WEBVTT

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 The scripture reading today comes from the book of James, chapter 5.

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 Please read along in your bulletin.

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 Be patient then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord's coming.

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 See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop,

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 patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains.

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 You too, be patient and stand firm,

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 because the Lord's coming is near.

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 Don't grumble against one another, brothers and sisters,

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 or you will be judged, for the judge is standing at the door.

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 Brothers and sisters, as an example of patience in the face of suffering,

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 take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.

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 As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered.

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 You have heard of Job's perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about.

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 The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.

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 My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth

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 and someone should bring that person back, remember this.

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 Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way

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 will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins.

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 This is God's word.

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 Good morning, Watermark.

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 In case you don't know me, my name is Mike.

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 I work with the university students here at the church.

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 And before Easter, we have been going through the book of James.

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 So in case that this is the first time

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 or you haven't heard the sermon series before Easter,

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 we'll kind of recap that a little bit as well.

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 But today we will actually be finishing that sermon series

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 with chapter 5, the final chapter of the book of James.

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 And kind of to ease into the topic,

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 I wanted to share a story,

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 something that I have been following lately.

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 And you may have been following that too.

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 And it was just mentioned in the prayer.

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 It's about the increasing tension about North Korea.

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 There's a lot of stuff in the newspapers that you read all over.

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 But there's also, on a personal note,

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 something that made me quite interested.

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 So we have some friends that work with an NGO

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 and they have a growing presence up in North Korea.

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 And just hearing the stories of what's happening in the country

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 and among the people,

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 it's been really touching and made me more interested.

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 And so just a few days ago, there was this documentary,

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 I think it was the National Geographic, about North Korea.

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 And what it showed was footage from a pretty strange event.

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 So in the footage that they showed in the documentary,

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 there was this room, this auditorium,

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 with hundreds of North Koreans gathered.

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 And they all had been blind.

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 Some from birth and some had turned blind later in their lives.

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 And they all had gone through eye surgery.

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 So the footage now showed these people after surgery

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 with their eyes all still covered.

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 So this whole room is full with people

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 that all have these bandages on.

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 And so now one after the other comes to the front of the room.

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 And they take off the bandages.

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 And what they're all facing is this huge picture

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 of Kim Il-sung, the first leader of North Korea,

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 who after his death had been declared

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 the eternal leader of the country.

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 So he established, and I just tried to confirm that

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 with my Korean friends, the Juche ideology,

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 which is basically the ideology of putting Korean things first.

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 So the Juche ideology is one of total self-reliance of Korea,

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 basically trying to, in an economic and a political way,

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 be independent from anyone else.

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 It requires total loyalty to both the country and the party.

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 So in the documentary, the people, as they opened their eyes,

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 they would take a glance of this portrait of their leader

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 and they would fall on their knees and cry and sob

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 and begin to praise and worship their great general.

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 And so one or the other would say things like,

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 my family will worship the great general for generations to come.

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 And under tears, they would say things like,

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 praise you, eternal leader.

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 I will work even harder in the salt mines.

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 And just watching that from an outside perspective,

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 I was wondering, do they really mean that?

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 Like, have they really devoted their lives to this ideology

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 and to the leader in that way?

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 Obviously, there has been some brainwashing going on

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 over generations about this ideology.

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 Any other information from the outside is kept away.

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 All the information that is passed on through the media is screened.

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 And so I was wondering whether they meant what they were saying

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 or whether it was more of a fear

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 that caused them to say what they were saying

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 and influence their responses.

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 It's like a little over a year ago

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 when the last supreme leader, Kim Jong-il, died,

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 a reporter said that was in the country

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 that the authorities were now handing down at least six months

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 in a labor training camp

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 for anybody who didn't participate in the organized gatherings

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 during the mourning period

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 or who did participate but didn't cry or didn't seem genuine.

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 And so when I read that, I felt like,

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 how can you force someone to be genuine in their hearts?

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 So seeing all this and hearing all this

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 brought a lot of memories back to me.

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 I grew up in a divided Germany.

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 And I was exposed to an ideological clash

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 between the capitalist democratic system on the one side,

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 the Marxist communism on the other side.

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 And that was something on a regular basis

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 that I was confronted with more in a subtle way.

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 But my dad actually fled from eastern Germany

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 on the last train out of the country

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 before they closed the border,

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 before they divided the countries.

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 So I grew up with this perception

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 that everything communist is bad.

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 It's an ideology not to be affirmed.

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 As a family, we traveled a lot,

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 but we never traveled to the east.

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 But when we traveled into communist territory

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 was only when we would go to the divided eastern Germany.

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 About once a year,

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 we would visit relatives and friends.

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 And it was a hustle to get the visa

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 and getting through the customs area.

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 And then we would meet our friends

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 and experiencing what was on the other side

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 was a really strange experience.

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 And I still remember smuggling toilet paper over

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 because we didn't like the toilet paper there.

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 And bringing paint over because they wouldn't have it.

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 And all the kids would complain.

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 So even though the government tried to control TV and media,

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 and they had secret police everywhere,

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 everyone could be a spy,

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 so people were afraid of who was screening who.

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 But still, I knew that the people in eastern Germany

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 largely did not support what was going on.

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 But they wouldn't speak out about it.

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 So what was in their heart was often very different

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 to what we would see in their action.

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 So the ideology they proclaimed to the outside

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 was not what they really believed in.

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 A good friend, and this is one of these examples,

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 a good friend of my father

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 had made his way up to be the general manager

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 of an East German construction company.

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 He actually had to get to that point

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 through pretending that he was in line

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 with everything the government said.

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 But then in 1984, he revealed his heart

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 and wrote an appeal to the government

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 to let him and his family leave eastern Germany

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 to go to the capitalist west.

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 Within a week,

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 he was degraded to be the caretaker of the company.

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 His kids were not allowed to go to university.

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 They had to drop out of school.

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 And then three years of humiliation and threats

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 followed situations like going to the bakery,

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 and in the bakery,

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 someone would tap on the shoulder and say,

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 you better follow what the government says.

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 But then one day, he got a letter,

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 and the letter said,

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 hereby we inform you that you have 24 hours,

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 and it was delivered to the door,

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 hereby we inform you you have 24 hours

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 to leave the country.

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 And so they could only pack a suitcase,

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 they had to leave their car,

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 their house, their families,

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 and within a day,

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 they left everything behind.

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 And I still remember the day

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 when we went to the border to pick them up.

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 And it was unreal.

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 And there are so many other stories

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 that two years later,

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 when the wall fell,

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 and just seeing how people started to respond

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 to what they had really experienced.

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 But all these stories of Korea

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 and what I've experienced back then,

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 they remind me a lot of what's going on

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 in the book of James.

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 It's like a reality check.

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 It's about uniting our faith,

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 that story about life and truth

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 that we say we believe,

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 with the story that we actually live out

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 in our lives.

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 The story that we believe in our hearts.

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 So James is asking that question.

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 What we proclaim as a belief system,

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 does it match the way we act?

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 Or are we pretending?

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 Over the past few weeks,

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 we have examined the first four chapters,

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 and we have heard James say,

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 faith without works is dead.

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 So that if we proclaim the Christian story

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 as truth in our lives,

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 if we say that we have faith in Jesus

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 and his story of redemption,

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 but then our action does not speak

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 the same message,

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 then what we say we believe

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 has no meaning.

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 It's dead.

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 Christian scholar James Smith

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 puts it in the following words.

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 The Christian's primary responsibility

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 is to live God's story for the world.

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 The church is a stage

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 where God's drama is played out.

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 As such, our responsibility

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 is to act his story out well.

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 Our storytelling should be supported

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 by our story living.

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 Let me say that one more time.

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 Our storytelling,

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 the story we tell what we believe,

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 should match our story living,

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 the way we act in our lives.

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 What we have seen in James

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 over the past few weeks

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 is that the church there

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 struggled with that.

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 They united under that calling

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 of restoring and redeeming the world

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 and each other's lives.

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 But when it got tough,

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 they kept the money to themselves.

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 They wouldn't care about each other.

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 Instead of following Jesus' example

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 of selflessness,

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 they would become selfish.

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 We also saw that when it got tough

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 to live out that story,

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 instead of loving each other

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 as a family,

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 they began to turn on each other.

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 They began to gossip,

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 to criticize.

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 So when looking at their works,

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 their action towards one another,

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 their story living,

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 was not consistent

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 with the gospel story

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 that they said

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 that they believed in.

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 So today's chapter

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 also talks about

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 how easy it is

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 to give up on the story

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 we say we believe,

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 especially when it gets tough.

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 Our text starts with verse 7.

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 Be patient then,

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 brothers and sisters,

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 until the Lord's coming.

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 See how the farmer

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 waits for the land

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 to yield its valuable crops,

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 patiently waiting

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 for the autumn

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 and spring rains.

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 You too be patient

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 and stand firm

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 because the Lord's coming

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 is near.

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 So that great story again

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 that we talk about

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 is God's story of redemption.

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 It's the belief

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 that God,

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 who created everything,

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 came into his broken creation

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 in the person of Jesus.

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 And that in his resurrection

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 that we celebrated last week,

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 we also see

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 his power

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 to restore everything.

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 We see that he comes

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 to redeem broken lives.

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 We see that

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 he will one day

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 come back

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 to restore all things.

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 And that's what

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 in verse 7 and 8

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 is highlighted twice,

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 that it's until

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 the Lord's coming

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 so that the Lord

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 will come back

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 to restore all things.

