WEBVTT

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 We hope that you enjoy this teaching from Christ Church.

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 This material is copyrighted and no unauthorized duplication,

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

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 Please consider donating to this work in the San Francisco Bay Area online at ChristChurchEastBay.org.

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 Today's scripture reading is from Psalm 119, 97-105, and 2 Timothy 3, verses 16 and 17.

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 A reading from the Psalms.

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 Oh, how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day.

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 Your commandment makes me wiser than my enemies, for it is ever with me.

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 I have more understanding than all my teachers, for your testimonies are my meditation.

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 I understand more than the aged, for I keep your precepts.

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 I hold back my feet from every evil way in order to keep your word.

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 I do not turn aside from your rules, for you have taught me.

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 How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth.

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 Through your precepts I get understanding, therefore I hate every false way.

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 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

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 The grass withers and the flowers fall.

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 The glory of God stands forever.

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 A reading from the second letter of Timothy.

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 All scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,

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 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

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 This is the word of the Lord.

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 Thank you, Melissa, for that scripture reading.

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 Good morning.

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 My name is Andrew.

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 I'm one of the pastors here and delighted to open up God's word with you this morning.

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 But before we do that, let's go to him in prayer.

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 Father, would you give us a holy anticipation for how you would speak to us through your word, your divinely inspired word that is profitable for all things.

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 Give us ears to hear, we pray.

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 Give us a hunger for your word that we might taste the sweetness of it.

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 Sweeter than honey and more precious than gold.

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 We want to hear from your word.

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 In Jesus' name.

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 Amen.

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 Amen.

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 Alright, so earlier this week, I got to listen to a podcast that I saved all the way back in May.

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 It's from the Ezra Klein show with the New York Times Opinion.

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 And what caught my attention about this podcast episode was its title, Your Mind is Being Fracked.

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 Alright?

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 Your Mind is Being Fracked.

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 And you know, I didn't exactly know what fracking was or at least how it worked.

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 But at the same time, I was pretty sure that that statement was true of me and my mind.

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 That my mind was being fracked.

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 And so on this episode, Ezra has this historian of science come on.

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 His name is D. Graham Burnett.

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 And he's working on this book on attention.

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 And he's out at Princeton University.

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 They're having this conversation about attention and about how we started to pay attention to attention.

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 And how especially now, attention has become super valuable in this thing we call the attention economy.

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 Where our attention is being fracked.

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 Like, it's unnaturally, unhealthily, you know, being harvested and then monetized for, like, tons of money.

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 According to one data expert that I read this week, our attention every day is worth over $800, right?

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 In fact, there's a financial planner named Carl Richards.

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 He wrote for the New York Times.

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 And he would suggest that our attention is our most valuable asset.

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 Because unlike money, it's more like time, right?

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 You can't store it.

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 You either use it or you lose it.

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 But it's even more complex and valuable than time.

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 Because you can spend time on something or with someone.

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 But not necessarily pay attention to them.

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 And give them your valuable attention and time.

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 So Richards, he says that attention may very well be a human being's most valuable asset.

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 Because in many ways, it's the most in-demand and uniquely personal asset that we have to offer.

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 To give someone our attention is to give them our very selves in a very real sense.

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 And this is precisely why our minds, our attention is being fracked, right?

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 It's super valuable.

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 And I don't know exactly how that works in your life.

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 But totally, my mind gets fracked all the time.

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 My attention.

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 And this is how it happens.

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 Even for me, a pastor, a preacher.

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 This is how it goes on a normal week.

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 But specifically when I'm writing these sermons, all right?

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 So I'll be writing one of these sermons.

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 And then I'll be tired.

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 I'll get stuck.

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 Or, you know, I just kind of need a little dopamine hit.

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 A little escape.

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 So I, you know, in my weariness, I take a break from the deep work, right?

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 And I'll very often turn my attention to YouTube or Instagram or Facebook.

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 See if there's anything new or interesting to entertain me.

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 Give me something mindless that I can just kind of consume.

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 But I think we've all been there, right?

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 What happens?

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 Doom scrolling, right?

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 Rabbit trails into endless content punctuated by these annoying five-second ads and sponsored posts, right?

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 For me, I can go from a Steph Curry video to funny scenes from The Office to a comedian clip to a food vlogger.

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 And actually, one thing that's super unique to my algorithm is I like to watch chiropractic videos

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 where they crack people's backs really loud.

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 And then, like, they go home healed.

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 Apparently, there's a name for people like me.

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 I'm a crack addict, apparently.

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 But all this is to say, you know, Instagram and YouTube managed to capture my attention for way longer than I care to admit.

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 So, oftentimes, I'm like, oh, shoot, where did that 25, 45 minutes just go?

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 It's like, oh, man, my mind got fracked again.

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 YouTube paid a content creator, you know, X amount of dollars to capture my attention.

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 And I unwittingly paid for that content with my attention.

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 But the thing is, was it an exchange that benefited me nearly as much as, you know, the CEO of YouTube?

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 Did it make me a richer person, a healthier person, a wiser person, a more deeply rooted person,

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 the person that God made me to be?

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 Probably not.

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 Usually, usually not.

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 Unless I'm, like, re-watching one of Jonathan's sermons.

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 Then it's, like, all good, right?

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 In truth, in this attention economy, we're often swindled.

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 We're literally paying our attention to someone or something else for things of lesser value than what our attention is truly worth.

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 So, the question I want us to consider this morning is, what is our attention worth?

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 And not just what's it worth to Meta or, you know, some other big tech company,

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 but what's it worth to you?

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 And even more importantly, what's our attention worth to God?

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 I want us to pay attention to our attention today, all right?

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 Now, if you're new today, you know that we've been going through this series in the Psalms on the holy habits,

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 these holy habits of grace, the spiritual disciplines that Christians have been practicing for thousands of years

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 to help them commune with God and be formed into the deeply rooted, flourishing people that God intended them to be.

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 And the particular holy habit that we're going to be talking about today is the spiritual discipline of meditation.

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 Meditation.

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 Now, in case you missed the very first sermon in this series, Jonathan opened this series up from Psalm chapter 1.

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 And by the way, our kids and our youth are going to be memorizing Psalm chapter 1,

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 so we would ask that everyone participate in that.

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 Let's memorize Psalm 1 together.

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 Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the ungodly or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers,

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 but his delight is in the law of the Lord.

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 And then what does it say?

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 That he makes a lot of interesting observations, that he tries to memorize it, that he tries to read it every day.

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 No, on this law, it says he meditates day and night.

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 See, what the Psalms teach is that foundational to a blessed life, foundational to a rooted life,

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 foundational to a flourishing life full of transcendent wisdom and vibrant fruitfulness.

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 If you want to be like a tree planted by streams of water yielding fruit in season with leaves that do not wither,

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 it's not enough to just not walk in the counsel of the wicked, to not stand in the way of sinners,

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 to not sit in the seat of mockers.

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 It's not even enough to just read your Bible or study your Bible or memorize your Bible every day.

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 No, we will not become large, flourishing evergreens unless we meditate on the words of God.

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 Unless we meditate on the words of God.

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 But now, what does that even mean?

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 To meditate on the law of the Lord.

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 Well, if I could put it simply and put two words into your heads to help you understand what meditation is,

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 I'd say that meditation is about attention and maintenance.

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 Those are the two words I want in your head.

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 Attention and maintenance.

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 So let's start with attention.

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 Now, I want to briefly distinguish between Christian meditation

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 and what many of us understand as transcendental meditation or mindfulness practices.

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 And if you want a more complete discussion of that,

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 I would highly recommend this article in the Journal of Biblical Counseling called,

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 or by Joanna Jackson.

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 Highly recommend it.

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 I could send that to you if you're interested in that.

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 But let me just start by saying,

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 I'm not here to bash on the yogis out there,

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 or to bash on you mindfulness enthusiasts.

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 It is entirely fine and even appropriate to,

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 you know, in our fast-paced society,

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 take a moment to stop and breathe and slow yourself down,

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 take some time to collect your wits and to be present to the moment.

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 But what sets the Christian discipline of meditation apart from other forms of mindfulness and meditation,

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 what sets it apart from New Age spirituality and Buddhism and medieval mysticism,

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 is that in Christian meditation,

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 our aim is not simply to empty our minds and consciousness,

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 but to fill them with the words and works of God.

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 Christian meditation is full of content.

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 It's meant to be an encounter with a person,

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 with God,

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 and with His promises,

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 and with what He's revealed to us.

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 Contrary to many Eastern versions of meditation,

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 words aren't the problem,

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 an active mind isn't the problem,

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 our attention isn't meant to be turned completely inward,

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 toward our deepest, innermost, individualistic self and body,

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 or to some void called the present.

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 That's not the ultimate goal.

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 God is the goal of meditation.

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 Psalm 46,

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 God says to us,

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 Be still,

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 and know that I am God.

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 The goal is communion and conversation with God,

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 centered on the words that He's provided to us in the Scriptures.

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 Christian meditation is bringing our attention to the revealed words of God,

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 filling our minds and our hearts for the purpose of being with Him.

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 See, because in a very real sense,

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 God's words are His presence.

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 God is present to us in His words to us.

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 That's what the psalmist says here in verse 97,

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 Oh, how I love your law.

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 I meditate on it all day long.

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 Your commands are always with me.

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 Your commands are always with me.

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 He's not simply in love with God's law,

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 because, oh, these are such great rules.

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 These are such great truths and statements.

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 No, he loves them because this is the voice of God in His ears

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 as he reads the Scriptures.

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 God's voice in His head is God's presence in His heart.

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 When Christians take up the practice of meditation,

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 we are giving attention to God's Word,

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 giving our attention to His very presence with us through those words.

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 The holy habit of meditation is giving our attention to God,

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 particularly by giving our attention to what He's revealed about Himself and His heart.

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 And very practically, this starts with just reading the Bible.

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 Just read the Bible.

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 And if that is something that you're not in the habit of practicing,

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 we want to encourage that to you as your first step toward this holy habit of Christian meditation.

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 And if you want to know where to start,

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 look at the back of your liturgies.

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 We have a Bible reading plan for everyone to jump right into.

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 It's super simple.

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 But the thing is, though, don't just read it like you might read your news feed

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 or any other literary work.

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 I mean, yes, you want to understand it,

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 but the difference between our approach to the Bible

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 versus every other human work has to do with what Melissa read in 2 Timothy 3.

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 This is not just any literary work.

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 It is God-breathed.

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 It is from God.

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 We call it God's Word.

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 We don't need to turn off our brains when we read it,

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 but we definitely need to encounter it,

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 not just as any literary work.

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 We can bring our questions to it,

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 but we want to make sure that we encounter it the way God intended.

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 We come to the Scriptures not seeking to just fill our minds with mere knowledge

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 or as judges trying to decide whether or not we agree with this

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 or as researchers seeking to objectify the Scriptures

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 and just rationally and empirically understand it.

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 The Bible is not a cadaver to dissect.

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 Unlike, you know, Beowulf or the Odyssey or the Cat in the Hat,

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 we are meant to have a relationship with the Bible,

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 with the Scriptures, just as Jesus did.

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 It's the living and active Word of God

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 and His very voice graciously coming to be present with us.

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 So we don't just read it,

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 and we don't even just study it,

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 though we do both,

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 but we meditate upon it.

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 Like Jonathan said a couple weeks ago,

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 like a dog on a bone,

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 like a child with a lollipop.

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 We linger, right?

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 We linger with it.

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 We savor it.

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 Focus on the flavors.

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 Notice its richness in every word.

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 For example,

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 the Lord is my shepherd.

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 The Lord is my shepherd.

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 The one and only, right?

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 The Lord is my shepherd.

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 The I am.

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 Yahweh is my shepherd.

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 The Lord is my shepherd.

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 He's mine, and I am His.

