WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:07.459 You are joining us for the first time. You are at the end of a three-part series we've been doing. 00:00:07.560 --> 00:00:11.179 We've been going through, we finished Luke and Easter. We've been doing that for three years. 00:00:11.279 --> 00:00:16.640 We're going now through Romans and looking at it verse by verse and section by section, see what we can learn on that. 00:00:17.559 --> 00:00:21.920 And as we looked at where we were as a church and what things people were experiencing in their life, 00:00:21.940 --> 00:00:25.580 we realized that we needed to talk a little bit more about this idea of being generous. 00:00:25.579 --> 00:00:29.299 And so we stayed in the book of Romans. We went to Romans 12. 00:00:30.099 --> 00:00:33.539 And we've been looking at that idea as we've talked about earlier, 00:00:34.219 --> 00:00:37.979 the idea of what does it mean to be generous with the gifts and talents that God has given us. 00:00:38.099 --> 00:00:40.560 The Bible says God has given each one of us gifts and talents. 00:00:41.339 --> 00:00:45.179 Everyone is unique. Everyone has talents that I don't have. I have talents that you don't have. 00:00:45.659 --> 00:00:48.920 And the issue is we don't work together. We're lost. 00:00:49.939 --> 00:00:53.739 We've talked about the issue of being generous with our finances and gifts 00:00:53.740 --> 00:00:56.940 and realizing that everything we have is God's and God's given us this money. 00:00:57.179 --> 00:01:01.460 And he wants us to enjoy it and enjoy it on ourself, enjoy it around us. 00:01:01.920 --> 00:01:03.660 And just to be good stewards of that. 00:01:03.920 --> 00:01:07.320 And the question maybe we often ask is why do we keep what we keep? 00:01:07.960 --> 00:01:09.420 And why do we give away what we give away? 00:01:09.840 --> 00:01:12.879 And if that's what God's called you to do, then that's where you want to be. 00:01:12.960 --> 00:01:14.099 And that's what you want to be asking. 00:01:15.060 --> 00:01:17.120 Today we're looking at this idea of time. 00:01:17.120 --> 00:01:22.520 And there's really not passages that talk about being generous with your time. 00:01:22.519 --> 00:01:26.539 They kind of do, but they talk more about using your time wisely. 00:01:27.259 --> 00:01:30.179 What does it look like to be wise with the time that God's given you? 00:01:30.239 --> 00:01:34.079 How do you use and invest your time wisely in that? 00:01:34.159 --> 00:01:37.979 And so I want to look really briefly on that. 00:01:38.479 --> 00:01:40.699 This has been just a crazy two weeks for me. 00:01:41.439 --> 00:01:46.500 For me personally, this is like the two weeks big events in my life collide. 00:01:47.000 --> 00:01:50.000 It's like these worlds collide and everything is hitting at one time. 00:01:50.000 --> 00:01:52.980 So I have our wedding anniversary. 00:01:53.260 --> 00:01:56.239 So that's May 10th, right? 00:01:58.159 --> 00:01:59.799 So that's 17 years. 00:01:59.879 --> 00:02:00.500 I got that down. 00:02:01.420 --> 00:02:02.680 So 17 years. 00:02:02.780 --> 00:02:06.599 So I got to remember that and all these big events and remember exactly that day. 00:02:06.599 --> 00:02:10.400 So I have my birthday, May 14th. 00:02:10.400 --> 00:02:16.459 I turned 51, to which I was reminded by my little daughter, you know, wow, you're over halfway to 100. 00:02:18.379 --> 00:02:21.419 Which, you know, for a seven-year-old, I guess that's important. 00:02:21.519 --> 00:02:21.919 I don't know. 00:02:22.419 --> 00:02:28.359 And then I was reminded by one of my other kids who will remain nameless, do they have color pictures back when you're little? 00:02:28.360 --> 00:02:32.060 Because I just want to know everything we see is in black and white. 00:02:32.340 --> 00:02:37.340 And so I have to remind them, yes, color was invented in 1920s and I'm not as old as 1920. 00:02:38.800 --> 00:02:44.700 And then this Wednesday is another anniversary and it's the anniversary of a heart attack that I had. 00:02:45.300 --> 00:02:51.400 And for me, it was one of those events that God uses in our lives and he just kind of, he teaches you something. 00:02:51.400 --> 00:02:55.900 But the thing about those things is that he just keeps teaching you and teaching you and teaching you. 00:02:56.939 --> 00:03:02.879 And so if you were to ask me May 23rd, several years ago, would I be here? 00:03:02.980 --> 00:03:06.180 My answer probably was, no, I wouldn't be here. 00:03:06.200 --> 00:03:07.939 I probably wouldn't be alive. 00:03:08.480 --> 00:03:14.140 I can remember waking up in the middle of the night and it's one o'clock in early Sunday morning. 00:03:14.219 --> 00:03:16.819 I felt this incredible burning sensation on my chest. 00:03:16.939 --> 00:03:19.420 Like, oh, I have indigestion, though I've never had indigestion before. 00:03:19.419 --> 00:03:24.299 And I woke up and I was grabbing Tums and eating it and trying to reposition myself. 00:03:24.619 --> 00:03:27.079 And the burning got harder and worse and worse. 00:03:27.239 --> 00:03:29.459 And finally I woke Christina up and said, hey, we've got to go to the doctor. 00:03:29.539 --> 00:03:32.299 Something's going on and I'm not feeling too good. 00:03:32.339 --> 00:03:34.919 I think I have maybe a heart attack. 00:03:35.000 --> 00:03:40.859 But I worked in a trauma unit and I was checking my neck, my nail beds and everything was okay. 00:03:41.159 --> 00:03:43.919 And so we went to the hospital and the guy goes, yeah, you have indigestion. 00:03:44.159 --> 00:03:45.579 Take this pills and you'll be okay. 00:03:45.759 --> 00:03:47.979 And I said, okay, I think I can do that. 00:03:47.979 --> 00:03:52.739 So I go home and right as we get home from the hospital, the heart attack hits. 00:03:53.899 --> 00:03:55.699 And it's intense. 00:03:55.840 --> 00:03:57.379 It's an incredible amount of pain. 00:03:57.959 --> 00:04:01.219 And so Christina is in the bedroom getting ready to go back to bed. 00:04:01.259 --> 00:04:03.599 And I'm just pacing through the house like a mad person. 00:04:03.959 --> 00:04:09.060 And I'm feeling this pain and I'm like this caged animal and I want to pound against the walls. 00:04:09.060 --> 00:04:15.080 And finally I walk into there and she sees this crazy look on my eyes and she goes, what's going on? 00:04:15.140 --> 00:04:16.899 I said, we have to go back right now. 00:04:17.699 --> 00:04:20.759 And we called the doctors and they said, come back right now. 00:04:20.800 --> 00:04:23.600 And I went in there and I was having a heart attack. 00:04:23.800 --> 00:04:25.139 And who knew? 00:04:25.220 --> 00:04:26.220 I was 40 years old. 00:04:26.279 --> 00:04:26.899 I wasn't overweight. 00:04:27.240 --> 00:04:28.639 I was in fairly good shape. 00:04:28.699 --> 00:04:29.939 My cholesterol was really low. 00:04:29.939 --> 00:04:32.120 And the doctor kept asking me, do you do drugs? 00:04:32.180 --> 00:04:32.819 Do you do drugs? 00:04:32.879 --> 00:04:33.339 Do you do drugs? 00:04:33.680 --> 00:04:37.279 And after about the fifth time, I'm like, you know, I'm a pastor. 00:04:37.360 --> 00:04:38.699 I don't make enough money to do cocaine. 00:04:42.040 --> 00:04:45.399 So, you know, it's just something he had to get in his mind, that checklist, you know. 00:04:45.759 --> 00:04:50.939 And so the doctor came in and he basically said, yeah, you're having a heart attack. 00:04:51.000 --> 00:04:53.659 And the only thing I can do is get you in there and clean it out. 00:04:53.659 --> 00:04:59.919 And he put me in his gurney and I'm just kicking and struggling and just like a crazy person. 00:04:59.979 --> 00:05:06.199 It's like, I don't know if you've ever had that type of pain, but it's just like you just thought that I just want to get rid of the pain, whatever it meant. 00:05:06.279 --> 00:05:10.779 So I could just say kill this person, I would kill that person because that relieved the pain. 00:05:10.959 --> 00:05:12.919 And I started thinking, you know, dying isn't that bad. 00:05:12.979 --> 00:05:14.799 Dying just means no more pain. 00:05:15.300 --> 00:05:18.579 If dying just means no more pain, then that's really, that's a good thing. 00:05:19.060 --> 00:05:20.860 Because right now there's a lot of pain. 00:05:21.560 --> 00:05:25.660 And they drove me, put me into the surgery. 