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 But in the meanwhile,

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 be patient.

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 They need to stand firm

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 and cling to that story

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 even when it gets tough.

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 So James gives an example

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 of a farmer,

00:12:39.240 --> 00:12:40.000
 a farmer who waits

00:12:40.000 --> 00:12:40.440
 on the land

00:12:40.440 --> 00:12:41.620
 to yield its crops

00:12:41.620 --> 00:12:42.440
 and patiently waiting

00:12:42.440 --> 00:12:42.960
 on the autumn

00:12:42.960 --> 00:12:43.800
 and spring rains.

00:12:44.780 --> 00:12:45.879
 Now some of you know

00:12:45.879 --> 00:12:47.000
 that I have somewhat

00:12:47.000 --> 00:12:47.480
 of a background

00:12:47.480 --> 00:12:49.620
 from a farming community

00:12:49.620 --> 00:12:50.480
 like Tobin.

00:12:51.040 --> 00:12:52.280
 My grandma,

00:12:52.680 --> 00:12:53.400
 the family,

00:12:53.540 --> 00:12:54.820
 lived at the Black Sea

00:12:54.820 --> 00:12:55.259
 and they were

00:12:55.259 --> 00:12:56.060
 in this farming community.

00:12:56.220 --> 00:12:56.600
 And so even

00:12:56.600 --> 00:12:57.580
 when they left

00:12:57.580 --> 00:12:58.080
 and moved back

00:12:58.080 --> 00:12:59.180
 to Germany after the war,

00:12:59.620 --> 00:13:00.320
 we always had

00:13:00.320 --> 00:13:01.120
 a piece of land.

00:13:01.120 --> 00:13:02.620
 they always wanted

00:13:02.620 --> 00:13:03.299
 to be somewhat

00:13:03.299 --> 00:13:04.220
 self-sustainable.

00:13:04.460 --> 00:13:06.060
 So I would spend

00:13:06.060 --> 00:13:07.860
 my time picking fruit

00:13:07.860 --> 00:13:09.639
 and we would actually

00:13:09.639 --> 00:13:10.879
 even raise ducks

00:13:10.879 --> 00:13:11.500
 and rabbits

00:13:11.500 --> 00:13:12.779
 for eating.

00:13:14.620 --> 00:13:18.460
 But then there's

00:13:18.460 --> 00:13:18.860
 this element

00:13:18.860 --> 00:13:19.440
 of farming

00:13:19.440 --> 00:13:21.179
 that somehow

00:13:21.179 --> 00:13:22.259
 clicks with me there.

00:13:23.460 --> 00:13:25.019
 Like I remember

00:13:25.019 --> 00:13:26.060
 as a 10-year-old kid

00:13:26.060 --> 00:13:27.120
 going up to my granddad

00:13:27.940 --> 00:13:28.799
 and the whole day

00:13:28.799 --> 00:13:29.359
 on a Saturday

00:13:29.359 --> 00:13:31.519
 I would plow the ground

00:13:31.519 --> 00:13:32.740
 and prepare it

00:13:32.740 --> 00:13:34.500
 to sow the potatoes

00:13:34.500 --> 00:13:35.699
 and put the potatoes

00:13:35.699 --> 00:13:36.259
 in the ground.

00:13:36.479 --> 00:13:38.240
 And if I would know

00:13:38.240 --> 00:13:38.779
 that there is

00:13:38.779 --> 00:13:39.879
 no outcome whatsoever,

00:13:40.219 --> 00:13:40.659
 like I would say,

00:13:40.699 --> 00:13:42.019
 what's the reason of this?

00:13:42.859 --> 00:13:44.039
 But you would plow the ground

00:13:44.039 --> 00:13:45.539
 and then you would sow

00:13:45.539 --> 00:13:47.679
 and then you would wait

00:13:47.679 --> 00:13:48.299
 for rain

00:13:48.299 --> 00:13:50.179
 and then you would

00:13:50.179 --> 00:13:51.659
 have to go over it

00:13:51.659 --> 00:13:52.699
 to pull out the weeds

00:13:52.699 --> 00:13:54.139
 week after week.

00:13:54.639 --> 00:13:56.000
 And after you do all that,

00:13:56.099 --> 00:13:56.919
 who would say,

00:13:56.919 --> 00:13:57.360
 hey, okay,

00:13:58.000 --> 00:13:59.279
 that's just taking too long.

00:13:59.360 --> 00:13:59.860
 I'm out of here.

00:13:59.939 --> 00:14:01.419
 I'm abandoning my field

00:14:01.419 --> 00:14:03.299
 before you got the harvest.

00:14:04.279 --> 00:14:04.719
 And so here's

00:14:04.719 --> 00:14:06.219
 what James is talking about,

00:14:06.259 --> 00:14:07.539
 that he trusted at the end

00:14:07.539 --> 00:14:08.459
 it's all worth it,

00:14:08.679 --> 00:14:09.679
 that there will be a harvest

00:14:09.679 --> 00:14:11.759
 even when the tough plowing

00:14:11.759 --> 00:14:13.979
 and the tough times go by,

00:14:14.439 --> 00:14:14.939
 that we know

00:14:14.939 --> 00:14:15.919
 what the end of the story is.

00:14:15.979 --> 00:14:17.740
 And God's story of redemption

00:14:17.740 --> 00:14:20.599
 finishes in the patient waiting

00:14:20.599 --> 00:14:21.579
 of his coming kingdom.

00:14:22.779 --> 00:14:24.000
 And in a way he says,

00:14:24.000 --> 00:14:25.960
 there's victory or a victory.

00:14:26.779 --> 00:14:28.419
 Either God will lead you

00:14:28.419 --> 00:14:30.039
 through the bad times

00:14:30.039 --> 00:14:31.659
 and you will see the harvest here

00:14:31.659 --> 00:14:33.340
 or there will be victory

00:14:33.340 --> 00:14:34.659
 when he comes again.

00:14:36.759 --> 00:14:39.259
 But so easily we lose our patience

00:14:39.259 --> 00:14:40.360
 when things don't turn out

00:14:40.360 --> 00:14:41.000
 the way we want.

00:14:41.100 --> 00:14:41.879
 I consider myself

00:14:41.879 --> 00:14:42.899
 a pretty patient person.

00:14:43.740 --> 00:14:44.360
 There's not too much

00:14:44.360 --> 00:14:45.860
 that gets me anxious or angry,

00:14:46.379 --> 00:14:49.259
 at least not in everyday situations.

00:14:49.259 --> 00:14:50.939
 as long as things

00:14:50.939 --> 00:14:51.580
 are kind of like

00:14:51.580 --> 00:14:52.439
 in my comfort zone

00:14:52.439 --> 00:14:54.779
 and go in a normal way.

00:14:54.919 --> 00:14:56.399
 But how does it look like

00:14:56.399 --> 00:14:57.279
 under stress?

00:14:58.240 --> 00:15:00.439
 Or when worries break in

00:15:00.439 --> 00:15:01.460
 and they're built up

00:15:01.460 --> 00:15:02.759
 and you just can't

00:15:02.759 --> 00:15:04.059
 really organize life.

00:15:04.200 --> 00:15:05.000
 And you probably have all

00:15:05.000 --> 00:15:05.580
 been at that place

00:15:05.580 --> 00:15:06.259
 and suddenly you see

00:15:06.259 --> 00:15:07.120
 the worst coming out

00:15:07.120 --> 00:15:07.500
 of yourself

00:15:07.500 --> 00:15:08.460
 and you thought

00:15:08.460 --> 00:15:09.679
 you're such a patient person.

00:15:10.319 --> 00:15:10.960
 And then for me

00:15:10.960 --> 00:15:12.340
 doubts come up like,

00:15:12.799 --> 00:15:14.000
 why the heck do we give up

00:15:14.000 --> 00:15:14.919
 like a job in banking

00:15:14.919 --> 00:15:15.519
 and nursing

00:15:15.519 --> 00:15:16.659
 to move to Hong Kong

00:15:16.659 --> 00:15:18.659
 to work in ministry?

00:15:19.120 --> 00:15:21.899
 Or isn't there a better life?

00:15:22.199 --> 00:15:23.579
 And shouldn't we just do that?

00:15:24.079 --> 00:15:25.480
 And so it's kind of like

00:15:25.480 --> 00:15:27.179
 you plow the ground

00:15:27.179 --> 00:15:28.120
 and you sow the seed

00:15:28.120 --> 00:15:28.860
 but then you feel like

00:15:28.860 --> 00:15:29.519
 I don't want to wait

00:15:29.519 --> 00:15:30.120
 for the harvest

00:15:30.120 --> 00:15:31.799
 because I want to look

00:15:31.799 --> 00:15:32.740
 for something better.

00:15:35.360 --> 00:15:36.539
 The French philosopher

00:15:36.539 --> 00:15:37.620
 Jean-Francois Loitar

00:15:37.620 --> 00:15:39.199
 says that today

00:15:39.199 --> 00:15:40.959
 people have what he calls

00:15:40.959 --> 00:15:42.179
 an incredulity

00:15:42.179 --> 00:15:43.600
 towards metanarratives.

00:15:44.399 --> 00:15:45.720
 Or in other words,

00:15:45.720 --> 00:15:48.700
 there is a strong disbelief

00:15:48.700 --> 00:15:50.580
 toward grand ideologies

00:15:50.580 --> 00:15:51.980
 or grand narratives.

