WEBVTT

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 The scripture reading comes from Matthew chapter 1. Please follow along on the screen, the bulletin, or on your Bible.

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 Starting in verse 18, we read,

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 Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way.

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 When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit.

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 And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly.

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 But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying,

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 Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.

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 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.

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 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet.

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 Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which means God with us.

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 When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him.

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 He took his wife, but knew her not until she had given birth to a son.

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 And he called his name Jesus.

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 This is the word of God.

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 Thank you so much, Betty.

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 Welcome. Merry Christmas, everybody.

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 Oh, that was about the best ever. That's great.

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 My name is Chris. I'm one of the leaders here at Watermark.

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 Just really, really excited to see you, if it's your first time, if it's your thousandth time.

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 I'm particularly excited to see what people wear at Christmastime,

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 because I've seen some very exciting colors going on.

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 I looked in my wardrobe.

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 The only red thing I could find was a Liverpool football shirt,

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 so I thought that may not be appropriate.

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 Let me just pray for us as we get into God's word.

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 Father, I thank you for Christmas.

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 Thank you that today, in all the presents and all the stuff, all the food and the friends and the time together,

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 Lord, I thank you that the central, key focus of everything is you.

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 Thank you, Jesus.

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 Open our hearts to hear your word, we pray.

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 In Jesus' name.

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 Amen.

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 Great.

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 We've got the kids in, so be prepared for a little bit of chaos,

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 but that's fine, because we're a family together.

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 Christmas, do you know, actually didn't start as a celebration.

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 There were no lights.

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 There was no turkey.

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 There was no presents.

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 There was actually just confusion and hurt and darkness.

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 Christmas.

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 Because, you know, Christmas actually started as a breakup.

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 They were wedding planning.

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 You know, they'd got the dress.

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 They'd ordered the caterers.

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 They'd sent out the invites.

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 And then one day, Mary, who's this young Jewish peasant girl,

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 who's probably around 12 years old,

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 comes to her fiancé, Joseph,

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 and says,

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 Joe,

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 I'm pregnant.

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 And Joe knew that he wasn't the father.

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 And Mary continued that,

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 it's an angel who came to me and said,

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 the baby is from the Holy Spirit.

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 And Joseph, at that point, doesn't go,

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 well, we believe all kinds of unscientific things these days,

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 so that's fine.

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 I mean, Holy Spirit conception, no problem.

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 No, he doesn't.

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 He goes,

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 Holy Spirit.

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 Right.

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 Right.

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 That's a good one.

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 And you see, at that point,

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 at that moment,

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 all of his plans,

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 all of his trust in her,

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 all of his dreams for a family were shattered.

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 And I can imagine him lying on his bed at night going,

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 what have I done to deserve this?

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 Like, why me?

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 Because Joseph is a good guy.

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 I mean, he loves her.

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 You can see from the passage,

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 he loves her.

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 And it says,

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 even with this news,

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 he doesn't want to shame her publicly.

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 So he comes up with his own kind of solution

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 of how to fix this mess,

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 which is like,

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 okay,

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 let's just do a kind of low-key,

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 quiet divorce.

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 Let's not kind of make this public.

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 Let's make this the best of what we can.

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 But Joseph is feeling alone and lost.

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 Mary,

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 what do you think she's going through?

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 I mean,

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 she'd had this joy at the idea of being pregnant,

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 and now it's been shattered by the rejection from her fiancé,

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 and her life,

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 her reputation,

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 were on the line.

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 Because in first century Jewish culture,

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 single mothers were not treated well.

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 And for her,

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 what was God up to?

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 What is he doing?

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 Where is he even in the midst of this?

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 Both of them confused.

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 Both of them alone with their struggle,

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 with their shame,

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 with all the things that are going on,

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 on the verge of breakup,

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 and it's not their fault at all.

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 It's not their fault.

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 And this is how Christmas begins.

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 And so I don't know for you,

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 many of you may have had an amazing 2021,

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 but I know some of you,

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 it's been a hard 2021.

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 It's been one where maybe you're going,

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 life doesn't make sense sometimes.

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 Whether that's COVID,

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 whether that's a loss of loved ones,

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 whether that's sickness,

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 or a whole lot of other things.

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 I know for many people,

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 Christmas can be a hard time.

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 But you know,

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 Christmas is actually all about

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 how God turns darkness into light.

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 How God takes tragedy,

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 and turns it into glory.

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 You see,

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 it's how God turns expectations

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 that we have,

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 and the way we think life should work,

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 upside down.

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 And that's what God always does

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 for everyone who trusts in him.

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 And the thing is,

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 the Mary and Joseph story in this passage,

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 actually come in the context

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 of another breakup,

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 which is a breakup

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 which goes all the way back

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 right to the beginning of the Bible.

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 Well,

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 the breakup

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 that is the backdrop

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 for this story.

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 You see,

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 the Bible story says

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 that you and I were made

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 for a relationship

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 with the creator God

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 that we saw Annabelle

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 and Justin

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 so well talk about.

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 And that relationship

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 is that when we're with him,

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 in right relationship with him,

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 then we're home.

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 And home is where you're safe,

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 you're secure,

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 you're known,

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 and you're loved.

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 You've got nothing to hide.

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 You can be who you are,

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 you can be yourself

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 because you are safe.

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 And the story goes,

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 if you know the story

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 and you've been in Watermark a while,

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 but actually on page three

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 of the Bible,

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 everything goes wrong

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 because it's not that God

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 who walks out on us,

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 but actually we walk out on him.

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 We want to live life our way,

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 do things according to our plans,

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 in our own self-reliant strength.

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 And that's where everything goes wrong.

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 You see,

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 my son Etienne,

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 who's two years old,

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 about a month ago,

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 we were in the lift in my building

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 and we were coming home

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 and I was holding his hand

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 just as the lift doors were opening

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 and I was just getting out

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 and then he lets go of my hand

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 and he starts pushing me

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 out of the lift.

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 Lovely son.

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 And if he'd have managed to do that,

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 you know,

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 the doors would have shut

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 and I think he'd have enjoyed his freedom

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 for just a few seconds probably.

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 You know,

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 he'd have joined being there

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 and not having me interfering in his life

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 in any kind of way.

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 He could do what he wants,

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 but at some point,

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 and I think for him

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 it would come pretty quick,

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 he'd realize that his little fingers

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 couldn't reach the buttons

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 for the open lift.

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 And you see,

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 the very freedom

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 that he thought he had without me

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 had actually become a prison

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 of his own making.

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 Because he couldn't get out

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 and when you're in that place,

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 that's a place of stress,

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 that's a place of anxiety,

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 that's a place where you,

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 it's all on you

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 to try and fix this situation.

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 Because that's what it is

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 to be alone and away from home.

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 And that's often what we actually do

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 with God in our lives.

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 We say,

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 I'll call you when I need you,

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 but let me live my life,

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 my career,

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 my ambitions,

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 my dreams by myself

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 and it's all on us

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 to try and make it happen.

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 And that's actually at the heart

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 of what the Bible calls sin.

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 Pushing God out

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 so I can be on the throne,

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 I can be in control of my life.

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 And this is exemplified

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 700 years before this passage.

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 A prophet called Isaiah

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 comes to a Jewish king called Ahaz.

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 And this guy Ahaz,

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 he's in a tough spot

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 because his allies

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 have just turned on him

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 to try and force his hand

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 to join them

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 in resisting the big superpower

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 of the time

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 who's called Assyria.

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 And he's besieged

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 by this superior army.

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 His back is against the wall.

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 It doesn't look good at all.

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 His whole kingdom,

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 his life,

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 his reputation,

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 everything is on the line.

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 Tragedy is beckoning.

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 And this prophet Isaiah

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 comes to him

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 and says,

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 hey listen,

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 Ahaz,

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 don't trust in your own wisdom.

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 Trust what God says to you.

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 And he's got this situation.

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 It looks bad,

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 but don't worry,

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 he's got it.

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 And do you know what Ahaz says?

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 Ahaz says,

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 sorry,

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 Isaiah says,

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 he'll give you a sign.

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 And the sign will be this,

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 a virgin will conceive

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 and bear a son

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 and you shall call his name

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 Emmanuel.

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 And what does Ahaz do?

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 Well,

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 like a male driver

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 who's lost

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 and won't admit it,

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 he says,

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 I'm going to sort this out myself,

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 thank you very much.

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 I don't need God's help.

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 Let me deal with it.

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 And do you know what happens?

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 That decision

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 leads to breakup.

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 It leads to the end

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 of his kingdom.

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 It leads to the exiling

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 of his people

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 away from the home

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 of where God was

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 and where they were meant

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 to be safe,

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 secure,

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 known and loved.

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 And unlike Mary and Joseph,

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 this breakup

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 with God

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 and with their land

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 and with the people,

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 that was entirely

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 their choice.

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 Entirely their choice.

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 And the amazing thing is,

00:11:32.539 --> 00:11:32.639
 though,

00:11:32.700 --> 00:11:33.159
 that actually

00:11:33.159 --> 00:11:34.220
 two chapters

00:11:34.220 --> 00:11:34.940
 later on

00:11:34.940 --> 00:11:36.039
 from this verse,

00:11:37.259 --> 00:11:37.840
 in the midst

00:11:37.840 --> 00:11:38.460
 of the chaos

00:11:38.460 --> 00:11:39.539
 of what's going on,

00:11:40.259 --> 00:11:41.019
 Isaiah comes

00:11:41.019 --> 00:11:41.879
 with another promise.

00:11:42.019 --> 00:11:42.259
 He says,

00:11:42.340 --> 00:11:44.180
 Emmanuel is still coming.

00:11:45.259 --> 00:11:46.080
 The promise

00:11:46.080 --> 00:11:47.060
 that in the darkness

00:11:47.060 --> 00:11:47.920
 light will come

00:11:47.920 --> 00:11:48.700
 and he says this,

00:11:48.759 --> 00:11:49.080
 he says,

00:11:49.259 --> 00:11:50.220
 unto us

00:11:50.220 --> 00:11:51.779
 a child is born.