00:05:25.920 --> 00:05:28.460 And as I went to the surgery, I gave Christina my ring. 00:05:28.580 --> 00:05:30.319 And I said, okay, I'll see you in heaven. 00:05:31.639 --> 00:05:36.319 Because I thought, man, there's no way I'm going to make this because it's just an intense pain of it. 00:05:37.060 --> 00:05:39.280 And I made it. 00:05:40.160 --> 00:05:41.319 And I came out. 00:05:41.319 --> 00:05:51.159 And God has used that moment to make me ask myself a lot of questions that I wouldn't normally have asked. 00:05:51.240 --> 00:05:56.639 I asked myself questions like, was I using my time well? 00:05:56.639 --> 00:06:01.339 Was I a good husband? 00:06:03.000 --> 00:06:07.639 I mean, I went around for about a year and I'd be asking my friends, have I been a good friend to you? 00:06:08.360 --> 00:06:14.099 They thought maybe I was like on a 12-step recovery program and I was going around step five and doing all those things. 00:06:14.639 --> 00:06:16.479 And how could I be a better friend to you? 00:06:16.699 --> 00:06:18.339 And was I a good husband? 00:06:18.599 --> 00:06:20.079 And was I a good dad? 00:06:20.079 --> 00:06:21.659 And was I a good pastor? 00:06:22.300 --> 00:06:23.680 What was it meant to be good? 00:06:23.719 --> 00:06:25.819 Was I using my time wisely? 00:06:26.680 --> 00:06:31.039 I wondered, because we preach about often that we're going to get to heaven, every one of us. 00:06:31.560 --> 00:06:33.240 And we're going to come before the Lord. 00:06:33.360 --> 00:06:36.639 And he's going to say, okay, I've given you all these gifts. 00:06:37.399 --> 00:06:38.759 I've given you all this time. 00:06:39.120 --> 00:06:40.379 I've given you all these talents. 00:06:40.779 --> 00:06:42.360 How have you used these things? 00:06:42.419 --> 00:06:44.240 Have you used them wisely? 00:06:46.319 --> 00:06:48.199 Or have you used them selfishly? 00:06:48.199 --> 00:06:53.959 And so I started collecting data and I was reading the scripture and just time and usage of time. 00:06:54.079 --> 00:06:56.539 And what does it look like to use our time well? 00:06:56.680 --> 00:06:58.479 And I came across this poem. 00:06:58.579 --> 00:07:02.379 And for a long time, this poem was something that I wondered, was this me? 00:07:02.819 --> 00:07:05.079 Was this me before the heart attack, even as a believer? 00:07:05.219 --> 00:07:07.339 Did I live my life this way? 00:07:07.879 --> 00:07:09.060 It's called Seasons. 00:07:10.919 --> 00:07:11.839 It was spring. 00:07:12.519 --> 00:07:13.839 But it was summer I wanted. 00:07:14.779 --> 00:07:16.639 The warm days and the great outdoors. 00:07:16.639 --> 00:07:18.459 It was summer. 00:07:19.519 --> 00:07:20.939 But it was fall I wanted. 00:07:21.599 --> 00:07:23.959 The colorful leaves and the cool dry air. 00:07:24.819 --> 00:07:25.620 It was fall. 00:07:26.339 --> 00:07:27.579 But it was winter I wanted. 00:07:28.180 --> 00:07:30.979 The beautiful snow and the joy of the holiday season. 00:07:31.939 --> 00:07:32.879 It was winter. 00:07:33.839 --> 00:07:35.079 But it was spring I wanted. 00:07:35.959 --> 00:07:37.959 The warmth and the blossoming of nature. 00:07:37.959 --> 00:07:40.239 I was a child. 00:07:40.839 --> 00:07:42.459 But it was adulthood I wanted. 00:07:42.979 --> 00:07:44.739 The freedom and the respect. 00:07:45.859 --> 00:07:46.839 I was 20. 00:07:47.560 --> 00:07:48.879 But it was 30 I wanted. 00:07:49.339 --> 00:07:51.539 To be mature and sophisticated. 00:07:52.599 --> 00:07:54.019 I was middle-aged. 00:07:54.599 --> 00:07:56.179 But it was 20 I wanted. 00:07:57.000 --> 00:07:58.779 The youth and the free spirit. 00:07:58.779 --> 00:08:01.099 I was retired. 00:08:01.099 --> 00:08:03.639 But it was middle-aged I wanted. 00:08:04.599 --> 00:08:06.519 The presence of mind without limitations. 00:08:07.959 --> 00:08:09.079 My life was over. 00:08:10.899 --> 00:08:12.479 And I never got what I wanted. 00:08:14.500 --> 00:08:17.259 I clung to this poem and I wondered, was this me? 00:08:17.319 --> 00:08:18.779 Is this us as we live life? 00:08:19.000 --> 00:08:22.639 You know, the scary thing about this thing to me is this poem was written by a 14-year-old girl. 00:08:22.639 --> 00:08:30.019 A 14-year-old has that much presence of mind to look at our life and to ask us questions. 00:08:30.139 --> 00:08:31.279 How are we using our time? 00:08:32.500 --> 00:08:33.939 Are we being wise? 00:08:34.039 --> 00:08:35.480 Are we being foolish? 00:08:36.759 --> 00:08:38.480 Are we happy in here now? 00:08:38.580 --> 00:08:40.860 Or do we want something else that might not ever come? 00:08:40.899 --> 00:08:43.240 And when it comes, we want something else again. 00:08:44.759 --> 00:08:47.399 I want to look at just being wise with our time. 00:08:48.319 --> 00:08:49.200 I'm going to do something. 00:08:49.480 --> 00:08:50.620 I haven't planned this. 00:08:50.720 --> 00:08:52.319 I'm just thinking, what am I doing here? 00:08:52.320 --> 00:08:56.660 And as I try to share these things, because I'm still processing it, so we're processing 00:08:56.660 --> 00:08:57.460 and setting it together. 00:08:57.560 --> 00:09:01.320 I want to start a dialogue with us as a church and as individuals to talk about stewardship 00:09:01.900 --> 00:09:04.140 and generosity and wisdom. 00:09:05.620 --> 00:09:11.260 So what I want to do is I'm going to, what I wanted to, what I was going to do is I was 00:09:11.260 --> 00:09:15.140 going to talk about two passages, the Romans 12, the Ephesians 5, and then look at some 00:09:15.140 --> 00:09:16.560 things I've been learning in applications. 00:09:17.640 --> 00:09:20.880 What I think I'm going to do is I want to look at just the applications of things I've been 00:09:20.880 --> 00:09:21.140 learning. 00:09:21.139 --> 00:09:25.759 And I want to try to weave those into Romans 12 and Ephesians 5. 00:09:26.319 --> 00:09:27.720 Now we'll see if that works. 00:09:27.819 --> 00:09:29.860 You might tell me afterwards, don't ever do that again. 00:09:29.919 --> 00:09:35.159 That was a terrible idea because I surely have not planned it this way and I've been thinking 00:09:35.159 --> 00:09:35.600 through this. 00:09:35.960 --> 00:09:41.199 But I just want us to think a little bit about time and our stewardship of it. 00:09:41.200 --> 00:09:47.100 Because I think that there's probably no greater issue that we in Hong Kong need to hear. 00:09:47.100 --> 00:09:50.399 I think that it's one of those things. 00:09:50.480 --> 00:09:52.440 Some of us will talk about our stewardship of our money. 00:09:52.440 --> 00:09:57.820 Some of us will talk about stewardship of our relationships and our gifting. 00:09:57.820 --> 00:10:03.500 But very rarely will we talk about have we used our time wisely. 00:10:03.500 --> 00:10:09.419 And you know what I've seen working in a trauma unit and watching people die? 00:10:09.419 --> 00:10:14.839 I've never seen somebody die in front of me and they said, you know, I wish I'd spent three 00:10:14.839 --> 00:10:15.819 more hours in the office. 00:10:16.759 --> 00:10:18.679 Man, if I just spent one more day in the office, I'd be happy. 00:10:19.759 --> 00:10:25.099 It was always, man, I wish I had more time with my family. 00:10:25.100 --> 00:10:31.639 Oh, man, I wish I had gone to my son's baseball game. 00:10:32.940 --> 00:10:40.240 Oh, man, I wish I had told my wife one more time that I loved her. 00:10:42.100 --> 00:10:44.759 I think it's a message that we need to hear, we need to think about. 00:10:45.080 --> 00:10:50.580 And it is a heavy message, but it's a message I think that we can keep coming back to and 00:10:50.580 --> 00:10:52.340 learning and processing. 00:10:52.340 --> 00:10:56.100 And I'm wandering around here praying through this as we talk about it. 00:10:56.600 --> 00:11:02.820 The first thing that I've learned and I continue to learn from my heart attack in these experiences 00:11:02.820 --> 00:11:09.360 with being good and wise with our time is that we have to recognize that our time on earth 00:11:09.360 --> 00:11:09.780 is short. 00:11:11.120 --> 00:11:14.460 Scripture says that our life is incredibly short. 00:11:15.100 --> 00:11:19.960 You know, in Ecclesiastes it says our life, what it makes our life equal to is a vapor. 00:11:19.960 --> 00:11:24.620 When Solomon's talking about our life, he blows. 