27.300 --> 00:29:28.060
 Or

00:29:28.060 --> 00:29:29.400
 do I

00:29:29.400 --> 00:29:29.800
 take the

00:29:29.800 --> 00:29:30.279
 massive

00:29:30.279 --> 00:29:30.840
 risk

00:29:30.840 --> 00:29:31.960
 of saying

00:29:31.960 --> 00:29:32.420
 no

00:29:32.420 --> 00:29:32.960
 because

00:29:32.960 --> 00:29:33.220
 I

00:29:33.220 --> 00:29:33.660
 believe

00:29:33.660 --> 00:29:33.880
 that

00:29:33.880 --> 00:29:34.140
 God

00:29:34.140 --> 00:29:34.300
 is

00:29:34.300 --> 00:29:34.640
 calling

00:29:34.640 --> 00:29:34.860
 me

00:29:34.860 --> 00:29:35.300
 somewhere

00:29:35.300 --> 00:29:35.680
 else?

00:29:36.680 --> 00:29:37.019
 And

00:29:37.019 --> 00:29:37.560
 ultimately

00:29:37.560 --> 00:29:37.980
 that's

00:29:37.980 --> 00:29:38.160
 what

00:29:38.160 --> 00:29:38.380
 she

00:29:38.380 --> 00:29:38.759
 did.

00:29:38.759 --> 00:29:39.200
 She

00:29:39.200 --> 00:29:39.740
 chose

00:29:39.740 --> 00:29:40.700
 risk.

00:29:41.700 --> 00:29:42.279
 She

00:29:42.279 --> 00:29:42.840
 gave up

00:29:42.840 --> 00:29:43.519
 the safety

00:29:43.519 --> 00:29:44.120
 of marriage

00:29:44.120 --> 00:29:44.680
 and the

00:29:44.680 --> 00:29:45.060
 safety

00:29:45.060 --> 00:29:45.759
 of fame

00:29:45.759 --> 00:29:46.680
 and instead

00:29:46.680 --> 00:29:47.180
 she took

00:29:47.180 --> 00:29:47.920
 this massive

00:29:47.920 --> 00:29:48.480
 risk

00:29:48.480 --> 00:29:49.300
 of going

00:29:49.300 --> 00:29:49.860
 as an

00:29:49.860 --> 00:29:50.640
 unmarried

00:29:50.640 --> 00:29:51.080
 woman

00:29:51.080 --> 00:29:51.660
 to spend

00:29:51.660 --> 00:29:52.080
 the rest

00:29:52.080 --> 00:29:52.360
 of her

00:29:52.360 --> 00:29:52.680
 life

00:29:52.680 --> 00:29:53.259
 as an

00:29:53.259 --> 00:29:53.840
 obscure

00:29:53.840 --> 00:29:54.340
 missionary

00:29:54.340 --> 00:29:55.940
 in Algeria

00:29:55.940 --> 00:29:56.460
 in a time

00:29:56.460 --> 00:29:56.820
 where that

00:29:56.820 --> 00:29:57.640
 simply did

00:29:57.640 --> 00:29:58.259
 not happen.

00:29:58.259 --> 00:30:00.759
 Now I

00:30:00.759 --> 00:30:01.039
 want to be

00:30:01.039 --> 00:30:01.460
 clear she

00:30:01.460 --> 00:30:02.079
 never stopped

00:30:02.079 --> 00:30:02.480
 painting.

00:30:03.519 --> 00:30:04.420
 God gave

00:30:04.420 --> 00:30:04.859
 her a

00:30:04.859 --> 00:30:05.359
 gift and

00:30:05.359 --> 00:30:05.960
 a vocation

00:30:05.960 --> 00:30:06.299
 as a

00:30:06.299 --> 00:30:07.000
 painter and

00:30:07.000 --> 00:30:07.500
 she painted

00:30:07.500 --> 00:30:07.900
 to the end

00:30:07.900 --> 00:30:08.099
 of her

00:30:08.099 --> 00:30:08.519
 days.

