WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.179 Look at your watch. It's late. It's 11.06, so we're going to get out of here about 1 o'clock. 00:00:07.480 --> 00:00:12.500 No, I'm going to preach about 30 minutes, and I'm going to be done, but we will be a little bit late, and that's okay. 00:00:13.140 --> 00:00:19.600 I got up about 4 o'clock this morning because during the night I just wasn't comfortable with the message I planned. 00:00:20.280 --> 00:00:26.679 So I abbreviated it and cut about four points out of it. It had 10 points, believe it or not. 00:00:26.679 --> 00:00:32.299 So you're still going to get a bunch, but it's not really a sermon. 00:00:32.579 --> 00:00:40.840 It's just things that 40, 50 years of being a pastor have taught me that I thought would be helpful to you to know about Daniel Herring coming in 00:00:40.840 --> 00:00:45.379 and helping you to make him successful as your next pastor. 00:00:46.000 --> 00:00:51.840 But the Lord also put something else in my heart that I had just planned to share with you very, very, very briefly, 00:00:51.840 --> 00:00:57.320 but I really feel led to tell you more about that, and so I'm going to do that at the end. 00:00:57.360 --> 00:01:00.660 So you're getting two messages this morning for the price of one, okay? 00:01:00.900 --> 00:01:03.440 But I promise you I'm going to be done in about 30, 35 minutes. 00:01:03.540 --> 00:01:08.060 If you have your Bibles, look quickly to Titus chapter 1, verses 7 through 9, 00:01:08.580 --> 00:01:11.640 and I'm not going to preach this passage, but I do want to read it this morning. 00:01:12.460 --> 00:01:19.680 I'm just going to talk to you today about how you can make your next pastor very, very successful. 00:01:19.680 --> 00:01:25.100 But in Titus 1, verse 7, Paul writes these words to Titus, 00:01:25.340 --> 00:01:33.720 For an observer, for an overseer, rather, as God's manager, must be blameless, not arrogant. 00:01:34.660 --> 00:01:36.300 You hear that? Not arrogant. 00:01:37.100 --> 00:01:44.320 Not quick-tempered, not addicted to wine, not a bully, not greedy for money, 00:01:44.319 --> 00:01:53.219 but hospitable, and loving what is good, and sensible, and by that he means loving what is sensible, 00:01:54.039 --> 00:02:00.819 and loving what is righteous, and loving what is holy, and loving what is self-controlled, 00:02:01.699 --> 00:02:04.699 holding to the faithful message as taught, 00:02:05.159 --> 00:02:09.180 so that he will be able both to encourage with sound teaching, 00:02:09.879 --> 00:02:12.959 and to refute those who contradict it. 00:02:12.960 --> 00:02:17.580 I'm going to tell you, that's a big, big job. 00:02:18.340 --> 00:02:26.060 To be a pastor and to do it right, to be honest, is just something you cannot do on your own. 00:02:26.719 --> 00:02:32.240 It just requires more of you than you're capable, any human being's capable of doing. 00:02:32.960 --> 00:02:37.980 And so he's going to need God's help, and he's going to need your help. 00:02:37.979 --> 00:02:42.039 And I'd plan to tell you 10 things that you could do to help him, 00:02:42.419 --> 00:02:45.560 but as I look back over it, you're going to figure some of this out on your own. 00:02:45.819 --> 00:02:50.979 And so I'm going to cut out those last four and tell you the six I think are most important this morning, okay? 00:02:51.459 --> 00:02:55.739 So here goes, and remember, I promised a book to whoever could guess the first point. 00:02:56.199 --> 00:02:58.159 I said that in a news article a couple weeks ago. 00:02:58.479 --> 00:03:00.739 So if you guessed the first point, I say the first point, you say, 00:03:00.799 --> 00:03:02.519 that's what I put on my list, preacher. 00:03:03.039 --> 00:03:04.039 Then you come see me. 00:03:04.039 --> 00:03:07.739 I've got two books here at the front that I'm going to give you, and you can have them. 00:03:08.019 --> 00:03:10.939 I'm not thinking anybody's got this down, but maybe you do. 00:03:10.979 --> 00:03:12.699 I hope I give those books away, okay? 00:03:12.739 --> 00:03:13.000 You ready? 00:03:13.280 --> 00:03:14.019 Here goes. 00:03:14.859 --> 00:03:17.039 Tell him your name until he tells you to stop. 00:03:18.979 --> 00:03:21.019 Tell him your name until he tells you to stop. 00:03:21.099 --> 00:03:22.039 Anybody think of that? 00:03:22.979 --> 00:03:24.019 I didn't think so. 00:03:24.519 --> 00:03:26.879 But if any of you want two books, I still got them on the front, 00:03:26.959 --> 00:03:28.979 and you can come get them after the service is over, okay? 00:03:29.079 --> 00:03:30.180 They're yours to take home. 00:03:30.180 --> 00:03:36.540 Tell him your name until he tells you to stop. 00:03:37.599 --> 00:03:41.680 I got a real problem with the way I see some guys today pastoring, 00:03:42.099 --> 00:03:44.420 where they get the mentality they're the CEO, 00:03:45.219 --> 00:03:49.800 and their job is to come to the pulpit and deliver these wonderfully orchestrated messages, 00:03:50.580 --> 00:03:53.080 but then they don't see you again for seven days. 00:03:53.840 --> 00:03:56.879 I really believe being a pastor means you've got to know the folk, 00:03:56.879 --> 00:04:00.060 and I know that's what Daniel Herringup believes, 00:04:00.740 --> 00:04:02.240 and he wants to know you. 00:04:02.299 --> 00:04:03.019 I want to tell you something. 00:04:03.639 --> 00:04:06.519 At Brushy Creek, we had 3,300 members when I left, 00:04:06.620 --> 00:04:09.819 and I wanted to know every one of those 3,300 members, 00:04:10.259 --> 00:04:11.599 and I've got to be honest with you. 00:04:11.659 --> 00:04:12.419 I wanted to know. 00:04:12.519 --> 00:04:13.300 I liked them. 00:04:13.400 --> 00:04:14.139 I loved them. 00:04:14.939 --> 00:04:19.019 In fact, out of 3,300 members, and I'm here today so I can say this, 00:04:19.079 --> 00:04:21.079 I liked everybody but one guy, right? 00:04:21.079 --> 00:04:24.620 And I just didn't like him. 00:04:25.539 --> 00:04:26.479 I really didn't. 00:04:27.060 --> 00:04:29.019 I had a hard time believing Jesus liked him. 00:04:29.039 --> 00:04:29.859 I know he loved him. 00:04:32.339 --> 00:04:33.779 But I just didn't like him. 00:04:34.860 --> 00:04:38.240 But most everybody I not only liked, I loved, 00:04:38.539 --> 00:04:39.539 and I wanted to know them. 00:04:39.560 --> 00:04:40.199 But I want to tell you something. 00:04:40.519 --> 00:04:44.439 I can't know everybody unless you at some time meet me 00:04:44.439 --> 00:04:47.599 and tell me your name and let me get to know you. 00:04:47.600 --> 00:04:50.260 For me to know you, you've got to get to know me, 00:04:50.300 --> 00:04:51.640 and I've got to get to know you. 00:04:52.000 --> 00:04:54.080 So tell me your name, tell me your name, tell me your name, 00:04:54.120 --> 00:04:54.800 and one day he'll say, 00:04:55.080 --> 00:04:57.080 you don't have to tell me your name anymore, Christine. 00:04:57.160 --> 00:04:57.879 I know your name. 00:04:57.960 --> 00:04:58.240 It's Christine. 00:04:58.620 --> 00:05:00.600 And you can stop telling him your name. 00:05:00.820 --> 00:05:03.280 Now here's just a quick addition to that. 00:05:03.620 --> 00:05:05.000 I know everybody hates this. 00:05:05.160 --> 00:05:06.040 Wear name tags. 00:05:06.700 --> 00:05:09.100 Beginning next Sunday for about five or six weeks, 00:05:09.340 --> 00:05:10.260 put on a name tag. 00:05:10.620 --> 00:05:12.620 Now somebody said, I don't like those little name tags. 00:05:12.700 --> 00:05:14.000 I ain't going to wear no name tag. 00:05:14.420 --> 00:05:15.480 Everybody knows me. 00:05:15.480 --> 00:05:16.920 No, they don't. 00:05:17.860 --> 00:05:20.120 That's why when you ever meet anybody in the hall, 00:05:20.200 --> 00:05:20.900 have you ever had somebody, 00:05:21.060 --> 00:05:22.160 and every time you see them, they say, 00:05:22.360 --> 00:05:24.080 hey, bud, how you doing? 00:05:25.500 --> 00:05:27.439 Man, good to see you, friend, neighbor. 00:05:28.680 --> 00:05:30.040 Because they don't know your name. 00:05:31.920 --> 00:05:35.280 If I ask any of you in the congregation right now 00:05:35.280 --> 00:05:37.620 to stand and tell me the 15 people nearest you, 00:05:37.720 --> 00:05:38.879 a lot of you go, uh-oh. 00:05:39.320 --> 00:05:40.620 In fact, I think I'm going to do it. 00:05:40.680 --> 00:05:41.740 No, I'm not going to do that. 00:05:43.540 --> 00:05:45.500 You'd be embarrassed because you think, 00:05:45.500 --> 00:05:47.300 man, I see all these folk, 00:05:47.379 --> 00:05:48.660 and I know them by face, 00:05:48.660 --> 00:05:49.779 and I know something about them, 00:05:49.819 --> 00:05:51.120 and I really do care about them, 00:05:51.160 --> 00:05:52.300 and we have conversations, 00:05:52.720 --> 00:05:53.980 but I don't know their name. 00:05:54.060 --> 00:05:54.759 You know what happened? 00:05:55.360 --> 00:05:56.699 You saw them, and you spoke to them, 00:05:56.720 --> 00:05:57.259 and you spoke to them, 00:05:57.300 --> 00:05:57.819 and you spoke to them, 00:05:57.839 --> 00:05:58.379 and you spoke to them. 00:05:58.420 --> 00:06:00.060 They told you your name somewhere and all that, 00:06:00.240 --> 00:06:01.279 but you forgot it, 00:06:01.600 --> 00:06:03.240 and then they kept seeing you, 00:06:03.300 --> 00:06:03.879 kept seeing you, 00:06:03.959 --> 00:06:05.680 and then you'd been here so long, 00:06:05.740 --> 00:06:07.019 you forgot to ever say, 00:06:07.819 --> 00:06:09.439 hmm, I don't know your name. 00:06:09.480 --> 00:06:10.399 Would you tell me your name? 00:06:11.120 --> 00:06:12.719 So it's going to be good for you. 00:06:12.779 --> 00:06:13.799 Wear those name tags, 00:06:13.939 --> 00:06:14.819 and see everybody's name, 00:06:14.879 --> 00:06:15.979 and begin to memorize names, 00:06:16.159 --> 00:06:17.479 and let him see your name, 00:06:17.779 --> 00:06:18.959 and know who you are. 00:06:19.179 --> 00:06:20.019 So tell him your name 00:06:20.019 --> 00:06:20.939 until he tells you to stop. 00:06:21.120 --> 00:06:21.979 Here's the second thing. 