00:11:25.120 --> 00:11:26.160 Oh, a bell. 00:11:27.120 --> 00:11:28.320 And he tried to grab onto it. 00:11:28.519 --> 00:11:30.200 And he said that's what our life is like. 00:11:30.379 --> 00:11:33.960 Our life is like this vapor that we blow out one time and then it disappears quickly. 00:11:34.639 --> 00:11:39.300 I know that you don't need to hear this because you think about this all the time. 00:11:39.299 --> 00:11:43.859 But I need to hear it because I don't. 00:11:45.159 --> 00:11:52.179 Sometimes I ask myself the question, self, why don't you think and use better use of your 00:11:52.179 --> 00:11:52.620 time? 00:11:54.259 --> 00:11:58.579 And this little voice comes back to me and says, because you think you're God, Tobin, and 00:11:58.579 --> 00:11:59.379 you're in control of everything. 00:12:00.859 --> 00:12:02.179 Now, I hate that little voice. 00:12:02.179 --> 00:12:06.579 But it answers me when I ask the important questions. 00:12:07.779 --> 00:12:12.419 And so I wonder, why do we think that time just keeps going and going and going? 00:12:13.299 --> 00:12:15.519 In Psalm 39, the psalmist says this. 00:12:15.599 --> 00:12:18.939 He says, show me, O Lord, my life's end. 00:12:19.319 --> 00:12:22.019 He actually asked God to show him how his life ends. 00:12:22.679 --> 00:12:25.059 And then he says, okay, I've seen how my life ends. 00:12:25.339 --> 00:12:28.079 Will you help me number my days? 00:12:28.080 --> 00:12:34.220 And what he means there is he wants God to show him how he's to use his days so that 00:12:34.220 --> 00:12:38.660 when he comes to the end of his life, he would have done everything that God wanted him to 00:12:38.660 --> 00:12:38.900 do. 00:12:40.300 --> 00:12:42.379 Show me how to number my days. 00:12:42.759 --> 00:12:48.379 He says in that psalm, actually, I spend all my time gathering and collecting and building 00:12:48.379 --> 00:12:54.720 and producing so that someone else is going to come along after I die and to use it. 00:12:54.720 --> 00:13:01.279 And I realize that that is probably the struggle that a lot of us are in Hong Kong. 00:13:01.360 --> 00:13:05.240 We spend all of our time building and using and collecting and gathering. 00:13:05.540 --> 00:13:08.680 And we don't realize that we're probably never going to be able to use all that 00:13:08.680 --> 00:13:12.200 because our life is short. 00:13:13.820 --> 00:13:19.620 In Psalm 90, the psalmist says in Psalm 90, help me to measure my days. 00:13:19.620 --> 00:13:25.360 Our days are 70 years, 80 if we're really, really strong. 00:13:26.259 --> 00:13:28.200 But they're going to pass away quickly. 00:13:29.240 --> 00:13:32.220 They're going to fly away as a bird. 00:13:33.620 --> 00:13:39.799 The thing that I learned and continue to learn is that life is short and it passes away before 00:13:39.799 --> 00:13:42.379 our eyes and that we are not in control of it. 00:13:44.100 --> 00:13:45.299 Let me ask you a question. 00:13:45.299 --> 00:13:55.659 If you found out today that you had 10 years to live, would you start living differently? 00:13:59.659 --> 00:14:00.519 Someone's recording. 00:14:02.659 --> 00:14:09.559 If you found out today that you had 10 years to live, would you start living differently? 00:14:10.659 --> 00:14:12.359 How would you live differently? 00:14:12.360 --> 00:14:16.639 One of my favorite movies, and the staff and I talk about this all the time, 00:14:16.720 --> 00:14:18.519 and they just give me a hard time about it. 00:14:18.659 --> 00:14:21.379 And it is kind of a cheesy movie, but the idea is amazing. 00:14:21.460 --> 00:14:22.320 It's called In Time. 00:14:22.800 --> 00:14:23.460 Have you seen this movie? 00:14:23.899 --> 00:14:25.860 It came out about maybe two years ago. 00:14:26.000 --> 00:14:27.139 I think it's Justin Timberlake. 00:14:27.399 --> 00:14:33.240 And, you know, he's, I still don't know what I think about JT, but in the movie you're born, 00:14:33.460 --> 00:14:37.680 and at the age of 21 you go boom, and something hits you, and this wall hits you. 00:14:38.240 --> 00:14:40.500 And all of a sudden this clock ends up on your arm. 00:14:40.500 --> 00:14:44.820 And it starts counting down the next three days, three years of your life. 00:14:45.580 --> 00:14:47.159 And you're given three years. 00:14:47.860 --> 00:14:50.700 And in this culture, there is no such thing as money. 00:14:51.460 --> 00:14:52.440 Money doesn't exist. 00:14:52.720 --> 00:14:54.440 What you buy things with is time. 00:14:55.799 --> 00:14:59.639 So if you want a car, you go in and you put down 20 years of time. 00:15:00.860 --> 00:15:02.279 Well, most people don't have 20 years of time. 00:15:02.639 --> 00:15:04.080 And so you work to earn time. 00:15:04.700 --> 00:15:09.060 And as you earn time, you know, you get money stuck on your hand, and it gets more and more and more. 00:15:09.220 --> 00:15:11.900 And there's this group of guys that go around, and they steal time from people. 00:15:13.600 --> 00:15:16.080 Here we would call it like HSBC bankers or somebody like that. 00:15:17.800 --> 00:15:18.660 I'm sorry, Elaine. 00:15:18.740 --> 00:15:19.259 I love you. 00:15:19.259 --> 00:15:22.240 But they steal time. 00:15:22.340 --> 00:15:24.279 So they're the time patriots. 00:15:24.319 --> 00:15:25.700 They come in and they steal time from you. 00:15:26.000 --> 00:15:29.639 And so this idea is that your life consists of how much you have on your arm. 00:15:30.500 --> 00:15:31.600 And it's not a bank account. 00:15:31.679 --> 00:15:32.519 It's a time code. 00:15:33.080 --> 00:15:36.240 And when that time code ends, boom, you die. 00:15:36.939 --> 00:15:39.860 And so you start at 21, and some people die at 24. 00:15:39.980 --> 00:15:44.460 Some people die at 25 because they buy a lot of stuff with their time and food and other things like that. 00:15:44.460 --> 00:15:47.960 But the issue is your life consists of your time. 00:15:49.379 --> 00:15:57.420 Well, how would you live if you had a clock on your arm that shows you have three more years to go? 00:15:58.560 --> 00:16:03.360 And then everything you did, either it sucked away time or it added on time. 00:16:04.660 --> 00:16:05.980 Would you live differently? 00:16:08.639 --> 00:16:12.220 Would you spend your time differently? 00:16:12.220 --> 00:16:18.519 The passage says that our time flies by quicker than we know it. 00:16:19.100 --> 00:16:21.420 He says in verse 16 that the days are evil. 00:16:21.920 --> 00:16:23.779 And there's two meanings to that in Greek and Hebrew. 00:16:23.940 --> 00:16:25.300 One is that times are difficult. 00:16:25.420 --> 00:16:26.080 They're going to be hard. 00:16:26.360 --> 00:16:28.720 But the next meaning is that time goes by quickly. 00:16:29.139 --> 00:16:33.639 And before you can grab onto it, it's past and you don't have it anymore. 00:16:36.519 --> 00:16:40.519 The next thing that I've been learning and I continue to learn, and this is a really hard thing for me. 00:16:40.519 --> 00:16:46.819 And what it is is the Bible says that being wise with your time and how we use it, it has nothing to do with speed. 00:16:47.399 --> 00:16:48.799 It has nothing to do with efficiency. 00:16:49.159 --> 00:16:50.579 It has nothing to do with being busy. 00:16:50.799 --> 00:16:52.279 It has nothing to do with multitasking. 00:16:52.439 --> 00:16:58.819 All these things in Hong Kong, when we say we're using our time well, it always deals with speed, efficiency, multitasking, getting things done, being busy. 00:16:59.240 --> 00:17:02.879 You know, the Bible says that none of that pertains to using time in the Bible. 00:17:03.419 --> 00:17:04.000 None of that. 00:17:04.059 --> 00:17:05.599 That's never talked about in the Bible. 00:17:05.599 --> 00:17:10.679 When it talks about being wise with our time, what it talks about is having the right priorities. 00:17:12.799 --> 00:17:14.179 How are you using your time? 00:17:15.000 --> 00:17:16.279 What are your priorities? 00:17:16.559 --> 00:17:19.419 And once you set those priorities, you live by them. 00:17:19.480 --> 00:17:20.059 You keep them. 00:17:20.119 --> 00:17:21.039 These are your priorities. 00:17:21.199 --> 00:17:23.099 They're what you use your time clock up on. 00:17:23.379 --> 00:17:24.159 That's how you live. 00:17:24.339 --> 00:17:26.299 In the Bible, that's what it calls being wise. 00:17:26.299 --> 00:17:31.379 So a wise person uses their time with the right priorities. 