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 The God of the universe says,

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 I can call Him my own.

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 The Lord is my shepherd,

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 my guide,

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 my protector,

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 my healer,

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 the one who feeds me,

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 the one who pursues me,

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 the crazy, one-of-a-kind shepherd

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 who lays his life down for a sheep.

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 What kind of shepherd does that?

00:15:13.379 --> 00:15:16.440
 This is what it is to meditate and linger upon

00:15:16.440 --> 00:15:18.220
 and savor God's Word.

00:15:18.279 --> 00:15:19.660
 It's to give it tons of attention

00:15:19.660 --> 00:15:22.139
 and to understand it deeper and deeper

00:15:22.139 --> 00:15:24.659
 and the way it connects with the rest of Scripture

00:15:24.659 --> 00:15:26.759
 and displays the heart of God

00:15:26.759 --> 00:15:29.000
 and the person of Christ.

00:15:29.600 --> 00:15:30.220
 Like, wow.

00:15:30.759 --> 00:15:32.539
 The Lord is my shepherd in Christ

00:15:32.539 --> 00:15:34.500
 who said I am the good shepherd.

00:15:35.600 --> 00:15:37.279
 And then we apply it to our lives as well

00:15:37.279 --> 00:15:38.580
 and we pray it into our heads

00:15:38.580 --> 00:15:39.460
 and into our hearts

00:15:39.460 --> 00:15:40.319
 and out into our hands

00:15:40.319 --> 00:15:40.939
 like, Lord,

00:15:41.139 --> 00:15:42.500
 help me to be so convinced

00:15:42.500 --> 00:15:43.720
 that You are my shepherd

00:15:43.720 --> 00:15:46.539
 and that in and through Christ

00:15:46.539 --> 00:15:48.600
 You will prepare a table before me

00:15:48.600 --> 00:15:50.659
 and my cup will overflow.

00:15:51.300 --> 00:15:53.180
 Convince me so much of those truths

00:15:53.180 --> 00:15:54.399
 that I might abundantly

00:15:54.399 --> 00:15:56.580
 and generously live toward others

00:15:56.580 --> 00:15:58.120
 because I so believe

00:15:58.120 --> 00:15:59.360
 that I have a good shepherd

00:15:59.360 --> 00:16:00.860
 and I shall not want.

00:16:01.500 --> 00:16:02.220
 Thank you, Jesus.

00:16:03.279 --> 00:16:05.259
 That is the practice of meditation.

00:16:05.420 --> 00:16:06.860
 To meditate on God's Word

00:16:06.860 --> 00:16:08.759
 is to let the teabag of Scripture

00:16:08.759 --> 00:16:10.820
 steep long and deep

00:16:10.820 --> 00:16:12.879
 into the water of our hearts and minds

00:16:12.879 --> 00:16:14.040
 so that our hearts and minds

00:16:14.040 --> 00:16:16.080
 turn the color of God's heart

00:16:16.080 --> 00:16:17.200
 and God's mind

00:16:17.200 --> 00:16:19.120
 and our lives carry out

00:16:19.120 --> 00:16:20.900
 the aroma of Christ.

00:16:22.000 --> 00:16:24.340
 And one way of really letting

00:16:24.340 --> 00:16:25.460
 that teabag steep

00:16:25.460 --> 00:16:27.400
 is not just through reading Scripture a lot

00:16:27.400 --> 00:16:29.160
 but memorizing it.

00:16:29.960 --> 00:16:31.540
 Hiding it in our hearts.

00:16:32.400 --> 00:16:34.160
 You know, all the people I've ever known

00:16:34.160 --> 00:16:36.000
 who seem to me the godliest,

00:16:36.540 --> 00:16:37.720
 the nearest to Christ,

00:16:38.100 --> 00:16:38.740
 the most rooted,

00:16:39.020 --> 00:16:40.420
 the most self-controlled,

00:16:40.660 --> 00:16:41.280
 unflappable,

00:16:41.480 --> 00:16:42.860
 like non-anxious presence

00:16:42.860 --> 00:16:43.940
 kinds of people,

00:16:44.520 --> 00:16:45.560
 they've all been people

00:16:45.559 --> 00:16:46.619
 who are devoted

00:16:46.619 --> 00:16:48.759
 to memorizing Scripture.

00:16:49.599 --> 00:16:50.439
 I want to tell you about

00:16:50.439 --> 00:16:51.859
 one of my seminary professors,

00:16:52.359 --> 00:16:53.299
 one of my favorite ones.

00:16:53.359 --> 00:16:54.279
 I TA'd for him

00:16:54.279 --> 00:16:56.559
 and I even did a one-credit thing

00:16:56.559 --> 00:16:57.819
 for him where I memorized Scripture

00:16:57.819 --> 00:16:58.859
 and he gave me a credit for it

00:16:58.859 --> 00:17:00.079
 and it was like super hard.

00:17:01.979 --> 00:17:03.559
 His name's Dr. Vern Poitras

00:17:03.559 --> 00:17:05.539
 and he has memorized more Scripture

00:17:05.539 --> 00:17:07.299
 than anyone I've ever known

00:17:07.299 --> 00:17:09.059
 and he's probably the smartest person

00:17:09.059 --> 00:17:09.659
 I've ever met too.

00:17:09.720 --> 00:17:11.000
 He's got two PhDs,

00:17:11.119 --> 00:17:12.419
 one in math from Harvard

00:17:12.420 --> 00:17:14.140
 and then he decided to do another one

00:17:14.140 --> 00:17:15.140
 in New Testament, right?

00:17:15.980 --> 00:17:17.039
 Incredibly humble guy,

00:17:17.440 --> 00:17:18.000
 very modest

00:17:18.000 --> 00:17:20.900
 and just evidently near to God.

00:17:21.700 --> 00:17:23.080
 Now, as legend has it,

00:17:23.640 --> 00:17:25.240
 at Westminster Seminary,

00:17:25.740 --> 00:17:27.060
 there was a day

00:17:27.060 --> 00:17:29.160
 when Dr. Poitras was eating his lunch

00:17:29.160 --> 00:17:30.380
 over his Bible,

00:17:30.580 --> 00:17:32.200
 just whispering over his Bible

00:17:32.200 --> 00:17:33.480
 with his lunch by himself

00:17:33.480 --> 00:17:35.980
 and another one of our professors goes,

00:17:36.100 --> 00:17:36.840
 hey, Dr. Poitras,

00:17:36.940 --> 00:17:37.480
 what you doing?

00:17:38.100 --> 00:17:39.019
 Dr. Poitras goes,

00:17:39.160 --> 00:17:40.960
 I'm just memorizing Habakkuk.

00:17:40.960 --> 00:17:44.120
 Oh, you think that's the funny part?

00:17:44.380 --> 00:17:44.740
 All right.

00:17:46.059 --> 00:17:48.340
 So, the other professor's like,

00:17:48.600 --> 00:17:50.360
 oh, why Habakkuk?

00:17:50.940 --> 00:17:51.920
 Dr. Poitras goes,

00:17:52.640 --> 00:17:53.740
 well, it was the next one.

00:17:55.059 --> 00:17:56.160
 It was the next one.

00:17:56.220 --> 00:17:58.259
 Apparently, Dr. Poitras has memorized

00:17:58.259 --> 00:17:59.880
 the entire New Testament,

00:18:00.579 --> 00:18:02.559
 the entirety of the Psalms,

00:18:02.880 --> 00:18:04.259
 the second half of Isaiah,

00:18:04.420 --> 00:18:05.000
 Ecclesiastes,

00:18:05.180 --> 00:18:05.920
 the Song of Solomon,

00:18:06.279 --> 00:18:07.240
 all the minor prophets,

00:18:07.539 --> 00:18:07.779
 Ruth,

00:18:07.900 --> 00:18:09.019
 and several other portions

00:18:09.019 --> 00:18:10.059
 of the Old Testament.

00:18:10.059 --> 00:18:11.460
 It's pretty incredible, right?

00:18:12.500 --> 00:18:13.779
 And it wasn't just for show,

00:18:13.919 --> 00:18:15.379
 it's because Dr. Poitras,

00:18:16.319 --> 00:18:17.339
 he's the one who taught me

00:18:17.339 --> 00:18:18.139
 that God's word

00:18:18.139 --> 00:18:19.339
 is God's presence.

00:18:19.960 --> 00:18:20.960
 Dr. Poitras believes

00:18:20.960 --> 00:18:22.559
 in the power and presence of God

00:18:22.559 --> 00:18:23.700
 in the scriptures,

00:18:23.819 --> 00:18:24.440
 in the word of God.

00:18:24.500 --> 00:18:26.440
 When we memorize the scriptures,

00:18:27.440 --> 00:18:28.960
 when we memorize the word of God,

00:18:29.359 --> 00:18:30.940
 this powerful personal force

00:18:30.940 --> 00:18:31.319
 that said,

00:18:31.539 --> 00:18:32.259
 let there be light

00:18:32.259 --> 00:18:33.259
 and made it so,

00:18:34.240 --> 00:18:34.980
 that power

00:18:34.980 --> 00:18:36.799
 is stored in our minds

00:18:36.799 --> 00:18:38.259
 and in our hearts

00:18:38.259 --> 00:18:39.119
 and it becomes ready

00:18:39.119 --> 00:18:40.220
 for our lips

00:18:40.220 --> 00:18:41.599
 to bring encouragement

00:18:41.599 --> 00:18:42.460
 to ourselves

00:18:42.460 --> 00:18:43.319
 when we need it

00:18:43.319 --> 00:18:44.700
 and also comfort

00:18:44.700 --> 00:18:46.440
 and blessing to others

00:18:46.440 --> 00:18:47.659
 when they need it.

00:18:48.519 --> 00:18:49.220
 And I can think of

00:18:49.220 --> 00:18:50.559
 no better example of this

00:18:50.559 --> 00:18:51.659
 than in our church

00:18:51.659 --> 00:18:52.899
 in the life of one of our elders,

00:18:53.379 --> 00:18:54.159
 Brian Lee.

00:18:54.960 --> 00:18:55.639
 I asked him earlier

00:18:55.639 --> 00:18:56.339
 if I could share

00:18:56.339 --> 00:18:58.680
 about how this worked out for him,

00:18:58.859 --> 00:19:00.059
 but, you know,

00:19:00.139 --> 00:19:01.700
 on the day Isaac,

00:19:02.299 --> 00:19:04.480
 his firstborn high school son,

00:19:04.480 --> 00:19:05.120
 passed away

00:19:05.120 --> 00:19:06.440
 almost three years ago now.

00:19:07.160 --> 00:19:08.980
 He and Sam were at the hospital

00:19:08.980 --> 00:19:10.940
 and Isaac's siblings,

00:19:11.079 --> 00:19:11.940
 Julia and Jack,

00:19:12.319 --> 00:19:13.240
 were on the way

00:19:13.240 --> 00:19:15.259
 to say their last goodbyes.

00:19:15.940 --> 00:19:17.420
 And as they were on their way over,

00:19:17.559 --> 00:19:17.680
 you know,

00:19:17.759 --> 00:19:18.579
 Brian thought to himself

00:19:18.579 --> 00:19:19.240
 as a dad,

00:19:19.360 --> 00:19:19.660
 like,

00:19:20.519 --> 00:19:20.680
 man,

00:19:20.759 --> 00:19:23.360
 what words could I possibly have

00:19:23.360 --> 00:19:25.480
 in a moment like this?

00:19:25.579 --> 00:19:27.059
 What could I possibly say

00:19:27.059 --> 00:19:28.220
 to Julia and Jack

00:19:28.220 --> 00:19:29.740
 when they arrive?

00:19:31.180 --> 00:19:31.860
 But, you know,

00:19:31.940 --> 00:19:32.880
 at the same time,

00:19:32.880 --> 00:19:33.860
 you know what came to him?