00:06:22.719 --> 00:06:24.459 Pray for him every day. 00:06:25.659 --> 00:06:26.979 Boy, there's nothing you can do 00:06:26.979 --> 00:06:28.620 for your pastor better than to pray for him. 00:06:28.659 --> 00:06:29.620 When I say pray for him, 00:06:29.620 --> 00:06:31.379 I want to tell you what I mean by that. 00:06:31.439 --> 00:06:32.879 I don't mean to have a list of names, 00:06:32.939 --> 00:06:34.359 because a lot of folk kind of do this, 00:06:34.359 --> 00:06:35.819 and they pray for their families, 00:06:35.899 --> 00:06:37.359 all their family members by name. 00:06:38.040 --> 00:06:39.879 By that I mean they just kind of call their names 00:06:39.879 --> 00:06:40.520 in passing, 00:06:40.900 --> 00:06:42.879 and they've got some missionary things, 00:06:42.939 --> 00:06:43.920 and they pray about those things, 00:06:44.100 --> 00:06:45.960 and they just run through this laundry list 00:06:45.960 --> 00:06:46.939 as quickly as they can. 00:06:47.240 --> 00:06:48.540 I'm not talking about that. 00:06:48.660 --> 00:06:49.740 If you're going to pray for them that way, 00:06:49.819 --> 00:06:51.199 pray for them just one day a week. 00:06:52.020 --> 00:06:53.259 But when you pray for them, 00:06:53.460 --> 00:06:55.000 really pray for it. 00:06:55.060 --> 00:06:56.060 And by that I mean this. 00:06:56.319 --> 00:06:58.500 Put yourself in Daniel's shoes 00:06:58.500 --> 00:07:00.280 and think about what is it like 00:07:00.280 --> 00:07:01.460 to be the new pastor 00:07:01.460 --> 00:07:03.560 at Pickens First Baptist Church. 00:07:03.560 --> 00:07:06.160 He's leaving Houston, Mississippi. 00:07:06.699 --> 00:07:08.120 He's wanting to come here, 00:07:08.180 --> 00:07:09.040 but I'm telling you something. 00:07:09.399 --> 00:07:11.319 He's sad over leaving those people 00:07:11.319 --> 00:07:12.540 in Houston, Mississippi. 00:07:12.860 --> 00:07:14.439 And you want him to be sad, 00:07:14.480 --> 00:07:16.259 because he loved those folks, 00:07:16.319 --> 00:07:19.040 and he wants to say goodbye to those folks, 00:07:19.079 --> 00:07:20.240 and he's going to have heartache, 00:07:20.480 --> 00:07:21.620 and his children are, 00:07:21.680 --> 00:07:22.779 and his wife is. 00:07:23.060 --> 00:07:23.899 And they're coming here, 00:07:23.959 --> 00:07:25.300 and they're looking for a new house. 00:07:25.579 --> 00:07:26.740 How many of you tomorrow, 00:07:27.300 --> 00:07:28.420 somebody comes to you and says, 00:07:28.500 --> 00:07:30.000 you've got 30 days to get out of your house. 00:07:30.040 --> 00:07:30.740 You've got to sell it. 00:07:30.759 --> 00:07:32.160 You've got to go find one another time. 00:07:32.240 --> 00:07:33.139 You've never been to Harley. 00:07:33.560 --> 00:07:36.439 Have you looked for a house lately? 00:07:38.040 --> 00:07:39.560 Man, there has a cat. 00:07:40.620 --> 00:07:42.079 It's going to take a miracle for him 00:07:42.079 --> 00:07:43.860 to come in here and find something in short order 00:07:43.860 --> 00:07:45.780 and buy that house and move into it. 00:07:46.180 --> 00:07:46.660 So pray. 00:07:46.899 --> 00:07:48.399 That's some of the stuff he's going through. 00:07:48.740 --> 00:07:50.579 He's going to take a daughter out of high school 00:07:50.579 --> 00:07:52.259 and put her in a high school here in Pickens, 00:07:52.399 --> 00:07:53.800 and she knows some of the kids here. 00:07:53.879 --> 00:07:55.519 She was here 15 years ago, 00:07:55.620 --> 00:07:57.819 so she knows everybody she knew when she was two. 00:07:57.819 --> 00:08:03.639 What could be the adjustment in that, right? 00:08:05.800 --> 00:08:08.459 So pray for them, 00:08:09.240 --> 00:08:10.480 and he's going to come in, 00:08:10.540 --> 00:08:12.199 and he's going to want to preach the best messages. 00:08:12.680 --> 00:08:14.600 Man, I've done dropped some money on the floor. 00:08:15.319 --> 00:08:17.500 I don't ever leave money on the floor, Brian. 00:08:20.300 --> 00:08:20.819 Cheers. 00:08:21.439 --> 00:08:22.399 Yeah, I believe that. 00:08:22.399 --> 00:08:26.219 I believe that. 00:08:27.899 --> 00:08:29.859 Good luck getting that out of my pocket. 00:08:33.000 --> 00:08:34.220 I'm just telling you, 00:08:34.980 --> 00:08:37.159 they need your prayers. 00:08:37.319 --> 00:08:38.720 They're thinking about a lot of stuff. 00:08:38.939 --> 00:08:41.179 He's thinking about messages he wants to preach 00:08:41.179 --> 00:08:43.919 because he wants to come and make a good first impression, 00:08:43.919 --> 00:08:46.579 and he's trying to decide what do I need to preach, 00:08:46.799 --> 00:08:47.839 and you pray for him. 00:08:48.500 --> 00:08:49.959 Pray God will wake him up in the night 00:08:49.959 --> 00:08:51.039 the way he did me last night 00:08:51.039 --> 00:08:51.459 and just say, 00:08:52.279 --> 00:08:53.879 Daniel, here's what you need to preach, 00:08:54.879 --> 00:08:58.219 that he'll have a burning passion to preach God's word, 00:08:58.299 --> 00:09:01.679 that he'll do his very best in these early days 00:09:01.679 --> 00:09:03.219 as your pastor here. 00:09:03.439 --> 00:09:04.279 So pray for him. 00:09:05.139 --> 00:09:05.579 Thirdly, 00:09:06.179 --> 00:09:07.919 when you hear an idea you don't like, 00:09:08.339 --> 00:09:09.699 and I really love this point, 00:09:10.459 --> 00:09:12.379 when you hear an idea you don't like, 00:09:12.379 --> 00:09:15.200 remind yourself of two truths. 00:09:16.000 --> 00:09:18.100 How many of you ever hear an idea you don't like? 00:09:19.259 --> 00:09:21.939 A lot of you have lived your life that way, right? 00:09:22.039 --> 00:09:23.100 You ain't never liked nothing. 00:09:25.220 --> 00:09:26.179 I mean, a lot of people, 00:09:26.220 --> 00:09:27.519 it don't matter what the idea is, 00:09:27.559 --> 00:09:28.679 I just know right off the bat, 00:09:28.740 --> 00:09:30.159 I'm not going to like it, right? 00:09:31.439 --> 00:09:32.720 Now, a lot of us are different. 00:09:32.919 --> 00:09:34.059 We like certain things, 00:09:34.179 --> 00:09:36.539 and then other things we don't like necessarily. 00:09:37.539 --> 00:09:38.600 Have you ever done this? 00:09:38.899 --> 00:09:40.100 No, I just don't like that music. 00:09:40.100 --> 00:09:44.060 I wish they'd do this. 00:09:44.720 --> 00:09:46.060 I like it when they do this, 00:09:46.139 --> 00:09:47.820 but I don't like it when they do that. 00:09:48.500 --> 00:09:50.659 I like it when he preaches this kind of message, 00:09:50.820 --> 00:09:52.460 but man, I don't like it 00:09:52.460 --> 00:09:53.800 when he preaches that kind of message. 00:09:54.340 --> 00:09:56.040 Or I can understand our church doing that, 00:09:56.100 --> 00:09:56.720 that's a good thing, 00:09:56.779 --> 00:09:59.100 but eh, I don't like it when we do that. 00:10:00.200 --> 00:10:01.860 Two things you need to remind yourself of. 00:10:01.899 --> 00:10:02.560 You ready for this? 00:10:02.840 --> 00:10:04.360 And this is good not just in church, 00:10:04.440 --> 00:10:05.160 this is good everywhere. 00:10:05.159 --> 00:10:08.539 First of all, tell yourself this, 00:10:09.159 --> 00:10:12.500 it's not all about me. 00:10:14.079 --> 00:10:14.480 Okay? 00:10:15.620 --> 00:10:17.819 When he comes out and he gives you ideas, 00:10:17.919 --> 00:10:19.879 here's what I think we ought to be doing as a church, 00:10:19.980 --> 00:10:21.480 here's some things we ought to start doing, 00:10:21.579 --> 00:10:23.019 some things we ought to stop doing. 00:10:24.759 --> 00:10:26.059 When you hear that idea, 00:10:26.339 --> 00:10:27.839 even if something in you says, 00:10:27.959 --> 00:10:30.199 yeah, that ain't gonna do nothing for me, 00:10:30.259 --> 00:10:31.439 I don't really like that, 00:10:31.519 --> 00:10:33.039 I don't think that's the direction we ought to go, 00:10:33.039 --> 00:10:37.879 remind yourself it's not all about you. 00:10:38.459 --> 00:10:39.759 You know what he's thinking about? 00:10:40.299 --> 00:10:41.980 He's thinking about the hundreds of folk 00:10:41.980 --> 00:10:43.799 who come to First Baptist Church of Pickens 00:10:43.799 --> 00:10:45.539 and how to help you to grow spiritually 00:10:45.539 --> 00:10:47.879 and sometimes you need things you don't necessarily want. 00:10:48.539 --> 00:10:50.139 But he's also thinking about people 00:10:50.139 --> 00:10:52.360 who've never darkened the door 00:10:52.360 --> 00:10:54.459 of First Baptist Church of Pickens. 00:10:55.199 --> 00:10:57.299 He's thinking about people who have moved here 00:10:57.299 --> 00:10:59.379 from other places and they don't have any friends. 00:11:00.079 --> 00:11:02.559 He's thinking about young people at time 00:11:02.559 --> 00:11:05.539 who are turned off to what they've seen in the church 00:11:05.539 --> 00:11:08.359 and he's trying to find a way to reach them 00:11:08.359 --> 00:11:09.859 with the gospel of the Lord Jesus. 00:11:10.279 --> 00:11:12.459 He's thinking at times about senior adults 00:11:12.459 --> 00:11:14.379 who've grown up angry with the church 00:11:14.379 --> 00:11:16.199 and they're really angry now at the church 00:11:16.199 --> 00:11:19.279 and how he can reach them for Christ. 00:11:20.219 --> 00:11:22.299 So right now I want you to do a little exercise. 