00:17:32.539 --> 00:17:34.700 I mean, often I think that we're overloaded, aren't we? 00:17:34.740 --> 00:17:35.419 We're overloaded. 00:17:35.460 --> 00:17:36.480 We're overloaded with commitment. 00:17:36.619 --> 00:17:37.819 We're overloaded with information. 00:17:37.960 --> 00:17:39.399 We're overloaded with work. 00:17:39.500 --> 00:17:40.619 We're overloaded with stuff. 00:17:41.159 --> 00:17:46.000 And we often live our life unwisely. 00:17:46.000 --> 00:17:54.740 As a pastor, I have the incredible privilege of coming into people's lives, and they ask me questions. 00:17:54.960 --> 00:17:58.759 And some of them I don't know the answer to, and I'm still trying to figure them out in my life. 00:17:58.839 --> 00:18:02.279 And I just go back to God's Word, and, well, what does God's Word say? 00:18:02.319 --> 00:18:03.339 Let's talk about these things. 00:18:03.779 --> 00:18:09.160 But often what I realize is that in these questions that people ask, often people ask me questions, 00:18:09.559 --> 00:18:12.279 and they want a good or bad answer. 00:18:12.400 --> 00:18:13.420 Is this good or is this bad? 00:18:13.460 --> 00:18:14.599 Is this evil or is this good? 00:18:14.599 --> 00:18:21.159 But what I've learned and what I continue to realize is that probably 85% of the questions we ask 00:18:21.159 --> 00:18:26.319 and the things that we do and deal with in life, they're not good or bad questions. 00:18:27.379 --> 00:18:29.740 You're not going to answer it, should I take this job or this job? 00:18:29.759 --> 00:18:31.240 Which one is bad and which one is good? 00:18:32.679 --> 00:18:37.559 And usually when I say, well, what you're doing right now, that's not bad, 00:18:38.279 --> 00:18:40.319 we automatically assume, well, then it's good. 00:18:42.119 --> 00:18:44.000 Well, it might be. 00:18:44.599 --> 00:18:48.240 But it might not be wise. 00:18:51.279 --> 00:18:54.259 It might not be along with the priorities that we've been set. 00:18:55.399 --> 00:18:59.539 It might not be in line with God's priorities for us and the world around us. 00:18:59.539 --> 00:19:05.440 I mean, often I think we struggle, and the struggle is that we're selfish. 00:19:06.799 --> 00:19:07.619 I'm selfish. 00:19:07.619 --> 00:19:10.079 And we struggle with these choices. 00:19:10.279 --> 00:19:13.299 And sometimes we say, yeah, I'm making the right use of my time. 00:19:13.699 --> 00:19:15.939 You know, I should do this instead of hanging out with my family, 00:19:16.139 --> 00:19:18.259 and because in the long run I can make it up with my family, 00:19:18.439 --> 00:19:21.059 or I should do these things instead of these things, 00:19:21.179 --> 00:19:23.339 and this isn't bad, so it must be good. 00:19:23.579 --> 00:19:27.739 But the Scripture says it's not often an issue of good and bad, 00:19:27.740 --> 00:19:29.579 but it's issue of wisdom. 00:19:31.779 --> 00:19:34.759 And wisdom is knowing how to live life. 00:19:34.900 --> 00:19:37.299 Wisdom is knowing what is on the heart of God. 00:19:38.220 --> 00:19:40.519 Wisdom is knowing what God is like. 00:19:41.339 --> 00:19:43.240 Wisdom is knowing God's Word. 00:19:44.059 --> 00:19:48.740 Wisdom is knowing how God made you and the gifts that He's given you. 00:19:49.500 --> 00:19:50.519 So I know God. 00:19:50.599 --> 00:19:51.420 I know His Word. 00:19:51.519 --> 00:19:52.880 I know the gifts He's given me. 00:19:53.339 --> 00:19:54.920 And so when I get these choices, 00:19:55.359 --> 00:19:57.180 then the question I have to ask myself is, 00:19:58.019 --> 00:20:01.900 is what I'm doing, is what I'm investing my time in, 00:20:03.180 --> 00:20:05.720 is it a wise use of my time? 00:20:07.240 --> 00:20:08.539 From what I know of God, 00:20:09.299 --> 00:20:10.640 from what I know of what God is doing, 00:20:11.120 --> 00:20:12.539 from what I know of how God made me, 00:20:12.539 --> 00:20:15.900 am I being wise with my time? 00:20:15.900 --> 00:20:19.500 It's not an issue of good or bad, 00:20:19.640 --> 00:20:22.019 but it's an issue of wisdom. 00:20:23.400 --> 00:20:26.620 Do I live my life selfishly? 00:20:31.060 --> 00:20:32.800 Should I take this job or this job? 00:20:33.000 --> 00:20:34.460 And I'm like, I don't know. 00:20:34.500 --> 00:20:35.019 Let's talk about it. 00:20:35.019 --> 00:20:35.540 Okay, we'll talk about it. 00:20:36.000 --> 00:20:37.360 This job's going to make me a lot more money. 00:20:37.500 --> 00:20:39.060 It's going to give me these opportunities. 00:20:39.060 --> 00:20:41.019 It's going to be doing these things. 00:20:41.259 --> 00:20:42.620 So how's that going to affect your family? 00:20:42.900 --> 00:20:44.480 Well, my family's going to sacrifice a little while, 00:20:44.560 --> 00:20:45.800 but then after a while, we'll make it up. 00:20:45.900 --> 00:20:47.820 And we'll have all these new cars and new houses. 00:20:48.259 --> 00:20:49.380 Okay, so how's it going to affect your church? 00:20:49.620 --> 00:20:51.240 Well, we'll find a new church when we get there. 00:20:51.580 --> 00:20:53.080 Now, all that might be good. 00:20:53.480 --> 00:20:54.400 It might be bad. 00:20:54.759 --> 00:20:55.759 It might be wise. 00:20:56.019 --> 00:20:57.019 It might be unwise. 00:20:57.120 --> 00:20:57.860 I don't know. 00:20:58.780 --> 00:21:00.280 But you have to determine that. 00:21:01.960 --> 00:21:04.100 You have to determine from what you know of God, 00:21:04.860 --> 00:21:06.120 from what you know of God's word, 00:21:06.540 --> 00:21:07.900 from what you know of how God has made you, 00:21:07.900 --> 00:21:10.660 from what you know of what God is doing in the world around you. 00:21:11.720 --> 00:21:15.160 Is that choice the wisest use? 00:21:15.900 --> 00:21:16.759 Of your time? 00:21:19.060 --> 00:21:20.100 Or is it being selfish? 00:21:22.400 --> 00:21:23.860 The hard thing is when you say, 00:21:24.019 --> 00:21:27.080 hey, it's being selfish. 00:21:28.960 --> 00:21:31.380 And sometimes we can be selfish for good things, right? 00:21:32.519 --> 00:21:32.980 Can't we? 00:21:34.440 --> 00:21:35.540 I mean, I'm working on a sermon, 00:21:35.680 --> 00:21:36.980 and my kid comes in and needs help, 00:21:37.019 --> 00:21:38.060 and their life is falling apart. 00:21:38.200 --> 00:21:40.259 And I'm like, well, I really don't have time to mess with you 00:21:40.259 --> 00:21:41.200 because I'm working on this sermon, 00:21:41.279 --> 00:21:42.779 and I've got to do really well on this sermon. 00:21:45.099 --> 00:21:48.839 Is that really the wisest use of that moment? 00:21:52.279 --> 00:21:55.660 Is that really the wisest use of my time? 00:21:55.660 --> 00:21:58.680 I mean, think about it. 00:21:58.720 --> 00:22:02.100 If tomorrow God gave you five extra hours, 00:22:02.740 --> 00:22:06.019 what would you use those hours for? 00:22:09.160 --> 00:22:10.840 How would you use those five extra hours? 00:22:13.040 --> 00:22:16.360 Okay, now, you find out you're going to die in one week, 00:22:16.359 --> 00:22:19.719 and then God gives you five extra hours tomorrow. 00:22:21.279 --> 00:22:23.099 Do you use those five extra hours differently? 00:22:26.819 --> 00:22:27.939 Or do you use them the same? 00:22:29.699 --> 00:22:30.639 The question is, 00:22:30.699 --> 00:22:32.479 are we learning as God's people 00:22:32.479 --> 00:22:36.000 to use life, use time, 00:22:36.199 --> 00:22:38.639 use our resources wisely? 00:22:38.640 --> 00:22:42.140 You might say, well, I don't know. 00:22:42.240 --> 00:22:42.660 Help me. 00:22:43.520 --> 00:22:45.820 And the scripture says that a wise use of time 00:22:45.820 --> 00:22:47.840 is always being in God's word, 00:22:48.460 --> 00:22:49.600 being with God's people, 00:22:50.080 --> 00:22:51.380 and investing in people's lives. 00:22:53.000 --> 00:22:55.420 I mean, the Bible says that there's only two things 00:22:55.420 --> 00:22:56.960 that are eternal, right? 00:22:57.280 --> 00:22:57.900 Two things. 00:22:58.720 --> 00:22:59.480 Okay, two things. 00:23:00.680 --> 00:23:01.940 There's God's word. 00:23:03.600 --> 00:23:05.860 Not one jot or tittle will pass away. 00:23:05.960 --> 00:23:06.900 God's word is eternal. 00:23:06.900 --> 00:23:08.580 The word of God, the spirit, 00:23:08.800 --> 00:23:10.620 who God is, it's always there. 00:23:11.380 --> 00:23:11.940 Men's souls. 