00:15:52.360 --> 00:15:53.259
 So these claims

00:15:53.259 --> 00:15:54.480
 of universal truth.

00:15:55.920 --> 00:15:57.100
 Let me give you an example.

00:15:58.340 --> 00:15:59.779
 Over the past 50 years,

00:16:00.639 --> 00:16:01.480
 there has been

00:16:01.480 --> 00:16:03.440
 this grand cultural narrative

00:16:03.440 --> 00:16:04.540
 on Hong Kong

00:16:04.540 --> 00:16:06.820
 that has been influenced

00:16:06.820 --> 00:16:07.740
 by the handover.

00:16:08.360 --> 00:16:08.860
 A lot of people

00:16:08.860 --> 00:16:09.720
 that have been living

00:16:09.720 --> 00:16:10.639
 through these times

00:16:10.639 --> 00:16:13.019
 in the 70s, 80s, 90s

00:16:13.019 --> 00:16:14.139
 leading up to the handover,

00:16:14.139 --> 00:16:15.819
 they share that

00:16:15.819 --> 00:16:18.039
 there has been that fear

00:16:18.039 --> 00:16:19.039
 about what would happen

00:16:19.039 --> 00:16:20.519
 in 10, 20, 30 years

00:16:20.519 --> 00:16:21.039
 down the road

00:16:21.039 --> 00:16:22.080
 when the handover happens.

00:16:22.519 --> 00:16:24.000
 And so this narrative

00:16:24.000 --> 00:16:24.939
 culturally that was written

00:16:24.939 --> 00:16:25.860
 was we have to work

00:16:25.860 --> 00:16:26.519
 very hard to make

00:16:26.519 --> 00:16:27.019
 a lot of money

00:16:27.019 --> 00:16:28.419
 so that we can move

00:16:28.419 --> 00:16:28.899
 to Canada,

00:16:29.220 --> 00:16:29.899
 to the UK,

00:16:30.120 --> 00:16:30.659
 to Australia.

00:16:31.639 --> 00:16:32.960
 And some people wonder

00:16:32.960 --> 00:16:33.460
 why would you ever

00:16:33.460 --> 00:16:33.980
 move there?

00:16:33.980 --> 00:16:37.840
 So you make a lot of money

00:16:37.840 --> 00:16:39.039
 and then you move there

00:16:39.039 --> 00:16:39.360
 and then you get

00:16:39.360 --> 00:16:39.779
 citizenship

00:16:39.779 --> 00:16:41.379
 and then everything

00:16:41.379 --> 00:16:41.980
 will be okay.

00:16:42.720 --> 00:16:43.440
 But even now

00:16:43.440 --> 00:16:44.340
 after the handover,

00:16:45.039 --> 00:16:46.639
 the great cultural narrative

00:16:46.639 --> 00:16:47.480
 of Hong Kong

00:16:47.480 --> 00:16:48.860
 still seems to be

00:16:48.860 --> 00:16:50.159
 very influenced by that.

00:16:50.580 --> 00:16:51.420
 We just need to get,

00:16:51.700 --> 00:16:52.700
 like, oh, I have a job,

00:16:52.800 --> 00:16:53.500
 but three months later

00:16:53.500 --> 00:16:54.340
 I get a better job offer

00:16:54.340 --> 00:16:55.680
 so I better get to the job offer

00:16:55.680 --> 00:16:56.840
 where I make $1,000 more

00:16:56.840 --> 00:16:58.019
 so that I can get ahead

00:16:58.019 --> 00:16:58.620
 of the game.

00:16:58.620 --> 00:17:01.080
 But now,

00:17:01.779 --> 00:17:02.740
 I'm working with

00:17:02.740 --> 00:17:03.620
 university students

00:17:03.620 --> 00:17:04.359
 and what I'm seeing

00:17:04.359 --> 00:17:05.059
 is that there's

00:17:05.059 --> 00:17:05.980
 a new generation

00:17:05.980 --> 00:17:08.200
 that is not that

00:17:08.200 --> 00:17:09.559
 sold out

00:17:09.559 --> 00:17:10.500
 to that grand

00:17:10.500 --> 00:17:11.279
 cultural narrative.

00:17:14.480 --> 00:17:15.039
 Maybe

00:17:15.039 --> 00:17:16.720
 there's something

00:17:16.720 --> 00:17:17.259
 more meaningful

00:17:17.259 --> 00:17:18.359
 like my first boyfriend

00:17:18.359 --> 00:17:18.819
 or girlfriend

00:17:18.819 --> 00:17:20.240
 than living out

00:17:20.240 --> 00:17:21.380
 that great cultural narrative.

00:17:21.920 --> 00:17:22.400
 Honestly,

00:17:22.940 --> 00:17:23.680
 my parents have

00:17:23.680 --> 00:17:24.380
 enough money now,

00:17:24.460 --> 00:17:25.740
 I can do whatever I want.

00:17:26.720 --> 00:17:27.460
 I have seen,

00:17:27.500 --> 00:17:27.779
 you know,

00:17:27.779 --> 00:17:29.579
 I've enjoyed

00:17:29.579 --> 00:17:30.339
 all that freedom.

00:17:31.460 --> 00:17:32.039
 So suddenly,

00:17:32.319 --> 00:17:33.399
 that story

00:17:33.399 --> 00:17:34.000
 doesn't seem

00:17:34.000 --> 00:17:34.619
 that attractive.

00:17:36.500 --> 00:17:37.259
 Or let's look

00:17:37.259 --> 00:17:38.019
 at the grand story

00:17:38.019 --> 00:17:38.700
 of marriage.

00:17:39.839 --> 00:17:40.960
 The grand story

00:17:40.960 --> 00:17:41.639
 of love

00:17:41.639 --> 00:17:42.359
 till death

00:17:42.359 --> 00:17:43.200
 do us part.

00:17:44.339 --> 00:17:45.119
 And more than ever,

00:17:45.420 --> 00:17:46.440
 when things get difficult,

00:17:47.200 --> 00:17:48.200
 people just get divorced,

00:17:48.599 --> 00:17:49.079
 the narrative

00:17:49.079 --> 00:17:50.059
 gets too complicated.

00:17:50.759 --> 00:17:51.700
 I just actually

00:17:51.700 --> 00:17:52.160
 want to look

00:17:52.160 --> 00:17:52.960
 at a story

00:17:52.960 --> 00:17:53.879
 that gives me

00:17:53.879 --> 00:17:54.339
 what I want

00:17:54.339 --> 00:17:54.920
 right now.

00:17:56.440 --> 00:17:57.259
 So if Lloyd-Tarr

00:17:57.259 --> 00:17:58.039
 is correct,

00:17:59.039 --> 00:17:59.400
 nowadays,

00:17:59.619 --> 00:18:00.619
 we tend to pick stories

00:18:00.619 --> 00:18:01.460
 based on how we feel

00:18:01.460 --> 00:18:02.019
 in the moment,

00:18:02.400 --> 00:18:03.279
 what works for us

00:18:03.279 --> 00:18:04.220
 in the here and now.

00:18:04.700 --> 00:18:05.660
 We don't want to plow

00:18:05.660 --> 00:18:06.220
 the ground

00:18:06.220 --> 00:18:06.740
 and sow

00:18:06.740 --> 00:18:07.259
 and weed

00:18:07.259 --> 00:18:08.140
 and wait on rain.

00:18:08.200 --> 00:18:09.599
 We prefer to eat

00:18:09.599 --> 00:18:10.819
 what we want

00:18:10.819 --> 00:18:11.579
 right now.

00:18:12.940 --> 00:18:13.819
 So in his letter,

00:18:14.240 --> 00:18:14.879
 James says

00:18:14.879 --> 00:18:16.059
 that the coming

00:18:16.059 --> 00:18:16.539
 of the Lord

00:18:16.539 --> 00:18:17.079
 is near.

00:18:18.240 --> 00:18:19.019
 And he said

00:18:19.019 --> 00:18:19.480
 these words

00:18:19.480 --> 00:18:20.720
 almost 2,000 years ago.

00:18:20.720 --> 00:18:23.039
 Now,

00:18:23.160 --> 00:18:23.720
 I think

00:18:23.720 --> 00:18:24.339
 when I use

00:18:24.339 --> 00:18:25.200
 the word near,

00:18:25.860 --> 00:18:27.140
 I use it

00:18:27.140 --> 00:18:27.960
 in different terms.

00:18:28.940 --> 00:18:29.500
 No wonder

00:18:29.500 --> 00:18:29.860
 that people

00:18:29.860 --> 00:18:30.480
 get impatient.

00:18:31.319 --> 00:18:31.860
 But then I have

00:18:31.860 --> 00:18:32.319
 to admit

00:18:32.319 --> 00:18:33.920
 that I have

00:18:33.920 --> 00:18:34.400
 a hard time

00:18:34.400 --> 00:18:35.480
 to evaluating time

00:18:35.480 --> 00:18:36.519
 with an eternal perspective.

00:18:36.779 --> 00:18:37.839
 So it may be

00:18:37.839 --> 00:18:38.519
 my fault.

00:18:39.299 --> 00:18:40.360
 It's like a mom

00:18:40.360 --> 00:18:41.620
 or the moms

00:18:41.620 --> 00:18:42.079
 you can probably

00:18:42.079 --> 00:18:42.620
 relate to that.