00:30:10.359 --> 00:30:11.059
 But she

00:30:11.059 --> 00:30:11.640
 didn't paint

00:30:11.640 --> 00:30:12.180
 for the elite

00:30:12.180 --> 00:30:12.740
 art critics

00:30:12.740 --> 00:30:13.240
 of London.

00:30:15.259 --> 00:30:15.759
 She

00:30:15.759 --> 00:30:16.319
 painted in

00:30:16.319 --> 00:30:16.839
 the margins

00:30:16.839 --> 00:30:17.259
 of her

00:30:17.259 --> 00:30:17.640
 journals.

00:30:20.160 --> 00:30:20.819
 A few

00:30:20.819 --> 00:30:21.480
 years ago

00:30:21.480 --> 00:30:23.519
 my wife

00:30:23.519 --> 00:30:23.900
 and I

00:30:23.900 --> 00:30:25.140
 heard from

00:30:25.140 --> 00:30:25.599
 a missionary

00:30:25.599 --> 00:30:27.139
 who said

00:30:27.139 --> 00:30:27.959
 that there

00:30:27.959 --> 00:30:28.159
 is a

00:30:28.159 --> 00:30:28.419
 whole

00:30:28.419 --> 00:30:28.919
 underground

00:30:28.919 --> 00:30:29.500
 network

00:30:29.500 --> 00:30:30.240
 of

00:30:30.240 --> 00:30:30.719
 Christians

00:30:30.719 --> 00:30:31.659
 in

00:30:31.659 --> 00:30:32.339
 Algeria

00:30:32.339 --> 00:30:33.419
 who owe

00:30:33.419 --> 00:30:34.179
 their faith

00:30:34.179 --> 00:30:34.980
 to the

00:30:34.980 --> 00:30:35.299
 legacy

00:30:35.299 --> 00:30:35.859
 of Lilius

00:30:35.859 --> 00:30:36.240
 Trotter

00:30:36.240 --> 00:30:38.079
 even

00:30:38.079 --> 00:30:38.480
 though

00:30:38.480 --> 00:30:39.740
 she

00:30:39.740 --> 00:30:40.219
 never

00:30:40.219 --> 00:30:40.879
 saw

00:30:40.879 --> 00:30:41.799
 a single

00:30:41.799 --> 00:30:42.419
 convert

00:30:42.419 --> 00:30:43.119
 in her

00:30:43.119 --> 00:30:43.719
 entire

00:30:43.719 --> 00:30:44.059
 life

00:30:44.059 --> 00:30:44.199
 in

00:30:44.199 --> 00:30:44.539
 ministry

00:30:44.539 --> 00:30:45.159
 in

00:30:45.159 --> 00:30:45.699
 Algeria.

00:30:47.359 --> 00:30:48.099
 Faithful

00:30:48.099 --> 00:30:48.480
 disciples

00:30:48.480 --> 00:30:49.259
 take risks

00:30:49.259 --> 00:30:50.599
 because we

00:30:50.599 --> 00:30:51.179
 know that

00:30:51.179 --> 00:30:51.879
 every

00:30:51.879 --> 00:30:52.319
 investment

00:30:52.319 --> 00:30:52.819
 in God's

00:30:52.819 --> 00:30:53.099
 kingdom

00:30:53.099 --> 00:30:54.079
 will one

00:30:54.079 --> 00:30:54.319
 day

00:30:54.319 --> 00:30:55.839
 yield

00:30:55.839 --> 00:30:55.960
 a

00:30:55.960 --> 00:30:56.279
 return.

00:30:57.399 --> 00:30:57.960
 Let's

00:30:57.960 --> 00:30:58.159
 pray.

00:30:59.859 --> 00:31:00.579
 Lord we

00:31:00.579 --> 00:31:00.919
 thank you

00:31:00.919 --> 00:31:01.240
 for your

00:31:01.240 --> 00:31:01.539
 word.