00:23:13.800 --> 00:23:16.340 So if you want to work with significant, 00:23:16.620 --> 00:23:18.780 eternal things that are wise, 00:23:18.880 --> 00:23:20.080 and you don't know what to do, 00:23:20.440 --> 00:23:22.420 a perfect default is always to say, 00:23:23.560 --> 00:23:26.759 well, does this get me into God's word? 00:23:28.280 --> 00:23:29.800 Does this get me with God's people? 00:23:30.980 --> 00:23:33.460 Does this help me deal with relationships 00:23:33.460 --> 00:23:34.860 in people's souls? 00:23:34.859 --> 00:23:39.319 That is always a good default 00:23:39.319 --> 00:23:41.179 as we go on the journey. 00:23:41.679 --> 00:23:42.379 Does that make sense? 00:23:43.579 --> 00:23:44.759 Am I speaking too fast? 00:23:45.979 --> 00:23:47.879 I know I'm speaking passionately 00:23:47.879 --> 00:23:51.259 because it's things that I struggle with. 00:23:51.699 --> 00:23:52.979 Man, I'm struggling with these guys. 00:23:53.219 --> 00:23:54.919 I just, and it's things that God 00:23:54.919 --> 00:23:56.740 continues to teach to learn me. 00:23:56.740 --> 00:24:00.120 The third thing I've been learning, 00:24:02.200 --> 00:24:06.980 in the critical areas of our life, 00:24:08.019 --> 00:24:11.859 in the critical relationships that we have, 00:24:12.640 --> 00:24:16.759 it's very hard to make it for time 00:24:16.759 --> 00:24:18.859 that we spend unwisely. 00:24:18.859 --> 00:24:25.319 In the things that really matter, 00:24:26.319 --> 00:24:29.199 if we spend our time unwisely in them, 00:24:29.240 --> 00:24:31.299 it's very hard to make up for that time. 00:24:32.000 --> 00:24:35.679 I mean, it's easy to cram for an exam the next day, 00:24:35.799 --> 00:24:38.240 but it's almost impossible to cram for a relationship 00:24:38.240 --> 00:24:39.219 with your wife and kids. 00:24:39.859 --> 00:24:40.500 You know that? 00:24:41.480 --> 00:24:42.460 I mean, I've learned that. 00:24:43.299 --> 00:24:44.960 You neglect your wife and your kids 00:24:44.960 --> 00:24:48.299 and your relationships for the six months or a year, 00:24:48.619 --> 00:24:50.220 all for really, really good reasons, 00:24:50.440 --> 00:24:52.680 and then you come in and you want to fix them, 00:24:52.700 --> 00:24:55.180 and it's really hard to cram, 00:24:55.259 --> 00:24:57.440 and just in one day, wham! 00:24:58.440 --> 00:24:59.360 Everything's back to normal. 00:25:01.279 --> 00:25:02.740 But we think that, don't we? 00:25:04.360 --> 00:25:06.500 I mean, we think that we can do that, 00:25:06.660 --> 00:25:07.840 but what the Scripture says, 00:25:07.880 --> 00:25:08.960 and what I've been learning is that 00:25:08.960 --> 00:25:10.740 important relationships, 00:25:10.880 --> 00:25:12.440 like relationships with the Lord, 00:25:12.600 --> 00:25:13.720 relationships with our friends, 00:25:13.860 --> 00:25:14.940 relationships with our spouses, 00:25:15.140 --> 00:25:16.279 relationships with our kiddos, 00:25:16.920 --> 00:25:18.240 relationships with our church family, 00:25:18.519 --> 00:25:21.160 all of these relationships require wisdom, 00:25:21.960 --> 00:25:25.340 and they require investments of time, 00:25:25.339 --> 00:25:27.819 and often they don't require 00:25:27.819 --> 00:25:29.480 large investments of time. 00:25:29.759 --> 00:25:31.799 They just require investments of time. 00:25:33.740 --> 00:25:35.500 This is something, and I'm not brilliant. 00:25:35.899 --> 00:25:37.259 A guy who I was living with 00:25:37.259 --> 00:25:38.199 as I was going through seminary, 00:25:38.579 --> 00:25:39.339 he taught me this, 00:25:39.379 --> 00:25:41.699 and I was like, that makes sense to me, 00:25:42.099 --> 00:25:43.139 and what he said to me is, 00:25:43.159 --> 00:25:43.959 he looked at me struggling. 00:25:44.059 --> 00:25:46.220 He said, Tobin, you're using your time unwisely, 00:25:46.299 --> 00:25:47.839 and you realize you're sacrificing 00:25:47.839 --> 00:25:48.539 your relationships, 00:25:48.679 --> 00:25:49.959 and these are the most important things there, 00:25:50.439 --> 00:25:52.539 and you don't have to go do a massive thing, 00:25:52.599 --> 00:25:53.779 like a big birthday party every day 00:25:53.779 --> 00:25:55.079 for that relationship to make it go. 00:25:55.339 --> 00:25:58.399 But often it just takes little short snaps of time. 00:25:59.299 --> 00:26:00.899 And that's what the passage says in Ephesians. 00:26:00.980 --> 00:26:02.559 He says, use your time wisely. 00:26:02.839 --> 00:26:04.579 There's six words in Greek for time, 00:26:04.899 --> 00:26:06.599 and the word here is not timeline, 00:26:06.859 --> 00:26:08.279 it's not day, it's not hour. 00:26:08.579 --> 00:26:10.959 It's the special moments that God's given us. 00:26:11.599 --> 00:26:12.699 So in Ephesians he says, 00:26:13.179 --> 00:26:16.459 use the special moments that God has given you wisely. 00:26:17.919 --> 00:26:19.119 Invest in those things. 00:26:20.119 --> 00:26:22.199 And what I realized as we go on this journey, 00:26:22.200 --> 00:26:24.100 that God gives us these special moments 00:26:24.100 --> 00:26:25.720 with people, with relationships. 00:26:26.180 --> 00:26:27.900 I mean, you know, I'm not teaching you anything you don't know. 00:26:27.940 --> 00:26:29.039 It's like exercise, right? 00:26:29.819 --> 00:26:31.460 I mean, if you want to get in shape, you exercise, 00:26:31.880 --> 00:26:34.299 and hopefully you do it two or three times a week, 00:26:34.340 --> 00:26:36.880 and after two or three weeks or four weeks, 00:26:36.920 --> 00:26:37.559 you see a difference. 00:26:38.059 --> 00:26:39.240 But when you say, hey, 00:26:39.500 --> 00:26:41.539 which one of those times was more important 00:26:41.539 --> 00:26:42.200 than the other time? 00:26:42.759 --> 00:26:44.180 None of them were really that more important, 00:26:44.259 --> 00:26:44.559 were they? 00:26:45.380 --> 00:26:47.420 I mean, one hour usually isn't any more important 00:26:47.420 --> 00:26:48.240 than the next hour, 00:26:48.340 --> 00:26:49.299 important to the next hour, 00:26:49.740 --> 00:26:51.580 but it's that we keep building those hours 00:26:51.580 --> 00:26:54.600 of relationships over and over and over 00:26:54.600 --> 00:26:55.480 on top of each other. 00:26:56.420 --> 00:26:57.940 And as we build those things up, 00:26:58.000 --> 00:27:01.120 we build value in relationships, 00:27:01.980 --> 00:27:03.660 and we go on a journey with people. 00:27:04.779 --> 00:27:06.019 Now, the hard thing is sometimes that 00:27:06.019 --> 00:27:07.819 one of those things, again, as I said, 00:27:07.880 --> 00:27:09.779 isn't the thing, right? 00:27:10.379 --> 00:27:12.299 So sometimes it's easy to take out an hour. 00:27:13.740 --> 00:27:14.639 I can't do it today. 00:27:14.660 --> 00:27:15.539 I've got to take out an hour. 00:27:16.519 --> 00:27:17.879 I'm sorry, I can't play ball with you today. 00:27:17.899 --> 00:27:18.740 I've got to take out an hour. 00:27:19.200 --> 00:27:20.460 I'm sorry, I can't do this right now. 00:27:20.519 --> 00:27:21.180 I've got to work on this. 00:27:21.220 --> 00:27:21.839 It's really important. 00:27:22.420 --> 00:27:23.519 I'll be done next week, 00:27:23.539 --> 00:27:25.019 and next week it's a special time right now. 00:27:25.059 --> 00:27:26.420 Next time it'll be all not special. 00:27:26.720 --> 00:27:27.579 We'll take out an hour. 00:27:28.660 --> 00:27:30.099 And often what I've realized is 00:27:30.099 --> 00:27:31.319 when those hours I take out 00:27:31.319 --> 00:27:32.500 and I give them to something else, 00:27:33.960 --> 00:27:35.940 they're usually not wise things 00:27:35.940 --> 00:27:38.299 that I give them to. 00:27:39.779 --> 00:27:41.139 And so what I end up doing 00:27:41.139 --> 00:27:42.619 is I end up hurting the relationships 00:27:42.619 --> 00:27:44.799 that God has given me 00:27:44.799 --> 00:27:47.440 and the people in my life. 00:27:50.240 --> 00:27:51.059 Does that make sense? 00:27:52.859 --> 00:27:54.240 So as we build life, 00:27:54.299 --> 00:27:55.240 as we go on this journey, 00:27:55.579 --> 00:27:57.779 as we use the time wisely, 00:27:58.220 --> 00:27:59.399 these special events, 00:27:59.700 --> 00:28:01.720 they're not huge gatherings, 00:28:01.819 --> 00:28:02.039 they're not, 00:28:02.259 --> 00:28:03.440 but they're just a little time 00:28:03.440 --> 00:28:05.019 when you come in alongside of people. 