00:18:42.700 --> 00:18:43.680
 When you tell

00:18:43.680 --> 00:18:44.220
 your kids

00:18:44.220 --> 00:18:45.759
 you need to

00:18:45.759 --> 00:18:46.460
 clean your room

00:18:46.460 --> 00:18:48.340
 and they say

00:18:48.340 --> 00:18:49.819
 yeah,

00:18:49.980 --> 00:18:51.039
 I'll do it later.

00:18:51.579 --> 00:18:51.819
 Or

00:18:51.819 --> 00:18:53.079
 hey,

00:18:53.180 --> 00:18:53.759
 supper is ready.

00:18:54.340 --> 00:18:55.460
 Come eat.

00:18:55.840 --> 00:18:55.980
 Oh,

00:18:55.980 --> 00:18:56.360
 I just need to

00:18:56.360 --> 00:18:57.180
 finish that one level.

00:18:58.240 --> 00:18:59.140
 And then one minute

00:18:59.140 --> 00:19:00.579
 can turn into eternity

00:19:00.579 --> 00:19:01.680
 and you wonder

00:19:01.680 --> 00:19:02.039
 how long

00:19:02.039 --> 00:19:02.640
 these levels

00:19:02.640 --> 00:19:03.279
 are nowadays.

00:19:03.720 --> 00:19:04.460
 And so

00:19:04.460 --> 00:19:05.480
 I'm not surprised

00:19:05.480 --> 00:19:06.660
 that the next part

00:19:06.660 --> 00:19:08.279
 that follows

00:19:08.279 --> 00:19:08.779
 says

00:19:08.779 --> 00:19:10.380
 don't grumble

00:19:10.380 --> 00:19:11.400
 against one another

00:19:11.400 --> 00:19:12.319
 brothers and sisters

00:19:12.319 --> 00:19:13.720
 or you will be judged.

00:19:13.840 --> 00:19:14.299
 The judge

00:19:14.299 --> 00:19:14.840
 is standing

00:19:14.840 --> 00:19:16.120
 at the door.

00:19:17.279 --> 00:19:18.000
 So with your kids

00:19:18.000 --> 00:19:18.720
 playing a game

00:19:18.720 --> 00:19:19.340
 it's like

00:19:19.340 --> 00:19:20.319
 you're getting frustrated

00:19:20.319 --> 00:19:21.059
 with your kids

00:19:21.059 --> 00:19:22.640
 and your kids

00:19:22.640 --> 00:19:22.900
 are like

00:19:22.900 --> 00:19:23.140
 mom,

00:19:23.220 --> 00:19:23.940
 you don't understand

00:19:23.940 --> 00:19:24.559
 I'm in the middle

00:19:24.559 --> 00:19:25.079
 of the game

00:19:25.079 --> 00:19:25.779
 and so it is

00:19:25.779 --> 00:19:26.380
 with the church.

00:19:27.720 --> 00:19:28.799
 So we look around

00:19:28.799 --> 00:19:29.240
 and we say

00:19:29.240 --> 00:19:29.480
 ah,

00:19:29.600 --> 00:19:30.920
 these are the people

00:19:30.920 --> 00:19:31.559
 that are

00:19:31.559 --> 00:19:32.539
 not running

00:19:32.539 --> 00:19:33.319
 a community group

00:19:33.319 --> 00:19:33.980
 like I do

00:19:33.980 --> 00:19:34.860
 and they don't

00:19:34.860 --> 00:19:35.660
 even tithe

00:19:35.660 --> 00:19:37.180
 and you look around

00:19:37.180 --> 00:19:37.920
 and we're starting

00:19:37.920 --> 00:19:38.960
 to look at each other

00:19:38.960 --> 00:19:39.559
 and what each other

00:19:39.559 --> 00:19:39.960
 does wrong

00:19:39.960 --> 00:19:40.740
 and what the text says

00:19:40.740 --> 00:19:41.900
 is don't turn

00:19:41.900 --> 00:19:42.960
 on each other

00:19:42.960 --> 00:19:43.840
 especially

00:19:43.840 --> 00:19:45.860
 when the pressure

00:19:45.860 --> 00:19:46.319
 is up.