00:11:52.779 --> 00:11:53.340
 Unto us

00:11:53.340 --> 00:11:54.279
 a son is given

00:11:54.279 --> 00:11:55.180
 and the government

00:11:55.180 --> 00:11:56.620
 will be on his shoulders.

00:11:57.960 --> 00:11:58.279
 You see,

00:11:58.340 --> 00:11:59.320
 what he was saying is,

00:11:59.560 --> 00:12:00.920
 in spite of the chaos,

00:12:01.240 --> 00:12:02.080
 there is a king

00:12:02.080 --> 00:12:02.740
 who's coming.

00:12:03.200 --> 00:12:04.040
 There is one

00:12:04.040 --> 00:12:04.639
 who's coming

00:12:04.639 --> 00:12:05.879
 to bring you home again.

00:12:06.779 --> 00:12:07.940
 And the Jewish people

00:12:07.940 --> 00:12:08.940
 for years

00:12:08.940 --> 00:12:10.720
 were looking forward

00:12:10.720 --> 00:12:12.160
 to this Messiah

00:12:12.160 --> 00:12:13.180
 figure to come.

00:12:13.440 --> 00:12:14.000
 They were looking

00:12:14.000 --> 00:12:15.100
 forward to that,

00:12:15.100 --> 00:12:15.940
 but they felt

00:12:15.940 --> 00:12:16.700
 lost,

00:12:17.060 --> 00:12:17.460
 alone,

00:12:18.080 --> 00:12:18.860
 confused,

00:12:19.480 --> 00:12:20.100
 and wondering

00:12:20.100 --> 00:12:20.759
 in their current

00:12:20.759 --> 00:12:21.420
 circumstances,

00:12:21.580 --> 00:12:22.180
 where was God

00:12:22.180 --> 00:12:22.620
 in the midst

00:12:22.620 --> 00:12:23.120
 of this?

00:12:25.399 --> 00:12:25.840
 Well,

00:12:25.920 --> 00:12:26.759
 for many of us,

00:12:27.759 --> 00:12:28.659
 some of us

00:12:28.659 --> 00:12:29.540
 may see that God

00:12:29.540 --> 00:12:30.659
 as absent.

00:12:31.519 --> 00:12:32.420
 Maybe that's because

00:12:32.420 --> 00:12:33.120
 you don't believe

00:12:33.120 --> 00:12:33.680
 in a God

00:12:33.680 --> 00:12:35.399
 or maybe it's because

00:12:35.399 --> 00:12:36.000
 you,

00:12:36.200 --> 00:12:37.000
 like Mary and Joseph,

00:12:37.159 --> 00:12:37.980
 look at your current

00:12:37.980 --> 00:12:38.879
 circumstances

00:12:38.879 --> 00:12:39.420
 and go,

00:12:39.540 --> 00:12:39.639
 well,

00:12:39.680 --> 00:12:41.000
 if God really cared,

00:12:41.120 --> 00:12:41.779
 then he wouldn't

00:12:41.779 --> 00:12:43.139
 allow me to be here.

00:12:43.139 --> 00:12:44.600
 And so,

00:12:44.819 --> 00:12:45.720
 you end up feeling

00:12:45.720 --> 00:12:46.259
 like you've got

00:12:46.259 --> 00:12:47.019
 to carry life

00:12:47.019 --> 00:12:47.919
 on your own shoulders.

00:12:48.720 --> 00:12:49.659
 Maybe he's absent.

00:12:50.639 --> 00:12:51.620
 Or maybe some of us

00:12:51.620 --> 00:12:52.439
 are like Ahaz,

00:12:52.960 --> 00:12:53.699
 that we see that

00:12:53.699 --> 00:12:54.759
 maybe God comes

00:12:54.759 --> 00:12:55.580
 to be with us,

00:12:55.639 --> 00:12:56.199
 but actually that's

00:12:56.199 --> 00:12:57.460
 bad news because

00:12:57.460 --> 00:12:58.720
 you think he's there

00:12:58.720 --> 00:12:59.299
 to give you a whole

00:12:59.299 --> 00:13:00.220
 load of religious rules.

00:13:00.699 --> 00:13:01.460
 You think he's there

00:13:01.460 --> 00:13:02.319
 to take control

00:13:02.319 --> 00:13:02.980
 of your life

00:13:02.980 --> 00:13:04.139
 and just disturb you

00:13:04.139 --> 00:13:05.179
 and ruin you

00:13:05.179 --> 00:13:06.379
 and make you feel

00:13:06.379 --> 00:13:07.419
 kind of guilty

00:13:07.419 --> 00:13:08.200
 about all the stuff

00:13:08.200 --> 00:13:09.600
 that you're doing

00:13:09.600 --> 00:13:10.819
 or you're not doing enough.

00:13:11.019 --> 00:13:12.039
 And maybe like a,

00:13:12.039 --> 00:13:12.299
 you know,

00:13:12.360 --> 00:13:13.019
 like a teenager

00:13:13.019 --> 00:13:14.720
 whose parents say,

00:13:15.120 --> 00:13:15.519
 hey,

00:13:15.639 --> 00:13:16.899
 can I come and join you

00:13:16.899 --> 00:13:17.600
 at your friend's

00:13:17.600 --> 00:13:18.460
 Christmas party?

00:13:19.120 --> 00:13:19.699
 And they go,

00:13:19.980 --> 00:13:20.679
 no way,

00:13:20.759 --> 00:13:21.379
 you're going to ruin

00:13:21.379 --> 00:13:21.899
 everything.

00:13:22.939 --> 00:13:24.460
 That's deep down

00:13:24.460 --> 00:13:25.120
 how we actually

00:13:25.120 --> 00:13:26.059
 think about God.

00:13:27.419 --> 00:13:28.179
 Or maybe,

00:13:28.379 --> 00:13:28.980
 we don't just see him

00:13:28.980 --> 00:13:29.419
 as absent,

00:13:29.539 --> 00:13:30.419
 maybe we don't see him

00:13:30.419 --> 00:13:32.379
 as just with us

00:13:32.379 --> 00:13:32.960
 but bad news,

00:13:33.019 --> 00:13:33.899
 but maybe he's with us

00:13:33.899 --> 00:13:35.019
 as like a distant uncle,

00:13:35.120 --> 00:13:36.600
 a kind of non-interfering

00:13:36.600 --> 00:13:37.740
 kind of deity

00:13:37.740 --> 00:13:39.100
 who sends you

00:13:39.100 --> 00:13:40.399
 an occasional Christmas card.

00:13:40.699 --> 00:13:41.439
 You can ask him

00:13:41.439 --> 00:13:42.259
 occasional things,

00:13:42.259 --> 00:13:42.819
 but actually,

00:13:42.960 --> 00:13:43.799
 he just lets you

00:13:43.799 --> 00:13:44.399
 live life

00:13:44.399 --> 00:13:45.360
 the way you want

00:13:45.360 --> 00:13:45.919
 to live it.

00:13:46.559 --> 00:13:47.399
 Maybe that's your

00:13:47.399 --> 00:13:48.120
 view of God.

00:13:49.659 --> 00:13:51.220
 But the Christmas story

00:13:51.220 --> 00:13:52.620
 here tells us

00:13:52.620 --> 00:13:53.500
 that each of those

00:13:53.500 --> 00:13:54.700
 views are wrong.

00:13:55.819 --> 00:13:57.279
 This passage tells us

00:13:57.279 --> 00:13:58.860
 that whether we feel

00:13:58.860 --> 00:13:59.539
 the suffering,

00:13:59.659 --> 00:14:00.120
 the pain,

00:14:00.259 --> 00:14:01.700
 like Mary and Joseph do,

00:14:01.980 --> 00:14:02.639
 or whether we are

00:14:02.639 --> 00:14:03.939
 the cause of suffering

00:14:03.939 --> 00:14:04.700
 and pain,

00:14:04.759 --> 00:14:05.860
 like Ahaz is,

00:14:06.659 --> 00:14:07.639
 for all of us,

00:14:07.700 --> 00:14:08.480
 the reality is

00:14:08.480 --> 00:14:09.700
 we're away from home

00:14:09.700 --> 00:14:11.159
 without God.

00:14:13.720 --> 00:14:14.920
 I showed a video

00:14:14.920 --> 00:14:15.680
 a few years ago,

00:14:15.680 --> 00:14:16.500
 I'm going to show it again

00:14:16.500 --> 00:14:17.560
 in Watermark.

00:14:17.620 --> 00:14:18.300
 It's from the movie

00:14:18.300 --> 00:14:18.879
 Home Alone.

00:14:19.720 --> 00:14:20.860
 Who's seen Home Alone?

00:14:22.399 --> 00:14:23.220
 Okay, pretty good.

00:14:23.379 --> 00:14:24.759
 I spoke to Tess yesterday

00:14:24.759 --> 00:14:25.500
 and she was about

00:14:25.500 --> 00:14:26.460
 the only person

00:14:26.460 --> 00:14:27.800
 in the Christmas Eve service.

00:14:27.899 --> 00:14:28.800
 So, there's got to be

00:14:28.800 --> 00:14:29.960
 a viewing for those of you

00:14:29.960 --> 00:14:31.060
 who haven't seen it,

00:14:31.120 --> 00:14:32.300
 like after the service.

00:14:32.299 --> 00:14:36.139
 If you haven't seen it,

00:14:36.500 --> 00:14:37.399
 okay, spoiler alert,

00:14:39.339 --> 00:14:39.879
 Kevin,

00:14:40.379 --> 00:14:42.120
 who is a young boy

00:14:42.120 --> 00:14:44.079
 played by Macaulay Culkin,

00:14:44.779 --> 00:14:46.319
 has wished that his family

00:14:46.319 --> 00:14:47.199
 would disappear

00:14:47.199 --> 00:14:48.699
 after having a fight

00:14:48.699 --> 00:14:49.379
 with his family.

00:14:50.120 --> 00:14:51.039
 The next day,

00:14:51.159 --> 00:14:51.899
 he finds out

00:14:51.899 --> 00:14:52.819
 they've gone on holiday

00:14:52.819 --> 00:14:54.399
 and they've forgotten

00:14:54.399 --> 00:14:54.899
 about him

00:14:54.899 --> 00:14:56.539
 and he's left alone

00:14:56.539 --> 00:14:57.399
 at Christmas time.