00:19:34.920 --> 00:19:35.140
 Well,

00:19:35.539 --> 00:19:36.039
 at that,

00:19:36.440 --> 00:19:38.000
 in the couple months before,

00:19:38.920 --> 00:19:40.680
 several men in our church

00:19:40.680 --> 00:19:42.120
 had been memorizing

00:19:42.120 --> 00:19:44.319
 John chapter 14 through 17.

00:19:44.420 --> 00:19:45.860
 It's Jesus' upper room discourse,

00:19:45.960 --> 00:19:47.279
 his last words to his disciples

00:19:47.279 --> 00:19:49.200
 before he goes to the cross.

00:19:50.279 --> 00:19:51.039
 So as he's thinking,

00:19:51.200 --> 00:19:52.559
 what are the words I'm gonna say?

00:19:53.680 --> 00:19:54.599
 What comes to him

00:19:54.599 --> 00:19:56.140
 are Jesus' very first words

00:19:56.140 --> 00:19:56.839
 from that discourse.

00:19:56.980 --> 00:19:58.299
 John chapter 14, verse 1,

00:19:58.599 --> 00:19:59.819
 let not your hearts be troubled.

00:20:01.019 --> 00:20:01.759
 Believe in God.

00:20:01.759 --> 00:20:04.799
 Believe also in me.

00:20:06.079 --> 00:20:07.579
 In my Father's house,

00:20:08.019 --> 00:20:09.240
 there are many rooms.

00:20:10.379 --> 00:20:11.619
 If it were not so,

00:20:11.819 --> 00:20:12.859
 would I have told you

00:20:12.859 --> 00:20:15.119
 that I go to prepare a place

00:20:15.119 --> 00:20:16.279
 for you?

00:20:16.279 --> 00:20:18.839
 And if I go

00:20:18.839 --> 00:20:20.259
 and prepare a place

00:20:20.259 --> 00:20:21.059
 for you,

00:20:21.299 --> 00:20:22.799
 I will come again

00:20:22.799 --> 00:20:24.960
 and will take you to myself

00:20:24.960 --> 00:20:27.139
 that where I am,

00:20:27.440 --> 00:20:28.819
 you may be also.

00:20:29.379 --> 00:20:30.200
 And you know

00:20:30.200 --> 00:20:31.460
 the way

00:20:31.460 --> 00:20:32.099
 to where

00:20:32.099 --> 00:20:33.180
 I am going.

00:20:34.700 --> 00:20:36.099
 And that is the power

00:20:36.099 --> 00:20:37.960
 of the word of God.

00:20:39.779 --> 00:20:40.000
 See,

00:20:40.059 --> 00:20:40.799
 holy habits

00:20:40.799 --> 00:20:42.740
 are not some weird

00:20:42.740 --> 00:20:44.180
 Christian hobbies,

00:20:44.359 --> 00:20:46.159
 just these religious practices

00:20:46.159 --> 00:20:48.099
 that Christians like to take up

00:20:48.099 --> 00:20:49.339
 so they can consider themselves

00:20:49.339 --> 00:20:49.740
 holy

00:20:49.740 --> 00:20:51.399
 and better than other people.

00:20:52.859 --> 00:20:53.259
 Now,

00:20:53.279 --> 00:20:54.180
 the holy habits

00:20:54.180 --> 00:20:56.659
 are how we give our attention

00:20:56.659 --> 00:20:58.720
 to the speaking God

00:20:58.720 --> 00:21:00.899
 who wants to be powerfully present

00:21:00.899 --> 00:21:01.440
 with us

00:21:01.440 --> 00:21:03.119
 in every circumstance.

00:21:04.180 --> 00:21:05.359
 He's the only one

00:21:05.359 --> 00:21:06.139
 who can ground

00:21:06.140 --> 00:21:07.360
 us

00:21:07.360 --> 00:21:08.640
 and empower us

00:21:08.640 --> 00:21:10.380
 as we experience

00:21:10.380 --> 00:21:11.100
 this power

00:21:11.100 --> 00:21:12.840
 in His words.

00:21:14.000 --> 00:21:15.340
 We experience this power

00:21:15.340 --> 00:21:16.020
 when we meditate

00:21:16.020 --> 00:21:17.280
 upon His powerful words,

00:21:17.320 --> 00:21:18.100
 when we give Him

00:21:18.100 --> 00:21:18.980
 and His words

00:21:18.980 --> 00:21:20.580
 our utmost attention.

00:21:20.720 --> 00:21:21.640
 We get to enjoy

00:21:21.640 --> 00:21:22.680
 His nearness

00:21:22.680 --> 00:21:24.520
 and we get to be a blessing

00:21:24.520 --> 00:21:25.600
 and a comfort

00:21:25.600 --> 00:21:27.240
 to those around us.

00:21:28.660 --> 00:21:29.100
 And see,

00:21:29.280 --> 00:21:29.980
 this is why

00:21:29.980 --> 00:21:30.640
 our attention

00:21:30.640 --> 00:21:33.080
 is so valuable,

00:21:33.240 --> 00:21:33.820
 so precious.

00:21:34.660 --> 00:21:35.440
 Our attention

00:21:35.440 --> 00:21:36.880
 is so valuable

00:21:36.880 --> 00:21:38.519
 because it shapes

00:21:38.519 --> 00:21:39.160
 the people

00:21:39.160 --> 00:21:40.320
 we are becoming.

00:21:41.140 --> 00:21:41.940
 We become

00:21:41.940 --> 00:21:43.480
 what we behold

00:21:43.480 --> 00:21:44.799
 or we become

00:21:44.799 --> 00:21:46.440
 what we are beholden to.

00:21:48.440 --> 00:21:49.700
 When we gaze upon the Lord,

00:21:49.779 --> 00:21:50.840
 we become more like Him.

00:21:52.220 --> 00:21:52.640
 And now,

00:21:52.720 --> 00:21:53.480
 this is where I want to talk

00:21:53.480 --> 00:21:54.120
 about meditation

00:21:54.120 --> 00:21:55.620
 as maintenance.

00:21:56.740 --> 00:21:56.960
 Now,

00:21:57.039 --> 00:21:57.960
 maybe the reason

00:21:57.960 --> 00:21:58.920
 you don't read the Bible

00:21:58.920 --> 00:22:00.420
 or memorize it

00:22:00.420 --> 00:22:01.240
 and certainly don't

00:22:01.240 --> 00:22:02.259
 meditate upon it

00:22:02.259 --> 00:22:02.920
 or really practice

00:22:02.920 --> 00:22:04.059
 any spiritual disciplines

00:22:04.059 --> 00:22:04.460
 at all

00:22:04.460 --> 00:22:05.120
 is because

00:22:05.119 --> 00:22:05.959
 maybe you feel like

00:22:05.959 --> 00:22:06.379
 doing so

00:22:06.379 --> 00:22:07.319
 would just be fake

00:22:07.319 --> 00:22:08.839
 and inauthentic

00:22:08.839 --> 00:22:09.639
 to your shallow

00:22:09.639 --> 00:22:11.199
 or virtually non-existent

00:22:11.199 --> 00:22:13.239
 relationship with God.

00:22:13.399 --> 00:22:14.539
 And if that's you this morning,

00:22:14.639 --> 00:22:15.599
 one thing I want you to hear

00:22:15.599 --> 00:22:17.419
 is that even if you don't feel

00:22:17.419 --> 00:22:18.699
 like you have a relationship

00:22:18.699 --> 00:22:19.319
 with God

00:22:19.319 --> 00:22:20.500
 or aren't sure

00:22:20.500 --> 00:22:21.439
 if you could have

00:22:21.439 --> 00:22:22.399
 a relationship with God,

00:22:22.459 --> 00:22:23.239
 He wants you to know

00:22:23.239 --> 00:22:25.319
 that He has a relationship

00:22:25.319 --> 00:22:26.299
 with you

00:22:26.299 --> 00:22:28.179
 and He would love

00:22:28.179 --> 00:22:28.819
 to have more

00:22:28.819 --> 00:22:29.699
 of your attention.

00:22:30.519 --> 00:22:31.379
 Even if you don't

00:22:31.379 --> 00:22:32.039
 consider yourself

00:22:32.039 --> 00:22:32.579
 a Christian

00:22:32.579 --> 00:22:33.440
 this morning,

00:22:33.519 --> 00:22:34.220
 you're invited

00:22:34.220 --> 00:22:35.879
 into this practice

00:22:35.879 --> 00:22:37.200
 of meditation,

00:22:37.920 --> 00:22:39.259
 of drawing your attention

00:22:39.259 --> 00:22:40.059
 to this God

00:22:40.059 --> 00:22:41.180
 you're not even sure

00:22:41.180 --> 00:22:42.359
 that you can believe in.

00:22:42.460 --> 00:22:42.599
 See,

00:22:42.659 --> 00:22:43.339
 in this psalm,

00:22:43.639 --> 00:22:44.500
 meditation isn't just

00:22:44.500 --> 00:22:45.759
 something for super Christians.

00:22:46.359 --> 00:22:47.180
 I know it can seem

00:22:47.180 --> 00:22:47.579
 that way

00:22:47.579 --> 00:22:48.559
 with all the enthusiasm

00:22:48.559 --> 00:22:51.440
 that Melissa read

00:22:51.440 --> 00:22:52.599
 Psalm verse 97,

00:22:53.319 --> 00:22:54.019
 but actually,

00:22:54.200 --> 00:22:55.180
 if you follow this psalm

00:22:55.180 --> 00:22:56.899
 from verse 97 onward,

00:22:56.960 --> 00:22:57.420
 you can find

00:22:57.420 --> 00:22:58.019
 a sequence,

00:22:58.159 --> 00:22:58.720
 a progression,

00:22:58.720 --> 00:23:00.140
 a transforming effect

00:23:00.140 --> 00:23:01.079
 that's happening

00:23:01.079 --> 00:23:02.100
 in the heart and mind

00:23:02.100 --> 00:23:02.720
 and in the hands

00:23:02.720 --> 00:23:03.240
 of the psalmist

00:23:03.240 --> 00:23:05.220
 as he practices meditation.

00:23:05.960 --> 00:23:06.339
 So first,

00:23:06.420 --> 00:23:06.720
 what you see

00:23:06.720 --> 00:23:08.440
 in verses 97 and 99

00:23:08.440 --> 00:23:10.500
 is like the sustained meditation.

00:23:10.680 --> 00:23:11.319
 It's like the more

00:23:11.319 --> 00:23:12.900
 the psalmist meditates,

00:23:13.120 --> 00:23:14.319
 the more he experiences

00:23:14.319 --> 00:23:15.519
 the presence of God

00:23:15.519 --> 00:23:16.860
 and the wisdom of God.

00:23:17.220 --> 00:23:18.059
 In verse 98

00:23:18.059 --> 00:23:19.420
 and then in verse 99,

00:23:19.579 --> 00:23:20.819
 the more surprising insight

00:23:20.819 --> 00:23:22.720
 he discovers about life,

00:23:22.819 --> 00:23:23.799
 insight that his teachers

00:23:23.799 --> 00:23:25.720
 could never even offer him.

00:23:26.640 --> 00:23:27.460
 And then with that,

00:23:27.519 --> 00:23:28.360
 his life is changed.

00:23:28.359 --> 00:23:29.139
 He finds himself

00:23:29.139 --> 00:23:30.199
 gladly obeying

00:23:30.199 --> 00:23:31.019
 because of the wisdom

00:23:31.019 --> 00:23:31.500
 and insight

00:23:31.500 --> 00:23:32.240
 that he's discovered

00:23:32.240 --> 00:23:33.579
 in the law of the Lord.

00:23:33.679 --> 00:23:34.199
 Verse 100,

00:23:34.339 --> 00:23:35.359
 I have more understanding

00:23:35.359 --> 00:23:36.379
 than the elders

00:23:36.379 --> 00:23:38.359
 for I obey your precepts.