00:19:47.460 --> 00:19:48.340
 You may be right

00:19:48.340 --> 00:19:49.940
 but how often

00:19:49.940 --> 00:19:50.620
 do we all

00:19:50.620 --> 00:19:51.360
 fall short

00:19:51.360 --> 00:19:52.440
 of living out

00:19:52.440 --> 00:19:53.140
 the story well

00:19:53.140 --> 00:19:54.240
 so remember

00:19:54.240 --> 00:19:54.759
 that the judge

00:19:54.759 --> 00:19:55.079
 is standing

00:19:55.079 --> 00:19:55.600
 at the door

00:19:55.600 --> 00:19:56.180
 it's like

00:19:56.180 --> 00:19:56.960
 I don't know

00:19:56.960 --> 00:19:57.600
 whether you've been

00:19:57.600 --> 00:19:58.200
 in this situation

00:19:58.200 --> 00:19:58.779
 where you have

00:19:58.779 --> 00:20:00.640
 talked about

00:20:00.640 --> 00:20:01.319
 someone else

00:20:01.319 --> 00:20:03.600
 and maybe a friend

00:20:03.600 --> 00:20:04.160
 or a colleague

00:20:04.160 --> 00:20:04.700
 in the office

00:20:04.700 --> 00:20:06.220
 and just as you say

00:20:06.220 --> 00:20:06.940
 all these things

00:20:06.940 --> 00:20:08.019
 you see the boss

00:20:08.019 --> 00:20:08.539
 right there

00:20:08.539 --> 00:20:10.279
 and then you see

00:20:10.279 --> 00:20:10.720
 how embarrassed

00:20:10.720 --> 00:20:10.940
 you are

00:20:10.940 --> 00:20:11.660
 and this is

00:20:11.660 --> 00:20:12.279
 what James

00:20:12.279 --> 00:20:13.299
 reminds us

00:20:13.299 --> 00:20:13.920
 that our first

00:20:13.920 --> 00:20:14.400
 responsibility

00:20:14.400 --> 00:20:15.220
 is to how

00:20:15.220 --> 00:20:16.860
 we live out

00:20:16.860 --> 00:20:17.259
 the gospel

00:20:17.259 --> 00:20:17.900
 in our lives

00:20:17.900 --> 00:20:18.779
 how our actions

00:20:18.779 --> 00:20:19.320
 look like

00:20:19.320 --> 00:20:20.559
 how we are found

00:20:20.559 --> 00:20:20.980
 faithful

00:20:20.980 --> 00:20:22.559
 in living out

00:20:22.559 --> 00:20:23.120
 a life

00:20:23.120 --> 00:20:24.340
 that aims for holiness

00:20:24.340 --> 00:20:25.920
 because one day

00:20:25.920 --> 00:20:27.100
 God is standing

00:20:27.100 --> 00:20:28.120
 at the door

00:20:28.120 --> 00:20:29.840
 and he's not looking

00:20:29.840 --> 00:20:30.600
 at what the others

00:20:30.600 --> 00:20:31.120
 did wrong

00:20:31.120 --> 00:20:32.720
 but it is our own

00:20:32.720 --> 00:20:33.259
 responsibility

00:20:33.259 --> 00:20:34.039
 on how we live

00:20:34.039 --> 00:20:34.680
 our lives

00:20:34.680 --> 00:20:36.080
 and so what follows

00:20:36.080 --> 00:20:36.600
 in the text

00:20:36.600 --> 00:20:37.420
 is an encouragement

00:20:37.420 --> 00:20:39.100
 through examples

00:20:39.100 --> 00:20:39.660
 of those

00:20:39.660 --> 00:20:40.580
 who actually

00:20:40.580 --> 00:20:41.279
 have patiently

00:20:41.279 --> 00:20:42.039
 persevered

00:20:42.039 --> 00:20:43.019
 so verses 10

00:20:43.019 --> 00:20:43.720
 and 11 say

00:20:43.720 --> 00:20:44.860
 brothers and sisters

00:20:44.860 --> 00:20:45.740
 as an example

00:20:45.740 --> 00:20:46.460
 of patience

00:20:46.460 --> 00:20:47.420
 in the face

00:20:47.420 --> 00:20:48.000
 of suffering

00:20:48.000 --> 00:20:49.180
 take the prophets

00:20:49.180 --> 00:20:49.660
 who spoke

00:20:49.660 --> 00:20:50.019
 in the name

00:20:50.019 --> 00:20:50.519
 of the Lord

00:20:50.519 --> 00:20:51.900
 as you know

00:20:51.900 --> 00:20:52.640
 we count as

00:20:52.640 --> 00:20:53.240
 blessed those

00:20:53.240 --> 00:20:54.140
 who have persevered

00:20:54.140 --> 00:20:55.340
 you have heard

00:20:55.340 --> 00:20:56.480
 of Job's perseverance

00:20:56.480 --> 00:20:58.100
 and have seen

00:20:58.100 --> 00:20:58.660
 what the Lord

00:20:58.660 --> 00:20:59.660
 finally brought about

00:20:59.660 --> 00:21:01.400
 the Lord is full

00:21:01.400 --> 00:21:02.600
 of compassion

00:21:02.600 --> 00:21:03.220
 and mercy

00:21:03.220 --> 00:21:05.620
 so first James

00:21:05.620 --> 00:21:06.740
 gives the example

00:21:06.740 --> 00:21:07.539
 of Job

00:21:07.539 --> 00:21:08.720
 and there's

00:21:08.720 --> 00:21:09.339
 a whole book

00:21:09.339 --> 00:21:10.420
 in the Bible

00:21:10.420 --> 00:21:11.380
 dedicated to Job's

00:21:11.380 --> 00:21:12.500
 story in the Old Testament

00:21:12.500 --> 00:21:14.039
 it tells of Job

00:21:14.039 --> 00:21:14.900
 who despite

00:21:14.900 --> 00:21:15.920
 extreme suffering

00:21:15.920 --> 00:21:18.000
 losing his possessions

00:21:18.000 --> 00:21:19.740
 losing his health

00:21:19.740 --> 00:21:21.059
 losing his family

00:21:21.059 --> 00:21:23.059
 he never considers

00:21:23.059 --> 00:21:24.559
 really leaving God

00:21:24.559 --> 00:21:25.740
 and so he stayed

00:21:25.740 --> 00:21:26.259
 consistent

00:21:26.259 --> 00:21:27.680
 with what he claimed

00:21:27.680 --> 00:21:28.420
 he believed

00:21:28.420 --> 00:21:29.640
 under pressure

00:21:29.640 --> 00:21:30.500
 and in tough times

00:21:30.500 --> 00:21:32.059
 the story he said

00:21:32.059 --> 00:21:32.640
 he is telling

00:21:32.640 --> 00:21:33.259
 to the world

00:21:33.259 --> 00:21:34.420
 was also

00:21:34.420 --> 00:21:35.220
 what he lived out

00:21:35.220 --> 00:21:37.940
 and when you

00:21:37.940 --> 00:21:39.200
 look at the text

00:21:39.200 --> 00:21:42.220
 we can look into

00:21:42.220 --> 00:21:42.900
 what the Lord

00:21:42.900 --> 00:21:43.860
 finally brought about

00:21:43.860 --> 00:21:44.539
 as something

00:21:44.539 --> 00:21:45.299
 that relates to Job

00:21:45.299 --> 00:21:46.380
 but it may also be

00:21:46.380 --> 00:21:47.160
 something that is

00:21:47.160 --> 00:21:47.960
 a second story

00:21:47.960 --> 00:21:49.559
 that what the Lord

00:21:49.559 --> 00:21:50.600
 finally brought about

00:21:50.600 --> 00:21:51.819
 may be a reference

00:21:51.819 --> 00:21:55.220
 to Jesus himself

00:21:55.220 --> 00:21:56.799
 to himself

00:21:56.799 --> 00:21:57.880
 staying true

00:21:57.880 --> 00:21:58.920
 to the purpose

00:21:58.920 --> 00:22:00.140
 that he endured

00:22:00.140 --> 00:22:00.900
 suffering

00:22:00.900 --> 00:22:03.160
 that he went

00:22:03.160 --> 00:22:03.720
 to the cross

00:22:03.720 --> 00:22:04.300
 and died

00:22:04.300 --> 00:22:06.060
 that God himself

00:22:06.060 --> 00:22:07.380
 shows his faithfulness

00:22:07.380 --> 00:22:07.920
 and commitment

00:22:07.920 --> 00:22:08.900
 to a story

00:22:08.900 --> 00:22:09.640
 of redeeming

00:22:09.640 --> 00:22:10.800
 his own creation

00:22:10.800 --> 00:22:12.480
 so both the church

00:22:12.480 --> 00:22:13.840
 and individuals

00:22:13.840 --> 00:22:15.900
 have always struggled

00:22:15.900 --> 00:22:16.340
 with it

00:22:16.340 --> 00:22:17.320
 and if you look

00:22:17.320 --> 00:22:17.860
 throughout history

00:22:17.860 --> 00:22:18.700
 you see countless

00:22:18.700 --> 00:22:19.240
 examples

00:22:19.240 --> 00:22:20.519
 of this tension

00:22:20.519 --> 00:22:21.460
 of on the one hand

00:22:21.460 --> 00:22:23.100
 God's story

00:22:23.100 --> 00:22:24.320
 and then how the world

00:22:24.320 --> 00:22:24.780
 invites us

00:22:24.780 --> 00:22:25.660
 into other stories

00:22:25.660 --> 00:22:27.500
 that we are supposed

00:22:27.500 --> 00:22:28.060
 to live

00:22:28.059 --> 00:22:29.339
 for example

00:22:29.339 --> 00:22:30.619
 you look in the early church

00:22:30.619 --> 00:22:32.619
 and in the early church

00:22:32.619 --> 00:22:33.500
 for hundreds of years

00:22:33.500 --> 00:22:34.339
 we see countless

00:22:34.339 --> 00:22:35.599
 examples of people

00:22:35.599 --> 00:22:36.599
 that have been

00:22:36.599 --> 00:22:37.919
 pressured to conform

00:22:37.919 --> 00:22:39.299
 to what the authorities

00:22:39.299 --> 00:22:39.720
 wanted

00:22:39.720 --> 00:22:41.359
 leaving the gospel

00:22:41.359 --> 00:22:42.079
 story behind

00:22:42.079 --> 00:22:43.039
 and living the way

00:22:43.039 --> 00:22:44.319
 that others lived

00:22:44.319 --> 00:22:46.039
 but they would endure

00:22:46.039 --> 00:22:47.759
 even to death

00:22:47.759 --> 00:22:48.460
 and martyrdom

00:22:48.460 --> 00:22:50.399
 in the 300s

00:22:50.399 --> 00:22:51.000
 Constantine