00:14:58.439 --> 00:14:59.719
 And some burglars

00:14:59.719 --> 00:15:01.740
 realize that he's alone

00:15:01.740 --> 00:15:03.220
 and then they plan

00:15:03.220 --> 00:15:03.860
 to break in.

00:15:04.159 --> 00:15:05.200
 And here's one of the things

00:15:05.200 --> 00:15:06.480
 that Kevin does.

00:15:10.680 --> 00:15:11.940
 Great, thank you.

00:15:12.759 --> 00:15:14.100
 I don't know how he managed

00:15:14.100 --> 00:15:15.700
 to fix all that stuff up

00:15:15.700 --> 00:15:17.740
 in like less than 24 hours,

00:15:17.860 --> 00:15:19.399
 but kids are smart these days.

00:15:21.879 --> 00:15:22.480
 You see,

00:15:22.680 --> 00:15:24.840
 why do I show that to us?

00:15:26.039 --> 00:15:27.180
 I think that actually

00:15:27.180 --> 00:15:27.879
 gives a picture

00:15:27.879 --> 00:15:28.919
 of what life is like

00:15:28.919 --> 00:15:29.960
 when we're away from God.

00:15:29.960 --> 00:15:32.639
 Because when you're away

00:15:32.639 --> 00:15:33.220
 from home

00:15:33.220 --> 00:15:34.320
 or when you're home alone,

00:15:34.759 --> 00:15:36.120
 we actually feel insecure

00:15:36.120 --> 00:15:38.000
 and we have to put up

00:15:38.000 --> 00:15:39.080
 some kind of puppet show

00:15:39.080 --> 00:15:41.139
 to try and keep out

00:15:41.139 --> 00:15:42.200
 the threats from our lives.

00:15:42.320 --> 00:15:43.460
 We pretend that we're fine.

00:15:43.980 --> 00:15:45.040
 We get defensive

00:15:45.040 --> 00:15:45.879
 when we're criticized.

00:15:46.360 --> 00:15:47.560
 We work super hard

00:15:47.560 --> 00:15:48.540
 to prove ourselves.

00:15:48.960 --> 00:15:50.080
 We do a whole lot of things

00:15:50.080 --> 00:15:50.800
 that other people

00:15:50.800 --> 00:15:51.980
 think we're okay

00:15:51.980 --> 00:15:53.460
 when deep inside

00:15:53.460 --> 00:15:54.040
 we know

00:15:54.040 --> 00:15:55.320
 that there's something missing.

00:15:55.320 --> 00:15:57.400
 because we feel

00:15:57.400 --> 00:15:58.100
 the insecurity

00:15:58.100 --> 00:15:59.379
 of the world around us.

00:15:59.680 --> 00:16:00.879
 And these last couple of years

00:16:00.879 --> 00:16:02.440
 we've really felt that, right?

00:16:04.060 --> 00:16:05.140
 And if you're alone

00:16:05.140 --> 00:16:05.920
 it's all on you.

00:16:06.480 --> 00:16:07.300
 It's all on you.

00:16:07.780 --> 00:16:08.780
 And it may feel like,

00:16:08.860 --> 00:16:09.040
 you know,

00:16:09.100 --> 00:16:09.320
 Kevin,

00:16:09.379 --> 00:16:10.400
 it seems to work for a while

00:16:10.400 --> 00:16:11.580
 but it's super tiring

00:16:11.580 --> 00:16:13.040
 and super stressful

00:16:13.040 --> 00:16:14.220
 if you've got to keep that up

00:16:14.220 --> 00:16:15.200
 for the whole of your life.

00:16:16.940 --> 00:16:17.780
 That's the breakup.

00:16:17.779 --> 00:16:20.620
 But Christmas

00:16:20.620 --> 00:16:21.699
 doesn't kind of end

00:16:21.699 --> 00:16:22.899
 with that kind of bad news.

00:16:23.819 --> 00:16:24.639
 Christmas actually

00:16:24.639 --> 00:16:25.179
 has something

00:16:25.179 --> 00:16:26.259
 far more wonderful

00:16:26.259 --> 00:16:27.079
 to tell us.

00:16:27.720 --> 00:16:28.659
 It tells us actually

00:16:28.659 --> 00:16:29.959
 that the very situations

00:16:29.959 --> 00:16:30.839
 that we fear,

00:16:31.240 --> 00:16:32.259
 the very situations

00:16:32.259 --> 00:16:33.299
 that stress us

00:16:33.299 --> 00:16:33.819
 that we go,

00:16:34.000 --> 00:16:35.199
 what is going on?

00:16:35.439 --> 00:16:35.959
 That we,

00:16:36.159 --> 00:16:36.839
 like Mary and Joseph,

00:16:36.980 --> 00:16:37.860
 think are threats

00:16:37.860 --> 00:16:38.639
 in our lives.

00:16:39.000 --> 00:16:39.939
 When you get

00:16:39.939 --> 00:16:41.659
 who God actually is,

00:16:42.279 --> 00:16:43.379
 he turns them

00:16:43.379 --> 00:16:45.360
 from potential catastrophe

00:16:45.360 --> 00:16:46.779
 into what

00:16:46.779 --> 00:16:47.539
 Lord of the Rings

00:16:47.539 --> 00:16:48.799
 author J.R. Tolkien

00:16:48.799 --> 00:16:51.199
 calls a eucatastrophe.

00:16:52.559 --> 00:16:53.039
 Catastrophe

00:16:53.039 --> 00:16:54.099
 is something

00:16:54.099 --> 00:16:54.980
 that turns

00:16:54.980 --> 00:16:56.000
 unexpectedly

00:16:56.000 --> 00:16:58.860
 bad.

00:16:59.599 --> 00:16:59.639
 Okay?

00:16:59.919 --> 00:17:00.899
 Something unexpectedly

00:17:00.899 --> 00:17:01.899
 bad that happens.

00:17:02.439 --> 00:17:02.719
 Eucatastrophe

00:17:02.719 --> 00:17:03.759
 means good

00:17:03.759 --> 00:17:04.500
 in Greek.

00:17:05.079 --> 00:17:05.460
 And it's so,

00:17:05.720 --> 00:17:07.019
 a eucatastrophe

00:17:07.019 --> 00:17:08.440
 and in his language

00:17:08.440 --> 00:17:08.960
 is this.

00:17:09.220 --> 00:17:10.059
 It's the sudden

00:17:10.059 --> 00:17:11.259
 happy turn

00:17:11.259 --> 00:17:12.019
 in a story

00:17:12.019 --> 00:17:13.539
 which pierces you

00:17:13.539 --> 00:17:14.440
 with a joy

00:17:14.440 --> 00:17:15.700
 that brings tears.

00:17:16.500 --> 00:17:17.279
 Let me read that again.

00:17:17.279 --> 00:17:17.779
 I love that.

00:17:18.099 --> 00:17:18.420
 He says,

00:17:18.700 --> 00:17:19.740
 a eucatastrophe,

00:17:19.960 --> 00:17:21.119
 a good catastrophe,

00:17:21.619 --> 00:17:22.879
 is a sudden

00:17:22.879 --> 00:17:23.859
 happy turn

00:17:23.859 --> 00:17:24.720
 in a story

00:17:24.720 --> 00:17:26.319
 which pierces you

00:17:26.319 --> 00:17:27.079
 with a joy

00:17:27.079 --> 00:17:28.319
 that brings tears.

00:17:29.819 --> 00:17:30.059
 You see,

00:17:30.119 --> 00:17:30.460
 it's like

00:17:30.460 --> 00:17:32.039
 receiving a letter

00:17:32.039 --> 00:17:33.299
 from the Inland Revenue

00:17:33.299 --> 00:17:34.000
 which you thought

00:17:34.000 --> 00:17:34.619
 was asking you

00:17:34.619 --> 00:17:35.700
 to pay more tax

00:17:35.700 --> 00:17:37.220
 and just as you're

00:17:37.220 --> 00:17:37.980
 in despair,

00:17:38.819 --> 00:17:39.980
 you reread it

00:17:39.980 --> 00:17:40.619
 and realize

00:17:40.619 --> 00:17:42.160
 they're giving you money.

00:17:42.619 --> 00:17:43.619
 That happened to me

00:17:43.619 --> 00:17:44.160
 this year.

00:17:44.700 --> 00:17:44.899
 Okay?

00:17:45.700 --> 00:17:46.940
 That's a eucatastrophe.

00:17:49.820 --> 00:17:50.960
 For the angel,

00:17:51.360 --> 00:17:52.160
 for Mary and Joseph,

00:17:52.280 --> 00:17:54.080
 an angel comes to Joseph

00:17:54.080 --> 00:17:55.420
 right when he's in the pit

00:17:55.420 --> 00:17:56.500
 and says,

00:17:57.019 --> 00:17:57.600
 don't fear.

00:17:58.440 --> 00:17:59.600
 Don't be afraid.

00:18:00.180 --> 00:18:01.300
 What looks dark,

00:18:01.420 --> 00:18:02.580
 I'm actually right

00:18:02.580 --> 00:18:03.900
 in the midst of this.

00:18:05.259 --> 00:18:05.880
 And for us,

00:18:05.940 --> 00:18:06.780
 whether you're looking out

00:18:06.780 --> 00:18:07.640
 at 2021

00:18:07.640 --> 00:18:08.860
 and going,

00:18:08.940 --> 00:18:09.680
 what just happened?

00:18:09.680 --> 00:18:10.860
 or you're looking out

00:18:10.860 --> 00:18:11.840
 into 2022

00:18:11.840 --> 00:18:12.960
 and you're going,

00:18:13.060 --> 00:18:14.060
 I don't know what's coming.

00:18:14.660 --> 00:18:15.680
 Things still seem

00:18:15.680 --> 00:18:16.539
 out of control.

00:18:17.600 --> 00:18:18.160
 He says,

00:18:18.240 --> 00:18:19.039
 don't be afraid.

00:18:19.960 --> 00:18:20.759
 Whether you go,

00:18:21.620 --> 00:18:21.799
 hey,

00:18:21.900 --> 00:18:22.960
 there's so much in my life,

00:18:23.019 --> 00:18:23.500
 there's habits,

00:18:23.620 --> 00:18:24.060
 maybe I'll make

00:18:24.060 --> 00:18:24.820
 New Year's resolutions

00:18:24.820 --> 00:18:26.140
 but I know I'm going to break them.