00:23:38.879 --> 00:23:40.039
 And not only is it

00:23:40.039 --> 00:23:41.059
 his life that's changed

00:23:41.059 --> 00:23:41.539
 for the better,

00:23:41.639 --> 00:23:42.299
 but his heart

00:23:42.299 --> 00:23:43.219
 and his desires

00:23:43.219 --> 00:23:44.159
 are changed as well.

00:23:44.240 --> 00:23:45.159
 He wants to obey.

00:23:45.459 --> 00:23:45.919
 Verse 101,

00:23:46.099 --> 00:23:47.000
 I have kept my feet

00:23:47.000 --> 00:23:48.019
 from every evil path

00:23:48.019 --> 00:23:50.039
 so that I might obey your word.

00:23:50.119 --> 00:23:51.039
 He even wants to be

00:23:51.039 --> 00:23:52.740
 in the presence of God.

00:23:53.059 --> 00:23:54.159
 He doesn't want to depart

00:23:54.159 --> 00:23:55.279
 from God in his words,

00:23:55.359 --> 00:23:56.139
 but sees himself

00:23:56.139 --> 00:23:57.039
 as having been

00:23:57.039 --> 00:23:57.979
 personally taught

00:23:57.980 --> 00:23:59.279
 and guided by God.

00:23:59.500 --> 00:23:59.980
 Verse 102,

00:24:00.259 --> 00:24:01.460
 I have not departed

00:24:01.460 --> 00:24:02.259
 from your laws

00:24:02.259 --> 00:24:03.120
 for you yourself

00:24:03.120 --> 00:24:04.019
 have taught me.

00:24:04.720 --> 00:24:05.579
 This sequence

00:24:05.579 --> 00:24:07.019
 that began with meditation

00:24:07.019 --> 00:24:08.920
 leads to further delight

00:24:08.920 --> 00:24:10.220
 in God's words.

00:24:10.700 --> 00:24:11.259
 Verse 103,

00:24:11.380 --> 00:24:13.039
 how sweet are your words

00:24:13.039 --> 00:24:13.680
 to my taste,

00:24:13.759 --> 00:24:14.460
 sweeter than honey

00:24:14.460 --> 00:24:15.279
 in my mouth.

00:24:15.319 --> 00:24:15.920
 In this sequence,

00:24:15.980 --> 00:24:17.200
 he grows in love

00:24:17.200 --> 00:24:18.380
 with God

00:24:18.380 --> 00:24:19.799
 and with what God says.

00:24:20.480 --> 00:24:21.579
 And he grows in hatred

00:24:21.579 --> 00:24:22.680
 toward the things

00:24:22.680 --> 00:24:23.759
 that lead away

00:24:23.759 --> 00:24:24.980
 from this amazing God.

00:24:24.980 --> 00:24:25.500
 God.

00:24:25.620 --> 00:24:26.240
 Verse 104,

00:24:26.500 --> 00:24:27.400
 I gain understanding

00:24:27.400 --> 00:24:29.000
 from your precepts,

00:24:29.000 --> 00:24:29.920
 therefore I hate

00:24:29.920 --> 00:24:31.720
 every wrong path.

00:24:32.860 --> 00:24:33.519
 And I point out

00:24:33.519 --> 00:24:34.140
 this sequence to you

00:24:34.140 --> 00:24:35.259
 to indicate that meditation

00:24:35.259 --> 00:24:36.920
 is a holy habit

00:24:36.920 --> 00:24:38.140
 that helps us maintain

00:24:38.140 --> 00:24:39.339
 and develop

00:24:39.339 --> 00:24:40.000
 and nurture

00:24:40.000 --> 00:24:41.519
 a proper and rightful

00:24:41.519 --> 00:24:43.240
 relationship with God.

00:24:43.279 --> 00:24:43.880
 When we practice

00:24:43.880 --> 00:24:44.839
 Christian meditation

00:24:44.839 --> 00:24:46.400
 of the scriptures,

00:24:46.980 --> 00:24:47.900
 we are tending

00:24:47.900 --> 00:24:48.900
 to our relationship

00:24:48.900 --> 00:24:49.500
 with God.

00:24:49.940 --> 00:24:50.799
 We are nurturing

00:24:50.799 --> 00:24:51.500
 our communion

00:24:51.500 --> 00:24:52.360
 with God

00:24:52.360 --> 00:24:53.079
 and we are growing

00:24:53.079 --> 00:24:54.119
 in it like a gardener

00:24:54.119 --> 00:24:54.919
 ever tending to

00:24:54.919 --> 00:24:55.579
 and developing

00:24:55.579 --> 00:24:56.679
 his garden.

00:24:57.279 --> 00:24:58.259
 Meditation isn't

00:24:58.259 --> 00:24:59.419
 something we graduate

00:24:59.419 --> 00:24:59.799
 from.

00:24:59.939 --> 00:25:01.139
 It's a daily habit

00:25:01.139 --> 00:25:02.460
 God calls us into

00:25:02.460 --> 00:25:03.759
 that continually

00:25:03.759 --> 00:25:04.939
 shapes us

00:25:04.939 --> 00:25:05.759
 and makes us more

00:25:05.759 --> 00:25:06.720
 like the one

00:25:06.720 --> 00:25:07.639
 we are beholding.

00:25:08.599 --> 00:25:09.319
 Blessed is the man

00:25:09.319 --> 00:25:09.879
 whose delight

00:25:09.879 --> 00:25:10.500
 is in the law

00:25:10.500 --> 00:25:10.899
 of the Lord

00:25:10.899 --> 00:25:11.579
 and on his law

00:25:11.579 --> 00:25:12.220
 he meditates

00:25:12.220 --> 00:25:13.419
 day and night

00:25:13.419 --> 00:25:14.819
 and he is like a tree

00:25:14.819 --> 00:25:16.000
 ever growing

00:25:16.000 --> 00:25:16.839
 and reaching

00:25:16.839 --> 00:25:17.919
 toward heaven

00:25:17.919 --> 00:25:18.779
 on high.

00:25:19.919 --> 00:25:20.480
 Meditation

00:25:20.480 --> 00:25:21.319
 is the practice

00:25:21.319 --> 00:25:22.439
 of maintenance

00:25:22.439 --> 00:25:23.619
 that guides

00:25:23.619 --> 00:25:24.779
 and preserves

00:25:24.779 --> 00:25:25.700
 the process

00:25:25.700 --> 00:25:27.460
 of who we are

00:25:27.460 --> 00:25:28.079
 becoming.

00:25:29.240 --> 00:25:30.019
 This is why

00:25:30.019 --> 00:25:30.639
 in his book

00:25:30.639 --> 00:25:31.299
 that I referenced

00:25:31.299 --> 00:25:32.220
 a couple weeks ago

00:25:32.220 --> 00:25:33.099
 The Common Rule

00:25:33.099 --> 00:25:33.879
 pick it up

00:25:33.879 --> 00:25:34.439
 if you haven't

00:25:34.439 --> 00:25:34.919
 already

00:25:34.919 --> 00:25:35.939
 just in early

00:25:35.939 --> 00:25:37.000
 he commends

00:25:37.000 --> 00:25:37.759
 a rule of life

00:25:37.759 --> 00:25:38.419
 in which we

00:25:38.419 --> 00:25:39.879
 modern western people

00:25:39.879 --> 00:25:41.299
 start our days

00:25:41.299 --> 00:25:42.019
 with scriptures

00:25:42.019 --> 00:25:42.939
 before phone.

00:25:43.839 --> 00:25:44.659
 Scripture before phone

00:25:44.659 --> 00:25:45.179
 is one of his

00:25:45.179 --> 00:25:46.099
 common rule of life

00:25:46.099 --> 00:25:46.759
 principles.

00:25:46.980 --> 00:25:47.519
 He writes this

00:25:47.519 --> 00:25:48.759
 who am I

00:25:48.759 --> 00:25:50.039
 and who am I

00:25:50.039 --> 00:25:50.500
 becoming

00:25:50.500 --> 00:25:51.119
 these are the

00:25:51.119 --> 00:25:51.659
 questions

00:25:51.659 --> 00:25:52.480
 our morning

00:25:52.480 --> 00:25:52.980
 routines

00:25:52.980 --> 00:25:53.819
 are inevitably

00:25:53.819 --> 00:25:54.779
 asking and

00:25:54.779 --> 00:25:55.799
 answering for us

00:25:55.799 --> 00:25:57.200
 but no words

00:25:57.200 --> 00:25:58.019
 except the words

00:25:58.019 --> 00:25:58.480
 of scripture

00:25:58.480 --> 00:25:59.420
 can bear the weight

00:25:59.420 --> 00:26:00.059
 of a response

00:26:00.059 --> 00:26:00.940
 to these questions.

00:26:01.779 --> 00:26:02.839
 The story of scripture

00:26:02.839 --> 00:26:03.519
 is clear.

00:26:04.159 --> 00:26:04.879
 We do not know

00:26:04.879 --> 00:26:05.500
 who we are

00:26:05.500 --> 00:26:06.579
 apart from the God

00:26:06.579 --> 00:26:07.200
 who made us

00:26:07.200 --> 00:26:08.359
 and we do not know

00:26:08.359 --> 00:26:09.460
 who we are becoming

00:26:09.460 --> 00:26:10.500
 apart from the God

00:26:10.500 --> 00:26:12.259
 who is renewing us.

00:26:13.220 --> 00:26:14.240
 Early would remind us

00:26:14.240 --> 00:26:14.960
 that we are made

00:26:14.960 --> 00:26:15.960
 in the image of God

00:26:15.960 --> 00:26:17.139
 meaning that we are

00:26:17.139 --> 00:26:18.019
 all like mirrors.

00:26:18.680 --> 00:26:19.180
 That's what it means

00:26:19.180 --> 00:26:19.720
 to be a human

00:26:19.720 --> 00:26:20.539
 to be a mirror

00:26:20.539 --> 00:26:21.839
 created to reflect

00:26:21.839 --> 00:26:23.380
 everything about God.

00:26:24.140 --> 00:26:25.579
 We are our truest selves

00:26:25.579 --> 00:26:26.620
 when we are reflecting

00:26:26.620 --> 00:26:27.839
 the image of this God

00:26:27.839 --> 00:26:29.240
 who is way bigger than us

00:26:29.240 --> 00:26:29.799
 but the problem

00:26:29.799 --> 00:26:31.000
 is sin, right?

00:26:31.500 --> 00:26:32.160
 When we chose

00:26:32.160 --> 00:26:32.940
 to give our attention

00:26:32.940 --> 00:26:34.720
 to other less worthy

00:26:34.720 --> 00:26:35.380
 things

00:26:35.380 --> 00:26:36.180
 the image of God

00:26:36.180 --> 00:26:36.940
 was broken.

00:26:37.799 --> 00:26:38.400
 It was broken.

00:26:38.500 --> 00:26:39.120
 We became like

00:26:39.120 --> 00:26:40.819
 broken shards of glass

00:26:40.819 --> 00:26:41.940
 broken human beings

00:26:41.940 --> 00:26:42.779
 who have forgotten

00:26:42.779 --> 00:26:43.600
 who we are

00:26:43.600 --> 00:26:45.220
 and what we were made

00:26:45.220 --> 00:26:45.860
 for.