00:31:02.259 --> 00:31:02.639
 We thank

00:31:02.639 --> 00:31:03.079
 you for

00:31:03.079 --> 00:31:04.579
 people like

00:31:04.579 --> 00:31:05.059
 Lilius

00:31:05.059 --> 00:31:06.439
 who show

00:31:06.439 --> 00:31:07.099
 us what

00:31:07.099 --> 00:31:07.819
 real

00:31:07.819 --> 00:31:08.139
 kingdom

00:31:08.139 --> 00:31:08.500
 risk

00:31:08.500 --> 00:31:09.159
 looks like

00:31:09.159 --> 00:31:10.319
 and who

00:31:10.319 --> 00:31:10.740
 show us

00:31:10.740 --> 00:31:10.980
 that we're

00:31:10.980 --> 00:31:11.279
 a part

00:31:11.279 --> 00:31:11.659
 of something

00:31:11.659 --> 00:31:12.039
 so much

00:31:12.039 --> 00:31:12.419
 bigger

00:31:12.419 --> 00:31:13.700
 so much

00:31:13.700 --> 00:31:14.119
 deeper

00:31:14.119 --> 00:31:16.259
 than we

00:31:16.259 --> 00:31:16.819
 can possibly

00:31:16.819 --> 00:31:17.299
 imagine.