00:28:05.119 --> 00:28:06.019 It's when you exercise, 00:28:06.319 --> 00:28:07.379 or however you want to do it, 00:28:07.380 --> 00:28:09.160 you do it every day intuitively 00:28:09.160 --> 00:28:10.380 without thinking about it. 00:28:10.540 --> 00:28:12.500 But God says we're to do it with time 00:28:12.500 --> 00:28:14.900 in this stewardship that he's given us. 00:28:15.800 --> 00:28:17.120 And if we don't do it, 00:28:17.280 --> 00:28:18.880 what we realize is at the end, 00:28:19.040 --> 00:28:21.320 we're going to be having these relationships, 00:28:21.580 --> 00:28:22.480 and it's kind of like, 00:28:23.080 --> 00:28:23.660 you know, 00:28:23.760 --> 00:28:24.700 tomorrow's summer, 00:28:25.020 --> 00:28:26.380 I've gained 20 pounds. 00:28:26.680 --> 00:28:28.860 I'm going to put the really sweatsuit on. 00:28:28.920 --> 00:28:29.920 I'm going to jog around, 00:28:30.120 --> 00:28:31.060 and I'm going to try to lose that 00:28:31.060 --> 00:28:32.860 as 20 pounds in one day. 00:28:32.859 --> 00:28:34.619 Can you do that? 00:28:37.079 --> 00:28:38.259 Some of us maybe can. 00:28:39.219 --> 00:28:39.959 Just come up here, 00:28:40.000 --> 00:28:40.619 and you're sweating like, 00:28:40.659 --> 00:28:41.619 I'm sweating like a pig right now. 00:28:43.099 --> 00:28:44.839 But you can't. 00:28:46.579 --> 00:28:47.439 And what Scripture says 00:28:47.439 --> 00:28:49.500 is the most important relationships in our life, 00:28:49.559 --> 00:28:51.859 the things that mean everything, 00:28:52.539 --> 00:28:53.519 the things that are eternal, 00:28:53.659 --> 00:28:55.179 the things that are going to last, 00:28:55.539 --> 00:28:57.099 they take time, 00:28:58.019 --> 00:28:59.359 and that's wisdom. 00:28:59.359 --> 00:28:59.459 Wisdom. 00:29:03.659 --> 00:29:04.719 Little bits of time. 00:29:05.559 --> 00:29:07.179 How are we using that little bits of time? 00:29:07.679 --> 00:29:09.039 Are we using our time wisely? 00:29:10.179 --> 00:29:10.579 Finally, 00:29:11.119 --> 00:29:12.939 and I don't know where we'll go from this. 00:29:13.000 --> 00:29:13.799 We'll see what happens here. 00:29:15.759 --> 00:29:16.759 In this passage, 00:29:17.199 --> 00:29:18.639 in Ephesians and in Romans, 00:29:18.819 --> 00:29:19.839 it's pretty amazing. 00:29:19.939 --> 00:29:21.139 The passages are so amazing. 00:29:21.679 --> 00:29:22.839 What I really wanted to do 00:29:22.839 --> 00:29:23.699 is I wanted to, 00:29:24.139 --> 00:29:25.939 I wanted to find a scale 00:29:25.939 --> 00:29:27.859 and bring this big scale up, 00:29:27.879 --> 00:29:28.839 the double-sided scale, 00:29:28.939 --> 00:29:30.219 because I think this is what this passage is. 00:29:30.219 --> 00:29:31.259 Because the passages, 00:29:31.259 --> 00:29:33.940 Romans 12 and Ephesians 5, 00:29:34.039 --> 00:29:35.660 they're saying the same thing. 00:29:36.160 --> 00:29:38.279 They're saying the exact same thing. 00:29:38.339 --> 00:29:38.980 They're saying it differently, 00:29:39.099 --> 00:29:41.019 but Paul's saying the exact same thing. 00:29:41.920 --> 00:29:43.019 And what he's saying is this. 00:29:43.039 --> 00:29:43.460 He's saying, 00:29:45.039 --> 00:29:46.799 and it's always all of his writings, 00:29:47.859 --> 00:29:49.220 in light of what God has done, 00:29:49.640 --> 00:29:51.279 this is what we need to be doing. 00:29:52.420 --> 00:29:54.099 This is all that God has done for you. 00:29:54.799 --> 00:29:56.059 This is how we should respond. 00:29:56.059 --> 00:29:58.960 Paul's passages never say, 00:29:59.759 --> 00:30:00.720 you do this, 00:30:01.319 --> 00:30:02.559 and then God will do that. 00:30:03.619 --> 00:30:06.019 Because we're not the hero of the story. 00:30:06.480 --> 00:30:08.659 We're not the principal actor in the story. 00:30:08.819 --> 00:30:09.500 God is. 00:30:10.419 --> 00:30:11.179 And in the passages, 00:30:11.379 --> 00:30:12.159 especially with time, 00:30:12.240 --> 00:30:12.879 it always says, 00:30:13.519 --> 00:30:14.599 this is what God has done. 00:30:15.460 --> 00:30:16.720 In light of what God has done, 00:30:17.559 --> 00:30:21.259 this is our only reasonable response. 00:30:21.259 --> 00:30:26.059 It's amazing to me, 00:30:26.099 --> 00:30:28.539 as I talk to people in Watermark, 00:30:28.700 --> 00:30:29.519 and in Hong Kong, 00:30:29.599 --> 00:30:30.500 and around the world, 00:30:31.079 --> 00:30:33.859 there are a lot of people here 00:30:33.859 --> 00:30:36.579 who feel like their lives don't mean anything. 00:30:38.740 --> 00:30:39.980 When we talk about purpose, 00:30:40.759 --> 00:30:41.359 and meaning, 00:30:42.119 --> 00:30:43.400 and how they're using their job, 00:30:43.859 --> 00:30:45.599 and how they're impacting life and world, 00:30:46.099 --> 00:30:46.599 people just, 00:30:46.799 --> 00:30:47.420 they just sit there, 00:30:47.519 --> 00:30:48.099 I don't know. 00:30:48.099 --> 00:30:49.759 It means nothing. 00:30:49.859 --> 00:30:51.279 I see no purpose to what I'm doing. 00:30:51.359 --> 00:30:52.879 I don't understand how it's going on. 00:30:54.240 --> 00:30:55.039 And I look there, 00:30:55.099 --> 00:30:55.439 and I'm like, 00:30:55.480 --> 00:30:56.179 oh my gosh. 00:30:59.759 --> 00:31:01.219 Because the passages tell us 00:31:01.219 --> 00:31:04.240 that God loves each one of us so much. 00:31:04.299 --> 00:31:06.039 He's done so much for us. 00:31:08.759 --> 00:31:10.339 Not just so he can take us to heaven, 00:31:11.339 --> 00:31:13.599 but so we can live life here and now, 00:31:13.599 --> 00:31:15.279 and impact the world around us. 00:31:15.279 --> 00:31:17.299 And people say, 00:31:17.399 --> 00:31:18.539 well, I don't feel like that. 00:31:19.519 --> 00:31:21.119 But the scripture says, 00:31:21.539 --> 00:31:23.240 that's what is true. 00:31:25.059 --> 00:31:26.379 God saved you. 00:31:26.460 --> 00:31:28.099 If you're God's child right now, 00:31:28.200 --> 00:31:29.139 God saved you. 00:31:29.399 --> 00:31:30.559 He brought you into his family 00:31:30.559 --> 00:31:32.279 for a very specific purpose, 00:31:32.420 --> 00:31:33.859 is to live life wisely, 00:31:34.059 --> 00:31:35.220 to impact the kingdom, 00:31:35.559 --> 00:31:37.000 and to change people's lives. 00:31:37.000 --> 00:31:41.099 And there's so many people in here 00:31:41.099 --> 00:31:43.019 who walk around defeated, 00:31:44.160 --> 00:31:45.539 and scared. 00:31:46.720 --> 00:31:47.819 I'm just a housewife. 00:31:50.160 --> 00:31:51.779 I have no purpose in my life. 00:31:53.039 --> 00:31:54.180 My time is useless. 00:31:55.740 --> 00:31:56.640 I'm just a student. 00:31:57.579 --> 00:31:58.460 What can I do? 00:32:00.339 --> 00:32:01.359 I'm stuck in this job. 00:32:01.440 --> 00:32:02.680 I can't really affect anything. 00:32:03.839 --> 00:32:05.059 My life really has no purpose. 00:32:05.059 --> 00:32:06.319 I'm hoping that when I get out of this job, 00:32:06.379 --> 00:32:07.059 I can find purpose. 00:32:07.099 --> 00:32:07.460 But right now, 00:32:07.500 --> 00:32:08.240 I can't do anything. 00:32:10.099 --> 00:32:12.139 What Paul in scripture says, 00:32:12.319 --> 00:32:14.220 over and over and over, 00:32:14.639 --> 00:32:17.379 is that God has an amazing plan 00:32:17.379 --> 00:32:18.579 and purpose for your life. 00:32:19.899 --> 00:32:21.319 You see it through his word. 00:32:21.440 --> 00:32:22.519 You see it through the spirit 00:32:22.519 --> 00:32:23.440 put inside of you. 00:32:23.659 --> 00:32:25.059 You see it through all the experiences 00:32:25.059 --> 00:32:26.039 he's brought into your life. 00:32:26.379 --> 00:32:27.139 And the question is, 00:32:27.179 --> 00:32:28.019 are you going to trust him 00:32:28.019 --> 00:32:28.919 to go on that journey, 00:32:30.339 --> 00:32:32.000 and to use your time wisely 00:32:32.000 --> 00:32:33.039 in people's lives? 00:32:33.039 --> 00:32:39.099 I say this because I don't want to end up 00:32:39.099 --> 00:32:40.359 at any of your deathbeds 00:32:40.359 --> 00:32:42.879 and have you look me in the eyes 00:32:42.879 --> 00:32:43.299 and say, 00:32:43.519 --> 00:32:45.200 I've wasted my life. 00:32:47.059 --> 00:32:48.079 I didn't know what to do. 00:32:48.159 --> 00:32:49.059 I didn't know how to make a difference. 00:32:49.119 --> 00:32:50.099 I didn't know how to love my kids. 00:32:50.159 --> 00:32:51.180 I didn't know how to love my wife. 00:32:51.240 --> 00:32:52.680 I didn't know how to love my husband. 