00:26:46.740 --> 00:26:47.819
 So the only solution

00:26:47.819 --> 00:26:48.939
 is for us

00:26:48.939 --> 00:26:49.599
 to redirect

00:26:49.599 --> 00:26:50.500
 our attention

00:26:50.500 --> 00:26:51.939
 to give our attention

00:26:51.939 --> 00:26:52.939
 to our creator

00:26:52.939 --> 00:26:53.859
 once again

00:26:53.859 --> 00:26:55.119
 and to maintain

00:26:55.119 --> 00:26:56.159
 our daily rhythm

00:26:56.159 --> 00:26:56.839
 and habit

00:26:56.839 --> 00:26:57.939
 of turning ourselves

00:26:57.939 --> 00:26:58.480
 toward him

00:26:58.480 --> 00:26:59.859
 that we might reflect him

00:26:59.859 --> 00:27:01.139
 as the best version

00:27:01.139 --> 00:27:02.099
 of ourselves.

00:27:02.700 --> 00:27:03.679
 He continues to write

00:27:03.680 --> 00:27:04.299
 we become

00:27:04.299 --> 00:27:05.720
 what or who we reflect

00:27:05.720 --> 00:27:06.580
 which is to say

00:27:06.580 --> 00:27:07.140
 we become

00:27:07.140 --> 00:27:08.320
 what we pay attention to.

00:27:08.940 --> 00:27:09.720
 We can't become

00:27:09.720 --> 00:27:10.140
 ourselves

00:27:10.140 --> 00:27:10.799
 by ourselves

00:27:10.799 --> 00:27:11.560
 the way we discover

00:27:11.560 --> 00:27:12.000
 ourselves

00:27:12.000 --> 00:27:12.539
 is by staring

00:27:12.539 --> 00:27:13.340
 at someone else.

00:27:13.660 --> 00:27:14.440
 When we turn

00:27:14.440 --> 00:27:15.480
 our eyes

00:27:15.480 --> 00:27:16.279
 toward Jesus

00:27:16.279 --> 00:27:17.320
 only there

00:27:17.320 --> 00:27:18.220
 do we finally see

00:27:18.220 --> 00:27:18.940
 the kind of person

00:27:18.940 --> 00:27:19.560
 we were made

00:27:19.560 --> 00:27:20.460
 to be like.

00:27:20.880 --> 00:27:21.500
 We are children

00:27:21.500 --> 00:27:22.140
 of the king

00:27:22.140 --> 00:27:23.100
 perfectly loved

00:27:23.100 --> 00:27:23.740
 not because

00:27:23.740 --> 00:27:24.759
 that's just who we are

00:27:24.759 --> 00:27:25.560
 but because that's

00:27:25.560 --> 00:27:27.640
 who he is making us into.

00:27:28.360 --> 00:27:29.299
 Our most true

00:27:29.299 --> 00:27:30.279
 sense of identity

00:27:30.279 --> 00:27:30.700
 is found

00:27:30.700 --> 00:27:31.980
 only in the story

00:27:31.980 --> 00:27:33.299
 only in the scriptures

00:27:33.299 --> 00:27:34.259
 which tell of

00:27:34.259 --> 00:27:35.579
 who we are becoming

00:27:35.579 --> 00:27:36.680
 and the story

00:27:36.680 --> 00:27:37.120
 is found

00:27:37.120 --> 00:27:37.759
 in the words

00:27:37.759 --> 00:27:38.299
 of the Bible.

00:27:39.360 --> 00:27:40.120
 We can become

00:27:40.120 --> 00:27:40.519
 ourselves

00:27:40.519 --> 00:27:41.420
 only by gazing

00:27:41.420 --> 00:27:42.339
 on that story.

00:27:42.660 --> 00:27:43.240
 Every morning

00:27:43.240 --> 00:27:44.160
 there are other stories

00:27:44.160 --> 00:27:45.519
 competing for our identity.

00:27:45.920 --> 00:27:46.799
 The common rule habit

00:27:46.799 --> 00:27:47.980
 of scripture before phone

00:27:47.980 --> 00:27:48.700
 is intended

00:27:48.700 --> 00:27:49.279
 to cultivate

00:27:49.279 --> 00:27:49.839
 the habit

00:27:49.839 --> 00:27:50.900
 of resisting

00:27:50.900 --> 00:27:51.700
 those stories

00:27:51.700 --> 00:27:52.799
 and embracing

00:27:52.799 --> 00:27:54.079
 the true story.

00:27:55.200 --> 00:27:56.259
 So the holy habits

00:27:56.259 --> 00:27:56.920
 particularly

00:27:56.920 --> 00:27:58.319
 this holy habit

00:27:58.319 --> 00:27:59.000
 of meditation

00:27:59.000 --> 00:28:00.640
 is what keeps us

00:28:00.640 --> 00:28:01.039
 rooted.

00:28:01.039 --> 00:28:02.759
 rooted in God

00:28:02.759 --> 00:28:03.720
 and rooted

00:28:03.720 --> 00:28:04.720
 in God's story.

00:28:04.819 --> 00:28:05.440
 The holy habits

00:28:05.440 --> 00:28:06.079
 are practices

00:28:06.079 --> 00:28:07.420
 given to us

00:28:07.420 --> 00:28:07.960
 by God

00:28:07.960 --> 00:28:08.399
 in order that

00:28:08.399 --> 00:28:09.139
 we might give him

00:28:09.139 --> 00:28:10.220
 our utmost attention

00:28:10.220 --> 00:28:11.379
 and maintain

00:28:11.379 --> 00:28:12.500
 a regular rhythm

00:28:12.500 --> 00:28:13.279
 of communing

00:28:13.279 --> 00:28:13.700
 with him

00:28:13.700 --> 00:28:14.899
 hearing his voice

00:28:14.899 --> 00:28:15.700
 and enjoying

00:28:15.700 --> 00:28:16.740
 his presence.

00:28:17.940 --> 00:28:18.500
 Now I want to say

00:28:18.500 --> 00:28:19.159
 one last thing

00:28:19.159 --> 00:28:20.119
 about maintenance.

00:28:20.339 --> 00:28:20.720
 You know I think

00:28:20.720 --> 00:28:21.759
 for a lot of us

00:28:21.759 --> 00:28:23.180
 we hesitate

00:28:23.180 --> 00:28:23.659
 to take up

00:28:23.659 --> 00:28:24.299
 these holy habits

00:28:24.299 --> 00:28:25.740
 because it's hard

00:28:25.740 --> 00:28:26.680
 for us to believe

00:28:26.680 --> 00:28:27.859
 that they're worth

00:28:27.859 --> 00:28:28.319
 our time.

00:28:28.879 --> 00:28:28.980
 Right?

00:28:29.139 --> 00:28:29.539
 Honestly.

00:28:29.539 --> 00:28:31.180
 Doesn't meditation

00:28:31.180 --> 00:28:31.899
 feel more like

00:28:31.899 --> 00:28:32.359
 a privilege

00:28:32.359 --> 00:28:33.539
 than a priority?

00:28:34.460 --> 00:28:35.099
 Doesn't it feel

00:28:35.099 --> 00:28:35.879
 more costly

00:28:35.879 --> 00:28:36.720
 to not finish

00:28:36.720 --> 00:28:37.200
 the laundry

00:28:37.200 --> 00:28:38.460
 or the dishes

00:28:38.460 --> 00:28:39.420
 or to meet

00:28:39.420 --> 00:28:40.159
 our work deadlines

00:28:40.159 --> 00:28:40.819
 than to miss

00:28:40.819 --> 00:28:42.019
 our daily time

00:28:42.019 --> 00:28:42.619
 of meditation

00:28:42.619 --> 00:28:43.980
 in the word of God?

00:28:44.539 --> 00:28:45.240
 It doesn't seem

00:28:45.240 --> 00:28:45.960
 costly to skip

00:28:45.960 --> 00:28:46.759
 meditation, right?

00:28:47.819 --> 00:28:48.680
 Does it really

00:28:48.680 --> 00:28:49.420
 form me

00:28:49.420 --> 00:28:50.740
 that much better

00:28:50.740 --> 00:28:51.259
 when I

00:28:51.259 --> 00:28:52.680
 spend time

00:28:52.680 --> 00:28:53.059
 meditating

00:28:53.059 --> 00:28:53.539
 on the words

00:28:53.539 --> 00:28:53.960
 of scripture?

00:28:54.839 --> 00:28:55.180
 I think if we're

00:28:55.180 --> 00:28:55.639
 all honest

00:28:55.639 --> 00:28:56.319
 with ourselves

00:28:56.319 --> 00:28:57.319
 spending time

00:28:57.319 --> 00:28:57.839
 with God

00:28:57.839 --> 00:28:58.839
 and in his word

00:28:58.839 --> 00:28:59.220
 can seem

00:28:59.220 --> 00:28:59.960
 like a drag

00:28:59.960 --> 00:29:01.379
 and unfruitful

00:29:01.379 --> 00:29:03.019
 and worst of all

00:29:03.019 --> 00:29:03.799
 unproductive,

00:29:03.960 --> 00:29:04.240
 right?

00:29:05.200 --> 00:29:06.039
 And even when we

00:29:06.039 --> 00:29:06.740
 try to meditate

00:29:06.740 --> 00:29:07.339
 on the scriptures

00:29:07.339 --> 00:29:07.980
 we don't always

00:29:07.980 --> 00:29:08.899
 feel like a tree

00:29:08.899 --> 00:29:09.599
 being nourished

00:29:09.599 --> 00:29:10.839
 by a fresh river,

00:29:10.939 --> 00:29:11.159
 right?

00:29:11.319 --> 00:29:12.059
 Maybe we feel

00:29:12.059 --> 00:29:12.939
 like we're still

00:29:12.939 --> 00:29:13.879
 waiting for that season

00:29:13.879 --> 00:29:14.639
 we're supposedly

00:29:14.639 --> 00:29:16.079
 supposed to bear fruit

00:29:16.079 --> 00:29:17.379
 but it hasn't

00:29:17.379 --> 00:29:17.899
 come yet.

00:29:18.619 --> 00:29:19.539
 Maybe the idea

00:29:19.539 --> 00:29:20.200
 of meditating

00:29:20.200 --> 00:29:20.879
 on the Bible

00:29:20.879 --> 00:29:22.359
 seems even contrary

00:29:22.359 --> 00:29:23.359
 to our vision

00:29:23.359 --> 00:29:24.439
 of what it means

00:29:24.439 --> 00:29:25.079
 to be a fruitful

00:29:25.079 --> 00:29:26.339
 and healthy tree.

00:29:27.240 --> 00:29:27.899
 If that describes

00:29:27.899 --> 00:29:28.500
 you just like

00:29:28.500 --> 00:29:29.279
 it often describes

00:29:29.279 --> 00:29:29.919
 me, the question

00:29:29.919 --> 00:29:30.779
 for us I think

00:29:30.779 --> 00:29:32.000
 is what if

00:29:32.000 --> 00:29:32.539
 our vision

00:29:32.539 --> 00:29:33.579
 of a flourishing

00:29:33.579 --> 00:29:34.879
 fruitful tree

00:29:34.879 --> 00:29:36.819
 is wrong,

00:29:37.720 --> 00:29:38.299
 is off?