00:18:26.220 --> 00:18:27.140
 There's things in my life,

00:18:27.220 --> 00:18:27.680
 there's sin,

00:18:27.799 --> 00:18:28.279
 there's shame,

00:18:28.400 --> 00:18:29.340
 there's things here

00:18:29.340 --> 00:18:31.140
 which are no right

00:18:31.140 --> 00:18:32.100
 and you just feel like,

00:18:32.240 --> 00:18:32.480
 oh.

00:18:32.820 --> 00:18:33.160
 He says,

00:18:33.220 --> 00:18:34.100
 don't be afraid.

00:18:35.860 --> 00:18:36.560
 And for Joseph,

00:18:36.720 --> 00:18:37.019
 he says,

00:18:37.080 --> 00:18:37.900
 don't be afraid.

00:18:37.900 --> 00:18:40.060
 Take Mary as your wife

00:18:40.060 --> 00:18:42.080
 because what she said

00:18:42.080 --> 00:18:43.040
 is actually true.

00:18:43.560 --> 00:18:44.840
 God is the one

00:18:44.840 --> 00:18:45.780
 who is disturbing

00:18:45.780 --> 00:18:47.160
 your life right now.

00:18:47.360 --> 00:18:48.700
 It's not all going wrong,

00:18:48.860 --> 00:18:50.600
 it's all going very right

00:18:50.600 --> 00:18:52.800
 because it's better

00:18:52.800 --> 00:18:53.940
 than you think it is.

00:18:54.720 --> 00:18:55.840
 This baby who's actually

00:18:55.840 --> 00:18:58.180
 just rocked your entire world,

00:18:58.540 --> 00:19:00.519
 you ought to call him Jesus.

00:19:01.480 --> 00:19:03.220
 And the name Jesus means,

00:19:06.519 --> 00:19:07.000
 okay,

00:19:07.000 --> 00:19:08.240
 it's like with the kids,

00:19:08.359 --> 00:19:08.599
 okay.

00:19:09.059 --> 00:19:09.859
 The name Jesus means

00:19:09.859 --> 00:19:10.920
 God saves.

00:19:11.880 --> 00:19:12.180
 Okay,

00:19:12.259 --> 00:19:13.180
 you can remember that one

00:19:13.180 --> 00:19:13.599
 for later.

00:19:14.140 --> 00:19:15.960
 It means God saves.

00:19:16.980 --> 00:19:17.279
 You see,

00:19:17.319 --> 00:19:18.259
 the very hope

00:19:18.259 --> 00:19:19.140
 that people have been

00:19:19.140 --> 00:19:19.920
 waiting for

00:19:19.920 --> 00:19:20.940
 and waiting for

00:19:20.940 --> 00:19:22.079
 and waiting for

00:19:22.079 --> 00:19:23.180
 for centuries,

00:19:23.299 --> 00:19:23.880
 he's here.

00:19:24.700 --> 00:19:25.740
 He's here

00:19:25.740 --> 00:19:27.319
 and he's disturbing

00:19:27.319 --> 00:19:28.220
 your world

00:19:28.220 --> 00:19:29.200
 and he quotes

00:19:29.200 --> 00:19:29.900
 the prophecy

00:19:29.900 --> 00:19:30.720
 from Isaiah

00:19:30.720 --> 00:19:31.819
 that we mentioned before.

00:19:31.940 --> 00:19:32.140
 He says,

00:19:32.200 --> 00:19:33.660
 a virgin will give birth

00:19:33.660 --> 00:19:34.759
 to a son

00:19:34.759 --> 00:19:36.200
 and he will be called

00:19:36.200 --> 00:19:36.980
 Emmanuel

00:19:36.980 --> 00:19:39.019
 and then he just translates it

00:19:39.019 --> 00:19:40.160
 in case you didn't get

00:19:40.160 --> 00:19:40.579
 the message.

00:19:40.819 --> 00:19:41.319
 He says,

00:19:41.640 --> 00:19:42.579
 which means

00:19:42.579 --> 00:19:43.879
 God

00:19:43.879 --> 00:19:44.779
 with

00:19:44.779 --> 00:19:45.839
 us.

00:19:46.839 --> 00:19:47.359
 God

00:19:47.359 --> 00:19:48.119
 with

00:19:48.119 --> 00:19:48.819
 you.

00:19:49.500 --> 00:19:49.980
 God

00:19:49.980 --> 00:19:50.539
 with

00:19:50.539 --> 00:19:51.259
 me.

00:19:52.099 --> 00:19:52.379
 God

00:19:52.379 --> 00:19:53.099
 with us,

00:19:53.160 --> 00:19:54.160
 not to nag us.

00:19:54.440 --> 00:19:54.579
 God

00:19:54.579 --> 00:19:54.920
 with us,

00:19:54.980 --> 00:19:56.119
 not to control us.

00:19:56.359 --> 00:19:56.519
 God

00:19:56.519 --> 00:19:56.900
 with us,

00:19:56.960 --> 00:19:58.079
 not to ruin our life

00:19:58.079 --> 00:19:59.039
 or spoil our fun.

00:19:59.400 --> 00:19:59.640
 God

00:19:59.640 --> 00:20:00.079
 with us,

00:20:00.079 --> 00:20:00.819
 to save us

00:20:00.819 --> 00:20:01.559
 from ourselves,

00:20:01.859 --> 00:20:02.699
 to save us

00:20:02.699 --> 00:20:03.460
 from our sins.

00:20:04.419 --> 00:20:04.839
 God

00:20:04.839 --> 00:20:05.279
 with us

00:20:05.279 --> 00:20:06.139
 who can reach

00:20:06.139 --> 00:20:06.639
 the buttons

00:20:06.639 --> 00:20:07.339
 that we cannot

00:20:07.339 --> 00:20:08.439
 get out of the prisons

00:20:08.439 --> 00:20:09.259
 that we have made

00:20:09.259 --> 00:20:09.960
 for ourselves

00:20:09.960 --> 00:20:11.220
 because the chasm

00:20:11.220 --> 00:20:11.819
 between us

00:20:11.819 --> 00:20:12.139
 and God

00:20:12.139 --> 00:20:12.939
 is too great

00:20:12.939 --> 00:20:13.919
 for us to cross

00:20:13.919 --> 00:20:14.699
 by ourselves

00:20:14.699 --> 00:20:15.699
 but when we

00:20:15.699 --> 00:20:16.659
 could not cross it,

00:20:16.919 --> 00:20:17.519
 he has come

00:20:17.519 --> 00:20:18.799
 down to us.

00:20:19.359 --> 00:20:20.099
 He has brought

00:20:20.099 --> 00:20:20.919
 home

00:20:20.919 --> 00:20:22.240
 to us.

00:20:22.899 --> 00:20:23.220
 Jesus

00:20:23.220 --> 00:20:23.919
 is

00:20:23.919 --> 00:20:24.439
 God

00:20:24.439 --> 00:20:25.480
 with us.

00:20:25.919 --> 00:20:26.379
 He has not

00:20:26.379 --> 00:20:27.259
 abandoned you.

00:20:27.559 --> 00:20:28.299
 He has not

00:20:28.299 --> 00:20:29.519
 left you.

00:20:29.519 --> 00:20:30.359
 the creator

00:20:30.359 --> 00:20:31.319
 of the universe

00:20:31.319 --> 00:20:32.279
 is one

00:20:32.279 --> 00:20:33.059
 who is neither

00:20:33.059 --> 00:20:33.599
 distant

00:20:33.599 --> 00:20:34.700
 nor disinterested.

00:20:34.859 --> 00:20:35.460
 He has come

00:20:35.460 --> 00:20:36.279
 to you.

00:20:38.259 --> 00:20:38.779
 Both

00:20:38.779 --> 00:20:39.799
 2,000 years

00:20:39.799 --> 00:20:40.200
 ago

00:20:40.200 --> 00:20:41.180
 in that little

00:20:41.180 --> 00:20:41.619
 manger

00:20:41.619 --> 00:20:42.440
 but also

00:20:42.440 --> 00:20:42.960
 today

00:20:42.960 --> 00:20:43.500
 he comes

00:20:43.500 --> 00:20:43.839
 again

00:20:43.839 --> 00:20:44.660
 to us.

00:20:46.519 --> 00:20:46.859
 You see,

00:20:46.920 --> 00:20:47.559
 even when we

00:20:47.559 --> 00:20:48.099
 walk away

00:20:48.099 --> 00:20:48.759
 from home,

00:20:48.879 --> 00:20:49.759
 he brings

00:20:49.759 --> 00:20:50.160
 home

00:20:50.160 --> 00:20:51.160
 to us.

00:20:52.839 --> 00:20:53.259
 You see,

00:20:53.299 --> 00:20:53.559
 he came

00:20:53.559 --> 00:20:54.279
 from the glory

00:20:54.279 --> 00:20:54.799
 of heaven

00:20:54.799 --> 00:20:55.599
 into the slum

00:20:55.599 --> 00:20:56.379
 of our lives

00:20:56.379 --> 00:20:57.220
 and he didn't

00:20:57.220 --> 00:20:57.680
 just come

00:20:57.680 --> 00:20:58.339
 to be with us

00:20:58.339 --> 00:20:59.240
 in the good times.

00:20:59.240 --> 00:20:59.599
 He's not

00:20:59.599 --> 00:20:59.859
 our kind

00:20:59.859 --> 00:21:00.240
 of fair

00:21:00.240 --> 00:21:00.480
 weather

00:21:00.480 --> 00:21:00.940
 friend.

00:21:02.099 --> 00:21:02.579
 He came

00:21:02.579 --> 00:21:03.099
 with us

00:21:03.099 --> 00:21:03.819
 even to

00:21:03.819 --> 00:21:04.339
 the depths

00:21:04.339 --> 00:21:04.660
 of our

00:21:04.660 --> 00:21:05.059
 darkness

00:21:05.059 --> 00:21:05.420
 because he

00:21:05.420 --> 00:21:05.900
 knows you,

00:21:05.980 --> 00:21:06.240
 you know.