00:11:22.419 --> 00:11:23.739 We're gonna do two of these things. 00:11:24.119 --> 00:11:25.639 I want you to say out loud, 00:11:26.259 --> 00:11:28.539 it's not all about me. 00:11:29.539 --> 00:11:30.639 Go ahead and say it right now. 00:11:30.639 --> 00:11:33.580 It's just not all about me. 00:11:34.120 --> 00:11:35.120 Because I want to tell you something, 00:11:35.220 --> 00:11:36.939 in the church we have this habit of thinking, 00:11:37.720 --> 00:11:40.340 it's about me and my friends and people who are like me. 00:11:41.139 --> 00:11:43.179 And everything that's done ought to be for me. 00:11:43.299 --> 00:11:44.500 I ought to like everything. 00:11:45.460 --> 00:11:47.319 And if it ain't gonna do me or my family any good, 00:11:47.360 --> 00:11:48.259 it's just not any good. 00:11:49.259 --> 00:11:50.220 That's just crazy. 00:11:51.120 --> 00:11:52.819 Here's the second thing you need to tell yourself. 00:11:53.600 --> 00:11:54.700 You need to tell yourself, 00:11:55.019 --> 00:11:57.100 not only it's not all about you, 00:11:57.100 --> 00:11:59.139 and this is really gonna be hard for some of you. 00:11:59.220 --> 00:11:59.420 You ready? 00:12:01.420 --> 00:12:02.820 I really love this one. 00:12:04.060 --> 00:12:05.440 I could be wrong. 00:12:07.320 --> 00:12:09.659 Now some of you have never said that in your life. 00:12:12.040 --> 00:12:14.860 Some of you have never even imagined that. 00:12:16.120 --> 00:12:18.360 But step out on a limb with me this morning 00:12:18.360 --> 00:12:19.960 and turn to your wife or your husband 00:12:19.960 --> 00:12:20.840 and say, you know, 00:12:21.600 --> 00:12:22.899 I could be wrong. 00:12:24.019 --> 00:12:25.080 Really, do it right now. 00:12:25.080 --> 00:12:26.340 I'm just trying to look at you guys and my wife, 00:12:26.420 --> 00:12:27.080 somebody you know. 00:12:31.000 --> 00:12:32.680 Jimmy's about to have a heart attack. 00:12:38.180 --> 00:12:40.300 I mean, you never heard that 00:12:40.300 --> 00:12:41.860 before coming out of your spouse's mouth. 00:12:42.220 --> 00:12:43.440 I could be wrong, 00:12:43.520 --> 00:12:44.200 but I want to tell you something. 00:12:44.580 --> 00:12:45.440 You could be. 00:12:47.080 --> 00:12:48.400 You really could be. 00:12:49.120 --> 00:12:50.420 So when you hear that idea, 00:12:50.520 --> 00:12:51.720 rather than just run up to him and say, 00:12:51.800 --> 00:12:53.320 I just don't like that, 00:12:53.320 --> 00:12:56.240 just go home and ponder for a little bit. 00:12:56.680 --> 00:12:58.240 Well, you know, maybe I'm wrong. 00:12:58.379 --> 00:13:00.200 Maybe the reason I'm like this is because 00:13:00.200 --> 00:13:02.680 I think it's all about me 00:13:02.680 --> 00:13:05.280 or maybe it's because I'm wrong. 00:13:05.780 --> 00:13:06.400 I'm wrong. 00:13:07.300 --> 00:13:09.040 Here's the fourth thing. 00:13:11.100 --> 00:13:12.360 Cut him some slack. 00:13:14.360 --> 00:13:15.520 From the very beginning 00:13:15.520 --> 00:13:16.720 and all through his ministry, 00:13:16.879 --> 00:13:17.960 cut him some slack. 00:13:18.440 --> 00:13:19.300 Show him some grace. 00:13:19.299 --> 00:13:20.759 How many of you need some grace? 00:13:21.819 --> 00:13:23.679 That's what we preach week after week 00:13:23.679 --> 00:13:24.639 after week after week. 00:13:24.699 --> 00:13:26.000 We need grace. 00:13:27.059 --> 00:13:28.620 Well, then live that way. 00:13:29.259 --> 00:13:30.979 Demonstrate grace to somebody else 00:13:30.979 --> 00:13:32.099 because I'm going to tell you something. 00:13:32.620 --> 00:13:34.519 I don't know Daniel real, real well. 00:13:35.079 --> 00:13:36.339 I've known him for a number of years, 00:13:36.439 --> 00:13:37.539 but I don't know him real, real well, 00:13:37.599 --> 00:13:38.359 but I know this. 00:13:38.639 --> 00:13:39.819 He's going to mess up. 00:13:41.500 --> 00:13:42.919 He's going to make some errors. 00:13:43.039 --> 00:13:45.740 He's going to sometimes err in his judgment. 00:13:45.740 --> 00:13:48.120 He's going to say things from the pulpit sometimes 00:13:48.120 --> 00:13:51.259 that may just not make any sense in the moment. 00:13:52.100 --> 00:13:53.940 You know what I said last week in the announcements? 00:13:54.980 --> 00:13:56.200 My wife came down 00:13:56.200 --> 00:13:58.419 and she was about to laugh herself silly 00:13:58.419 --> 00:13:59.960 after I made those announcements 00:13:59.960 --> 00:14:00.720 and she said, 00:14:01.120 --> 00:14:02.240 Billy Graham's dead. 00:14:02.320 --> 00:14:03.220 And I said, I know that. 00:14:05.480 --> 00:14:06.200 She said, 00:14:06.240 --> 00:14:08.019 well, you said he was preaching at noon today 00:14:08.019 --> 00:14:08.820 in the announcements. 00:14:08.820 --> 00:14:16.180 Picky, picky, picky. 00:14:19.400 --> 00:14:20.980 Franklin was preaching last Sunday. 00:14:21.040 --> 00:14:22.260 I don't know if you got to hear him or not, 00:14:22.340 --> 00:14:23.020 but not Billy. 00:14:24.220 --> 00:14:25.700 So you're going to mess up 00:14:25.700 --> 00:14:27.860 when you stand here and you talk enough 00:14:27.860 --> 00:14:29.640 and that's what preachers do. 00:14:29.980 --> 00:14:30.980 You're going to say some things 00:14:30.980 --> 00:14:32.020 you didn't intend to say. 00:14:32.260 --> 00:14:33.180 You're going to say some things 00:14:33.180 --> 00:14:34.760 the way you didn't intend to say them. 00:14:35.460 --> 00:14:37.280 And sometimes your thinking's just going to be 00:14:37.280 --> 00:14:38.220 messed up in the moment. 00:14:38.820 --> 00:14:40.900 And he ever suffered from anything like that? 00:14:42.020 --> 00:14:43.900 Well, cut him some slack. 00:14:45.680 --> 00:14:46.740 When I was a kid, 00:14:46.820 --> 00:14:48.360 you know my favorite ball player was 00:14:48.360 --> 00:14:49.560 a guy named Brooks Robinson, 00:14:49.660 --> 00:14:50.200 number five, 00:14:50.300 --> 00:14:51.720 Baltimore Orioles, third baseman. 00:14:52.780 --> 00:14:54.660 Some of the sports writers in his day 00:14:54.660 --> 00:14:56.379 nicknamed him Mr. Hoover 00:14:56.379 --> 00:14:57.840 because he was a vacuum cleaner. 00:14:59.540 --> 00:15:02.520 He won golden glove after golden glove 00:15:02.520 --> 00:15:03.880 after golden glove. 00:15:05.060 --> 00:15:05.580 I mean, 00:15:06.080 --> 00:15:08.240 he's considered the greatest third baseman 00:15:08.240 --> 00:15:09.220 of all time. 00:15:09.279 --> 00:15:10.000 But I want to tell you something 00:15:10.000 --> 00:15:10.720 about Brooks Robinson. 00:15:11.259 --> 00:15:12.840 He made in his career 00:15:12.840 --> 00:15:17.220 a staggering 263 errors. 00:15:18.220 --> 00:15:19.539 That's a lot of errors. 00:15:20.820 --> 00:15:23.039 But he played 23 years. 00:15:24.620 --> 00:15:27.240 9,000 within 100 opportunities, 00:15:28.399 --> 00:15:30.879 9,000 times the ball was hit to him. 00:15:30.879 --> 00:15:34.480 And 236 of those times, 00:15:34.980 --> 00:15:36.120 he either made a throw in error 00:15:36.120 --> 00:15:37.039 or a field in error, 00:15:37.240 --> 00:15:38.419 but somehow he erred. 00:15:40.100 --> 00:15:41.200 I don't know, 00:15:41.419 --> 00:15:42.480 but I would guess 00:15:42.480 --> 00:15:44.100 if Mr. Robinson was here this morning, 00:15:44.179 --> 00:15:44.919 we could ask him. 00:15:45.539 --> 00:15:46.159 And we said, 00:15:46.220 --> 00:15:46.460 Brooks, 00:15:46.519 --> 00:15:47.080 tell me something. 00:15:48.360 --> 00:15:50.279 Did it ever cost the Orioles a game, 00:15:50.340 --> 00:15:52.340 one of those errors you made? 00:15:52.340 --> 00:15:54.860 And I'd be almost certain 00:15:54.860 --> 00:15:55.540 he would say, 00:15:55.940 --> 00:15:56.139 yeah. 00:15:57.519 --> 00:15:57.940 Yeah, 00:15:57.940 --> 00:15:58.899 there's a time or two 00:15:58.899 --> 00:16:00.940 that I blew the game. 00:16:01.800 --> 00:16:03.200 I allowed the winning run in 00:16:03.200 --> 00:16:05.660 because I bought something at third. 00:16:07.100 --> 00:16:07.899 But I want to tell you something 00:16:07.899 --> 00:16:09.300 I know beyond a shadow of a doubt. 00:16:10.120 --> 00:16:11.580 There were many times 00:16:11.580 --> 00:16:12.639 he made plays 00:16:12.639 --> 00:16:15.180 that saved games 00:16:15.180 --> 00:16:16.840 and put W's in the win column. 00:16:18.600 --> 00:16:19.920 Cut him some slack. 00:16:19.919 --> 00:16:22.059 He's going to make some errors. 00:16:22.919 --> 00:16:23.759 Cut him some slack. 00:16:24.579 --> 00:16:25.620 Fifth thing is this. 00:16:26.379 --> 00:16:28.099 Be low maintenance. 00:16:28.279 --> 00:16:29.179 Boy, that's a big one. 00:16:30.099 --> 00:16:31.899 He ought to send me $50 today 00:16:31.899 --> 00:16:32.719 for saying that. 00:16:34.759 --> 00:16:37.059 Be low maintenance. 00:16:37.259 --> 00:16:38.139 You know what a low maintenance 00:16:38.139 --> 00:16:39.019 member looks like? 00:16:39.399 --> 00:16:40.279 He's somebody who's here 00:16:40.279 --> 00:16:42.000 every time the doors are open, 00:16:42.659 --> 00:16:44.579 who just volunteers to do things. 00:16:44.679 --> 00:16:46.019 They walk across the parking lot. 00:16:46.079 --> 00:16:46.659 They see paper. 00:16:46.759 --> 00:16:47.519 They pick it up. 00:16:47.519 --> 00:16:49.799 They hear they're 00:16:49.799 --> 00:16:51.199 needing folk in the nursery. 00:16:51.460 --> 00:16:52.199 Nobody has to beg. 00:16:52.340 --> 00:16:53.759 They go and they volunteer. 00:16:53.919 --> 00:16:54.699 They're faithful. 00:16:55.299 --> 00:16:56.720 But they're also low maintenance. 