00:29:39.519 --> 00:29:40.159
 Last week

00:29:40.159 --> 00:29:40.839
 one of our members

00:29:40.839 --> 00:29:41.659
 Jonathan Chang

00:29:41.659 --> 00:29:42.119
 you might know

00:29:42.119 --> 00:29:42.559
 him as the

00:29:42.559 --> 00:29:43.159
 Jonathan of

00:29:43.159 --> 00:29:43.720
 Jonathan and

00:29:43.720 --> 00:29:44.259
 Carlene

00:29:44.259 --> 00:29:46.099
 he suggested

00:29:46.099 --> 00:29:47.059
 that I check

00:29:47.059 --> 00:29:47.659
 out this

00:29:47.659 --> 00:29:49.139
 local Oakland

00:29:49.139 --> 00:29:50.500
 atheist artist

00:29:50.500 --> 00:29:52.000
 and author

00:29:52.000 --> 00:29:53.179
 her name is

00:29:53.179 --> 00:29:53.879
 Jenny Odell

00:29:53.880 --> 00:29:54.820
 and he said

00:29:54.820 --> 00:29:55.100
 he thought

00:29:55.100 --> 00:29:55.300
 there would

00:29:55.300 --> 00:29:55.600
 be a lot

00:29:55.600 --> 00:29:56.080
 of overlap

00:29:56.080 --> 00:29:56.800
 between what

00:29:56.800 --> 00:29:57.460
 Jonathan and

00:29:57.460 --> 00:29:58.020
 I have been

00:29:58.020 --> 00:29:58.580
 preaching

00:29:58.580 --> 00:30:00.160
 and the last

00:30:00.160 --> 00:30:00.560
 two books

00:30:00.560 --> 00:30:01.100
 that she's written

00:30:01.100 --> 00:30:01.660
 so I listened

00:30:01.660 --> 00:30:02.220
 this week

00:30:02.220 --> 00:30:02.740
 on Audible

00:30:02.740 --> 00:30:04.500
 to her

00:30:04.500 --> 00:30:04.940
 New York Times

00:30:04.940 --> 00:30:05.460
 bestseller

00:30:05.460 --> 00:30:06.380
 it's titled

00:30:06.380 --> 00:30:07.120
 How to Do

00:30:07.120 --> 00:30:07.520
 Nothing

00:30:07.520 --> 00:30:08.940
 Resisting the

00:30:08.940 --> 00:30:09.940
 Attention Economy

00:30:09.940 --> 00:30:11.160
 and I was super

00:30:11.160 --> 00:30:11.800
 thankful for the

00:30:11.800 --> 00:30:12.240
 recommendation

00:30:12.240 --> 00:30:12.740
 thank you

00:30:12.740 --> 00:30:13.040
 Jonathan

00:30:13.040 --> 00:30:14.740
 now first

00:30:14.740 --> 00:30:15.520
 you might think

00:30:15.520 --> 00:30:16.400
 that this would

00:30:16.400 --> 00:30:16.820
 just be another

00:30:16.820 --> 00:30:17.360
 book you know

00:30:17.360 --> 00:30:18.020
 critiquing the

00:30:18.020 --> 00:30:19.100
 attention economy

00:30:19.100 --> 00:30:19.780
 warning us

00:30:19.780 --> 00:30:20.480
 about the dangers

00:30:20.480 --> 00:30:20.900
 of it

00:30:20.900 --> 00:30:21.720
 another book

00:30:21.720 --> 00:30:22.200
 about maybe

00:30:22.200 --> 00:30:22.920
 self-care

00:30:22.920 --> 00:30:23.400
 and how to

00:30:23.400 --> 00:30:23.680
 fight

00:30:23.680 --> 00:30:24.160
 you know

00:30:24.160 --> 00:30:24.539
 the hustle

00:30:24.539 --> 00:30:25.039
 culture

00:30:25.039 --> 00:30:26.519
 but what made

00:30:26.519 --> 00:30:27.100
 Jenny's book

00:30:27.100 --> 00:30:27.820
 stand out to me

00:30:27.820 --> 00:30:28.420
 was that she

00:30:28.420 --> 00:30:28.940
 wasn't simply

00:30:28.940 --> 00:30:29.680
 offering the same

00:30:29.680 --> 00:30:30.380
 critique or

00:30:30.380 --> 00:30:31.360
 life advice

00:30:31.360 --> 00:30:31.960
 that you'd find

00:30:31.960 --> 00:30:32.420
 in all these

00:30:32.420 --> 00:30:32.920
 other books

00:30:32.920 --> 00:30:33.420
 she's not

00:30:33.420 --> 00:30:34.440
 anti-technology

00:30:34.440 --> 00:30:35.720
 and she's

00:30:35.720 --> 00:30:36.640
 actually quite

00:30:36.640 --> 00:30:37.640
 annoyed at how

00:30:37.640 --> 00:30:38.620
 self-care and

00:30:38.620 --> 00:30:39.400
 mindfulness have

00:30:39.400 --> 00:30:39.759
 become

00:30:39.759 --> 00:30:40.800
 commercialized

00:30:40.800 --> 00:30:42.200
 and most

00:30:42.200 --> 00:30:42.700
 importantly

00:30:42.700 --> 00:30:44.420
 she is also

00:30:44.420 --> 00:30:45.000
 very critical

00:30:45.000 --> 00:30:45.740
 of the way

00:30:45.740 --> 00:30:46.779
 self-care and

00:30:46.779 --> 00:30:47.880
 Sabbath have been

00:30:47.880 --> 00:30:49.039
 promoted for

00:30:49.039 --> 00:30:49.980
 the sake of

00:30:49.980 --> 00:30:50.960
 more productivity

00:30:50.960 --> 00:30:51.759
 and more

00:30:51.759 --> 00:30:52.460
 optimization

00:30:52.460 --> 00:30:54.019
 for Jenny

00:30:54.019 --> 00:30:54.620
 O'Dell her

00:30:54.620 --> 00:30:55.660
 commendation to

00:30:55.660 --> 00:30:56.600
 us to do

00:30:56.600 --> 00:30:57.620
 nothing more

00:30:57.620 --> 00:30:59.019
 is not for the

00:30:59.019 --> 00:30:59.740
 sake of making

00:30:59.740 --> 00:31:00.900
 us more efficient

00:31:00.900 --> 00:31:01.640
 and productive

00:31:01.640 --> 00:31:02.799
 and optimized

00:31:02.799 --> 00:31:03.680
 but actually

00:31:03.680 --> 00:31:05.180
 she commends

00:31:05.180 --> 00:31:06.600
 to us to do

00:31:06.600 --> 00:31:08.079
 nothing as an

00:31:08.079 --> 00:31:09.380
 act of resistance

00:31:09.380 --> 00:31:11.019
 against a culture

00:31:11.019 --> 00:31:11.759
 that's all about

00:31:11.759 --> 00:31:12.880
 shallow attention

00:31:12.880 --> 00:31:14.380
 and just hooked on

00:31:14.380 --> 00:31:15.420
 continually churning

00:31:15.420 --> 00:31:16.680
 out new product

00:31:16.680 --> 00:31:17.500
 after new product

00:31:17.500 --> 00:31:18.160
 after new product

00:31:18.160 --> 00:31:18.620
 she writes

00:31:18.620 --> 00:31:19.940
 beyond self-care

00:31:19.940 --> 00:31:20.420
 the practice

00:31:20.420 --> 00:31:21.279
 of doing nothing

00:31:21.279 --> 00:31:22.180
 has something

00:31:22.180 --> 00:31:23.040
 broader to offer

00:31:23.040 --> 00:31:24.080
 us an antidote

00:31:24.080 --> 00:31:24.920
 to the rhetoric

00:31:24.920 --> 00:31:25.840
 of growth

00:31:25.840 --> 00:31:26.740
 she says

00:31:26.740 --> 00:31:27.200
 look around

00:31:27.200 --> 00:31:27.940
 everywhere else

00:31:27.940 --> 00:31:28.960
 in the organic

00:31:28.960 --> 00:31:29.460
 health

00:31:29.460 --> 00:31:30.220
 biological

00:31:30.220 --> 00:31:30.900
 ecological

00:31:30.900 --> 00:31:31.540
 world

00:31:31.540 --> 00:31:32.440
 when we see

00:31:32.440 --> 00:31:33.940
 things that grow

00:31:33.940 --> 00:31:34.880
 unchecked

00:31:34.880 --> 00:31:36.140
 we consider those

00:31:36.140 --> 00:31:36.860
 things as

00:31:36.860 --> 00:31:37.800
 cancerous

00:31:37.800 --> 00:31:38.140
 right

00:31:38.140 --> 00:31:39.500
 or as parasitic

00:31:39.500 --> 00:31:41.500
 yet we inhabit

00:31:41.500 --> 00:31:42.040
 a culture

00:31:42.040 --> 00:31:43.040
 that privileges

00:31:43.040 --> 00:31:44.360
 novelty and growth

00:31:44.360 --> 00:31:45.600
 over the cyclical

00:31:45.600 --> 00:31:46.680
 and the regenerative

00:31:46.680 --> 00:31:48.000
 our very idea

00:31:48.000 --> 00:31:48.759
 of productivity

00:31:48.759 --> 00:31:49.500
 is premised

00:31:49.500 --> 00:31:50.100
 on the idea

00:31:50.100 --> 00:31:50.620
 of producing

00:31:50.620 --> 00:31:51.500
 something new

00:31:51.500 --> 00:31:52.420
 whereas we do

00:31:52.420 --> 00:31:53.180
 not tend to see

00:31:53.180 --> 00:31:53.720
 maintenance

00:31:53.720 --> 00:31:55.340
 and care

00:31:55.340 --> 00:31:56.620
 as productive

00:31:56.620 --> 00:31:57.940
 in the same way

00:31:57.940 --> 00:31:59.580
 and this has really

00:31:59.580 --> 00:32:00.480
 stuck with me

00:32:00.480 --> 00:32:01.400
 this idea that

00:32:01.400 --> 00:32:02.840
 care and maintenance

00:32:02.840 --> 00:32:03.580
 should be valued

00:32:03.580 --> 00:32:04.519
 just as much

00:32:04.519 --> 00:32:05.460
 if not more

00:32:05.460 --> 00:32:06.519
 than novelty

00:32:06.519 --> 00:32:08.000
 and mere production

00:32:08.000 --> 00:32:09.279
 completing new tasks

00:32:09.279 --> 00:32:10.400
 making more new products

00:32:10.400 --> 00:32:11.299
 downloading more new

00:32:11.299 --> 00:32:12.060
 information

00:32:12.060 --> 00:32:13.000
 consuming more

00:32:13.000 --> 00:32:14.120
 new content

00:32:14.120 --> 00:32:15.400
 more and more

00:32:15.400 --> 00:32:16.200
 I think the picture

00:32:16.200 --> 00:32:16.900
 of the tree

00:32:16.900 --> 00:32:17.759
 in Psalm 1

00:32:17.759 --> 00:32:19.200
 the blessed person

00:32:19.200 --> 00:32:19.800
 who meditates

00:32:19.800 --> 00:32:20.340
 on the law

00:32:20.340 --> 00:32:20.820
 of the Lord

00:32:20.820 --> 00:32:21.500
 day and night

00:32:21.500 --> 00:32:22.019
 and who is like

00:32:22.019 --> 00:32:22.440
 a tree

00:32:22.440 --> 00:32:23.460
 planted by

00:32:23.460 --> 00:32:24.100
 a river

00:32:24.100 --> 00:32:24.600
 I don't think