00:32:53.079 --> 00:32:55.000 I didn't know how to reach out to people. 00:32:57.099 --> 00:32:59.019 But the scripture says really clearly, 00:32:59.559 --> 00:33:00.680 it's really simple. 00:33:00.680 --> 00:33:00.720 It's really simple. 00:33:03.039 --> 00:33:08.659 I split up the Ephesian passage on purpose. 00:33:10.000 --> 00:33:12.019 The second part of it's on the back of your page. 00:33:13.259 --> 00:33:14.759 It talks about living wisely, 00:33:14.920 --> 00:33:17.000 and he says the exact same thing 00:33:17.000 --> 00:33:18.180 that we read in Romans 12. 00:33:18.420 --> 00:33:20.279 If you took all of Romans 12 and distilled it, 00:33:20.599 --> 00:33:21.700 it's the exact same things 00:33:21.700 --> 00:33:24.599 that Ephesians 17, 18, and 19, and 20 says. 00:33:24.639 --> 00:33:25.599 And what it says is this. 00:33:26.079 --> 00:33:27.480 If you want to know how to live wisely, 00:33:27.799 --> 00:33:28.759 this is what you do. 00:33:28.759 --> 00:33:32.039 You give your life to the Lord. 00:33:35.240 --> 00:33:36.799 You allow him to take control over it 00:33:36.799 --> 00:33:38.220 because he's already paid everything for you. 00:33:40.400 --> 00:33:41.319 Give your life to him. 00:33:42.619 --> 00:33:43.720 If you want to know how to live wisely, 00:33:43.879 --> 00:33:44.660 use your time well, 00:33:45.180 --> 00:33:46.039 give your life to him, 00:33:46.079 --> 00:33:46.779 and as you do that, 00:33:46.859 --> 00:33:47.859 you thank him. 00:33:48.920 --> 00:33:50.339 You have an attitude of gratitude, 00:33:50.519 --> 00:33:51.640 and you continually thank him, 00:33:51.680 --> 00:33:52.799 and thank him for everything he's doing. 00:33:53.160 --> 00:33:54.140 Thank you for what he's brought you. 00:33:54.480 --> 00:33:55.319 Thank you for what he's doing. 00:33:55.319 --> 00:33:57.619 And just continue to thank him 00:33:57.619 --> 00:33:58.539 because he's in control, 00:33:58.619 --> 00:33:59.480 and you can trust him 00:33:59.480 --> 00:34:01.299 because he's already done everything. 00:34:02.939 --> 00:34:04.679 If you want to know how to live your life wisely 00:34:04.679 --> 00:34:05.579 and use your time wisely, 00:34:06.099 --> 00:34:07.019 give your life to the Lord, 00:34:07.639 --> 00:34:09.219 continually be in the attitude of thanking him, 00:34:11.480 --> 00:34:12.219 serve people. 00:34:13.679 --> 00:34:15.199 Be involved in people's lives. 00:34:19.659 --> 00:34:21.739 How do you know if you're using your time wisely? 00:34:21.739 --> 00:34:21.759 How do you know if you're using your time wisely? 00:34:25.320 --> 00:34:26.840 Are you surrendering your life to God? 00:34:28.500 --> 00:34:30.140 Are you thanking him for everything he's done? 00:34:31.900 --> 00:34:33.539 Are you involved in other people's lives? 00:34:33.600 --> 00:34:34.960 Are you serving them and helping them? 00:34:36.180 --> 00:34:37.200 Do you know God's word? 00:34:38.460 --> 00:34:40.080 Do you know what God has in store for you? 00:34:41.600 --> 00:34:42.840 Do you know that he's in control? 00:34:42.920 --> 00:34:43.820 Do you know how he's made you? 00:34:45.059 --> 00:34:46.860 If you know all these things, 00:34:47.460 --> 00:34:49.960 you're never going to be in doubt, 00:34:51.500 --> 00:34:53.120 and you're never going to have to worry. 00:34:53.119 --> 00:34:55.980 I mean, sure, it might look different for every person. 00:34:56.119 --> 00:34:56.900 That's why I don't want to say, 00:34:57.019 --> 00:34:58.099 this is what you need to do. 00:34:58.179 --> 00:34:59.199 Do this, do this, do this, 00:34:59.199 --> 00:35:01.259 because God has uniquely gifted each one of you. 00:35:01.359 --> 00:35:02.199 God has made you differently. 00:35:02.319 --> 00:35:03.339 He's given you different experiences, 00:35:03.679 --> 00:35:04.639 and he's teaching you, 00:35:04.699 --> 00:35:07.480 and he wants you to use your time in different ways. 00:35:09.219 --> 00:35:11.319 So you need to go before him and ask those questions. 00:35:11.400 --> 00:35:12.279 What does that look like? 00:35:13.659 --> 00:35:14.639 How can you do that? 00:35:15.739 --> 00:35:17.239 Maybe grab somebody in your community group. 00:35:17.299 --> 00:35:18.199 Maybe grab a friend and say, 00:35:18.259 --> 00:35:18.839 let's do this again. 00:35:18.880 --> 00:35:20.079 Maybe husband and wife talk about it. 00:35:20.079 --> 00:35:21.579 What does it look like for us to use our time wisely? 00:35:22.539 --> 00:35:24.699 How do we invest in God's word and God's people 00:35:24.699 --> 00:35:26.319 and make people's lives different? 00:35:28.199 --> 00:35:29.940 But don't be thinking at the end of your life, 00:35:30.059 --> 00:35:31.860 man, I've wasted this time like I did. 00:35:33.079 --> 00:35:34.579 I'm so thankful for my heart attack. 00:35:35.880 --> 00:35:37.799 I'm so thankful that I have an anniversary every year, 00:35:38.259 --> 00:35:40.159 and you're probably tired that I keep talking about it, 00:35:40.199 --> 00:35:41.380 but for me, it's a big thing, 00:35:41.420 --> 00:35:43.679 because for me, it's my second birthday. 00:35:45.139 --> 00:35:46.659 And I don't want you to have to have a heart attack. 00:35:48.279 --> 00:35:49.699 And I don't want you to have to have cancer. 00:35:49.699 --> 00:35:51.159 I don't want you to have something else coming into your life 00:35:51.159 --> 00:35:52.119 that God needs to wake you up, 00:35:52.279 --> 00:35:53.659 but God loves you so much, 00:35:53.699 --> 00:35:54.559 he's going to do that 00:35:54.559 --> 00:35:57.879 if he needs to use that to wake us up as his people. 00:36:00.759 --> 00:36:01.500 Does that make sense? 00:36:02.500 --> 00:36:03.619 So I started from the end, 00:36:03.980 --> 00:36:05.299 and I worked to the beginning, 00:36:05.939 --> 00:36:07.639 and we're almost done. 00:36:08.939 --> 00:36:10.939 A couple thoughts, and we'll close. 00:36:11.219 --> 00:36:12.719 And these are things I've been kind of writing out here. 00:36:13.279 --> 00:36:14.219 I think for some of us, 00:36:14.299 --> 00:36:15.359 maybe in this room right now, 00:36:15.439 --> 00:36:16.279 maybe for some of us, 00:36:16.559 --> 00:36:17.359 for the first time, 00:36:17.360 --> 00:36:18.680 we're going to just have to look at our heart. 00:36:19.440 --> 00:36:20.500 We're going to have to look at our motives. 00:36:20.579 --> 00:36:22.579 We're going to have to examine our lives 00:36:22.579 --> 00:36:25.500 and see why am I living the way that I'm living? 00:36:25.720 --> 00:36:27.240 Am I living because it's good or bad, 00:36:27.300 --> 00:36:30.360 or am I living because I want to be wise in what I do? 00:36:31.720 --> 00:36:32.700 I think for some of us, 00:36:32.700 --> 00:36:33.820 we're going to have to come to the realization 00:36:33.820 --> 00:36:35.000 that we aren't in control, 00:36:36.420 --> 00:36:37.440 that God is in control, 00:36:37.539 --> 00:36:38.440 and that life is short, 00:36:38.559 --> 00:36:40.660 and we need to start submitting our lives to God. 00:36:40.659 --> 00:36:43.339 We need to start confessing our selfishness 00:36:43.339 --> 00:36:44.879 and our arrogance 00:36:44.879 --> 00:36:47.000 and our self-confidence 00:36:47.000 --> 00:36:49.539 and allowing God to be God in our life 00:36:49.539 --> 00:36:50.500 and to change us. 00:36:51.799 --> 00:36:52.480 I mean, for some of us, 00:36:52.500 --> 00:36:54.039 it might mean that we just have to be more thankful 00:36:54.039 --> 00:36:55.079 for what God has done 00:36:55.079 --> 00:36:57.659 and continually have this attitude of thanking Him 00:36:57.659 --> 00:36:59.099 and realizing that everything that we have 00:36:59.099 --> 00:37:00.099 and every moment that we have 00:37:00.099 --> 00:37:01.319 and every hour that we have 00:37:01.319 --> 00:37:02.319 and every time that we have 00:37:02.319 --> 00:37:03.519 and every special event that we have 00:37:03.519 --> 00:37:04.879 is a blessing from Him 00:37:04.879 --> 00:37:06.119 and stop thinking about the future 00:37:06.119 --> 00:37:07.079 and what's going to happen next. 00:37:07.179 --> 00:37:07.460 Tobin. 00:37:07.460 --> 00:37:09.579 And so for some of us, 00:37:09.619 --> 00:37:11.260 it might mean just us asking forgiveness 00:37:11.260 --> 00:37:12.420 from those people that we love. 00:37:14.500 --> 00:37:15.199 For some of us, 00:37:15.220 --> 00:37:16.220 it's going to mean we're going to have to ask 00:37:16.220 --> 00:37:17.720 for forgiveness for people that we love 00:37:17.720 --> 00:37:21.000 because we've had terrible priorities 00:37:21.000 --> 00:37:23.780 and we've hurt people 00:37:23.780 --> 00:37:26.360 that we really care about. 