00:31:18.039 --> 00:31:18.519
 Show us

00:31:18.519 --> 00:31:18.859
 that even

00:31:18.859 --> 00:31:19.220
 when our

00:31:19.220 --> 00:31:19.720
 lives don't

00:31:19.720 --> 00:31:20.319
 make sense

00:31:20.319 --> 00:31:21.359
 even when

00:31:21.359 --> 00:31:21.799
 we're tempted

00:31:21.799 --> 00:31:22.200
 to doubt

00:31:22.200 --> 00:31:22.799
 your goodness

00:31:22.799 --> 00:31:23.919
 even when

00:31:23.919 --> 00:31:24.240
 none of

00:31:24.240 --> 00:31:24.680
 this seems

00:31:24.680 --> 00:31:25.259
 worth it

00:31:25.259 --> 00:31:26.159
 even

00:31:26.159 --> 00:31:26.579
 when we

00:31:26.579 --> 00:31:27.139
 strive

00:31:27.139 --> 00:31:27.619
 and strive

00:31:27.619 --> 00:31:28.099
 and strive

00:31:28.099 --> 00:31:28.480
 and never

00:31:28.480 --> 00:31:28.819
 see a

00:31:28.819 --> 00:31:29.119
 return

00:31:29.119 --> 00:31:29.559
 that Lord

00:31:29.559 --> 00:31:30.619
 our hope

00:31:30.619 --> 00:31:30.980
 is not

00:31:30.980 --> 00:31:31.259
 in our

00:31:31.259 --> 00:31:31.500
 own

00:31:31.500 --> 00:31:32.059
 strength

00:31:32.059 --> 00:31:32.740
 or wisdom

00:31:32.740 --> 00:31:33.399
 to make

00:31:33.399 --> 00:31:33.680
 good

00:31:33.680 --> 00:31:34.159
 investments

00:31:34.159 --> 00:31:35.039
 our hope

00:31:35.039 --> 00:31:35.359
 is in

00:31:35.359 --> 00:31:35.659
 you

00:31:35.659 --> 00:31:36.659
 and your

00:31:36.659 --> 00:31:37.279
 Holy Spirit

00:31:37.279 --> 00:31:38.200
 and the

00:31:38.200 --> 00:31:38.819
 unfolding

00:31:38.819 --> 00:31:39.519
 plan

00:31:39.519 --> 00:31:40.399
 enacted

00:31:40.399 --> 00:31:40.680
 through

00:31:40.680 --> 00:31:41.000
 Jesus

00:31:41.000 --> 00:31:41.500
 Christ

00:31:41.500 --> 00:31:42.960
 that one

00:31:42.960 --> 00:31:43.279
 day

00:31:43.279 --> 00:31:44.419
 your

00:31:44.419 --> 00:31:44.839
 kingdom

00:31:44.839 --> 00:31:45.539
 would come

00:31:45.539 --> 00:31:45.980
 fully

00:31:45.980 --> 00:31:46.819
 and your

00:31:46.819 --> 00:31:47.119
 will

00:31:47.119 --> 00:31:47.619
 would be

00:31:47.619 --> 00:31:47.899
 done

00:31:47.899 --> 00:31:48.399
 here on

00:31:48.399 --> 00:31:48.619
 earth

00:31:48.619 --> 00:31:49.059
 as it is

00:31:49.059 --> 00:31:49.419
 in heaven

00:31:49.420 --> 00:31:50.720
 and that's

00:31:50.720 --> 00:31:51.000
 what we're

00:31:51.000 --> 00:31:51.360
 investing

00:31:51.360 --> 00:31:51.700
 in

00:31:51.700 --> 00:31:52.080
 that's

00:31:52.080 --> 00:31:52.320
 what we're

00:31:52.320 --> 00:31:52.600
 hoping

00:31:52.600 --> 00:31:53.039
 for

00:31:53.039 --> 00:31:56.480
 and that

00:31:56.480 --> 00:31:57.140
 Lord we pray

00:31:57.140 --> 00:31:58.080
 would one day

00:31:58.080 --> 00:31:58.880
 bring you

00:31:58.880 --> 00:31:59.320
 the great

00:31:59.320 --> 00:31:59.740
 glory

00:31:59.740 --> 00:32:01.080
 that only

00:32:01.080 --> 00:32:01.640
 you deserve

00:32:01.640 --> 00:32:03.580
 we pray

00:32:03.580 --> 00:32:03.800
 that we

00:32:03.800 --> 00:32:04.140
 would be a

00:32:04.140 --> 00:32:04.480
 community

00:32:04.480 --> 00:32:05.019
 marked by

00:32:05.019 --> 00:32:05.560
 that hope

00:32:05.560 --> 00:32:06.200
 and that

00:32:06.200 --> 00:32:06.500
 willingness

00:32:06.500 --> 00:32:07.060
 to take

00:32:07.060 --> 00:32:07.539
 risks

00:32:07.539 --> 00:32:09.480
 believing

00:32:09.480 --> 00:32:10.500
 in what

00:32:10.500 --> 00:32:10.800
 you're doing

00:32:10.800 --> 00:32:11.019
 in your

00:32:11.019 --> 00:32:11.259
 kingdom

00:32:11.259 --> 00:32:11.500
 Lord

00:32:11.500 --> 00:32:11.800
 we pray

00:32:11.800 --> 00:32:12.060
 this in

00:32:12.060 --> 00:32:12.160
 your

00:32:12.160 --> 00:32:12.420
 son's

00:32:12.420 --> 00:32:12.620
 holy

00:32:12.620 --> 00:32:12.880
 name

00:32:12.880 --> 00:32:13.320
 amen

00:32:13.319 --> 00:32:15.799
 oh

00:32:15.799 --> 00:32:16.899
 oh

00:32:16.939 --> 00:32:21.619
 oh

00:32:21.619 --> 00:32:22.159
 oh

00:32:22.159 --> 00:32:22.799
 oh

00:32:22.799 --> 00:32:23.220
 oh

00:32:23.220 --> 00:32:23.299
 oh

00:32:23.299 --> 00:32:25.099
 oh

00:32:25.099 --> 00:32:26.079
 oh

00:32:26.079 --> 00:32:28.119
 oh

00:32:28.119 --> 00:32:29.359
 oh

00:32:29.359 --> 00:32:32.500
 oh

00:32:32.500 --> 00:32:32.579
 oh

00:32:32.579 --> 00:32:34.539
 oh

00:32:34.539 --> 00:32:34.639
 oh

00:32:34.639 --> 00:32:36.119
 oh

00:32:36.119 --> 00:32:36.399
 oh

00:32:36.399 --> 00:32:38.480
 oh

00:32:38.839 --> 00:32:39.960
 oh

00:32:39.960 --> 00:32:40.419
 oh

00:32:40.419 --> 00:32:40.740
 oh

00:32:40.740 --> 00:32:40.879
 oh

00:32:40.879 --> 00:32:42.919
 oh

00:32:42.919 --> 00:32:43.279
 oh