00:32:24.600 --> 00:32:25.019
 it's a picture

00:32:25.019 --> 00:32:25.560
 of someone

00:32:25.560 --> 00:32:25.980
 who is

00:32:25.980 --> 00:32:26.800
 making it

00:32:26.800 --> 00:32:27.580
 their primary

00:32:27.580 --> 00:32:28.480
 their number one

00:32:28.480 --> 00:32:29.259
 priority

00:32:29.259 --> 00:32:30.460
 to produce more

00:32:30.460 --> 00:32:32.360
 no fruit

00:32:32.360 --> 00:32:33.300
 is just a natural

00:32:33.300 --> 00:32:34.180
 byproduct

00:32:34.180 --> 00:32:35.259
 of health

00:32:35.259 --> 00:32:37.080
 I think Psalm 1

00:32:37.080 --> 00:32:37.660
 is a picture

00:32:37.660 --> 00:32:38.440
 of a tree

00:32:38.440 --> 00:32:38.980
 that's simply

00:32:38.980 --> 00:32:39.560
 focused

00:32:39.560 --> 00:32:41.019
 on being a healthy

00:32:41.019 --> 00:32:41.380
 tree

00:32:41.380 --> 00:32:43.840
 on deepening

00:32:43.840 --> 00:32:44.420
 its roots

00:32:44.420 --> 00:32:45.279
 into the river

00:32:45.279 --> 00:32:45.900
 maintaining

00:32:45.900 --> 00:32:47.220
 its relationship

00:32:47.220 --> 00:32:48.900
 with that stream

00:32:48.900 --> 00:32:50.519
 and the fruit

00:32:50.519 --> 00:32:51.640
 doesn't come

00:32:51.640 --> 00:32:52.039
 immediately

00:32:52.039 --> 00:32:52.500
 or even

00:32:52.500 --> 00:32:53.140
 all the time

00:32:53.140 --> 00:32:53.340
 right

00:32:53.340 --> 00:32:53.880
 no the promise

00:32:53.880 --> 00:32:54.400
 is just that

00:32:54.400 --> 00:32:54.980
 it eventually

00:32:54.980 --> 00:32:55.539
 comes

00:32:55.539 --> 00:32:56.779
 in season

00:32:56.779 --> 00:32:57.560
 perhaps

00:32:57.560 --> 00:32:58.640
 even in a season

00:32:58.640 --> 00:32:59.940
 a long way off

00:32:59.940 --> 00:33:00.700
 and yet

00:33:00.700 --> 00:33:01.300
 in God's

00:33:01.300 --> 00:33:02.500
 perfect timing

00:33:02.500 --> 00:33:04.360
 and my question

00:33:04.360 --> 00:33:04.759
 for us

00:33:04.759 --> 00:33:05.200
 is what if

00:33:05.200 --> 00:33:05.800
 that's the kind

00:33:05.800 --> 00:33:06.220
 of tree

00:33:06.220 --> 00:33:07.320
 God wants us

00:33:07.320 --> 00:33:07.700
 to be

00:33:07.700 --> 00:33:09.160
 as we devote

00:33:09.160 --> 00:33:09.560
 ourselves

00:33:09.560 --> 00:33:10.279
 to meditation

00:33:10.279 --> 00:33:11.220
 upon his words

00:33:11.220 --> 00:33:12.180
 with seemingly

00:33:12.180 --> 00:33:12.920
 little to show

00:33:12.920 --> 00:33:13.700
 for it sometimes

00:33:13.700 --> 00:33:15.519
 what if

00:33:15.519 --> 00:33:16.400
 for a time

00:33:16.400 --> 00:33:16.880
 we are called

00:33:16.880 --> 00:33:17.620
 to be rejected

00:33:17.620 --> 00:33:18.059
 trees

00:33:18.059 --> 00:33:18.620
 seen by

00:33:18.620 --> 00:33:19.740
 everybody else

00:33:19.740 --> 00:33:20.600
 as unproductive

00:33:20.600 --> 00:33:21.420
 and unfruitful

00:33:21.420 --> 00:33:21.940
 and ugly

00:33:21.940 --> 00:33:22.860
 and useless

00:33:22.860 --> 00:33:23.620
 because we're not

00:33:23.620 --> 00:33:25.019
 rooted in workaholism

00:33:25.019 --> 00:33:26.740
 and in anxious

00:33:26.740 --> 00:33:27.240
 hustling

00:33:27.240 --> 00:33:27.880
 but because we're

00:33:27.880 --> 00:33:29.500
 rooted in Christ

00:33:29.500 --> 00:33:31.279
 in her book

00:33:31.279 --> 00:33:31.860
 Jenny points

00:33:31.860 --> 00:33:33.380
 to this 500 year old

00:33:33.380 --> 00:33:34.059
 tree in Oakland

00:33:34.059 --> 00:33:35.039
 it's called

00:33:35.039 --> 00:33:35.819
 old survivor

00:33:35.819 --> 00:33:36.920
 it's the last

00:33:36.920 --> 00:33:37.400
 remaining

00:33:37.400 --> 00:33:38.680
 old growth

00:33:38.680 --> 00:33:39.240
 tree

00:33:39.240 --> 00:33:39.920
 it's the only

00:33:39.920 --> 00:33:41.059
 pre gold rush

00:33:41.059 --> 00:33:41.819
 tree that the

00:33:41.819 --> 00:33:42.440
 loggers didn't

00:33:42.440 --> 00:33:42.980
 cut down

00:33:42.980 --> 00:33:43.920
 because one

00:33:43.920 --> 00:33:44.380
 it was too

00:33:44.380 --> 00:33:44.840
 hard to get

00:33:44.840 --> 00:33:45.039
 to

00:33:45.039 --> 00:33:45.320
 it was on

00:33:45.320 --> 00:33:45.660
 a steep

00:33:45.660 --> 00:33:46.559
 little hill

00:33:46.559 --> 00:33:48.279
 it was a lot

00:33:48.279 --> 00:33:48.820
 shorter than

00:33:48.820 --> 00:33:49.160
 the other

00:33:49.160 --> 00:33:49.799
 redwoods

00:33:49.799 --> 00:33:50.320
 so they're

00:33:50.320 --> 00:33:51.259
 like we don't

00:33:51.259 --> 00:33:51.559
 really need

00:33:51.559 --> 00:33:52.000
 to get that

00:33:52.000 --> 00:33:52.180
 one

00:33:52.180 --> 00:33:52.500
 and also

00:33:52.500 --> 00:33:52.779
 it had

00:33:52.779 --> 00:33:53.160
 like a

00:33:53.160 --> 00:33:53.660
 strange

00:33:53.660 --> 00:33:54.440
 twisted shape

00:33:54.440 --> 00:33:54.759
 that made

00:33:54.759 --> 00:33:55.019
 it less

00:33:55.019 --> 00:33:55.440
 attractive

00:33:55.440 --> 00:33:56.200
 and less

00:33:56.200 --> 00:33:56.640
 valuable

00:33:56.640 --> 00:33:58.160
 for timber

00:33:58.160 --> 00:33:59.980
 and yet

00:33:59.980 --> 00:34:00.640
 there it

00:34:00.640 --> 00:34:01.340
 stands today

00:34:01.340 --> 00:34:02.100
 as the only

00:34:02.100 --> 00:34:02.660
 one left

00:34:02.660 --> 00:34:03.080
 it's the

00:34:03.080 --> 00:34:03.420
 old

00:34:03.420 --> 00:34:04.180
 survivor

00:34:04.180 --> 00:34:04.759
 precisely

00:34:04.759 --> 00:34:05.660
 because

00:34:05.660 --> 00:34:07.120
 it was just

00:34:07.120 --> 00:34:07.720
 being a tree

00:34:07.720 --> 00:34:09.280
 and yet deemed

00:34:09.280 --> 00:34:09.880
 useless

00:34:09.880 --> 00:34:10.640
 by the

00:34:10.640 --> 00:34:11.160
 industrial

00:34:11.160 --> 00:34:11.760
 impulse

00:34:11.760 --> 00:34:12.260
 toward

00:34:12.260 --> 00:34:13.300
 productivity

00:34:13.300 --> 00:34:15.260
 and to me

00:34:15.260 --> 00:34:15.900
 this is a

00:34:15.900 --> 00:34:16.440
 picture of

00:34:16.440 --> 00:34:16.920
 the narrow

00:34:16.920 --> 00:34:17.700
 way of

00:34:17.700 --> 00:34:18.019
 Jesus

00:34:18.019 --> 00:34:18.519
 where the

00:34:18.519 --> 00:34:18.880
 stone

00:34:18.880 --> 00:34:19.420
 the builders

00:34:19.420 --> 00:34:19.920
 rejected

00:34:19.920 --> 00:34:20.519
 has become

00:34:20.519 --> 00:34:20.940
 the chief

00:34:20.940 --> 00:34:21.619
 cornerstone

00:34:21.619 --> 00:34:22.940
 and for us

00:34:22.940 --> 00:34:23.220
 who have

00:34:23.220 --> 00:34:23.740
 eyes to see

00:34:23.740 --> 00:34:24.079
 it is

00:34:24.079 --> 00:34:24.500
 marvelous

00:34:24.500 --> 00:34:25.019
 in our

00:34:25.019 --> 00:34:25.380
 eyes

00:34:25.380 --> 00:34:25.740
 right

00:34:25.740 --> 00:34:26.740
 for the

00:34:26.740 --> 00:34:27.160
 word of the

00:34:27.160 --> 00:34:27.480
 cross

00:34:27.480 --> 00:34:27.940
 is folly

00:34:27.940 --> 00:34:28.380
 to those

00:34:28.380 --> 00:34:28.599
 who are

00:34:28.599 --> 00:34:29.079
 perishing

00:34:29.079 --> 00:34:29.440
 but to

00:34:29.440 --> 00:34:29.720
 those

00:34:29.720 --> 00:34:30.320
 of us

00:34:30.320 --> 00:34:30.519
 who are

00:34:30.519 --> 00:34:30.720
 being

00:34:30.720 --> 00:34:31.180
 saved

00:34:31.180 --> 00:34:31.460
 it is

00:34:31.460 --> 00:34:31.680
 what

00:34:31.680 --> 00:34:31.920
 it's

00:34:31.920 --> 00:34:32.079
 the

00:34:32.079 --> 00:34:32.519
 power

00:34:32.519 --> 00:34:33.200
 of

00:34:33.200 --> 00:34:33.660
 God

00:34:33.660 --> 00:34:35.280
 and this

00:34:35.280 --> 00:34:35.680
 power

00:34:35.680 --> 00:34:36.099
 is for

00:34:36.099 --> 00:34:36.480
 us

00:34:36.480 --> 00:34:37.400
 if we

00:34:37.400 --> 00:34:37.579
 will

00:34:37.579 --> 00:34:37.940
 meditate

00:34:37.940 --> 00:34:38.860
 upon his

00:34:38.860 --> 00:34:39.280
 words

00:34:39.280 --> 00:34:40.420
 and believe

00:34:40.420 --> 00:34:40.660
 him

00:34:40.660 --> 00:34:40.980
 when he

00:34:40.980 --> 00:34:41.240
 says

00:34:41.240 --> 00:34:41.800
 man shall

00:34:41.800 --> 00:34:42.300
 not live

00:34:42.300 --> 00:34:42.800
 by bread

00:34:42.800 --> 00:34:43.200
 alone

00:34:43.200 --> 00:34:43.840
 but by

00:34:43.840 --> 00:34:44.600
 every word

00:34:44.600 --> 00:34:45.420
 that comes

00:34:45.420 --> 00:34:45.940
 from the

00:34:45.940 --> 00:34:46.260
 mouth

00:34:46.260 --> 00:34:47.080
 of God

00:34:47.080 --> 00:34:48.640
 and has

00:34:48.640 --> 00:34:48.960
 he not

00:34:48.960 --> 00:34:49.680
 shown us

00:34:49.680 --> 00:34:50.680
 the power

00:34:50.680 --> 00:34:51.519