00:37:28.880 --> 00:37:30.240 I almost didn't share this 00:37:30.240 --> 00:37:33.179 because I think this is really delicate 00:37:33.179 --> 00:37:36.179 because I think there's some of us in here 00:37:36.179 --> 00:37:37.839 who have this mindset of, 00:37:37.960 --> 00:37:38.819 well, I'll just make it up later. 00:37:38.899 --> 00:37:39.699 I'll just make it up later. 00:37:39.759 --> 00:37:40.519 I'll just make it up later. 00:37:40.559 --> 00:37:41.719 I'll do these things at a special time 00:37:41.719 --> 00:37:42.559 but I'll make it up later. 00:37:43.159 --> 00:37:44.139 And for you, I'm like, 00:37:44.940 --> 00:37:46.319 grow up. 00:37:47.359 --> 00:37:47.919 That's me. 00:37:48.440 --> 00:37:49.139 That's me saying. 00:37:49.299 --> 00:37:50.339 I talk that way too. 00:37:51.619 --> 00:37:52.960 But you never promise later. 00:37:54.159 --> 00:37:55.759 You can't cram for your relationships. 00:37:56.639 --> 00:37:57.759 You can't make things better 00:37:57.759 --> 00:37:59.419 with a birthday party or a great trip 00:37:59.419 --> 00:38:00.619 after you've abused your wife 00:38:00.619 --> 00:38:01.579 or your husband for two years. 00:38:01.659 --> 00:38:02.759 It just doesn't work that way. 00:38:02.760 --> 00:38:05.600 But then there's some of us in here 00:38:05.600 --> 00:38:08.040 who realize, 00:38:08.300 --> 00:38:10.180 man, I've really screwed up. 00:38:11.680 --> 00:38:13.260 How can I fix things? 00:38:13.320 --> 00:38:14.520 How can I make things different? 00:38:15.140 --> 00:38:17.000 I don't even know where to begin. 00:38:17.720 --> 00:38:19.260 I feel so much guilt 00:38:19.260 --> 00:38:21.180 when I walk into this place 00:38:21.180 --> 00:38:23.060 because I realize that I've been so poor 00:38:23.060 --> 00:38:24.880 with my resources, my time, 00:38:25.180 --> 00:38:26.260 my money, my friends. 00:38:26.400 --> 00:38:28.320 I don't even know if I can stand before God. 00:38:29.840 --> 00:38:31.020 And for those of you in here 00:38:31.019 --> 00:38:31.659 who are like that, 00:38:31.719 --> 00:38:32.699 I'm like, man, you know, 00:38:33.179 --> 00:38:33.880 join the club 00:38:33.880 --> 00:38:36.840 because that's how we all really are. 00:38:38.460 --> 00:38:40.280 And the amazing thing is that you know it 00:38:40.280 --> 00:38:42.739 and you want to change. 00:38:44.480 --> 00:38:45.780 And change just starts 00:38:45.780 --> 00:38:47.679 by little increments at a time. 00:38:50.099 --> 00:38:51.179 And you can do that. 00:38:51.179 --> 00:38:56.099 Don't wallow in your self-pity, 00:38:56.819 --> 00:38:58.399 in your shame, in your guilt. 00:38:59.480 --> 00:39:01.440 But allow God to take that from you. 00:39:03.619 --> 00:39:05.539 Allow him to change it into something amazing. 00:39:08.179 --> 00:39:09.019 Does that make sense? 00:39:12.019 --> 00:39:14.099 Stewardship of our resources and gifts, 00:39:14.679 --> 00:39:15.779 stewardship of our time, 00:39:17.239 --> 00:39:18.079 stewardship of our money, 00:39:18.079 --> 00:39:21.420 using our time wisely. 00:39:23.679 --> 00:39:25.480 Our prayer is as a church 00:39:25.480 --> 00:39:27.759 that we would continually think about these things 00:39:27.759 --> 00:39:28.860 and discuss these things. 00:39:29.940 --> 00:39:31.519 And that we would be a different people 00:39:31.519 --> 00:39:33.460 two weeks from now. 00:39:34.619 --> 00:39:35.679 We'd be a different people 00:39:35.679 --> 00:39:36.739 two months from now. 00:39:37.480 --> 00:39:38.380 Again, it's a journey. 00:39:39.139 --> 00:39:40.739 We're not saying this is where you need to be. 00:39:42.119 --> 00:39:42.960 We're just saying 00:39:42.960 --> 00:39:44.739 we're moving in that direction together. 00:39:44.739 --> 00:39:47.919 Father, you want to join us. 00:39:49.299 --> 00:39:50.159 Let's do it together. 00:39:52.119 --> 00:39:53.339 Father, we thank you for this day. 00:39:53.879 --> 00:39:55.039 We thank you for your son 00:39:55.039 --> 00:39:58.079 who gives us everything. 00:39:59.079 --> 00:40:00.219 We thank you for your spirit 00:40:00.219 --> 00:40:01.559 that changes us, 00:40:02.019 --> 00:40:03.139 that heals us, 00:40:03.339 --> 00:40:04.199 that redeems us, 00:40:04.259 --> 00:40:05.339 that brings us to life. 00:40:05.739 --> 00:40:08.059 We thank you that you do all these things 00:40:08.059 --> 00:40:09.419 in Ephesians and Romans 00:40:09.419 --> 00:40:11.399 more than we can even talk about 00:40:11.399 --> 00:40:12.579 within a short period of time 00:40:12.579 --> 00:40:14.439 over and over and over. 00:40:14.440 --> 00:40:15.760 You are the hero. 00:40:16.059 --> 00:40:16.860 You are the leader. 00:40:17.360 --> 00:40:18.820 You change us. 00:40:19.500 --> 00:40:20.940 And we look out and we say, 00:40:21.059 --> 00:40:22.880 how then should we respond? 00:40:24.659 --> 00:40:26.880 What is our reasonable response 00:40:26.880 --> 00:40:28.480 to your mercy and your grace? 00:40:30.019 --> 00:40:31.139 And your word says it clearly. 00:40:32.400 --> 00:40:34.800 It says to surrender our lives to you, 00:40:35.619 --> 00:40:37.760 to trust you because you've already done it all. 00:40:38.940 --> 00:40:40.099 It says to be thankful 00:40:40.099 --> 00:40:41.340 and have an attitude of gratitude. 00:40:41.340 --> 00:40:43.980 And it says to love people 00:40:43.980 --> 00:40:46.200 and to encourage them, 00:40:46.720 --> 00:40:48.260 to go on a journey with them 00:40:48.260 --> 00:40:50.059 and know that you're in control 00:40:50.059 --> 00:40:51.100 of all these things. 00:40:52.120 --> 00:40:53.700 Father, I pray for us as a church 00:40:53.700 --> 00:40:54.460 and as individuals 00:40:54.460 --> 00:40:56.360 that we would be different, 00:40:56.820 --> 00:40:59.820 that we wouldn't walk out of here 00:40:59.820 --> 00:41:00.620 the same 00:41:00.620 --> 00:41:01.840 and that we wouldn't be the same 00:41:01.840 --> 00:41:02.480 next week 00:41:02.480 --> 00:41:03.760 and we wouldn't be having this attitude 00:41:03.760 --> 00:41:05.140 that, well, I can make it better later, 00:41:05.539 --> 00:41:06.340 but right now I've got to deal 00:41:06.340 --> 00:41:06.940 with these things. 00:41:06.940 --> 00:41:08.639 But that we would deal 00:41:08.639 --> 00:41:09.800 with these things right now 00:41:09.800 --> 00:41:12.840 and allow your spirit to change us. 00:41:13.780 --> 00:41:15.079 Father, for many of us, 00:41:15.220 --> 00:41:16.059 especially myself, 00:41:16.159 --> 00:41:16.780 we need to confess. 00:41:18.139 --> 00:41:19.200 We need to repent 00:41:19.200 --> 00:41:21.579 because we've been walking around 00:41:21.579 --> 00:41:22.500 too righteously, 00:41:22.720 --> 00:41:24.440 too self-confident for too long. 00:41:25.679 --> 00:41:26.659 And we've hurt the people 00:41:26.659 --> 00:41:28.840 that we care about the most. 00:41:30.079 --> 00:41:30.980 We hurt you. 00:41:32.360 --> 00:41:34.099 We hurt our relationship with you, 00:41:34.400 --> 00:41:35.440 our God and our creator. 00:41:35.440 --> 00:41:37.900 So, Lord, we confess that. 00:41:38.900 --> 00:41:39.659 For some of us, Lord, 00:41:39.679 --> 00:41:40.300 we just need to say, 00:41:40.400 --> 00:41:41.280 okay, what do I do now? 00:41:42.380 --> 00:41:44.019 And allow your spirit to talk to us 00:41:44.019 --> 00:41:45.260 and to show us through your word 00:41:45.260 --> 00:41:46.000 and through your people 00:41:46.000 --> 00:41:46.539 what we do 00:41:46.539 --> 00:41:48.280 and how you've made us. 00:41:49.420 --> 00:41:50.280 And for all of us, Lord, 00:41:50.300 --> 00:41:52.760 we just need to be in amazement 00:41:52.760 --> 00:41:55.579 that you're the God of second chances, 00:41:56.360 --> 00:41:58.159 that you're gentle and kind 00:41:58.159 --> 00:41:59.380 and patient and merciful 00:41:59.380 --> 00:42:01.760 and that you bring us along 00:42:01.760 --> 00:42:03.119 even when we wander off. 00:42:03.119 --> 00:42:05.259 We thank you. 00:42:06.400 --> 00:42:07.219 We love you. 00:42:07.980 --> 00:42:08.859 We pray all these things 00:42:08.859 --> 00:42:09.779 in your son Jesus' name. 00:42:10.659 --> 00:42:10.920 Amen.