00:21:06.880 --> 00:21:07.640
 He knows

00:21:07.640 --> 00:21:08.079
 the depths

00:21:08.079 --> 00:21:08.400
 of your

00:21:08.400 --> 00:21:08.700
 shame.

00:21:08.819 --> 00:21:09.180
 He knows

00:21:09.180 --> 00:21:09.559
 the depths

00:21:09.559 --> 00:21:09.819
 of your

00:21:09.819 --> 00:21:10.339
 impatience,

00:21:10.440 --> 00:21:11.220
 your unkindness,

00:21:11.420 --> 00:21:12.059
 all the things

00:21:12.059 --> 00:21:12.400
 that even

00:21:12.400 --> 00:21:12.680
 you've been

00:21:12.680 --> 00:21:13.400
 stressed about

00:21:13.400 --> 00:21:13.759
 over this

00:21:13.759 --> 00:21:14.240
 last little

00:21:14.240 --> 00:21:14.440
 while.

00:21:14.500 --> 00:21:14.920
 He knows

00:21:14.920 --> 00:21:15.259
 all of

00:21:15.259 --> 00:21:15.440
 that.

00:21:16.279 --> 00:21:16.720
 He knows

00:21:16.720 --> 00:21:17.099
 the depths

00:21:17.099 --> 00:21:17.400
 of your

00:21:17.400 --> 00:21:17.980
 aloneness.

00:21:18.339 --> 00:21:18.660
 He knows

00:21:18.660 --> 00:21:19.059
 the depths

00:21:19.059 --> 00:21:19.339
 of your

00:21:19.339 --> 00:21:19.799
 pain.

00:21:20.359 --> 00:21:20.700
 He knows

00:21:20.700 --> 00:21:21.039
 wherever

00:21:21.039 --> 00:21:21.900
 you are

00:21:21.900 --> 00:21:22.859
 right now

00:21:22.859 --> 00:21:25.879
 and he's

00:21:25.879 --> 00:21:26.299
 there to

00:21:26.299 --> 00:21:26.779
 be there

00:21:26.779 --> 00:21:27.379
 with you

00:21:27.379 --> 00:21:28.279
 right now.

00:21:29.500 --> 00:21:29.879
 And the

00:21:29.879 --> 00:21:30.399
 reason you

00:21:30.399 --> 00:21:30.740
 know he

00:21:30.740 --> 00:21:31.039
 can be

00:21:31.039 --> 00:21:31.479
 there with

00:21:31.479 --> 00:21:31.859
 you right

00:21:31.859 --> 00:21:32.299
 now is

00:21:32.299 --> 00:21:32.859
 because he

00:21:32.859 --> 00:21:33.679
 has been

00:21:33.679 --> 00:21:34.500
 to the

00:21:34.500 --> 00:21:35.539
 places where

00:21:35.539 --> 00:21:36.000
 you cannot

00:21:36.000 --> 00:21:36.899
 even imagine

00:21:36.899 --> 00:21:37.779
 that you

00:21:37.779 --> 00:21:38.439
 should be

00:21:38.439 --> 00:21:39.779
 because he

00:21:39.779 --> 00:21:40.199
 came,

00:21:40.279 --> 00:21:40.779
 as Annabelle

00:21:40.779 --> 00:21:41.199
 showed us,

00:21:41.199 --> 00:21:41.519
 he came

00:21:41.519 --> 00:21:42.099
 to die.

00:21:42.579 --> 00:21:42.959
 He came

00:21:42.959 --> 00:21:43.439
 to take

00:21:43.439 --> 00:21:43.979
 our shame.

00:21:44.099 --> 00:21:44.319
 He came

00:21:44.319 --> 00:21:44.759
 to take

00:21:44.759 --> 00:21:45.399
 our aloneness.

00:21:45.500 --> 00:21:45.719
 He came

00:21:45.719 --> 00:21:46.119
 to take

00:21:46.119 --> 00:21:46.719
 our sins

00:21:46.720 --> 00:21:47.720
 on himself.

00:21:47.860 --> 00:21:48.299
 He entered

00:21:48.299 --> 00:21:49.000
 our self-made

00:21:49.000 --> 00:21:50.039
 prisons and

00:21:50.039 --> 00:21:50.339
 did a

00:21:50.339 --> 00:21:51.100
 prisoner swap.

00:21:52.000 --> 00:21:52.539
 He put

00:21:52.539 --> 00:21:53.480
 himself there

00:21:53.480 --> 00:21:54.400
 so that we

00:21:54.400 --> 00:21:54.779
 could get

00:21:54.779 --> 00:21:55.339
 out and be

00:21:55.339 --> 00:21:55.700
 freed.

00:21:56.120 --> 00:21:56.620
 He took

00:21:56.620 --> 00:21:57.019
 the death

00:21:57.019 --> 00:21:57.660
 sentence on

00:21:57.660 --> 00:21:59.480
 himself so

00:21:59.480 --> 00:21:59.839
 that our

00:21:59.839 --> 00:22:00.660
 aloneness

00:22:00.660 --> 00:22:03.059
 might never

00:22:03.059 --> 00:22:04.559
 be a true

00:22:04.559 --> 00:22:05.100
 aloneness.

00:22:05.240 --> 00:22:05.380
 You know,

00:22:05.400 --> 00:22:05.660
 actually,

00:22:05.799 --> 00:22:06.100
 I just

00:22:06.100 --> 00:22:06.460
 remembered,

00:22:06.559 --> 00:22:06.720
 do you know

00:22:06.720 --> 00:22:06.980
 what the

00:22:06.980 --> 00:22:07.339
 Liverpool

00:22:07.339 --> 00:22:09.000
 anthem song

00:22:09.000 --> 00:22:09.339
 is?

00:22:10.860 --> 00:22:11.299
 Sorry,

00:22:11.339 --> 00:22:11.819
 this is just

00:22:11.819 --> 00:22:12.500
 a nostalgic

00:22:12.500 --> 00:22:13.019
 moment for

00:22:13.019 --> 00:22:13.200
 me.

00:22:15.100 --> 00:22:15.539
 Okay,

00:22:15.600 --> 00:22:16.019
 if you don't

00:22:16.019 --> 00:22:16.400
 know it,

00:22:16.400 --> 00:22:16.680
 you need

00:22:16.680 --> 00:22:17.019
 to go

00:22:17.019 --> 00:22:17.400
 home,

00:22:17.519 --> 00:22:17.960
 along with

00:22:17.960 --> 00:22:18.340
 watching

00:22:18.340 --> 00:22:18.840
 Home Alone

00:22:18.840 --> 00:22:19.400
 and play

00:22:19.400 --> 00:22:19.700
 this,

00:22:20.580 --> 00:22:21.120
 the Liverpool

00:22:21.120 --> 00:22:21.700
 song is

00:22:21.700 --> 00:22:21.960
 You Will

00:22:21.960 --> 00:22:22.480
 Never Walk

00:22:22.480 --> 00:22:22.820
 Alone.

00:22:24.320 --> 00:22:24.620
 Do you know,

00:22:24.700 --> 00:22:25.200
 maybe I should

00:22:25.200 --> 00:22:25.620
 have worn my

00:22:25.620 --> 00:22:26.040
 shirt this

00:22:26.040 --> 00:22:26.300
 morning,

00:22:26.780 --> 00:22:27.640
 but Christmas

00:22:27.640 --> 00:22:28.720
 says,

00:22:29.560 --> 00:22:30.160
 if you come

00:22:30.160 --> 00:22:30.820
 to Christ,

00:22:30.980 --> 00:22:31.440
 you will

00:22:31.440 --> 00:22:32.140
 never walk

00:22:32.140 --> 00:22:32.540
 alone.

00:22:33.560 --> 00:22:34.060
 You will

00:22:34.060 --> 00:22:34.620
 never walk

00:22:34.620 --> 00:22:35.040
 alone.

00:22:35.680 --> 00:22:36.380
 Because he

00:22:36.380 --> 00:22:36.700
 says,

00:22:36.880 --> 00:22:37.180
 I bring

00:22:37.180 --> 00:22:37.780
 home to

00:22:37.780 --> 00:22:38.340
 you to a

00:22:38.340 --> 00:22:38.759
 place where

00:22:38.759 --> 00:22:39.120
 you can be

00:22:39.120 --> 00:22:39.480
 known,

00:22:39.780 --> 00:22:40.140
 where you

00:22:40.140 --> 00:22:40.460
 can be

00:22:40.460 --> 00:22:40.860
 loved,

00:22:41.160 --> 00:22:41.360
 where you

00:22:41.360 --> 00:22:41.660
 can be

00:22:41.660 --> 00:22:42.120
 safe,

00:22:42.280 --> 00:22:42.519
 and where

00:22:42.519 --> 00:22:42.759
 you can

00:22:42.759 --> 00:22:43.440
 be secure

00:22:43.440 --> 00:22:44.540
 with me.

00:22:44.539 --> 00:22:46.299
 Because there's

00:22:46.299 --> 00:22:46.819
 nothing to

00:22:46.819 --> 00:22:47.299
 hide.

00:22:48.299 --> 00:22:48.940
 Because he

00:22:48.940 --> 00:22:49.559
 loves you even

00:22:49.559 --> 00:22:49.819
 though he

00:22:49.819 --> 00:22:50.420
 knows everything.

00:22:52.039 --> 00:22:52.799
 And that's a

00:22:52.799 --> 00:22:53.559
 place where we

00:22:53.559 --> 00:22:54.220
 can quit the

00:22:54.220 --> 00:22:54.779
 puppet show.

00:22:55.619 --> 00:22:56.399
 It's a place

00:22:56.399 --> 00:22:56.980
 where you don't

00:22:56.980 --> 00:22:57.659
 have to fix

00:22:57.659 --> 00:22:58.379
 your 2022.