 and truth

00:34:51.519 --> 00:34:51.980
 of these

00:34:51.980 --> 00:34:52.320
 words

00:34:52.320 --> 00:34:52.620
 in his

00:34:52.620 --> 00:34:52.960
 living

00:34:52.960 --> 00:34:53.540
 and in

00:34:53.540 --> 00:34:54.100
 his dying

00:34:54.100 --> 00:34:54.600
 and in

00:34:54.600 --> 00:34:55.060
 his living

00:34:55.060 --> 00:34:55.420
 again

00:34:55.420 --> 00:34:55.960
 in every

00:34:55.960 --> 00:34:56.500
 circumstance

00:34:56.500 --> 00:34:57.000
 in joy

00:34:57.000 --> 00:34:57.360
 and in

00:34:57.360 --> 00:34:57.580
 sorrow

00:34:57.580 --> 00:34:57.940
 he was

00:34:57.940 --> 00:34:58.340
 always

00:34:58.340 --> 00:34:59.140
 meditating

00:34:59.140 --> 00:34:59.960
 upon the

00:34:59.960 --> 00:35:00.340
 words

00:35:00.340 --> 00:35:00.900
 of his

00:35:00.900 --> 00:35:01.260
 father

00:35:01.260 --> 00:35:01.900
 day

00:35:01.900 --> 00:35:02.360
 and

00:35:02.360 --> 00:35:02.780
 night

00:35:02.780 --> 00:35:04.580
 this

00:35:04.580 --> 00:35:04.960
 is the

00:35:04.960 --> 00:35:05.340
 God

00:35:05.340 --> 00:35:06.080
 we are

00:35:06.080 --> 00:35:06.400
 called

00:35:06.400 --> 00:35:06.980
 to give

00:35:06.980 --> 00:35:07.100
 our

00:35:07.100 --> 00:35:07.380
 attention

00:35:07.380 --> 00:35:07.720
 to

00:35:07.719 --> 00:35:08.559
 this

00:35:08.559 --> 00:35:08.819
 is the

00:35:08.819 --> 00:35:08.959
 kind

00:35:08.959 --> 00:35:09.079
 of

00:35:09.079 --> 00:35:09.339
 God

00:35:09.339 --> 00:35:09.500
 who

00:35:09.500 --> 00:35:09.659
 is

00:35:09.659 --> 00:35:10.039
 worthy

00:35:10.039 --> 00:35:10.519
 of

00:35:10.519 --> 00:35:10.679
 our

00:35:10.679 --> 00:35:11.119
 utmost

00:35:11.119 --> 00:35:11.839
 attention

00:35:11.839 --> 00:35:12.079
 he

00:35:12.079 --> 00:35:12.239
 is

00:35:12.239 --> 00:35:12.399
 the

00:35:12.399 --> 00:35:12.779
 vine

00:35:12.779 --> 00:35:13.239
 of

00:35:13.239 --> 00:35:13.559
 life

00:35:13.559 --> 00:35:13.739
 who

00:35:13.739 --> 00:35:14.099
 invites

00:35:14.099 --> 00:35:14.319
 us

00:35:14.319 --> 00:35:14.500
 to

00:35:14.500 --> 00:35:15.000
 abide

00:35:15.000 --> 00:35:15.219
 in

00:35:15.219 --> 00:35:15.519
 him

00:35:15.519 --> 00:35:15.959
 as

00:35:15.959 --> 00:35:16.119
 his

00:35:16.119 --> 00:35:16.319
 life

00:35:16.319 --> 00:35:16.539
 giving

00:35:16.539 --> 00:35:16.980
 words

00:35:16.980 --> 00:35:17.699
 abide

00:35:17.699 --> 00:35:17.879
 in

00:35:17.879 --> 00:35:18.259
 us

00:35:18.259 --> 00:35:19.399
 so

00:35:19.399 --> 00:35:19.599
 let's

00:35:19.599 --> 00:35:19.719
 be

00:35:19.719 --> 00:35:19.899
 that

00:35:19.899 --> 00:35:20.079
 kind

00:35:20.079 --> 00:35:20.179
 of

00:35:20.179 --> 00:35:20.480
 people

00:35:20.480 --> 00:35:21.179
 let's

00:35:21.179 --> 00:35:21.299
 be

00:35:21.299 --> 00:35:21.500
 those

00:35:21.500 --> 00:35:21.699
 kinds

00:35:21.699 --> 00:35:21.839
 of

00:35:21.839 --> 00:35:22.159
 trees

00:35:22.159 --> 00:35:22.419
 better

00:35:22.419 --> 00:35:22.579
 yet

00:35:22.579 --> 00:35:22.779
 let's

00:35:22.779 --> 00:35:22.899
 be

00:35:22.899 --> 00:35:23.039
 a

00:35:23.039 --> 00:35:23.339
 garden

00:35:23.339 --> 00:35:24.279
 here

00:35:24.279 --> 00:35:24.399
 in

00:35:24.399 --> 00:35:24.480
 the

00:35:24.480 --> 00:35:24.679
 east

00:35:24.679 --> 00:35:24.939
 bay

00:35:24.939 --> 00:35:26.239
 for

00:35:26.239 --> 00:35:26.559
 the

00:35:26.559 --> 00:35:26.799
 glory

00:35:26.799 --> 00:35:26.959
 of

00:35:26.959 --> 00:35:27.279
 God

00:35:27.279 --> 00:35:28.239
 and

00:35:28.239 --> 00:35:28.339
 for

00:35:28.339 --> 00:35:28.459
 the

00:35:28.459 --> 00:35:28.559
 good

00:35:28.559 --> 00:35:28.659
 of

00:35:28.659 --> 00:35:28.759
 our

00:35:28.759 --> 00:35:29.199
 neighbors

00:35:29.199 --> 00:35:30.159
 let's

00:35:30.159 --> 00:35:30.379
 pray

00:35:30.380 --> 00:35:35.340
 Lord

00:35:35.340 --> 00:35:35.800
 make us

00:35:35.800 --> 00:35:36.079
 like

00:35:36.079 --> 00:35:36.360
 that

00:35:36.360 --> 00:35:36.660
 kind

00:35:36.660 --> 00:35:36.760
 of

00:35:36.760 --> 00:35:36.900
 a

00:35:36.900 --> 00:35:37.119
 tree

00:35:37.119 --> 00:35:39.700
 would

00:35:39.700 --> 00:35:39.820
 you

00:35:39.820 --> 00:35:40.099
 save

00:35:40.099 --> 00:35:40.420
 us

00:35:40.420 --> 00:35:40.800
 from

00:35:40.800 --> 00:35:41.480
 superficial

00:35:41.480 --> 00:35:42.340
 understandings

00:35:42.340 --> 00:35:42.519
 of

00:35:42.519 --> 00:35:43.099
 productivity

00:35:43.099 --> 00:35:43.440
 and

00:35:43.440 --> 00:35:44.000
 usefulness

00:35:44.000 --> 00:35:44.160
 and

00:35:44.160 --> 00:35:44.380
 worth

00:35:44.380 --> 00:35:44.559
 and

00:35:44.559 --> 00:35:44.880
 value

00:35:44.880 --> 00:35:45.099
 would

00:35:45.099 --> 00:35:45.180
 you

00:35:45.180 --> 00:35:45.360
 give

00:35:45.360 --> 00:35:45.519
 us

00:35:45.519 --> 00:35:46.019
 the

00:35:46.019 --> 00:35:46.380
 mind

00:35:46.380 --> 00:35:46.820
 and

00:35:46.820 --> 00:35:47.099
 eyes

00:35:47.099 --> 00:35:47.260
 of

00:35:47.260 --> 00:35:47.539
 Christ

00:35:47.539 --> 00:35:47.700
 and

00:35:47.700 --> 00:35:47.840
 would

00:35:47.840 --> 00:35:47.940
 you

00:35:47.940 --> 00:35:48.099
 do

00:35:48.099 --> 00:35:48.320
 that

00:35:48.320 --> 00:35:48.480
 in

00:35:48.480 --> 00:35:48.640
 us

00:35:48.640 --> 00:35:48.820
 as

00:35:48.820 --> 00:35:48.960
 we

00:35:48.960 --> 00:35:49.300
 meditate

00:35:49.300 --> 00:35:49.599
 upon

00:35:49.599 --> 00:35:49.780
 your

00:35:49.780 --> 00:35:49.980
 word

00:35:49.980 --> 00:35:50.119
 would

00:35:50.119 --> 00:35:50.220
 you

00:35:50.220 --> 00:35:50.579
 shape

00:35:50.579 --> 00:35:50.760
 our

00:35:50.760 --> 00:35:51.059
 minds

00:35:51.059 --> 00:35:51.220
 and

00:35:51.220 --> 00:35:51.579
 shape

00:35:51.579 --> 00:35:51.780
 our

00:35:51.780 --> 00:35:52.180
 hearts

00:35:52.180 --> 00:35:52.940
 and

00:35:52.940 --> 00:35:53.240
 shape

00:35:53.240 --> 00:35:53.420
 our

00:35:53.420 --> 00:35:53.900
 lives

00:35:53.900 --> 00:35:55.180
 after

00:35:55.180 --> 00:35:55.340
 the

00:35:55.340 --> 00:35:55.579
 pattern

00:35:55.579 --> 00:35:55.740
 of

00:35:55.740 --> 00:35:56.019
 Jesus

00:35:56.019 --> 00:35:57.800
 he

00:35:57.800 --> 00:35:58.140
 is

00:35:58.140 --> 00:35:58.400
 the

00:35:58.400 --> 00:35:58.780
 ultimate

00:35:58.780 --> 00:35:59.240
 tree

00:35:59.240 --> 00:35:59.420
 of

00:35:59.420 --> 00:35:59.780
 someone

00:35:59.780 --> 00:36:01.580
 even

00:36:01.580 --> 00:36:01.800
 though

00:36:01.800 --> 00:36:01.960
 he

00:36:01.960 --> 00:36:02.100
 was

00:36:02.100 --> 00:36:02.340
 one

00:36:02.340 --> 00:36:02.600
 who

00:36:02.600 --> 00:36:03.440
 died

00:36:03.440 --> 00:36:03.620
 and

00:36:03.620 --> 00:36:03.800
 was

00:36:03.800 --> 00:36:04.080
 cursed

00:36:04.080 --> 00:36:04.360
 upon

00:36:04.360 --> 00:36:04.560
 a

00:36:04.560 --> 00:36:04.740
 tree

00:36:04.740 --> 00:36:05.019
 he

00:36:05.019 --> 00:36:05.340
 rose

00:36:05.340 --> 00:36:05.660
 again

00:36:05.660 --> 00:36:05.840
 to

00:36:05.840 --> 00:36:06.060
 show

00:36:06.060 --> 00:36:06.420
 us

00:36:06.420 --> 00:36:08.040
 that

00:36:08.040 --> 00:36:08.180
 we

00:36:08.180 --> 00:36:08.340
 can

00:36:08.340 --> 00:36:08.720
 trust

00:36:08.720 --> 00:36:08.860
 in

00:36:08.860 --> 00:36:08.980
 your

00:36:08.980 --> 00:36:09.200
 word

00:36:09.200 --> 00:36:09.340
 we

00:36:09.340 --> 00:36:09.500
 can

00:36:09.500 --> 00:36:09.700
 love

00:36:09.700 --> 00:36:09.860
 your

00:36:09.860 --> 00:36:10.060
 word

00:36:10.060 --> 00:36:10.200
 we

00:36:10.200 --> 00:36:10.360
 can

00:36:10.360 --> 00:36:10.720
 dedicate

00:36:10.720 --> 00:36:11.220
 ourselves

00:36:11.220 --> 00:36:11.540
 to

00:36:11.540 --> 00:36:11.800
 it

00:36:11.800 --> 00:36:13.320
 and

00:36:13.320 --> 00:36:13.540
 even

00:36:13.540 --> 00:36:13.740
 though

00:36:13.740 --> 00:36:13.900
 we

00:36:13.900 --> 00:36:14.100
 may

00:36:14.100 --> 00:36:14.460
 die

00:36:14.460 --> 00:36:15.360
 we

00:36:15.360 --> 00:36:15.500
 will

00:36:15.500 --> 00:36:15.780
 rise

00:36:15.780 --> 00:36:16.160
 again

00:36:16.160 --> 00:36:17.060
 just

00:36:17.060 --> 00:36:17.300
 like

00:36:17.300 --> 00:36:17.500
 our

00:36:17.500 --> 00:36:17.860
 savior

00:36:17.860 --> 00:36:18.860
 in

00:36:18.860 --> 00:36:19.040
 him

00:36:19.040 --> 00:36:19.280
 we

00:36:19.280 --> 00:36:19.580
 pray

00:36:19.580 --> 00:36:20.440
 amen