00:16:56.860 --> 00:16:58.059 They don't expect a lot. 00:16:58.620 --> 00:16:59.720 They come because 00:16:59.720 --> 00:17:00.679 they want to be a part 00:17:00.679 --> 00:17:01.740 of something big 00:17:01.740 --> 00:17:03.419 and they're not thinking 00:17:03.419 --> 00:17:05.779 about what they get in return. 00:17:06.440 --> 00:17:07.599 They're thinking constantly 00:17:07.599 --> 00:17:08.579 about how they give 00:17:08.579 --> 00:17:10.240 to the kingdom of God. 00:17:10.319 --> 00:17:11.440 I'm not talking about monetary. 00:17:11.680 --> 00:17:13.960 I mean they're giving of themselves. 00:17:14.160 --> 00:17:15.639 They want to make a difference. 00:17:15.640 --> 00:17:18.320 When they have needs, 00:17:18.400 --> 00:17:19.080 you know what they do? 00:17:20.480 --> 00:17:21.700 They call the pastor. 00:17:22.820 --> 00:17:23.180 And they say, 00:17:23.280 --> 00:17:24.340 Pastor, here's what's happening 00:17:24.340 --> 00:17:24.920 in our family. 00:17:25.020 --> 00:17:25.980 Here's what's happened to me. 00:17:26.060 --> 00:17:26.900 I've been to the doctor. 00:17:26.980 --> 00:17:27.740 I've got this news. 00:17:28.100 --> 00:17:29.080 Pretty upset over it. 00:17:29.080 --> 00:17:30.200 Could you come pray with me? 00:17:30.580 --> 00:17:31.820 Or could you pray with me 00:17:31.820 --> 00:17:32.620 where you are? 00:17:33.340 --> 00:17:34.320 Or can I make an appointment 00:17:34.320 --> 00:17:34.820 to see you? 00:17:34.880 --> 00:17:36.540 I've got this problem in my life. 00:17:37.480 --> 00:17:38.720 They don't expect him 00:17:38.720 --> 00:17:39.759 to have a crystal ball 00:17:39.759 --> 00:17:40.720 where he looks out there 00:17:40.720 --> 00:17:41.400 and says, hmm, 00:17:41.680 --> 00:17:42.940 so and so's sick today. 00:17:42.940 --> 00:17:45.559 If they're sick 00:17:45.559 --> 00:17:46.259 and they need him, 00:17:46.660 --> 00:17:47.519 they call him. 00:17:48.980 --> 00:17:49.799 But I'll tell you something. 00:17:50.000 --> 00:17:51.180 Every time they get a splinter 00:17:51.180 --> 00:17:52.059 taken out of their hand, 00:17:52.279 --> 00:17:53.059 they don't need him. 00:17:54.299 --> 00:17:55.779 They have learned spiritually 00:17:55.779 --> 00:17:56.420 how to put on 00:17:56.420 --> 00:17:57.700 their big boy pants 00:17:57.700 --> 00:18:00.140 and go live life. 00:18:01.299 --> 00:18:02.460 This last week, 00:18:03.160 --> 00:18:04.200 and don't send me 00:18:04.200 --> 00:18:05.100 a get well card, 00:18:05.960 --> 00:18:08.700 I had an endoscopy 00:18:08.700 --> 00:18:10.279 and a colonoscopy 00:18:10.279 --> 00:18:11.500 and the three days 00:18:11.500 --> 00:18:12.359 of prep for that 00:18:12.359 --> 00:18:13.299 where you hang out 00:18:13.299 --> 00:18:14.519 around the bathroom a lot. 00:18:16.259 --> 00:18:17.399 And it's miserable. 00:18:18.259 --> 00:18:19.660 But I didn't call my pastor. 00:18:25.399 --> 00:18:26.359 I just hung out 00:18:26.359 --> 00:18:26.960 in the bathroom. 00:18:30.160 --> 00:18:31.240 You hear what I'm saying? 00:18:32.740 --> 00:18:33.319 There's sometimes 00:18:33.319 --> 00:18:34.299 I need to call him. 00:18:34.399 --> 00:18:35.160 When I need him, 00:18:35.399 --> 00:18:35.960 I need him. 00:18:35.980 --> 00:18:36.819 And if I know I need him, 00:18:36.899 --> 00:18:37.579 I'm going to call him. 00:18:37.639 --> 00:18:38.359 And if he can't come, 00:18:38.420 --> 00:18:39.019 he'll send somebody. 00:18:39.019 --> 00:18:39.759 And that's great 00:18:39.759 --> 00:18:41.039 because they can pray 00:18:41.039 --> 00:18:41.960 just the same as he can. 00:18:43.400 --> 00:18:44.339 But there are other times 00:18:44.339 --> 00:18:45.319 I don't need him. 00:18:46.099 --> 00:18:47.180 And when I don't need him, 00:18:47.240 --> 00:18:48.200 I'm not going to involve him 00:18:48.200 --> 00:18:48.799 because I know this. 00:18:49.000 --> 00:18:49.660 He's got hundreds 00:18:49.660 --> 00:18:50.539 of other folk out there 00:18:50.539 --> 00:18:51.220 he's trying to be 00:18:51.220 --> 00:18:52.299 a shepherd to. 00:18:54.119 --> 00:18:55.720 And I overburden his life 00:18:55.720 --> 00:18:56.240 when I ask him 00:18:56.240 --> 00:18:56.920 to do things 00:18:56.920 --> 00:18:58.039 that if I just put on 00:18:58.039 --> 00:18:58.799 my big boy pants, 00:18:58.839 --> 00:18:59.619 I could do it myself. 00:19:00.859 --> 00:19:01.720 You understand that? 00:19:02.420 --> 00:19:02.639 Everybody, 00:19:02.819 --> 00:19:04.119 that's yes and no. 00:19:04.299 --> 00:19:05.279 You got that? 00:19:05.279 --> 00:19:08.220 When I was passionate 00:19:08.220 --> 00:19:08.879 at Brushy Creek, 00:19:08.960 --> 00:19:09.619 I can say this now 00:19:09.619 --> 00:19:10.579 because they're not here. 00:19:13.619 --> 00:19:14.539 Almost everybody, 00:19:15.139 --> 00:19:17.399 they lived that way. 00:19:17.480 --> 00:19:18.180 They were low maintenance. 00:19:18.319 --> 00:19:19.059 But there was this one 00:19:19.059 --> 00:19:19.599 young couple 00:19:19.599 --> 00:19:23.000 and I'd been there 00:19:23.000 --> 00:19:23.759 just a short time 00:19:23.759 --> 00:19:24.480 and they called 00:19:24.480 --> 00:19:24.879 and they said, 00:19:24.980 --> 00:19:25.799 we'd like to come see you 00:19:25.799 --> 00:19:26.660 for marital counseling 00:19:26.660 --> 00:19:27.319 and they came 00:19:27.319 --> 00:19:28.480 and I tried to help them. 00:19:28.680 --> 00:19:29.099 Met with them 00:19:29.099 --> 00:19:29.960 four or five times 00:19:29.960 --> 00:19:31.059 and we worked through 00:19:31.059 --> 00:19:32.039 a real crisis. 00:19:32.160 --> 00:19:32.940 It was a real problem 00:19:32.940 --> 00:19:33.879 and they needed my help 00:19:33.880 --> 00:19:34.800 and I was glad to help them. 00:19:35.700 --> 00:19:36.460 And then about a year 00:19:36.460 --> 00:19:36.900 or two later, 00:19:36.980 --> 00:19:37.580 they called back 00:19:37.580 --> 00:19:37.900 and they said, 00:19:37.980 --> 00:19:38.740 we got another problem 00:19:38.740 --> 00:19:39.320 and they came 00:19:39.320 --> 00:19:40.060 and I helped them 00:19:40.060 --> 00:19:40.480 through that 00:19:40.480 --> 00:19:40.960 and that was only 00:19:40.960 --> 00:19:41.640 a couple weeks 00:19:41.640 --> 00:19:42.520 that we spent together 00:19:42.520 --> 00:19:44.400 and I helped them. 00:19:45.240 --> 00:19:46.240 And then another year 00:19:46.240 --> 00:19:46.860 or so passed 00:19:46.860 --> 00:19:47.880 and I began to notice 00:19:47.880 --> 00:19:48.620 that they'd call me 00:19:48.620 --> 00:19:49.660 about little things 00:19:49.660 --> 00:19:50.260 that to me 00:19:50.260 --> 00:19:51.020 weren't really 00:19:51.020 --> 00:19:52.280 of great significance. 00:19:53.360 --> 00:19:54.360 But I'd try to help them 00:19:54.360 --> 00:19:55.720 and so one Wednesday 00:19:55.720 --> 00:19:56.380 they'd call 00:19:56.380 --> 00:19:57.840 and I had a Bible study 00:19:57.840 --> 00:19:58.760 that met at six o'clock 00:19:58.760 --> 00:19:59.540 on Wednesday morning 00:19:59.540 --> 00:20:00.520 so I'd go to the church 00:20:00.520 --> 00:20:01.760 and be there early at six 00:20:01.760 --> 00:20:03.260 and it was one of those days 00:20:03.259 --> 00:20:03.839 where everything 00:20:03.839 --> 00:20:05.400 was just cram packed 00:20:05.400 --> 00:20:07.299 and so I didn't get 00:20:07.299 --> 00:20:08.039 to go home for supper 00:20:08.039 --> 00:20:09.259 and I knew I had 00:20:09.259 --> 00:20:10.220 prayer meeting that night 00:20:10.220 --> 00:20:11.000 and then afterwards 00:20:11.000 --> 00:20:12.740 I was going to go home. 00:20:13.000 --> 00:20:13.400 So it was about 00:20:13.400 --> 00:20:14.519 a 14 hour day, 00:20:14.879 --> 00:20:15.680 long story short. 00:20:16.079 --> 00:20:16.940 And they called 00:20:16.940 --> 00:20:17.700 about two o'clock 00:20:17.700 --> 00:20:18.200 and they said, 00:20:18.279 --> 00:20:19.400 could we see you tonight? 00:20:19.559 --> 00:20:19.879 I said, 00:20:19.940 --> 00:20:20.900 well, everything's taken 00:20:20.900 --> 00:20:21.400 and I don't have 00:20:21.400 --> 00:20:22.240 any appointments left. 00:20:22.619 --> 00:20:23.059 They said, 00:20:23.119 --> 00:20:24.160 well, could we see you tonight 00:20:24.160 --> 00:20:25.019 after prayer meeting? 00:20:26.140 --> 00:20:26.519 I said, 00:20:26.579 --> 00:20:27.440 well, is it really, 00:20:27.779 --> 00:20:28.240 really important 00:20:28.240 --> 00:20:28.960 because I've been here 00:20:28.960 --> 00:20:29.500 about 14? 00:20:29.839 --> 00:20:30.940 Yeah, this is important. 00:20:30.940 --> 00:20:31.799 We need to see you. 00:20:32.240 --> 00:20:32.600 Okay. 00:20:33.160 --> 00:20:34.440 So I met them in my office 00:20:34.440 --> 00:20:35.080 after prayer meeting 00:20:35.080 --> 00:20:35.460 and got there 00:20:35.460 --> 00:20:36.360 about eight o'clock. 00:20:36.880 --> 00:20:38.039 They come walking in. 00:20:38.539 --> 00:20:39.400 They got Slurpees 00:20:39.400 --> 00:20:40.140 in their hands, 00:20:40.400 --> 00:20:40.700 you know. 00:20:40.960 --> 00:20:41.980 They've been out to supper 00:20:41.980 --> 00:20:42.500 and they've gotten 00:20:42.500 --> 00:20:43.240 them something to drink 00:20:43.240 --> 00:20:44.279 and I hadn't eaten 00:20:44.279 --> 00:20:44.920 nothing all day 00:20:44.920 --> 00:20:46.799 and they sit down 00:20:46.799 --> 00:20:47.180 in the chair 00:20:47.180 --> 00:20:48.820 and I'm kind of just, 00:20:49.100 --> 00:20:49.420 you know, 00:20:49.500 --> 00:20:50.660 hoping this is really serious, 00:20:50.759 --> 00:20:50.960 you know, 00:20:51.019 --> 00:20:52.039 could take me out like this 00:20:52.039 --> 00:20:52.600 and so I said, 00:20:52.660 --> 00:20:53.860 well, tell me the problem 00:20:53.860 --> 00:20:55.180 and she jumps in. 00:20:55.259 --> 00:20:55.680 She says, 00:20:55.759 --> 00:20:56.420 I'll just tell you, 00:20:56.460 --> 00:20:57.740 it's a real problem for us. 00:20:58.180 --> 00:20:59.120 We're really just 00:20:59.120 --> 00:21:00.519 fighting back and forth 00:21:00.519 --> 00:21:00.940 over this 00:21:00.940 --> 00:21:01.759 and can't come up 00:21:01.759 --> 00:21:02.380 with a solution. 