00:22:59.539 --> 00:23:00.500
 Because God,

00:23:00.700 --> 00:23:01.200
 if God,

00:23:01.259 --> 00:23:02.019
 the creator of

00:23:02.019 --> 00:23:02.579
 the universe,

00:23:02.819 --> 00:23:03.279
 who holds

00:23:03.279 --> 00:23:04.240
 everything that

00:23:04.240 --> 00:23:04.839
 you fear,

00:23:05.220 --> 00:23:06.059
 every problem

00:23:06.059 --> 00:23:06.659
 that you may

00:23:06.659 --> 00:23:07.099
 face,

00:23:07.099 --> 00:23:08.000
 he is bigger

00:23:08.000 --> 00:23:08.619
 than it all.

00:23:08.619 --> 00:23:11.139
 if he is

00:23:11.139 --> 00:23:11.719
 with you,

00:23:11.819 --> 00:23:12.199
 then that

00:23:12.199 --> 00:23:12.599
 changes

00:23:12.599 --> 00:23:13.139
 everything.

00:23:14.279 --> 00:23:14.779
 There may

00:23:14.779 --> 00:23:15.259
 still be

00:23:15.259 --> 00:23:15.679
 burglars

00:23:15.679 --> 00:23:16.239
 outside.

00:23:16.799 --> 00:23:17.159
 There may

00:23:17.159 --> 00:23:17.599
 still be

00:23:17.599 --> 00:23:18.199
 threats and

00:23:18.199 --> 00:23:19.219
 insecurity in

00:23:19.219 --> 00:23:19.739
 this world

00:23:19.739 --> 00:23:20.599
 and in your

00:23:20.599 --> 00:23:20.979
 life.

00:23:21.099 --> 00:23:21.359
 There may

00:23:21.359 --> 00:23:21.759
 still be

00:23:21.759 --> 00:23:22.239
 pain in

00:23:22.239 --> 00:23:22.899
 2022.

00:23:23.719 --> 00:23:24.179
 For many

00:23:24.179 --> 00:23:24.500
 of us,

00:23:24.539 --> 00:23:24.839
 there will

00:23:24.839 --> 00:23:25.079
 be.

00:23:26.259 --> 00:23:26.699
 And some

00:23:26.699 --> 00:23:27.159
 of us know

00:23:27.159 --> 00:23:27.579
 that.

00:23:28.379 --> 00:23:28.899
 But when

00:23:28.899 --> 00:23:29.599
 he is with

00:23:29.599 --> 00:23:29.899
 you,

00:23:30.079 --> 00:23:30.579
 you can

00:23:30.579 --> 00:23:31.339
 have joy

00:23:31.339 --> 00:23:31.899
 even if

00:23:31.899 --> 00:23:32.539
 family life

00:23:32.539 --> 00:23:33.179
 is tough

00:23:33.179 --> 00:23:34.179
 because you

00:23:34.179 --> 00:23:34.459
 know you're

00:23:34.459 --> 00:23:34.939
 not alone.

00:23:35.679 --> 00:23:36.159
 You can

00:23:36.159 --> 00:23:36.679
 have peace

00:23:36.679 --> 00:23:37.179
 because no

00:23:37.179 --> 00:23:37.659
 matter what's

00:23:37.659 --> 00:23:38.419
 going on,

00:23:38.619 --> 00:23:39.159
 it's not

00:23:39.159 --> 00:23:39.639
 all on your

00:23:39.639 --> 00:23:40.299
 shoulders any

00:23:40.299 --> 00:23:41.259
 longer because

00:23:41.259 --> 00:23:42.519
 Jesus is big

00:23:42.519 --> 00:23:43.000
 enough to

00:23:43.000 --> 00:23:43.679
 handle those

00:23:43.679 --> 00:23:44.059
 things and

00:23:44.059 --> 00:23:44.639
 you can give

00:23:44.639 --> 00:23:44.959
 him your

00:23:44.959 --> 00:23:45.339
 burdens.

00:23:46.519 --> 00:23:47.199
 And you can

00:23:47.199 --> 00:23:47.659
 take one

00:23:47.659 --> 00:23:48.079
 step at a

00:23:48.079 --> 00:23:48.599
 time with

00:23:48.599 --> 00:23:48.919
 him.

00:23:50.019 --> 00:23:50.359
 You see,

00:23:50.439 --> 00:23:50.859
 if Jesus

00:23:50.859 --> 00:23:51.839
 is with

00:23:51.839 --> 00:23:52.339
 you,

00:23:52.759 --> 00:23:53.299
 then you

00:23:53.299 --> 00:23:53.639
 can have

00:23:53.639 --> 00:23:54.259
 hope that

00:23:54.259 --> 00:23:54.859
 his love

00:23:54.859 --> 00:23:55.599
 is strong

00:23:55.599 --> 00:23:57.259
 enough to

00:23:57.259 --> 00:23:57.779
 see you

00:23:57.779 --> 00:23:58.359
 through whatever

00:23:58.359 --> 00:23:58.739
 you're going

00:23:58.739 --> 00:23:59.219
 to go through,

00:23:59.299 --> 00:23:59.659
 whether it's

00:23:59.659 --> 00:23:59.979
 going to be

00:23:59.979 --> 00:24:01.079
 highs or

00:24:01.079 --> 00:24:01.379
 whether it's

00:24:01.379 --> 00:24:01.679
 going to be

00:24:01.679 --> 00:24:02.059
 lows.

00:24:03.219 --> 00:24:03.959
 And that is

00:24:03.959 --> 00:24:04.519
 a place of

00:24:04.519 --> 00:24:04.899
 freedom.

00:24:05.479 --> 00:24:06.000
 That is a

00:24:06.000 --> 00:24:06.359
 place of

00:24:06.359 --> 00:24:07.259
 confidence for

00:24:07.259 --> 00:24:07.719
 this coming

00:24:07.719 --> 00:24:08.099
 year.

00:24:08.619 --> 00:24:09.579
 Because,

00:24:09.699 --> 00:24:09.879
 you know,

00:24:09.939 --> 00:24:10.359
 when home

00:24:10.359 --> 00:24:11.000
 is hard,

00:24:11.339 --> 00:24:11.959
 everything is

00:24:11.959 --> 00:24:12.359
 hard.

00:24:13.019 --> 00:24:13.479
 But when

00:24:13.479 --> 00:24:14.119
 true home

00:24:14.119 --> 00:24:14.519
 is with

00:24:14.519 --> 00:24:14.779
 you,

00:24:15.139 --> 00:24:15.859
 nothing can

00:24:15.859 --> 00:24:16.500
 heal you

00:24:16.500 --> 00:24:17.239
 like home

00:24:17.239 --> 00:24:17.779
 can heal

00:24:17.779 --> 00:24:18.079
 you.

00:24:19.079 --> 00:24:19.739
 You see,

00:24:19.859 --> 00:24:21.819
 my 10-month-old

00:24:21.819 --> 00:24:22.199
 daughter,

00:24:22.419 --> 00:24:23.039
 who Angeline

00:24:23.039 --> 00:24:23.679
 I think is

00:24:23.679 --> 00:24:25.859
 wonderfully looking

00:24:25.859 --> 00:24:26.719
 after right now,

00:24:27.339 --> 00:24:28.879
 sometimes she

00:24:28.879 --> 00:24:30.099
 just cries and

00:24:30.099 --> 00:24:31.099
 cries and

00:24:31.099 --> 00:24:31.559
 cries.

00:24:31.959 --> 00:24:32.459
 And no matter

00:24:32.459 --> 00:24:33.119
 what you try

00:24:33.119 --> 00:24:33.500
 and do,

00:24:33.959 --> 00:24:34.659
 she is just

00:24:34.659 --> 00:24:35.559
 inconsolable.

00:24:35.559 --> 00:24:36.819
 until she

00:24:36.819 --> 00:24:37.279
 sees my

00:24:37.279 --> 00:24:37.700
 wife.

00:24:38.879 --> 00:24:39.299
 She doesn't

00:24:39.299 --> 00:24:39.700
 see me.

00:24:39.899 --> 00:24:40.379
 It's got to

00:24:40.379 --> 00:24:40.619
 be my

00:24:40.619 --> 00:24:40.839
 wife.

00:24:40.899 --> 00:24:41.099
 And my

00:24:41.099 --> 00:24:41.659
 wife picks

00:24:41.659 --> 00:24:42.079
 her up and

00:24:42.079 --> 00:24:42.579
 then suddenly

00:24:42.579 --> 00:24:43.259
 she smiles

00:24:43.259 --> 00:24:43.619
 again.

00:24:45.819 --> 00:24:46.679
 That's joy.

00:24:47.460 --> 00:24:48.079
 Why does she

00:24:48.079 --> 00:24:48.440
 get joy?

00:24:48.460 --> 00:24:48.779
 I don't know

00:24:48.779 --> 00:24:49.119
 why she doesn't

00:24:49.119 --> 00:24:49.579
 work with me.

00:24:51.240 --> 00:24:52.099
 Because she's

00:24:52.099 --> 00:24:52.599
 safe.

00:24:54.299 --> 00:24:55.019
 Because she's

00:24:55.019 --> 00:24:55.519
 home.

00:24:57.839 --> 00:24:58.539
 Because she

00:24:58.539 --> 00:24:59.259
 knows that

00:24:59.259 --> 00:25:00.379
 that's where

00:25:00.379 --> 00:25:01.720
 she belongs.

00:25:01.720 --> 00:25:03.000
 And you

00:25:03.000 --> 00:25:03.140
 know,

00:25:03.279 --> 00:25:03.660
 you can

00:25:03.660 --> 00:25:03.960
 look in

00:25:03.960 --> 00:25:04.500
 a thousand

00:25:04.500 --> 00:25:05.220
 places,

00:25:05.779 --> 00:25:06.039
 but the

00:25:06.039 --> 00:25:06.620
 promise of

00:25:06.620 --> 00:25:08.019
 Christmas is

00:25:08.019 --> 00:25:09.660
 only Emmanuel,

00:25:10.000 --> 00:25:10.720
 God with

00:25:10.720 --> 00:25:11.319
 us,

00:25:11.720 --> 00:25:12.500
 can truly

00:25:12.500 --> 00:25:13.539
 comfort and

00:25:13.539 --> 00:25:14.500
 satisfy your

00:25:14.500 --> 00:25:14.960
 soul.

00:25:15.819 --> 00:25:16.259
 And he's

00:25:16.259 --> 00:25:16.700
 here.