00:22:51.000 --> 00:22:53.319
 turned the Christian faith

00:22:53.319 --> 00:22:54.220
 into a state religion

00:22:54.220 --> 00:22:55.980
 and the temptation

00:22:55.980 --> 00:22:57.480
 was just too great

00:22:57.480 --> 00:22:57.960
 to say

00:22:57.960 --> 00:22:59.039
 finally persecution

00:22:59.039 --> 00:22:59.860
 can end

00:22:59.860 --> 00:23:00.640
 maybe

00:23:00.640 --> 00:23:02.240
 the new powers

00:23:02.240 --> 00:23:02.840
 will influence

00:23:02.840 --> 00:23:03.319
 the message

00:23:03.319 --> 00:23:04.860
 but maybe it's worth it

00:23:04.860 --> 00:23:05.799
 to gain that power

00:23:05.799 --> 00:23:06.319
 finally

00:23:06.319 --> 00:23:08.200
 to not being persecuted

00:23:08.200 --> 00:23:10.460
 also during

00:23:10.460 --> 00:23:11.519
 the Nazi regime

00:23:11.519 --> 00:23:12.660
 the church largely

00:23:12.660 --> 00:23:13.140
 in my country

00:23:13.140 --> 00:23:13.660
 compromised

00:23:13.660 --> 00:23:14.640
 to saying

00:23:14.640 --> 00:23:16.039
 okay we will not

00:23:16.039 --> 00:23:17.519
 say anything

00:23:17.519 --> 00:23:18.440
 about the message

00:23:18.440 --> 00:23:19.240
 of God's redemption

00:23:19.240 --> 00:23:21.200
 we will not talk

00:23:21.200 --> 00:23:21.900
 about the injustice

00:23:21.900 --> 00:23:22.559
 that's happening

00:23:22.559 --> 00:23:23.880
 as long as you don't

00:23:23.880 --> 00:23:24.519
 hurt us

00:23:24.519 --> 00:23:26.480
 and people got quiet

00:23:26.480 --> 00:23:27.819
 and across the border

00:23:27.819 --> 00:23:29.159
 many Christians

00:23:29.159 --> 00:23:29.700
 are challenged

00:23:29.700 --> 00:23:31.819
 by openly proclaiming

00:23:31.819 --> 00:23:32.240
 their faith

00:23:32.240 --> 00:23:33.019
 in God's story

00:23:33.019 --> 00:23:34.599
 and maybe losing

00:23:34.599 --> 00:23:35.200
 their job

00:23:35.200 --> 00:23:36.399
 or worse

00:23:36.399 --> 00:23:39.259
 one of the examples

00:23:39.259 --> 00:23:40.039
 of all these people

00:23:40.039 --> 00:23:40.339
 is

00:23:40.339 --> 00:23:42.960
 a person I really like

00:23:42.960 --> 00:23:43.879
 Martin Niemöller

00:23:43.880 --> 00:23:45.620
 and you may have

00:23:45.620 --> 00:23:46.960
 heard me talk about him

00:23:46.960 --> 00:23:47.760
 Niemöller was a pastor

00:23:47.760 --> 00:23:48.460
 during that time

00:23:48.460 --> 00:23:49.480
 in Nazi Germany

00:23:49.480 --> 00:23:50.940
 and while most

00:23:50.940 --> 00:23:51.580
 of the church

00:23:51.580 --> 00:23:53.020
 stopped living out

00:23:53.020 --> 00:23:53.540
 the gospel

00:23:53.540 --> 00:23:54.400
 when under pressure

00:23:54.400 --> 00:23:56.280
 compromising their message

00:23:56.280 --> 00:23:57.240
 in their action

00:23:57.240 --> 00:23:58.340
 Niemöller decided

00:23:58.340 --> 00:23:58.940
 to stand up

00:23:58.940 --> 00:23:59.460
 and he founded

00:23:59.460 --> 00:24:00.020
 what he called

00:24:00.020 --> 00:24:01.180
 the confessing church

00:24:01.180 --> 00:24:02.540
 and he invited

00:24:02.540 --> 00:24:03.420
 people in

00:24:03.420 --> 00:24:03.980
 that said

00:24:03.980 --> 00:24:05.020
 we will not compromise

00:24:05.020 --> 00:24:06.700
 the gospel message

00:24:06.700 --> 00:24:07.440
 one of his messages

00:24:07.440 --> 00:24:08.600
 was God is my

00:24:08.600 --> 00:24:09.040
 Führer

00:24:09.039 --> 00:24:10.460
 and it was an

00:24:10.460 --> 00:24:11.319
 open public

00:24:11.319 --> 00:24:11.799
 statement

00:24:11.799 --> 00:24:12.659
 and he preached

00:24:12.659 --> 00:24:13.039
 in Berlin

00:24:13.039 --> 00:24:14.000
 for 28 weeks

00:24:14.000 --> 00:24:14.659
 knowing that

00:24:14.659 --> 00:24:15.420
 one day

00:24:15.420 --> 00:24:16.099
 they will get him

00:24:16.099 --> 00:24:17.700
 and after 28 weeks

00:24:17.700 --> 00:24:18.859
 of his sermon series

00:24:18.859 --> 00:24:19.899
 he was put

00:24:19.899 --> 00:24:21.000
 into a labor camp

00:24:21.000 --> 00:24:22.819
 he survived

00:24:22.819 --> 00:24:23.639
 six years

00:24:23.639 --> 00:24:25.379
 of being in a labor camp

00:24:25.379 --> 00:24:27.559
 but the really

00:24:27.559 --> 00:24:28.480
 remarkable thing

00:24:28.480 --> 00:24:29.019
 about him

00:24:29.019 --> 00:24:30.200
 was not that

00:24:30.200 --> 00:24:31.119
 but what

00:24:31.119 --> 00:24:32.879
 he said

00:24:32.879 --> 00:24:33.980
 after this time

00:24:33.980 --> 00:24:34.680
 after the war

00:24:34.680 --> 00:24:35.200
 was over

00:24:35.200 --> 00:24:36.840
 when he was asked

00:24:36.840 --> 00:24:38.779
 about this whole time

00:24:38.779 --> 00:24:39.660
 and standing up

00:24:39.660 --> 00:24:40.880
 for the gospel

00:24:40.880 --> 00:24:42.000
 and why he wouldn't

00:24:42.000 --> 00:24:42.440
 compromise

00:24:42.440 --> 00:24:43.799
 this is what he says

00:24:43.799 --> 00:24:45.620
 yes I could

00:24:45.620 --> 00:24:47.019
 easily say

00:24:47.019 --> 00:24:47.680
 that I have suffered

00:24:47.680 --> 00:24:48.279
 for God

00:24:48.279 --> 00:24:49.799
 and my faith

00:24:49.799 --> 00:24:51.299
 for six years

00:24:51.299 --> 00:24:53.559
 in a concentration camp

00:24:53.559 --> 00:24:55.000
 but when I'm honest

00:24:55.000 --> 00:24:56.420
 when I stand

00:24:56.420 --> 00:24:57.220
 in front of God

00:24:57.220 --> 00:24:58.799
 he will not say

00:24:58.799 --> 00:24:59.640
 how proud he is

00:24:59.640 --> 00:25:00.440
 for my sacrifice

00:25:00.440 --> 00:25:01.460
 but he will ask me

00:25:01.460 --> 00:25:02.480
 brother Martin

00:25:02.480 --> 00:25:03.940
 where have you been

00:25:03.940 --> 00:25:04.900
 from 1933

00:25:04.900 --> 00:25:05.940
 to 1939

00:25:05.940 --> 00:25:08.200
 when it all started

00:25:08.200 --> 00:25:10.060
 and I would not

00:25:10.060 --> 00:25:10.800
 have an answer

00:25:10.800 --> 00:25:15.220
 later on he says

00:25:15.220 --> 00:25:16.480
 if

00:25:16.480 --> 00:25:17.900
 when it all started

00:25:17.900 --> 00:25:19.920
 40,000 German pastors

00:25:19.920 --> 00:25:21.400
 would have stood up

00:25:21.400 --> 00:25:22.580
 in one voice

00:25:22.580 --> 00:25:24.420
 proclaiming

00:25:24.420 --> 00:25:25.240
 that their message

00:25:25.240 --> 00:25:26.120
 of the gospel

00:25:26.120 --> 00:25:26.740
 is true

00:25:26.740 --> 00:25:27.880
 and showing

00:25:27.880 --> 00:25:28.600
 the action

00:25:28.600 --> 00:25:30.660
 that justice

00:25:30.660 --> 00:25:31.780
 and God's love

00:25:31.780 --> 00:25:32.680
 are correct

00:25:32.680 --> 00:25:34.080
 maybe 40,000

00:25:34.080 --> 00:25:34.840
 would have died

00:25:34.839 --> 00:25:36.659
 but maybe

00:25:36.659 --> 00:25:37.619
 40,000,000

00:25:37.619 --> 00:25:39.039
 would have survived

00:25:39.039 --> 00:25:41.659
 he's just one

00:25:41.659 --> 00:25:42.679
 of these examples

00:25:42.679 --> 00:25:43.339
 of people

00:25:43.339 --> 00:25:44.159
 who have wrestled

00:25:44.159 --> 00:25:45.079
 with living out

00:25:45.079 --> 00:25:46.379
 God's story

00:25:46.379 --> 00:25:48.019
 out to the world

00:25:48.019 --> 00:25:48.240
 and

00:25:48.240 --> 00:25:49.879
 what about us

00:25:49.879 --> 00:25:51.079
 what about us

00:25:51.079 --> 00:25:51.799
 here today

00:25:51.799 --> 00:25:52.720
 what do we choose

00:25:52.720 --> 00:25:53.259
 as individuals

00:25:53.259 --> 00:25:54.139
 as a church

00:25:54.139 --> 00:25:55.039
 in Hong Kong

00:25:55.039 --> 00:25:55.740
 as Watermark

00:25:55.740 --> 00:25:57.559
 will we compromise

00:25:57.559 --> 00:25:58.419
 our ethics

00:25:58.419 --> 00:26:00.259
 in our workplaces

00:26:00.259 --> 00:26:01.159
 when it may cost

00:26:01.159 --> 00:26:02.059
 our jobs

00:26:02.059 --> 00:26:03.240
 will our action

00:26:03.240 --> 00:26:04.279
 be consistent

00:26:04.279 --> 00:26:05.159
 with the story

00:26:05.159 --> 00:26:05.759
 that we're telling

00:26:05.759 --> 00:26:07.799
 will we give away

00:26:07.799 --> 00:26:08.879
 freely our resources

00:26:08.879 --> 00:26:09.839
 to people in need

00:26:09.839 --> 00:26:11.419
 when we consider them

00:26:11.419 --> 00:26:12.299
 the brothers and sisters

00:26:12.299 --> 00:26:13.460