00:21:03.019 --> 00:21:03.740 What's the problem? 00:21:04.500 --> 00:21:05.059 She said, 00:21:05.420 --> 00:21:07.099 we need your help. 00:21:07.160 --> 00:21:07.960 Do you think we need 00:21:07.960 --> 00:21:08.680 a pontoon 00:21:08.680 --> 00:21:09.599 or do you think 00:21:09.599 --> 00:21:10.480 a ski boat 00:21:10.480 --> 00:21:11.099 would be better? 00:21:13.599 --> 00:21:14.779 Now, I'm not kidding you. 00:21:16.660 --> 00:21:17.640 I can't tell you 00:21:17.640 --> 00:21:18.319 what I thought. 00:21:18.319 --> 00:21:27.460 I want to say, 00:21:27.899 --> 00:21:29.039 get out of my office. 00:21:30.720 --> 00:21:31.439 I don't care 00:21:31.439 --> 00:21:32.519 if you get a john boat 00:21:32.519 --> 00:21:33.339 or a ski boat 00:21:33.339 --> 00:21:34.419 or a pontoon boat. 00:21:35.419 --> 00:21:36.519 I don't care. 00:21:37.700 --> 00:21:38.839 It doesn't matter. 00:21:40.579 --> 00:21:40.899 Do you understand 00:21:40.899 --> 00:21:41.919 what I'm saying in that? 00:21:43.119 --> 00:21:43.899 Now, I'm saying it 00:21:43.899 --> 00:21:44.559 in a funny way, 00:21:44.639 --> 00:21:45.819 trying to be funny about it, 00:21:45.859 --> 00:21:46.700 but I want to tell you something. 00:21:46.700 --> 00:21:49.559 Man, we need to hear that. 00:21:49.720 --> 00:21:50.740 He can't settle 00:21:50.740 --> 00:21:51.840 every little thing 00:21:51.840 --> 00:21:52.480 that comes along 00:21:52.480 --> 00:21:53.259 in your life. 00:21:54.480 --> 00:21:55.180 Be low maintenance. 00:21:55.360 --> 00:21:55.860 Go to him 00:21:55.860 --> 00:21:56.519 when you need him 00:21:56.519 --> 00:21:57.299 and go to him 00:21:57.299 --> 00:21:58.200 without hesitation 00:21:58.200 --> 00:21:59.900 because he'll want you 00:21:59.900 --> 00:22:00.519 to do that. 00:22:00.600 --> 00:22:02.240 That's what I wanted to do, 00:22:02.960 --> 00:22:03.980 but make sure 00:22:03.980 --> 00:22:06.200 it's a bona fide need. 00:22:07.140 --> 00:22:07.539 Lastly, 00:22:08.299 --> 00:22:09.480 let him lead. 00:22:11.240 --> 00:22:12.160 You've called him here 00:22:12.160 --> 00:22:13.080 to be your pastor 00:22:13.080 --> 00:22:13.960 and your shepherd 00:22:13.960 --> 00:22:14.640 and that means 00:22:14.640 --> 00:22:15.660 he's going to be a servant 00:22:15.660 --> 00:22:16.940 and if he's a good pastor, 00:22:17.019 --> 00:22:17.519 he's going to have 00:22:17.519 --> 00:22:18.200 a servant's heart 00:22:18.200 --> 00:22:19.120 and you don't need 00:22:19.120 --> 00:22:20.259 to tell him he's a servant. 00:22:20.519 --> 00:22:21.460 He'll know that. 00:22:22.180 --> 00:22:23.420 You don't need to treat him 00:22:23.420 --> 00:22:24.400 like he's your slaver, 00:22:24.519 --> 00:22:24.960 your servant. 00:22:25.200 --> 00:22:26.300 He's not your gopher. 00:22:27.600 --> 00:22:30.360 He's your spiritual leader. 00:22:31.460 --> 00:22:32.580 He's your shepherd. 00:22:33.120 --> 00:22:33.800 Let him be that. 00:22:34.000 --> 00:22:35.880 Let him lead. 00:22:38.060 --> 00:22:39.380 Sam Couch is sitting back here. 00:22:39.420 --> 00:22:39.880 Oh, there he is. 00:22:39.920 --> 00:22:40.820 I spotted him earlier. 00:22:42.019 --> 00:22:42.500 He and I have gotten 00:22:42.500 --> 00:22:43.019 to be buddies 00:22:43.019 --> 00:22:43.700 since I've been here. 00:22:43.700 --> 00:22:44.880 He's a mechanic. 00:22:45.600 --> 00:22:48.319 He works on big time equipment, 00:22:49.559 --> 00:22:50.180 tractors, 00:22:50.680 --> 00:22:51.340 all that kind of stuff. 00:22:51.660 --> 00:22:53.019 Been doing it all his life. 00:22:54.380 --> 00:22:55.840 I haven't been to his shop, 00:22:55.920 --> 00:22:56.480 but I'm certain 00:22:56.480 --> 00:22:57.620 he's got huge, 00:22:57.799 --> 00:22:59.740 massive socket sets 00:22:59.740 --> 00:23:00.340 and wrenches 00:23:00.340 --> 00:23:01.400 and every tool 00:23:01.400 --> 00:23:02.779 imaginable known to man. 00:23:04.420 --> 00:23:05.319 Robbie can tell you 00:23:05.319 --> 00:23:06.319 because he's pretty mechanical, 00:23:06.519 --> 00:23:07.259 but I'm not. 00:23:07.640 --> 00:23:07.960 Okay? 00:23:07.960 --> 00:23:10.019 But I do have 00:23:10.019 --> 00:23:11.059 a socket set. 00:23:11.960 --> 00:23:12.579 One of those 00:23:12.579 --> 00:23:14.340 $20 Kmart jobs. 00:23:14.960 --> 00:23:15.279 You know? 00:23:17.319 --> 00:23:18.460 My biggest socket 00:23:18.460 --> 00:23:19.600 is probably about an inch. 00:23:21.579 --> 00:23:22.340 And I tell you something, 00:23:22.380 --> 00:23:23.100 I had a lawnmower. 00:23:23.180 --> 00:23:23.900 I don't have one anymore, 00:23:24.019 --> 00:23:24.860 but I had a lawnmower. 00:23:25.299 --> 00:23:26.400 And I have changed 00:23:26.400 --> 00:23:27.579 the oil in that lawnmower. 00:23:29.340 --> 00:23:30.039 I have. 00:23:31.319 --> 00:23:31.940 I've changed 00:23:31.940 --> 00:23:32.740 the spark plugs. 00:23:33.559 --> 00:23:34.880 I've taken the wheels off. 00:23:34.880 --> 00:23:37.680 Can you imagine me 00:23:37.680 --> 00:23:39.080 going to Sam tomorrow 00:23:39.080 --> 00:23:40.140 and he's got a big 00:23:40.140 --> 00:23:41.100 Kubota tractor out there 00:23:41.100 --> 00:23:41.420 and says, 00:23:41.720 --> 00:23:41.980 Sam, 00:23:42.060 --> 00:23:42.680 I want to tell you something. 00:23:43.500 --> 00:23:44.000 You know, 00:23:44.040 --> 00:23:44.820 I've taken a lawnmower 00:23:44.820 --> 00:23:45.420 part before. 00:23:46.640 --> 00:23:47.040 Let me tell you 00:23:47.040 --> 00:23:47.660 what I think you need 00:23:47.660 --> 00:23:48.480 to do that tractor 00:23:48.480 --> 00:23:49.060 right there. 00:23:50.500 --> 00:23:50.860 Now, 00:23:50.900 --> 00:23:51.920 Sam's a nice fellow. 00:23:52.000 --> 00:23:52.640 He'd be polite 00:23:52.640 --> 00:23:52.960 and say, 00:23:53.100 --> 00:23:53.520 okay, 00:23:53.680 --> 00:23:54.020 Pastor, 00:23:54.180 --> 00:23:54.440 good. 00:23:54.660 --> 00:23:55.600 But he'd be thinking, 00:23:56.080 --> 00:23:57.200 you out your mind. 00:23:59.100 --> 00:24:00.900 And rightfully so. 00:24:01.800 --> 00:24:02.120 Now, 00:24:02.180 --> 00:24:02.580 I want to tell you 00:24:02.580 --> 00:24:03.080 something that may 00:24:03.080 --> 00:24:03.740 bust your bubble, 00:24:03.740 --> 00:24:04.980 but here's the truth. 00:24:05.859 --> 00:24:06.440 Calls you 00:24:06.440 --> 00:24:07.559 attend Sunday school 00:24:07.559 --> 00:24:08.660 and calls you 00:24:08.660 --> 00:24:09.640 own a couple Bibles 00:24:09.640 --> 00:24:11.680 don't mean you're 00:24:11.680 --> 00:24:11.900 going to know 00:24:11.900 --> 00:24:12.799 more about church 00:24:12.799 --> 00:24:14.160 than Daniel Herring 00:24:14.160 --> 00:24:14.940 is going to know. 00:24:16.480 --> 00:24:17.539 Do you understand that? 00:24:18.120 --> 00:24:18.400 You say, 00:24:18.460 --> 00:24:19.000 but I've been there 00:24:19.000 --> 00:24:19.620 a long time. 00:24:19.720 --> 00:24:19.900 Yeah, 00:24:19.940 --> 00:24:20.460 you may have been, 00:24:20.680 --> 00:24:21.299 but I want to tell you 00:24:21.299 --> 00:24:21.519 something. 00:24:22.359 --> 00:24:23.500 If he didn't know 00:24:23.500 --> 00:24:24.299 something you don't know, 00:24:24.400 --> 00:24:24.779 you wouldn't have 00:24:24.779 --> 00:24:25.660 called him as your pastor. 00:24:27.099 --> 00:24:28.359 You didn't need him 00:24:28.359 --> 00:24:29.500 if you can do 00:24:29.500 --> 00:24:30.039 everything 00:24:30.039 --> 00:24:31.380 that he can do 00:24:31.380 --> 00:24:32.480 and you know 00:24:32.480 --> 00:24:33.720 as much as he knows 00:24:33.720 --> 00:24:35.360 what you're going 00:24:35.360 --> 00:24:35.860 to waste your money 00:24:35.860 --> 00:24:36.599 calling him for. 00:24:38.660 --> 00:24:40.480 So let him lead. 00:24:41.039 --> 00:24:41.759 Do you understand? 00:24:42.759 --> 00:24:43.900 When he comes here, 00:24:44.819 --> 00:24:45.460 love him 00:24:45.460 --> 00:24:46.700 and pray for him 00:24:46.700 --> 00:24:47.819 and get to know him 00:24:47.819 --> 00:24:49.039 and let him get to know you 00:24:49.039 --> 00:24:50.279 and let him minister to you. 00:24:50.779 --> 00:24:51.539 But man, 00:24:52.360 --> 00:24:53.559 don't put a noose 00:24:53.559 --> 00:24:54.279 around his neck 00:24:54.279 --> 00:24:54.599 and say, 00:24:54.680 --> 00:24:56.400 you conform to our image 00:24:56.400 --> 00:24:57.000 of what it is 00:24:57.000 --> 00:24:57.779 to be a pastor. 00:24:58.779 --> 00:24:59.880 You lead us 00:24:59.880 --> 00:25:01.760 and we will follow. 00:25:03.640 --> 00:25:04.080 Now, 00:25:04.180 --> 00:25:05.580 I want to close 00:25:05.580 --> 00:25:08.140 by sharing 00:25:08.140 --> 00:25:11.040 something personal with you. 00:25:11.080 --> 00:25:11.980 I want to challenge you 00:25:11.980 --> 00:25:13.220 as I close. 00:25:16.380 --> 00:25:17.620 And I want to do so 00:25:17.620 --> 00:25:19.280 because when I retired 00:25:19.280 --> 00:25:20.100 a few years ago, 00:25:21.100 --> 00:25:22.900 I began to take stock 00:25:22.900 --> 00:25:23.640 of my life 00:25:23.640 --> 00:25:24.480 because the bulk 00:25:24.480 --> 00:25:25.000 of my life 00:25:25.000 --> 00:25:25.940 I know has come 00:25:25.940 --> 00:25:27.260 and gone. 00:25:27.360 --> 00:25:28.100 It has passed. 