00:25:17.480 --> 00:25:18.039
 And he's

00:25:18.039 --> 00:25:18.819
 calling us to

00:25:18.819 --> 00:25:19.620
 respond to him

00:25:19.620 --> 00:25:20.019
 today.

00:25:20.380 --> 00:25:21.079
 Whether you

00:25:21.079 --> 00:25:21.420
 are a

00:25:21.420 --> 00:25:22.400
 Christian or

00:25:22.400 --> 00:25:23.440
 you wouldn't

00:25:23.440 --> 00:25:23.880
 even call

00:25:23.880 --> 00:25:24.380
 yourself a

00:25:24.380 --> 00:25:24.819
 follower of

00:25:24.819 --> 00:25:25.160
 Jesus.

00:25:27.120 --> 00:25:28.240
 So there's a

00:25:28.240 --> 00:25:28.579
 breakup.

00:25:29.880 --> 00:25:30.660
 The Christmas

00:25:30.660 --> 00:25:32.060
 story has a

00:25:32.060 --> 00:25:33.240
 bad news,

00:25:33.340 --> 00:25:33.800
 good news

00:25:33.800 --> 00:25:34.300
 story.

00:25:34.460 --> 00:25:35.600
 Because against

00:25:35.600 --> 00:25:36.279
 the bad news,

00:25:36.360 --> 00:25:36.860
 the good news

00:25:36.860 --> 00:25:37.200
 is the

00:25:37.200 --> 00:25:38.100
 eucatastrophe

00:25:38.100 --> 00:25:40.000
 that God

00:25:40.000 --> 00:25:40.519
 has come to

00:25:40.519 --> 00:25:41.060
 be with us.

00:25:41.140 --> 00:25:41.560
 How do we

00:25:41.560 --> 00:25:41.880
 come and

00:25:41.880 --> 00:25:42.640
 respond to

00:25:42.640 --> 00:25:42.900
 him?

00:25:43.220 --> 00:25:43.660
 It's my

00:25:43.660 --> 00:25:44.259
 final thing.

00:25:46.500 --> 00:25:46.740
 You know,

00:25:46.800 --> 00:25:47.720
 my sister lives

00:25:47.720 --> 00:25:48.279
 in Canada.

00:25:49.240 --> 00:25:49.820
 I'm in

00:25:49.820 --> 00:25:50.220
 Hong Kong.

00:25:50.320 --> 00:25:50.720
 My parents

00:25:50.720 --> 00:25:51.060
 are in the

00:25:51.060 --> 00:25:51.300
 UK.

00:25:52.519 --> 00:25:53.120
 After we

00:25:53.120 --> 00:25:53.680
 got married,

00:25:53.880 --> 00:25:54.340
 I hadn't

00:25:54.340 --> 00:25:54.920
 seen my

00:25:54.920 --> 00:25:55.620
 sister for

00:25:55.620 --> 00:25:56.220
 six,

00:25:56.519 --> 00:25:57.080
 nearly seven

00:25:57.080 --> 00:25:58.019
 years because

00:25:58.019 --> 00:25:59.019
 things just

00:25:59.019 --> 00:26:00.060
 didn't work

00:26:00.060 --> 00:26:00.340
 out.

00:26:01.340 --> 00:26:01.900
 Two years

00:26:01.900 --> 00:26:02.100
 ago,

00:26:02.140 --> 00:26:02.420
 we were in

00:26:02.420 --> 00:26:02.900
 the UK,

00:26:03.279 --> 00:26:04.180
 me and my

00:26:04.180 --> 00:26:04.600
 wife with

00:26:04.600 --> 00:26:05.840
 my parents,

00:26:06.019 --> 00:26:06.279
 and it was

00:26:06.279 --> 00:26:06.960
 Christmas Eve.

00:26:08.040 --> 00:26:08.620
 And we had

00:26:08.620 --> 00:26:09.320
 all the food

00:26:09.320 --> 00:26:09.820
 was ready,

00:26:09.940 --> 00:26:10.480
 we'd prepared

00:26:10.480 --> 00:26:10.960
 everything,

00:26:11.560 --> 00:26:12.320
 everything was

00:26:12.320 --> 00:26:12.700
 on the table,

00:26:12.740 --> 00:26:13.180
 we were just

00:26:13.180 --> 00:26:13.940
 about to eat,

00:26:14.320 --> 00:26:14.720
 and then we

00:26:14.720 --> 00:26:15.100
 hear this

00:26:15.100 --> 00:26:15.820
 carol singing

00:26:15.820 --> 00:26:16.300
 outside.

00:26:17.360 --> 00:26:17.779
 And then there

00:26:17.779 --> 00:26:18.040
 was this

00:26:18.040 --> 00:26:18.600
 knock on the

00:26:18.600 --> 00:26:18.840
 door.

00:26:20.180 --> 00:26:20.920
 And we went

00:26:20.920 --> 00:26:21.480
 to the door

00:26:21.480 --> 00:26:22.500
 and opened it,

00:26:23.200 --> 00:26:24.040
 and there on

00:26:24.040 --> 00:26:24.800
 the threshold,

00:26:25.779 --> 00:26:26.340
 totally

00:26:26.340 --> 00:26:27.060
 unexpectedly,

00:26:27.820 --> 00:26:28.519
 was my

00:26:28.519 --> 00:26:29.060
 sister and

00:26:29.060 --> 00:26:29.600
 her family.

00:26:30.660 --> 00:26:31.600
 we were

00:26:31.600 --> 00:26:31.720
 going,

00:26:31.940 --> 00:26:32.320
 wow.

00:26:33.120 --> 00:26:33.740
 Now at

00:26:33.740 --> 00:26:34.660
 that point,

00:26:35.220 --> 00:26:37.360
 do you

00:26:37.360 --> 00:26:37.860
 think we

00:26:37.860 --> 00:26:38.220
 should have

00:26:38.220 --> 00:26:38.540
 gone,

00:26:39.540 --> 00:26:39.860
 hey,

00:26:39.980 --> 00:26:40.240
 listen,

00:26:41.040 --> 00:26:41.500
 we're like

00:26:41.500 --> 00:26:42.120
 super busy,

00:26:42.220 --> 00:26:42.620
 we haven't

00:26:42.620 --> 00:26:43.440
 got food for

00:26:43.440 --> 00:26:43.759
 you,

00:26:44.120 --> 00:26:44.580
 so do you

00:26:44.580 --> 00:26:44.900
 think you

00:26:44.900 --> 00:26:45.220
 could maybe

00:26:45.220 --> 00:26:45.660
 just come

00:26:45.660 --> 00:26:46.100
 back another

00:26:46.100 --> 00:26:46.580
 time?

00:26:48.060 --> 00:26:48.400
 Like,

00:26:48.460 --> 00:26:48.840
 wouldn't that

00:26:48.840 --> 00:26:49.480
 be nuts?

00:26:50.300 --> 00:26:50.580
 Why?

00:26:50.680 --> 00:26:51.519
 Because who

00:26:51.519 --> 00:26:52.920
 cares if your

00:26:52.920 --> 00:26:53.600
 life gets

00:26:53.600 --> 00:26:54.279
 disrupted,

00:26:54.279 --> 00:26:56.480
 family that

00:26:56.480 --> 00:26:57.099
 was apart

00:26:57.099 --> 00:26:57.660
 comes back

00:26:57.660 --> 00:26:58.519
 together again?

00:26:59.379 --> 00:27:00.299
 Isn't that a

00:27:00.299 --> 00:27:01.039
 far deeper,

00:27:01.240 --> 00:27:01.960
 greater joy

00:27:01.960 --> 00:27:02.700
 than turkey

00:27:02.700 --> 00:27:03.359
 or whatever,

00:27:03.599 --> 00:27:03.980
 right?

00:27:05.399 --> 00:27:06.000
 You see,

00:27:06.160 --> 00:27:07.160
 Isaiah said

00:27:07.160 --> 00:27:07.680
 God would

00:27:07.680 --> 00:27:08.180
 come,

00:27:09.019 --> 00:27:09.519
 and at

00:27:09.519 --> 00:27:09.920
 Christmas,

00:27:10.079 --> 00:27:10.500
 God didn't

00:27:10.500 --> 00:27:10.899
 break his

00:27:10.899 --> 00:27:11.240
 promise.

00:27:12.319 --> 00:27:13.279
 He disrupted

00:27:13.279 --> 00:27:14.359
 everything for

00:27:14.359 --> 00:27:14.799
 Mary and

00:27:14.799 --> 00:27:15.119
 Joseph,

00:27:15.339 --> 00:27:15.899
 and you know,

00:27:16.220 --> 00:27:16.819
 he'll disrupt

00:27:16.819 --> 00:27:17.500
 everything for

00:27:17.500 --> 00:27:18.000
 you too.

00:27:18.000 --> 00:27:20.519
 you can't

00:27:20.519 --> 00:27:21.039
 stay living

00:27:21.039 --> 00:27:21.759
 life your

00:27:21.759 --> 00:27:22.759
 way and

00:27:22.759 --> 00:27:23.319
 have him

00:27:23.319 --> 00:27:23.900
 with you,

00:27:24.200 --> 00:27:25.400
 because you

00:27:25.400 --> 00:27:25.839
 have to get

00:27:25.839 --> 00:27:26.220
 out of the

00:27:26.220 --> 00:27:26.660
 lift and

00:27:26.660 --> 00:27:27.180
 only he will

00:27:27.180 --> 00:27:27.539
 move you

00:27:27.539 --> 00:27:28.039
 out there.

00:27:28.640 --> 00:27:29.240
 You can't

00:27:29.240 --> 00:27:29.700
 stay trying

00:27:29.700 --> 00:27:30.140
 to fix

00:27:30.140 --> 00:27:30.700
 life your

00:27:30.700 --> 00:27:31.160
 own way,

00:27:31.259 --> 00:27:31.539
 your own

00:27:31.539 --> 00:27:31.980
 problems,

00:27:32.079 --> 00:27:32.279
 in your

00:27:32.279 --> 00:27:33.000
 own strength,

00:27:33.180 --> 00:27:33.599
 with the

00:27:33.599 --> 00:27:34.000
 idea of

00:27:34.000 --> 00:27:34.359
 either he's

00:27:34.359 --> 00:27:34.859
 an absent

00:27:34.859 --> 00:27:35.259
 God,

00:27:35.599 --> 00:27:36.079
 he's maybe

00:27:36.079 --> 00:27:36.680
 a distant

00:27:36.680 --> 00:27:37.000
 God,

00:27:37.079 --> 00:27:37.359
 he's a

00:27:37.359 --> 00:27:38.180
 disinterested

00:27:38.180 --> 00:27:38.579
 God.