 and call them

00:26:13.460 --> 00:26:14.940
 our family by name

00:26:14.940 --> 00:26:17.559
 or will we abandon

00:26:17.559 --> 00:26:18.779
 God's story

00:26:18.779 --> 00:26:19.440
 when things

00:26:19.440 --> 00:26:20.839
 get tough

00:26:20.839 --> 00:26:22.619
 and to be honest

00:26:22.619 --> 00:26:23.879
 I sometimes find

00:26:23.879 --> 00:26:24.579
 these things

00:26:24.579 --> 00:26:25.359
 hard to answer

00:26:25.359 --> 00:26:27.059
 how I would choose

00:26:27.059 --> 00:26:27.759
 I have friends

00:26:27.759 --> 00:26:28.879
 that have been

00:26:28.879 --> 00:26:29.359
 disowned

00:26:29.359 --> 00:26:30.159
 by their families

00:26:30.159 --> 00:26:30.959
 for their faith

00:26:30.959 --> 00:26:32.740
 I have friends

00:26:32.740 --> 00:26:33.899
 who had to leave

00:26:33.899 --> 00:26:34.379
 their country

00:26:34.379 --> 00:26:34.959
 and run away

00:26:34.959 --> 00:26:36.039
 and can never go back

00:26:36.039 --> 00:26:36.919
 if they don't want

00:26:36.919 --> 00:26:37.500
 to get killed

00:26:37.500 --> 00:26:39.659
 some were put in prison

00:26:39.659 --> 00:26:41.399
 some were almost killed

00:26:41.399 --> 00:26:42.599
 by their own families

00:26:42.599 --> 00:26:45.539
 and as tough as that is

00:26:45.539 --> 00:26:46.519
 I'm encouraged

00:26:46.519 --> 00:26:48.699
 by these examples

00:26:48.699 --> 00:26:49.939
 of people around me

00:26:49.939 --> 00:26:50.619
 that say

00:26:50.619 --> 00:26:51.399
 this is a story

00:26:51.399 --> 00:26:52.699
 I proclaim to be true

00:26:52.699 --> 00:26:54.059
 how can I not

00:26:54.059 --> 00:26:55.219
 live it out

00:26:55.219 --> 00:26:57.339
 so the book of James

00:26:57.339 --> 00:26:58.159
 ends with the following

00:26:58.159 --> 00:26:58.539
 verses

00:26:58.539 --> 00:27:00.399
 in verse 19 and 20

00:27:00.399 --> 00:27:01.440
 my brothers and sisters

00:27:01.440 --> 00:27:03.200
 if one of you

00:27:03.200 --> 00:27:04.339
 should wander from the truth

00:27:04.339 --> 00:27:05.440
 and someone should bring

00:27:05.440 --> 00:27:06.440
 that person back

00:27:06.440 --> 00:27:07.420
 remember this

00:27:07.420 --> 00:27:09.500
 whoever turns a sinner

00:27:09.500 --> 00:27:10.220
 from the error

00:27:10.220 --> 00:27:10.980
 of their way

00:27:10.980 --> 00:27:11.700
 will save them

00:27:11.700 --> 00:27:12.279
 from death

00:27:12.279 --> 00:27:13.680
 and cover over

00:27:13.680 --> 00:27:15.259
 a multitude of sins

00:27:15.259 --> 00:27:17.839
 so James finishes

00:27:17.839 --> 00:27:18.500
 with a reminder

00:27:18.500 --> 00:27:19.279
 that not everyone

00:27:19.279 --> 00:27:20.639
 always perseveres

00:27:20.639 --> 00:27:22.279
 and is patient

00:27:22.279 --> 00:27:22.879
 to the end

00:27:22.879 --> 00:27:24.279
 that sometimes

00:27:24.279 --> 00:27:26.200
 people get discouraged

00:27:26.200 --> 00:27:27.039
 and sidetracked

00:27:27.039 --> 00:27:28.899
 and if we are honest

00:27:28.899 --> 00:27:31.500
 that's true for all of us

00:27:31.500 --> 00:27:32.879
 so many times

00:27:32.879 --> 00:27:35.339
 the reality is

00:27:35.339 --> 00:27:37.200
 like in that Christian hymn

00:27:37.200 --> 00:27:39.000
 we are all prone

00:27:39.000 --> 00:27:40.180
 to wander

00:27:40.180 --> 00:27:40.819
 and leave

00:27:40.819 --> 00:27:41.920
 the God

00:27:41.920 --> 00:27:42.659
 we love

00:27:42.659 --> 00:27:45.539
 the story of God

00:27:45.539 --> 00:27:46.639
 is a story

00:27:46.639 --> 00:27:47.839
 of God's creation

00:27:47.839 --> 00:27:49.359
 and the fall

00:27:49.359 --> 00:27:50.839
 and exile

00:27:50.839 --> 00:27:52.319
 and recreation

00:27:52.319 --> 00:27:55.220
 and we don't see that

00:27:55.220 --> 00:27:56.599
 just in the big story

00:27:56.599 --> 00:27:57.859
 of God creating everything

00:27:57.859 --> 00:27:59.399
 and the fall of mankind

00:27:59.399 --> 00:28:01.179
 and then

00:28:01.179 --> 00:28:02.500
 his restoration

00:28:02.500 --> 00:28:03.539
 through Christ

00:28:03.539 --> 00:28:05.179
 and then the return

00:28:05.179 --> 00:28:06.079
 to the coming kingdom

00:28:06.079 --> 00:28:07.519
 we also see that

00:28:07.519 --> 00:28:08.519
 in all these stories

00:28:08.519 --> 00:28:09.319
 in Noah

00:28:09.319 --> 00:28:10.879
 the people rebelling

00:28:10.879 --> 00:28:13.299
 things being devastated

00:28:13.299 --> 00:28:14.059
 the flood

00:28:14.059 --> 00:28:15.460
 and then we see

00:28:15.460 --> 00:28:16.039
 in that story

00:28:16.039 --> 00:28:16.720
 the new beginning

00:28:16.720 --> 00:28:17.740
 in a new land

00:28:17.740 --> 00:28:20.179
 we see it in Christ's coming

00:28:20.180 --> 00:28:22.180
 we see him coming

00:28:22.180 --> 00:28:22.799
 to the world

00:28:22.799 --> 00:28:24.740
 we see his suffering

00:28:24.740 --> 00:28:25.860
 his death

00:28:25.860 --> 00:28:27.259
 him being separated

00:28:27.259 --> 00:28:28.799
 for three days

00:28:28.799 --> 00:28:29.440
 from the father

00:28:29.440 --> 00:28:30.640
 and in his resurrection

00:28:30.640 --> 00:28:32.620
 everything is being redeemed

00:28:32.620 --> 00:28:34.259
 and we see that

00:28:34.259 --> 00:28:35.580
 all over our own lives

00:28:35.580 --> 00:28:36.240
 we fall

00:28:36.240 --> 00:28:37.940
 we feel abandoned

00:28:37.940 --> 00:28:39.200
 and shattered

00:28:39.200 --> 00:28:40.740
 we fail

00:28:40.740 --> 00:28:41.820
 we are lonely

00:28:41.820 --> 00:28:43.340
 but in the tough times

00:28:43.340 --> 00:28:44.799
 we find a new dependence

00:28:44.799 --> 00:28:46.360
 a new strength

00:28:46.360 --> 00:28:47.100
 in God

00:28:47.099 --> 00:28:49.719
 and that's when

00:28:49.719 --> 00:28:50.679
 we come back renewed

00:28:50.679 --> 00:28:51.980
 and throughout our lives

00:28:51.980 --> 00:28:53.219
 there is a multitude

00:28:53.219 --> 00:28:54.699
 of this cycle

00:28:54.699 --> 00:28:55.299
 a multitude

00:28:55.299 --> 00:28:57.199
 of us wandering away

00:28:57.199 --> 00:28:57.859
 a multitude

00:28:57.859 --> 00:28:59.439
 of our sin

00:28:59.439 --> 00:29:01.579
 but James reminds us

00:29:01.579 --> 00:29:02.659
 that what a blessing it is

00:29:02.659 --> 00:29:03.279
 to help someone

00:29:03.279 --> 00:29:04.279
 back on track

00:29:04.279 --> 00:29:06.219
 so as we finish

00:29:06.219 --> 00:29:06.980
 the sermon series

00:29:06.980 --> 00:29:07.559
 on that book

00:29:07.559 --> 00:29:08.779
 what do we do

00:29:08.779 --> 00:29:10.459
 our challenges

00:29:10.459 --> 00:29:11.799
 does James leave us

00:29:11.799 --> 00:29:12.279
 for today

00:29:12.279 --> 00:29:13.219
 here in Hong Kong

00:29:13.219 --> 00:29:14.899
 so I want to actually

00:29:14.899 --> 00:29:15.579
 look at these

00:29:15.579 --> 00:29:16.980
 three core values

00:29:16.980 --> 00:29:17.740
 that we have

00:29:17.740 --> 00:29:18.420
 at Watermark

00:29:18.420 --> 00:29:20.319
 and just revisit that

00:29:20.319 --> 00:29:22.120
 and the first value

00:29:22.120 --> 00:29:23.259
 that we always talk about

00:29:23.259 --> 00:29:24.860
 is the gospel

00:29:24.860 --> 00:29:27.120
 and we have this first banner

00:29:27.120 --> 00:29:28.759
 because the gospel

00:29:28.759 --> 00:29:29.860
 comes from that English

00:29:29.860 --> 00:29:30.819
 old word

00:29:30.819 --> 00:29:32.420
 meaning good news

00:29:32.420 --> 00:29:33.960
 and the good news

00:29:33.960 --> 00:29:35.519
 refers to that great story

00:29:35.519 --> 00:29:36.599
 that we've been talking about

00:29:36.599 --> 00:29:37.180
 that story

00:29:37.180 --> 00:29:38.319
 of Christ

00:29:38.319 --> 00:29:39.720
 redemption

00:29:39.720 --> 00:29:42.420
 so in light of all

00:29:42.420 --> 00:29:43.420
 what we have heard

00:29:43.420 --> 00:29:44.920
 the question that arises

00:29:44.920 --> 00:29:48.160
 is the one for us

00:29:48.160 --> 00:29:48.500
 now is here

00:29:48.500 --> 00:29:49.600
 where are we

00:29:49.600 --> 00:29:50.300
 today

00:29:50.300 --> 00:29:51.500
 in that story

00:29:51.500 --> 00:29:53.140
 maybe you are here

00:29:53.140 --> 00:29:54.279
 and you are visiting

00:29:54.279 --> 00:29:55.060