00:25:28.099 --> 00:25:30.379 And I began 00:25:30.379 --> 00:25:31.019 to evaluate 00:25:31.019 --> 00:25:32.099 the 50 years 00:25:32.099 --> 00:25:32.819 I've been preaching. 00:25:34.839 --> 00:25:36.259 And you might 00:25:36.259 --> 00:25:36.779 be thinking 00:25:36.779 --> 00:25:37.439 I arrived 00:25:37.439 --> 00:25:38.359 at one conclusion 00:25:38.359 --> 00:25:39.579 when in reality 00:25:39.579 --> 00:25:40.619 I arrived at another. 00:25:41.159 --> 00:25:42.559 From the world's perspective, 00:25:42.699 --> 00:25:43.500 the world would say 00:25:43.500 --> 00:25:44.899 I've been fairly successful 00:25:44.899 --> 00:25:45.859 because I pastored 00:25:45.859 --> 00:25:46.480 two churches 00:25:46.480 --> 00:25:47.539 and they did pretty well 00:25:47.539 --> 00:25:48.559 and they grew 00:25:48.559 --> 00:25:49.659 and we relocated. 00:25:50.240 --> 00:25:51.439 There's a list 00:25:51.439 --> 00:25:51.899 of buildings 00:25:51.899 --> 00:25:52.699 I could point to 00:25:52.699 --> 00:25:53.339 and say we built 00:25:53.339 --> 00:25:54.119 that and that and that. 00:25:54.859 --> 00:25:55.359 But I want to tell you 00:25:55.359 --> 00:25:55.500 something, 00:25:55.559 --> 00:25:56.079 when I looked over 00:25:56.079 --> 00:25:57.079 the balance of my life, 00:25:57.159 --> 00:25:58.319 I wondered this. 00:25:59.879 --> 00:26:00.819 Did I ever make 00:26:00.819 --> 00:26:02.000 much difference? 00:26:04.139 --> 00:26:05.220 Did I do much 00:26:05.220 --> 00:26:06.419 that really counted? 00:26:08.899 --> 00:26:10.039 And I like to say 00:26:10.039 --> 00:26:11.000 I think I did 00:26:11.000 --> 00:26:12.000 but in reality 00:26:12.000 --> 00:26:14.399 I don't really feel 00:26:14.399 --> 00:26:14.939 that way. 00:26:16.939 --> 00:26:18.119 A whole lot of times 00:26:18.119 --> 00:26:19.519 I think about 00:26:19.519 --> 00:26:21.139 boy if I had 00:26:21.139 --> 00:26:22.619 really 00:26:22.619 --> 00:26:24.740 just swung 00:26:24.740 --> 00:26:25.539 for the fence. 00:26:27.059 --> 00:26:27.980 If I really 00:26:27.980 --> 00:26:28.559 just 00:26:28.559 --> 00:26:30.000 had the faith 00:26:30.000 --> 00:26:30.620 I needed. 00:26:31.740 --> 00:26:32.460 If I really 00:26:32.460 --> 00:26:33.259 just listened 00:26:33.259 --> 00:26:34.059 enough to God 00:26:34.059 --> 00:26:35.460 what might 00:26:35.460 --> 00:26:36.079 have God 00:26:36.079 --> 00:26:37.660 done with me. 00:26:39.099 --> 00:26:39.980 I want to tell you 00:26:39.980 --> 00:26:40.859 about the two people 00:26:40.859 --> 00:26:41.759 and I'm not going 00:26:41.759 --> 00:26:42.160 to come back 00:26:42.160 --> 00:26:42.700 six weeks 00:26:42.700 --> 00:26:43.200 and say here's 00:26:43.200 --> 00:26:43.779 two more people. 00:26:44.779 --> 00:26:45.759 I thought about it 00:26:45.759 --> 00:26:46.079 a lot 00:26:46.079 --> 00:26:47.339 and I've said this 00:26:47.339 --> 00:26:47.839 to my wife 00:26:47.839 --> 00:26:48.440 and to some others. 00:26:48.640 --> 00:26:49.120 I don't know 00:26:49.120 --> 00:26:50.120 any two people 00:26:50.120 --> 00:26:51.099 who have done 00:26:51.099 --> 00:26:52.480 more with their lives 00:26:52.480 --> 00:26:54.220 than the two people 00:26:54.220 --> 00:26:54.759 I want to tell you 00:26:54.759 --> 00:26:55.420 about in the few 00:26:55.420 --> 00:26:56.319 minutes I still 00:26:56.319 --> 00:26:56.980 have left. 00:26:57.720 --> 00:26:58.440 Rusty and Betty 00:26:58.440 --> 00:26:59.120 Joe McClellan 00:26:59.120 --> 00:26:59.559 would you put 00:26:59.559 --> 00:26:59.960 their picture 00:26:59.960 --> 00:27:00.519 on the board? 00:27:01.799 --> 00:27:02.500 That was made 00:27:02.500 --> 00:27:03.180 last week. 00:27:03.420 --> 00:27:03.920 You won't believe 00:27:03.920 --> 00:27:04.539 it looking at them. 00:27:04.980 --> 00:27:06.460 They're 60 years old. 00:27:07.660 --> 00:27:08.440 They're models 00:27:08.440 --> 00:27:09.200 of fitness. 00:27:10.460 --> 00:27:11.140 That guy 00:27:11.140 --> 00:27:12.360 is just 00:27:12.360 --> 00:27:13.000 as fit 00:27:13.000 --> 00:27:13.579 as any human 00:27:13.579 --> 00:27:14.240 on the planet. 00:27:15.579 --> 00:27:16.299 They came 00:27:16.299 --> 00:27:16.819 to my church 00:27:16.819 --> 00:27:17.640 at Western Avenue 00:27:17.640 --> 00:27:18.259 when they were 00:27:18.259 --> 00:27:19.140 in their 20s. 00:27:19.660 --> 00:27:20.279 They'd both 00:27:20.279 --> 00:27:21.099 gotten out of college. 00:27:21.099 --> 00:27:21.719 She graduated 00:27:21.719 --> 00:27:23.099 University of Chapel Hill 00:27:23.099 --> 00:27:23.859 North Carolina. 00:27:24.639 --> 00:27:25.480 He finished 00:27:25.480 --> 00:27:26.039 at Davidson. 00:27:26.379 --> 00:27:26.980 He was a football 00:27:26.980 --> 00:27:27.459 player. 00:27:28.659 --> 00:27:29.019 They came 00:27:29.019 --> 00:27:30.019 to Western Avenue. 00:27:30.259 --> 00:27:30.699 She began 00:27:30.699 --> 00:27:31.519 to teach 00:27:31.519 --> 00:27:32.579 a singles class. 00:27:33.799 --> 00:27:34.459 They started 00:27:34.459 --> 00:27:34.899 dating. 00:27:36.039 --> 00:27:36.500 A few years 00:27:36.500 --> 00:27:37.059 later they got 00:27:37.059 --> 00:27:37.439 married. 00:27:37.639 --> 00:27:38.500 I did the ceremony. 00:27:38.679 --> 00:27:39.019 We became 00:27:39.019 --> 00:27:39.879 fast friends. 00:27:40.359 --> 00:27:40.819 She became 00:27:40.819 --> 00:27:41.419 our singles 00:27:41.419 --> 00:27:41.839 minister 00:27:41.839 --> 00:27:42.500 not a paid 00:27:42.500 --> 00:27:42.959 position. 00:27:43.240 --> 00:27:43.799 She just did 00:27:43.799 --> 00:27:44.119 it out of the 00:27:44.119 --> 00:27:44.579 goodness of her 00:27:44.579 --> 00:27:44.919 heart. 00:27:45.859 --> 00:27:46.339 By the time 00:27:46.339 --> 00:27:47.219 I left there 00:27:47.219 --> 00:27:48.599 hated to leave 00:27:48.599 --> 00:27:49.399 them, loved them 00:27:49.399 --> 00:27:50.359 to death, knew 00:27:50.359 --> 00:27:50.699 they were going 00:27:50.699 --> 00:27:51.039 to do something 00:27:51.039 --> 00:27:51.579 great with their 00:27:51.579 --> 00:27:51.960 life. 00:27:53.000 --> 00:27:53.500 She began 00:27:53.500 --> 00:27:54.039 to attend 00:27:54.039 --> 00:27:55.059 seminary some 00:27:55.059 --> 00:27:56.119 doing it 00:27:56.119 --> 00:27:56.899 long distance. 00:27:57.839 --> 00:27:58.159 Finally 00:27:58.159 --> 00:27:58.940 years later 00:27:58.940 --> 00:27:59.319 she gets 00:27:59.319 --> 00:27:59.839 her seminary 00:27:59.839 --> 00:28:00.220 degree. 00:28:01.559 --> 00:28:02.200 They feel 00:28:02.200 --> 00:28:02.639 the call 00:28:02.639 --> 00:28:03.279 to missions. 00:28:03.779 --> 00:28:04.200 They apply 00:28:04.200 --> 00:28:05.519 to the 00:28:05.519 --> 00:28:06.539 IMB. 00:28:07.119 --> 00:28:07.720 They send 00:28:07.720 --> 00:28:08.000 them as 00:28:08.000 --> 00:28:08.480 journeymen 00:28:08.480 --> 00:28:09.240 to Uganda. 00:28:10.579 --> 00:28:11.180 He owns 00:28:11.180 --> 00:28:11.740 a little shoe 00:28:11.740 --> 00:28:12.159 store in 00:28:12.159 --> 00:28:12.639 Statesville. 00:28:12.940 --> 00:28:13.420 It was then 00:28:13.420 --> 00:28:14.379 Long's family 00:28:14.379 --> 00:28:14.980 shoe store. 00:28:15.079 --> 00:28:15.440 His name 00:28:15.440 --> 00:28:16.079 is McClellan. 00:28:16.180 --> 00:28:16.519 It's now 00:28:16.519 --> 00:28:17.099 McClellan's 00:28:17.099 --> 00:28:17.519 shoe store. 00:28:17.920 --> 00:28:18.619 He managed 00:28:18.619 --> 00:28:19.359 that store. 00:28:19.359 --> 00:28:20.519 Little 00:28:20.519 --> 00:28:21.259 local mom 00:28:21.259 --> 00:28:21.719 and pop 00:28:21.719 --> 00:28:22.299 shoe store. 00:28:22.379 --> 00:28:22.579 Nothing 00:28:22.579 --> 00:28:23.059 big. 00:28:24.599 --> 00:28:25.199 They go 00:28:25.199 --> 00:28:25.799 to Uganda. 00:28:25.959 --> 00:28:26.339 They served 00:28:26.339 --> 00:28:26.959 two years 00:28:26.959 --> 00:28:27.719 in Uganda. 00:28:28.059 --> 00:28:28.459 They come 00:28:28.459 --> 00:28:28.899 home. 00:28:30.279 --> 00:28:30.839 But their 00:28:30.839 --> 00:28:31.459 heart is still 00:28:31.459 --> 00:28:32.000 in Uganda. 00:28:33.819 --> 00:28:34.359 Now a lot 00:28:34.359 --> 00:28:34.859 of folks I 00:28:34.859 --> 00:28:35.740 know, in fact 00:28:35.740 --> 00:28:36.279 a lot of folks 00:28:36.279 --> 00:28:36.619 would say if 00:28:36.619 --> 00:28:36.899 you went 00:28:36.899 --> 00:28:37.339 there, took 00:28:37.339 --> 00:28:37.740 two years 00:28:37.740 --> 00:28:38.000 out of your 00:28:38.000 --> 00:28:38.299 life, you 00:28:38.299 --> 00:28:38.699 go to the 00:28:38.699 --> 00:28:39.159 mission field 00:28:39.159 --> 00:28:39.579 in Africa, 00:28:39.740 --> 00:28:39.919 two years, 00:28:40.179 --> 00:28:40.939 I mean, boy, 00:28:41.039 --> 00:28:41.319 they are 00:28:41.319 --> 00:28:41.859 heroes. 00:28:41.859 --> 00:28:42.059 heroes. 00:28:44.019 --> 00:28:44.619 But they 00:28:44.619 --> 00:28:45.219 thought God 00:28:45.219 --> 00:28:45.679 was leading 00:28:45.679 --> 00:28:46.139 them to do 00:28:46.139 --> 00:28:47.119 something bigger. 00:28:48.699 --> 00:28:49.279 And they 00:28:49.279 --> 00:28:49.819 began to 00:28:49.819 --> 00:28:50.299 think and 00:28:50.299 --> 00:28:51.159 pray and 00:28:51.159 --> 00:28:51.599 began to 00:28:51.599 --> 00:28:52.319 think because 00:28:52.319 --> 00:28:52.579 of their 00:28:52.579 --> 00:28:52.939 mission 00:28:52.939 --> 00:28:53.579 experience, 00:28:54.299 --> 00:28:54.819 how should 00:28:54.819 --> 00:28:55.919 we be 00:28:55.919 --> 00:28:56.240 doing 00:28:56.240 --> 00:28:56.699 missions? 