00:27:38.799 --> 00:27:39.420
 You can't

00:27:39.420 --> 00:27:39.960
 stay like

00:27:39.960 --> 00:27:41.359
 that and

00:27:41.359 --> 00:27:42.279
 know joy,

00:27:42.920 --> 00:27:44.279
 the joy of

00:27:44.279 --> 00:27:44.980
 coming home,

00:27:45.059 --> 00:27:45.400
 but actually

00:27:45.400 --> 00:27:46.240
 this Christmas,

00:27:46.839 --> 00:27:47.700
 the invitation

00:27:47.700 --> 00:27:48.480
 to every

00:27:48.480 --> 00:27:48.960
 one of us

00:27:48.960 --> 00:27:49.539
 wherever you

00:27:49.539 --> 00:27:50.200
 are is,

00:27:50.840 --> 00:27:51.279
 will you

00:27:51.279 --> 00:27:51.860
 open the

00:27:51.860 --> 00:27:52.480
 door and

00:27:52.480 --> 00:27:52.819
 let him

00:27:52.819 --> 00:27:53.059
 in?

00:27:53.940 --> 00:27:54.360
 Will you

00:27:54.360 --> 00:27:54.940
 invite him

00:27:54.940 --> 00:27:55.400
 into your

00:27:55.400 --> 00:27:56.080
 life as

00:27:56.080 --> 00:27:56.720
 your saviour,

00:27:57.140 --> 00:27:57.799
 as your

00:27:57.799 --> 00:27:58.220
 Lord,

00:27:58.700 --> 00:27:59.140
 as the

00:27:59.140 --> 00:27:59.539
 one that

00:27:59.539 --> 00:27:59.759
 you're going

00:27:59.759 --> 00:28:00.120
 to put

00:28:00.120 --> 00:28:00.840
 your trust

00:28:00.840 --> 00:28:01.700
 in this

00:28:01.700 --> 00:28:02.580
 coming year,

00:28:02.779 --> 00:28:03.460
 that he's

00:28:03.460 --> 00:28:03.840
 going to be

00:28:03.840 --> 00:28:04.420
 the one that

00:28:04.420 --> 00:28:04.799
 no matter

00:28:04.799 --> 00:28:05.580
 what happens,

00:28:06.059 --> 00:28:06.759
 you know

00:28:06.759 --> 00:28:08.580
 Emmanuel,

00:28:09.220 --> 00:28:09.920
 God with

00:28:09.920 --> 00:28:10.380
 us,

00:28:10.759 --> 00:28:11.440
 and that is

00:28:11.440 --> 00:28:11.920
 the greatest

00:28:11.920 --> 00:28:12.860
 joy that you

00:28:12.860 --> 00:28:13.259
 can have

00:28:13.259 --> 00:28:13.840
 this Christmas.

00:28:16.240 --> 00:28:16.819
 Let me

00:28:16.819 --> 00:28:17.339
 just pray

00:28:17.339 --> 00:28:17.980
 for us,

00:28:18.899 --> 00:28:19.220
 and maybe

00:28:19.220 --> 00:28:19.419
 if you

00:28:19.419 --> 00:28:19.619
 just,

00:28:19.980 --> 00:28:20.539
 while the

00:28:20.539 --> 00:28:21.359
 band comes

00:28:21.359 --> 00:28:21.659
 up,

00:28:23.039 --> 00:28:24.259
 maybe you

00:28:24.259 --> 00:28:24.559
 just want

00:28:24.559 --> 00:28:24.839
 to think

00:28:24.839 --> 00:28:26.159
 about what's

00:28:26.159 --> 00:28:26.599
 going on

00:28:26.599 --> 00:28:26.839
 in your

00:28:26.839 --> 00:28:27.240
 life,

00:28:27.639 --> 00:28:29.359
 and how

00:28:29.359 --> 00:28:29.700
 can you

00:28:29.700 --> 00:28:30.339
 respond?

00:28:30.639 --> 00:28:30.819
 Are you

00:28:30.819 --> 00:28:31.059
 going to

00:28:31.059 --> 00:28:31.700
 leave Jesus

00:28:31.700 --> 00:28:32.059
 on the

00:28:32.059 --> 00:28:32.619
 doorstep

00:28:32.619 --> 00:28:33.379
 with all

00:28:33.379 --> 00:28:33.899
 your plans

00:28:33.899 --> 00:28:34.599
 and busyness,

00:28:35.240 --> 00:28:35.519
 or will

00:28:35.519 --> 00:28:35.879
 you make

00:28:35.879 --> 00:28:36.179
 him the

00:28:36.179 --> 00:28:37.679
 centre of

00:28:37.679 --> 00:28:38.279
 your life?

00:28:38.279 --> 00:28:44.480
 Father,

00:28:44.559 --> 00:28:44.920
 I pray

00:28:44.920 --> 00:28:45.259
 that this

00:28:45.259 --> 00:28:45.779
 Christmas,

00:28:46.940 --> 00:28:48.480
 we'd

00:28:48.480 --> 00:28:48.839
 realise

00:28:48.839 --> 00:28:49.139
 you're

00:28:49.139 --> 00:28:49.480
 better than

00:28:49.480 --> 00:28:49.859
 we think

00:28:49.859 --> 00:28:50.259
 you are.

00:28:52.240 --> 00:28:52.720
 We'd

00:28:52.720 --> 00:28:53.059
 realise

00:28:53.059 --> 00:28:53.700
 that actually

00:28:53.700 --> 00:28:54.980
 all the

00:28:54.980 --> 00:28:55.240
 great

00:28:55.240 --> 00:28:55.759
 longings

00:28:55.759 --> 00:28:56.019
 that we

00:28:56.019 --> 00:28:56.299
 have in

00:28:56.299 --> 00:28:56.460
 our

00:28:56.460 --> 00:28:56.819
 hearts,

00:28:57.660 --> 00:28:58.200
 all the

00:28:58.200 --> 00:28:58.839
 desires

00:28:58.839 --> 00:28:59.200
 that we

00:28:59.200 --> 00:28:59.500
 have,

00:28:59.579 --> 00:29:00.200
 good and

00:29:00.200 --> 00:29:00.559
 bad,

00:29:00.559 --> 00:29:02.160
 but all

00:29:02.160 --> 00:29:02.720
 the things

00:29:02.720 --> 00:29:03.160
 that actually

00:29:03.160 --> 00:29:03.619
 we think

00:29:03.619 --> 00:29:04.359
 we satisfy

00:29:04.359 --> 00:29:05.940
 are ultimately

00:29:05.940 --> 00:29:08.120
 just sunbeams

00:29:08.120 --> 00:29:08.860
 pointing us

00:29:08.860 --> 00:29:09.500
 to the sun,

00:29:09.600 --> 00:29:09.960
 which is

00:29:09.960 --> 00:29:10.220
 you.

00:29:11.340 --> 00:29:11.759
 And I

00:29:11.759 --> 00:29:12.380
 pray that

00:29:12.380 --> 00:29:12.940
 we would

00:29:12.940 --> 00:29:13.259
 in our

00:29:13.259 --> 00:29:14.259
 hearts realise

00:29:14.259 --> 00:29:15.460
 and not

00:29:15.460 --> 00:29:16.160
 stay one

00:29:16.160 --> 00:29:17.019
 day longer

00:29:17.019 --> 00:29:17.620
 away from

00:29:17.620 --> 00:29:17.880
 you.

00:29:19.140 --> 00:29:19.740
 Draw us

00:29:19.740 --> 00:29:20.240
 to yourself

00:29:20.240 --> 00:29:20.820
 this morning,

00:29:20.900 --> 00:29:21.320
 we pray.

00:29:21.880 --> 00:29:22.340
 Show us

00:29:22.340 --> 00:29:22.660
 just what

00:29:22.660 --> 00:29:23.360
 an amazing

00:29:23.360 --> 00:29:23.980
 thing Christmas

00:29:23.980 --> 00:29:24.340
 is.

00:29:24.460 --> 00:29:24.580
 Lord,

00:29:24.660 --> 00:29:25.019
 would we

00:29:25.019 --> 00:29:25.400
 realise

00:29:25.400 --> 00:29:25.860
 this is

00:29:25.860 --> 00:29:26.580
 good news

00:29:26.580 --> 00:29:27.580
 of great

00:29:27.580 --> 00:29:27.960
 joy,

00:29:28.059 --> 00:29:28.440
 not just

00:29:28.440 --> 00:29:28.960
 for everybody

00:29:28.960 --> 00:29:29.380
 else,

00:29:29.660 --> 00:29:30.140
 but for

00:29:30.140 --> 00:29:30.840
 us this

00:29:30.840 --> 00:29:31.160
 morning.

00:29:31.940 --> 00:29:32.559
 Thank you

00:29:32.559 --> 00:29:33.140
 so much

00:29:33.140 --> 00:29:34.039
 for sending

00:29:34.039 --> 00:29:34.519
 your son

00:29:34.519 --> 00:29:35.100
 to us.

00:29:35.099 --> 00:29:36.299
 Thank you

00:29:36.299 --> 00:29:37.319
 for today.

00:29:37.619 --> 00:29:37.779
 Lord,

00:29:37.819 --> 00:29:38.299
 I pray

00:29:38.299 --> 00:29:38.699
 that we

00:29:38.699 --> 00:29:39.139
 would go

00:29:39.139 --> 00:29:39.539
 out with

00:29:39.539 --> 00:29:40.199
 great joy.

00:29:40.599 --> 00:29:41.139
 In Jesus'

00:29:41.319 --> 00:29:41.500
 name,

00:29:42.379 --> 00:29:42.659
 Amen.