00:28:57.559 --> 00:28:58.099 And they 00:28:58.099 --> 00:28:58.519 wrote a 00:28:58.519 --> 00:28:59.139 comprehensive 00:28:59.139 --> 00:28:59.959 plan for how 00:28:59.959 --> 00:29:00.619 missions really 00:29:00.619 --> 00:29:01.000 ought to be 00:29:01.000 --> 00:29:01.299 done. 00:29:01.619 --> 00:29:01.959 And I'm 00:29:01.959 --> 00:29:02.159 going to tell 00:29:02.159 --> 00:29:02.539 you, all 00:29:02.539 --> 00:29:03.059 the time as 00:29:03.059 --> 00:29:03.639 Southern Baptists, 00:29:03.719 --> 00:29:04.179 we don't do 00:29:04.179 --> 00:29:04.679 it the way we 00:29:04.679 --> 00:29:05.199 should do it, 00:29:05.240 --> 00:29:05.619 just to be 00:29:05.619 --> 00:29:06.099 honest with 00:29:06.099 --> 00:29:06.259 you. 00:29:07.319 --> 00:29:07.899 But they 00:29:07.899 --> 00:29:08.559 mapped out a 00:29:08.559 --> 00:29:09.319 comprehensive way 00:29:09.319 --> 00:29:10.059 how real 00:29:10.059 --> 00:29:10.719 missions ought 00:29:10.719 --> 00:29:11.000 to look. 00:29:11.000 --> 00:29:11.599 It ought to 00:29:11.599 --> 00:29:12.299 be a holistic 00:29:12.299 --> 00:29:13.039 approach that 00:29:13.039 --> 00:29:13.359 you ought to 00:29:13.359 --> 00:29:13.720 go and you 00:29:13.720 --> 00:29:14.259 ought to 00:29:14.259 --> 00:29:15.160 evangelize people 00:29:15.160 --> 00:29:15.480 but you 00:29:15.480 --> 00:29:15.740 ought to 00:29:15.740 --> 00:29:16.819 also disciple 00:29:16.819 --> 00:29:17.380 people. 00:29:18.259 --> 00:29:18.660 And then you 00:29:18.660 --> 00:29:19.140 ought to teach 00:29:19.140 --> 00:29:19.619 them how to 00:29:19.619 --> 00:29:20.039 live their 00:29:20.039 --> 00:29:20.940 lives and you 00:29:20.940 --> 00:29:21.299 ought to help 00:29:21.299 --> 00:29:21.819 them to plant 00:29:21.819 --> 00:29:22.220 crops. 00:29:22.299 --> 00:29:22.619 You shouldn't 00:29:22.619 --> 00:29:23.440 just give to 00:29:23.440 --> 00:29:24.559 them but you 00:29:24.559 --> 00:29:24.960 ought to help 00:29:24.960 --> 00:29:25.500 them earn a 00:29:25.500 --> 00:29:26.359 living and you 00:29:26.359 --> 00:29:26.759 ought to help 00:29:26.759 --> 00:29:28.059 them learn how 00:29:28.059 --> 00:29:29.240 to live a 00:29:29.240 --> 00:29:30.880 right life morally 00:29:30.880 --> 00:29:31.859 and spiritually 00:29:31.859 --> 00:29:33.180 and to be good 00:29:33.180 --> 00:29:34.960 citizens and 00:29:34.960 --> 00:29:35.720 earn a living for 00:29:35.720 --> 00:29:36.579 your family and 00:29:36.579 --> 00:29:37.420 how to get along, 00:29:37.519 --> 00:29:38.359 how to have 00:29:38.359 --> 00:29:39.480 water and 00:29:39.480 --> 00:29:40.240 hygiene and all 00:29:40.240 --> 00:29:40.700 those things. 00:29:41.000 --> 00:29:41.640 And they 00:29:41.640 --> 00:29:42.380 just incorporated 00:29:42.380 --> 00:29:42.779 into a big 00:29:42.779 --> 00:29:44.079 program and 00:29:44.079 --> 00:29:44.759 here from the 00:29:44.759 --> 00:29:45.380 states they 00:29:45.380 --> 00:29:45.980 began a 00:29:45.980 --> 00:29:46.599 ministry in 00:29:46.599 --> 00:29:47.059 Uganda. 00:29:47.839 --> 00:29:48.660 They found 00:29:48.660 --> 00:29:49.140 some folks 00:29:49.140 --> 00:29:49.700 they had led 00:29:49.700 --> 00:29:50.400 to Christ and 00:29:50.400 --> 00:29:51.000 they began to 00:29:51.000 --> 00:29:51.799 disciple those 00:29:51.799 --> 00:29:52.400 people and 00:29:52.400 --> 00:29:53.440 began to hire a 00:29:53.440 --> 00:29:54.079 few of them with 00:29:54.079 --> 00:29:54.720 some bucks they 00:29:54.720 --> 00:29:55.359 could get here and 00:29:55.359 --> 00:29:56.339 there and they 00:29:56.339 --> 00:29:56.920 began to lead 00:29:56.920 --> 00:29:57.619 Bible studies and 00:29:57.619 --> 00:29:58.440 they had jail 00:29:58.440 --> 00:29:59.539 ministries and 00:29:59.539 --> 00:30:00.319 over a period of 00:30:00.319 --> 00:30:00.980 just a few years 00:30:00.980 --> 00:30:01.900 they started two 00:30:01.900 --> 00:30:02.740 schools in two 00:30:02.740 --> 00:30:03.500 different villages 00:30:03.500 --> 00:30:05.660 that are just 00:30:05.660 --> 00:30:07.059 supreme educational 00:30:07.059 --> 00:30:07.859 places. 00:30:07.859 --> 00:30:09.299 and then they 00:30:09.299 --> 00:30:10.019 had a jail 00:30:10.019 --> 00:30:10.899 ministry and 00:30:10.899 --> 00:30:11.679 they opened a 00:30:11.679 --> 00:30:12.479 children's home 00:30:12.479 --> 00:30:13.439 and they had 00:30:13.439 --> 00:30:14.439 12 kids come 00:30:14.439 --> 00:30:14.899 to that children 00:30:14.899 --> 00:30:15.259 home and they 00:30:15.259 --> 00:30:16.139 took 12 orphans 00:30:16.139 --> 00:30:16.659 off the street 00:30:16.659 --> 00:30:17.559 and they raised 00:30:17.559 --> 00:30:18.000 them until they 00:30:18.000 --> 00:30:18.759 get college age 00:30:18.759 --> 00:30:19.219 and then they 00:30:19.219 --> 00:30:19.779 send them off to 00:30:19.779 --> 00:30:20.679 college and they 00:30:20.679 --> 00:30:21.539 teach people how 00:30:21.539 --> 00:30:22.879 to plant crops 00:30:22.879 --> 00:30:24.059 and they drill 00:30:24.059 --> 00:30:24.579 wells. 00:30:25.619 --> 00:30:26.719 It's amazing. 00:30:28.319 --> 00:30:29.079 They started that 00:30:29.079 --> 00:30:31.979 in 2008 and they 00:30:31.979 --> 00:30:32.719 still do it out of 00:30:32.719 --> 00:30:33.339 their home in 00:30:33.339 --> 00:30:33.719 Statesville. 00:30:33.720 --> 00:30:34.380 They go there 00:30:34.380 --> 00:30:35.200 about three months 00:30:35.200 --> 00:30:35.620 a year. 00:30:35.779 --> 00:30:36.299 They'll take about 00:30:36.299 --> 00:30:37.079 three trips there 00:30:37.079 --> 00:30:37.600 and they stay about 00:30:37.600 --> 00:30:38.519 a month at a time 00:30:38.519 --> 00:30:39.559 and they oversee 00:30:39.559 --> 00:30:40.319 that whole thing 00:30:40.319 --> 00:30:40.940 from the state 00:30:40.940 --> 00:30:42.900 side and it has 00:30:42.900 --> 00:30:43.519 grown to where 00:30:43.519 --> 00:30:44.400 they now raise 00:30:44.400 --> 00:30:45.299 about five to 00:30:45.299 --> 00:30:46.500 six hundred thousand 00:30:46.500 --> 00:30:47.860 dollars a year 00:30:47.860 --> 00:30:49.660 and sink it in 00:30:49.660 --> 00:30:50.400 that ministry and 00:30:50.400 --> 00:30:51.140 last year I'm on 00:30:51.140 --> 00:30:51.660 their board of 00:30:51.660 --> 00:30:52.019 directors. 00:30:52.180 --> 00:30:52.860 I just went back 00:30:52.860 --> 00:30:54.480 on and this last 00:30:54.480 --> 00:30:55.279 year the report 00:30:55.279 --> 00:30:56.220 was, you ready for 00:30:56.220 --> 00:30:56.519 this? 00:30:56.799 --> 00:30:57.240 You know how many 00:30:57.240 --> 00:30:58.160 people they disciple 00:30:58.160 --> 00:30:59.000 in a year now? 00:30:59.519 --> 00:31:00.420 They disciple 00:31:00.420 --> 00:31:03.200 five thousand people. 00:31:04.240 --> 00:31:06.480 Every year they 00:31:06.480 --> 00:31:07.240 come from the 00:31:07.240 --> 00:31:08.059 Catholic Church, 00:31:08.160 --> 00:31:08.900 they come from the 00:31:08.900 --> 00:31:09.500 Lutheran Church, 00:31:09.600 --> 00:31:10.259 they come from the 00:31:10.259 --> 00:31:11.000 Anglican Church, 00:31:11.120 --> 00:31:11.880 they come from the 00:31:11.880 --> 00:31:12.519 Church of God, 00:31:12.600 --> 00:31:13.360 the Pentecostal 00:31:13.360 --> 00:31:13.960 Holiness, the 00:31:13.960 --> 00:31:14.400 Methodists. 00:31:14.680 --> 00:31:15.539 If they'll show up 00:31:15.539 --> 00:31:16.279 they'll disciple 00:31:16.279 --> 00:31:17.600 them and I'm not 00:31:17.600 --> 00:31:18.059 talking about, 00:31:18.380 --> 00:31:18.920 okay there were 00:31:18.920 --> 00:31:19.480 five thousand 00:31:19.480 --> 00:31:20.100 different people 00:31:20.100 --> 00:31:20.779 who came two 00:31:20.779 --> 00:31:21.079 times. 00:31:21.160 --> 00:31:21.720 I'm talking about 00:31:21.720 --> 00:31:22.240 five thousand 00:31:22.240 --> 00:31:22.900 people who came 00:31:22.900 --> 00:31:23.759 for a whole year 00:31:23.759 --> 00:31:26.019 and they discipled 00:31:26.019 --> 00:31:26.680 these people. 00:31:28.000 --> 00:31:28.720 And so I was with 00:31:28.720 --> 00:31:29.360 them a couple of 00:31:29.360 --> 00:31:32.079 years ago and I 00:31:32.079 --> 00:31:32.819 told them what I 00:31:32.819 --> 00:31:33.380 told you. 00:31:34.319 --> 00:31:34.880 I said, you 00:31:34.880 --> 00:31:35.380 know, I've read a 00:31:35.380 --> 00:31:36.079 lot of books about 00:31:36.079 --> 00:31:37.380 great missionaries 00:31:37.380 --> 00:31:38.000 but I've never 00:31:38.000 --> 00:31:40.100 known anyone who's 00:31:40.100 --> 00:31:41.039 done as much with 00:31:41.039 --> 00:31:42.019 their life who said, 00:31:42.100 --> 00:31:43.680 you know what, I'm 00:31:43.680 --> 00:31:44.380 going to pull out all 00:31:44.380 --> 00:31:46.039 the stops, however 00:31:46.039 --> 00:31:47.759 God will use me, I 00:31:47.759 --> 00:31:48.579 want to be used. 00:31:48.960 --> 00:31:49.839 I said, I've never 00:31:49.839 --> 00:31:51.299 seen God use anyone 00:31:51.299 --> 00:31:52.140 the way he's used 00:31:52.140 --> 00:31:52.400 you. 00:31:54.000 --> 00:31:55.120 And my wife and I 00:31:55.120 --> 00:31:56.120 began to pray about 00:31:56.120 --> 00:31:57.860 it and the Lord put 00:31:57.860 --> 00:31:58.700 it on our heart. 00:31:58.700 --> 00:32:00.299 God, we've done so 00:32:00.299 --> 00:32:00.700 little. 00:32:02.700 --> 00:32:03.940 I said, I called her 00:32:03.940 --> 00:32:04.759 one morning, I said, 00:32:04.819 --> 00:32:06.160 what would it cost to 00:32:06.160 --> 00:32:07.600 build a children's home 00:32:07.600 --> 00:32:08.819 in Uganda? 00:32:10.019 --> 00:32:11.660 She says, man, it's so 00:32:11.660 --> 00:32:12.680 much cheaper here than 00:32:12.680 --> 00:32:13.240 over there. 00:32:13.360 --> 00:32:16.000 I said, it's going to be 00:32:16.000 --> 00:32:16.740 about thirty-five 00:32:16.740 --> 00:32:17.819 thousand is all it is. 00:32:18.299 --> 00:32:19.140 And what would it cost 00:32:19.140 --> 00:32:19.720 to operate it? 00:32:19.720 --> 00:32:20.920 About fifteen thousand. 00:32:21.440 --> 00:32:22.259 I said, really? 00:32:22.380 --> 00:32:23.019 She said, yeah. 00:32:23.019 --> 00:32:25.240 I called her back in 00:32:25.240 --> 00:32:25.960 about an hour and said, 00:32:26.039 --> 00:32:26.759 me and Regina have been 00:32:26.759 --> 00:32:27.119 praying. 00:32:28.200 --> 00:32:29.000 God's put it on my 00:32:29.000 --> 00:32:29.839 heart, don't know exactly 00:32:29.839 --> 00:32:30.319 how it's going to 00:32:30.319 --> 00:32:31.940 happen, but I want to 00:32:31.940 --> 00:32:32.859 build that children's 00:32:32.859 --> 00:32:34.339 home and I want to 00:32:34.339 --> 00:32:35.519 staff it for a year. 00:32:36.440 --> 00:32:37.119 And I make that 00:32:37.119 --> 00:32:37.799 commitment to you. 00:32:37.819 --> 00:32:38.759 That was in June of 00:32:38.759 --> 00:32:40.079 2020. 00:32:40.680 --> 00:32:41.379 COVID had hit. 00:32:42.339 --> 00:32:43.139 I wasn't preaching 00:32:43.139 --> 00:32:43.819 anywhere, but I thought 00:32:43.819 --> 00:32:44.900 something will open up. 00:32:45.579 --> 00:32:46.579 And I made a commitment 00:32:46.579 --> 00:32:47.759 whatever I earn, I'll just 00:32:47.759 --> 00:32:48.660 give back to that 00:32:48.660 --> 00:32:49.139 ministry. 00:32:50.619 --> 00:32:51.779 And so I did a funeral 00:32:51.779 --> 00:32:52.400 here or there. 00:32:53.019 --> 00:32:53.819 And I'd give that 00:32:53.819 --> 00:32:55.200 money to that and then 00:32:55.200 --> 00:32:56.200 we would just take out of 00:32:56.200 --> 00:32:57.359 our savings in retirement. 00:32:57.859 --> 00:32:58.779 We were given to it. 00:32:59.379 --> 00:33:01.000 And then back in July of 00:33:01.000 --> 00:33:02.119 this last year, you asked 00:33:02.119 --> 00:33:03.099 me to come be your 00:33:03.099 --> 00:33:04.619 interim pastor. 00:33:05.539 --> 00:33:06.500 And the Lord opened the 00:33:06.500 --> 00:33:08.539 door for me to do that. 00:33:08.759 --> 00:33:10.940 And I asked the 00:33:10.940 --> 00:33:12.980 leadership here, Brother 00:33:12.980 --> 00:33:14.859 Mendel, instead of giving 00:33:14.859 --> 00:33:15.759 the money to me, could 00:33:15.759 --> 00:33:16.579 y'all just send it straight 00:33:16.579 --> 00:33:17.279 to EWT? 00:33:17.359 --> 00:33:17.859 And I'm telling you 00:33:17.859 --> 00:33:18.259 this for a reason. 00:33:18.339 --> 00:33:18.980 I have to pray for myself 00:33:18.980 --> 00:33:19.539 but I want to tell you 00:33:19.539 --> 00:33:19.660 something. 00:33:19.980 --> 00:33:21.180 Here's what you've built. 00:33:21.180 --> 00:33:23.299 It's completed now and 00:33:23.299 --> 00:33:24.480 they're in the process of 00:33:24.480 --> 00:33:25.120 painting it. 00:33:25.940 --> 00:33:26.640 Isn't that great? 00:33:27.840 --> 00:33:29.000 Twelve kids are going to 00:33:29.000 --> 00:33:29.539 be in there. 00:33:30.980 --> 00:33:32.200 And you had a major hand. 00:33:32.279 --> 00:33:33.440 You paid for about half of 00:33:33.440 --> 00:33:36.340 that house and the need to 00:33:36.340 --> 00:33:37.400 take care of that. 00:33:38.539 --> 00:33:39.820 And so here's my challenge 00:33:39.820 --> 00:33:40.080 to you. 00:33:40.160 --> 00:33:40.920 Oh, and I want to show you 00:33:40.920 --> 00:33:41.560 the picture of the kids 00:33:41.560 --> 00:33:42.400 that's going to live in it. 00:33:43.779 --> 00:33:44.799 I did cute little kids. 00:33:45.759 --> 00:33:46.920 That's just a few of them. 00:33:47.420 --> 00:33:48.539 But your kids just like those 00:33:48.539 --> 00:33:49.320 kids right there. 00:33:49.319 --> 00:33:51.419 Those live in another house 00:33:51.419 --> 00:33:52.200 they got right now. 00:33:53.679 --> 00:33:54.639 But I'm telling you 00:33:54.639 --> 00:33:54.899 something. 00:33:55.419 --> 00:33:57.259 For years and years and 00:33:57.259 --> 00:33:58.980 years and years to come 00:33:58.980 --> 00:34:00.639 if Jesus tarries, 00:34:02.200 --> 00:34:03.059 there are going to be kids 00:34:03.059 --> 00:34:04.079 who don't have a mama 00:34:04.079 --> 00:34:05.099 and a daddy who are going 00:34:05.099 --> 00:34:06.119 to go out home and they're 00:34:06.119 --> 00:34:07.399 going to get discipled and 00:34:07.399 --> 00:34:08.179 there are going to be people 00:34:08.179 --> 00:34:09.139 who love them and they're 00:34:09.139 --> 00:34:09.619 going to go off to 00:34:09.619 --> 00:34:10.340 university and they're 00:34:10.340 --> 00:34:10.799 going to make something 00:34:10.799 --> 00:34:12.019 out of their life and it 00:34:12.019 --> 00:34:14.239 will make a difference in 00:34:14.239 --> 00:34:15.420 eternity for them. 00:34:16.599 --> 00:34:17.420 And here's why I'm telling 00:34:17.420 --> 00:34:20.440 you that you're making a 00:34:20.440 --> 00:34:21.000 difference in these 00:34:21.000 --> 00:34:21.659 people's lives. 00:34:22.579 --> 00:34:24.059 Continue to do that as a 00:34:24.059 --> 00:34:24.460 church. 00:34:24.680 --> 00:34:25.380 And I'm not talking about 00:34:25.380 --> 00:34:25.980 this ministry. 00:34:26.180 --> 00:34:28.039 You may choose sometime to 00:34:28.039 --> 00:34:28.900 give this ministry or not. 00:34:28.960 --> 00:34:29.500 But do this. 00:34:30.260 --> 00:34:32.480 Do things as a church that 00:34:32.480 --> 00:34:33.059 matter. 00:34:35.180 --> 00:34:37.059 Stop just stacking chairs on 00:34:37.059 --> 00:34:38.460 the deck of the Titanic. 00:34:40.460 --> 00:34:42.260 Do things that matter. 00:34:42.260 --> 00:34:46.080 Ask yourself, what can 00:34:46.080 --> 00:34:47.200 Pickens First Baptist 00:34:47.200 --> 00:34:49.080 Church do that will make a 00:34:49.080 --> 00:34:50.620 lasting difference for the 00:34:50.620 --> 00:34:51.760 kingdom of God and do it? 00:34:51.840 --> 00:34:54.140 And then finally this, you do 00:34:54.140 --> 00:34:54.580 that. 00:34:55.640 --> 00:34:57.860 You could be a Rusty or Betty 00:34:57.860 --> 00:34:58.700 Jo McClellan. 00:34:58.800 --> 00:34:59.980 They put their pants on just 00:34:59.980 --> 00:35:01.280 like everybody else in this 00:35:01.280 --> 00:35:01.620 room. 00:35:03.020 --> 00:35:04.720 And you could do that. 00:35:05.620 --> 00:35:07.560 Right now God has given some 00:35:07.560 --> 00:35:09.120 of you a vision and a dream for 00:35:09.120 --> 00:35:10.240 what you could do here in 00:35:10.240 --> 00:35:11.620 Pickens or somewhere else. 00:35:12.880 --> 00:35:14.160 Don't abandon that dream 00:35:14.160 --> 00:35:15.320 because it looks too big or 00:35:15.320 --> 00:35:16.020 too hard. 00:35:16.380 --> 00:35:18.040 Or how would I ever do that? 00:35:19.280 --> 00:35:20.440 You pursue that. 00:35:20.520 --> 00:35:22.240 You've got one life to spend. 00:35:22.840 --> 00:35:23.900 Don't waste it. 00:35:25.640 --> 00:35:26.920 Thank you for letting us come 00:35:26.920 --> 00:35:27.420 and serve. 00:35:28.360 --> 00:35:29.260 Let's pray together. 00:35:29.440 --> 00:35:31.920 Father, thank you for this 00:35:31.920 --> 00:35:33.980 opportunity you've given me. 00:35:34.940 --> 00:35:36.340 Thank you Lord for how this 00:35:36.340 --> 00:35:38.560 church has wonderfully supplied 00:35:38.560 --> 00:35:40.520 the needs of these children 00:35:40.520 --> 00:35:41.940 there in Africa. 00:35:43.160 --> 00:35:45.080 I pray God that as Betty Jo 00:35:45.080 --> 00:35:47.820 begins to staff that and as 00:35:47.820 --> 00:35:49.440 they find all the children 00:35:49.440 --> 00:35:51.080 who are going to inhabit this 00:35:51.080 --> 00:35:53.500 new home, that you'd use it 00:35:53.500 --> 00:35:55.020 for your kingdom's honor and 00:35:55.020 --> 00:35:55.320 glory. 00:35:55.740 --> 00:35:57.500 Bless Daniel Herring as he comes 00:35:57.500 --> 00:35:58.020 here Father. 00:35:58.800 --> 00:35:59.960 I thank you for him. 00:36:00.960 --> 00:36:02.540 I think they've got a great 00:36:02.540 --> 00:36:03.080 match. 00:36:03.840 --> 00:36:05.660 And I pray Father that you just 00:36:05.660 --> 00:36:08.280 use them in a mighty way to 00:36:08.280 --> 00:36:09.700 preach the word here week in and 00:36:09.700 --> 00:36:10.640 week out at Pickens. 00:36:11.740 --> 00:36:13.500 For we ask it in your name for 00:36:13.500 --> 00:36:14.220 your sake. 00:36:15.640 --> 00:36:16.000 Amen. 00:36:16.000 --> 00:36:16.200 Amen. 00:36:16.199 --> 00:36:24.460 Amen. 00:36:24.539 --> 00:36:25.399 Thank you for listening. 00:36:25.480 --> 00:36:25.619 Amen. 00:36:25.859 --> 00:36:26.559 Amen. 00:36:26.939 --> 00:36:27.059 Amen. 00:36:27.099 --> 00:36:27.419 Amen. 00:36:29.759 --> 00:36:29.819 Amen. 00:36:29.819 --> 00:36:30.960 Amen. 00:36:30.960 --> 00:36:31.299 Amen. 00:36:31.319 --> 00:36:31.379 Amen. 00:36:31.379 --> 00:36:32.259 Amen. 00:36:33.059 --> 00:36:33.419 Amen. 00:36:33.419 --> 00:36:33.919 Amen. 00:36:33.919 --> 00:36:34.159 Amen. 00:36:34.599 --> 00:36:35.319 Amen. 00:36:35.419 --> 00:36:35.839 Amen. 00:36:35.839 --> 00:36:36.019 Amen. 00:36:36.019 --> 00:36:36.960 Amen. 00:36:36.980 --> 00:36:37.039 Amen. 00:36:37.039 --> 00:36:37.460 Amen. 00:36:37.460 --> 00:36:38.079 Amen. 00:36:38.079 --> 00:36:39.099 Amen. 00:36:39.099 --> 00:36:40.519 Amen. 00:36:40.599 --> 00:36:41.079 Amen. 00:36:41.079 --> 00:36:41.480 Amen. 00:36:41.480 --> 00:36:41.559 Amen. 00:36:41.559 --> 00:36:41.960 Amen. 00:36:41.960 --> 00:36:42.019 Amen. 00:36:42.019 --> 00:36:42.099 Amen. 00:36:42.099 --> 00:36:43.059 Amen. 00:36:43.059 --> 00:36:44.099 Amen. 00:36:44.099 --> 00:36:44.519 Amen.