 maybe you have been

00:29:55.060 --> 00:29:56.120
 visiting a few times

00:29:56.120 --> 00:29:58.279
 you may not be

00:29:58.279 --> 00:29:58.940
 walking with Christ

00:29:58.940 --> 00:29:59.259
 and say

00:29:59.259 --> 00:30:00.259
 oh this is my story

00:30:00.259 --> 00:30:00.880
 my storytelling

00:30:00.880 --> 00:30:02.200
 is that Christian story

00:30:02.200 --> 00:30:04.980
 then I encourage you

00:30:04.980 --> 00:30:05.700
 to examine

00:30:05.700 --> 00:30:06.840
 that claim

00:30:06.840 --> 00:30:08.700
 maybe ask the friends

00:30:08.700 --> 00:30:10.279
 that you have met here

00:30:10.279 --> 00:30:11.480
 in your community groups

00:30:11.480 --> 00:30:12.420
 if you are in one already

00:30:12.420 --> 00:30:14.360
 or just anybody

00:30:14.360 --> 00:30:15.500
 that sits around you

00:30:15.500 --> 00:30:16.060
 and figure out

00:30:16.060 --> 00:30:17.200
 where are they

00:30:17.200 --> 00:30:18.080
 in the story

00:30:18.080 --> 00:30:18.800
 that they tell

00:30:18.800 --> 00:30:21.360
 but if you are here today

00:30:21.360 --> 00:30:23.039
 and you are a Christian

00:30:23.039 --> 00:30:24.100
 then the question is

00:30:24.100 --> 00:30:25.680
 how are we doing

00:30:25.680 --> 00:30:26.660
 in our story living

00:30:26.660 --> 00:30:29.720
 are we like

00:30:29.720 --> 00:30:30.440
 the people

00:30:30.440 --> 00:30:31.019
 that come

00:30:31.019 --> 00:30:32.180
 to the front

00:30:32.180 --> 00:30:33.740
 to the big portrait

00:30:33.740 --> 00:30:36.480
 coming to church

00:30:36.480 --> 00:30:37.360
 on Sunday

00:30:37.360 --> 00:30:39.360
 and we raise our hands

00:30:39.360 --> 00:30:40.039
 and we worship

00:30:40.039 --> 00:30:41.480
 and we say the things

00:30:41.480 --> 00:30:42.799
 that we are supposed

00:30:42.799 --> 00:30:43.379
 to say

00:30:43.379 --> 00:30:45.379
 but when we go home

00:30:45.379 --> 00:30:46.899
 when we are

00:30:46.899 --> 00:30:48.099
 in our families

00:30:48.099 --> 00:30:48.859
 in our workplace

00:30:48.859 --> 00:30:50.960
 in our own thoughts

00:30:50.960 --> 00:30:53.460
 are our actions

00:30:53.460 --> 00:30:55.339
 speaking another message

00:30:55.339 --> 00:30:55.839
 are our

00:30:55.839 --> 00:30:56.720
 is that message

00:30:56.720 --> 00:30:57.559
 that in our heart

00:30:57.559 --> 00:30:58.460
 we truly believe

00:30:58.460 --> 00:30:59.599
 is it consistent

00:30:59.599 --> 00:31:00.859
 with the story

00:31:00.859 --> 00:31:01.539
 that we are telling

00:31:01.539 --> 00:31:02.680
 to the others

00:31:02.680 --> 00:31:05.879
 in the gospel

00:31:05.879 --> 00:31:06.819
 we see Christ

00:31:06.819 --> 00:31:07.759
 in his love

00:31:07.759 --> 00:31:08.480
 and grace

00:31:08.480 --> 00:31:09.279
 constantly

00:31:09.279 --> 00:31:10.640
 calling us back

00:31:10.640 --> 00:31:14.079
 so if you are here today

00:31:14.079 --> 00:31:15.079
 and you are going

00:31:15.079 --> 00:31:16.559
 through a rough time

00:31:16.559 --> 00:31:17.220
 there is this

00:31:17.220 --> 00:31:18.480
 as I was preparing

00:31:18.480 --> 00:31:19.460
 this passage

00:31:19.460 --> 00:31:20.619
 of Ezekiel 37

00:31:20.619 --> 00:31:21.700
 that just came to me

00:31:21.700 --> 00:31:23.619
 and in Ezekiel 37

00:31:23.619 --> 00:31:24.140
 there is

00:31:24.140 --> 00:31:25.099
 this

00:31:25.099 --> 00:31:26.440
 this prophecy

00:31:26.440 --> 00:31:28.200
 about the valley

00:31:28.200 --> 00:31:29.519
 of dry bones

00:31:29.519 --> 00:31:32.879
 and sometimes

00:31:32.879 --> 00:31:33.740
 when you look around

00:31:33.740 --> 00:31:35.319
 or you look at your own life

00:31:35.319 --> 00:31:36.379
 and you see your life

00:31:36.380 --> 00:31:37.540
 or people around you

00:31:37.540 --> 00:31:39.200
 spiritually dried up

00:31:39.200 --> 00:31:42.080
 like in that phrase

00:31:42.080 --> 00:31:43.700
 that it says

00:31:43.700 --> 00:31:44.340
 in verse 20

00:31:44.340 --> 00:31:46.660
 whoever turns a sinner

00:31:46.660 --> 00:31:47.580
 from the error of their way

00:31:47.580 --> 00:31:48.160
 will save them

00:31:48.160 --> 00:31:48.760
 from death

00:31:48.760 --> 00:31:49.780
 and cover over

00:31:49.780 --> 00:31:50.740
 multitudes of sin

00:31:50.740 --> 00:31:52.100
 and that death

00:31:52.100 --> 00:31:53.380
 is the death

00:31:53.380 --> 00:31:54.860
 our real death

00:31:54.860 --> 00:31:55.360
 but it is also

00:31:55.360 --> 00:31:56.340
 that spiritual death

00:31:56.340 --> 00:31:57.300
 and so

00:31:57.300 --> 00:31:58.880
 that valley of dry bones

00:31:58.880 --> 00:31:59.600
 reminded me

00:31:59.600 --> 00:32:01.080
 of how God

00:32:01.080 --> 00:32:02.100
 in his grace

00:32:02.100 --> 00:32:02.880
 and his love

00:32:02.880 --> 00:32:04.320
 he takes dry bones

00:32:04.320 --> 00:32:05.360
 and he puts flesh

00:32:05.359 --> 00:32:07.659
 on them

00:32:07.659 --> 00:32:08.959
 and it is

00:32:08.959 --> 00:32:10.139
 the living water

00:32:10.139 --> 00:32:12.000
 that brings

00:32:12.000 --> 00:32:12.879
 to life

00:32:12.879 --> 00:32:13.500
 what is dead

00:32:13.500 --> 00:32:15.839
 so if you are here today

00:32:15.839 --> 00:32:16.619
 and you have been

00:32:16.619 --> 00:32:17.000
 struggling

00:32:17.000 --> 00:32:17.799
 with the journey

00:32:17.799 --> 00:32:18.139
 of

00:32:18.139 --> 00:32:21.000
 losing your track

00:32:21.000 --> 00:32:22.299
 and feeling lost

00:32:22.299 --> 00:32:24.039
 that you have been

00:32:24.039 --> 00:32:24.399
 wondering

00:32:24.399 --> 00:32:25.159
 where am I

00:32:25.159 --> 00:32:26.759
 if I look at my action

00:32:26.759 --> 00:32:28.119
 I am not living out

00:32:28.119 --> 00:32:28.619
 that story

00:32:28.619 --> 00:32:29.179
 that I say

00:32:29.179 --> 00:32:29.599
 to everyone

00:32:29.599 --> 00:32:30.379
 that I am a Christian

00:32:30.380 --> 00:32:31.840
 then be encouraged

00:32:31.840 --> 00:32:32.420
 that it is not

00:32:32.420 --> 00:32:33.140
 just about

00:32:33.140 --> 00:32:34.380
 your action

00:32:34.380 --> 00:32:35.920
 but about Christ's

00:32:35.920 --> 00:32:36.820
 action on the cross

00:32:36.820 --> 00:32:37.760
 that he is the one

00:32:37.760 --> 00:32:39.200
 that brings new life

00:32:39.200 --> 00:32:40.400
 that he brings new hope

00:32:40.400 --> 00:32:41.780
 and that he is the one

00:32:41.780 --> 00:32:43.180
 that restores you

00:32:43.180 --> 00:32:44.220
 and that leads me

00:32:44.220 --> 00:32:45.200
 to our second banner

00:32:45.200 --> 00:32:45.860
 to community

00:32:45.860 --> 00:32:47.860
 if you are

00:32:47.860 --> 00:32:48.560
 at that place

00:32:48.560 --> 00:32:51.640
 it is not just you

00:32:51.640 --> 00:32:52.980
 alone wrestling

00:32:52.980 --> 00:32:53.640
 with the gospel

00:32:53.640 --> 00:32:54.920
 but God has placed us

00:32:54.920 --> 00:32:55.580
 in community

00:32:55.580 --> 00:32:58.220
 that in our lostness

00:32:58.220 --> 00:32:59.460
 that we are there

00:32:59.460 --> 00:33:00.440
 to tell that story

00:33:00.440 --> 00:33:01.100
 to each other

00:33:01.100 --> 00:33:02.600
 to remind each other

00:33:02.600 --> 00:33:04.640
 that Christ's

00:33:04.640 --> 00:33:05.700
 story of restoration

00:33:05.700 --> 00:33:07.339
 is still true today

00:33:07.339 --> 00:33:08.700
 and to persevere

00:33:08.700 --> 00:33:10.160
 till the Lord's coming

00:33:10.160 --> 00:33:14.200
 so if you are here today

00:33:14.200 --> 00:33:15.140
 and you think about

00:33:15.140 --> 00:33:15.460
 where you are

00:33:15.460 --> 00:33:15.960
 in the community

00:33:15.960 --> 00:33:17.980
 maybe you realize

00:33:17.980 --> 00:33:20.380
 am I really

00:33:20.380 --> 00:33:21.400
 in my action

00:33:21.400 --> 00:33:22.400
 following through

00:33:22.400 --> 00:33:22.779
 in everything

00:33:22.779 --> 00:33:23.740
 that I am called to

00:33:23.740 --> 00:33:25.059
 do I live out

00:33:25.059 --> 00:33:25.700
 that story

00:33:25.700 --> 00:33:26.960
 do I love

00:33:26.960 --> 00:33:27.819
 the people around me

00:33:27.819 --> 00:33:28.139
 in the way

00:33:28.139 --> 00:33:29.079
 that I am called to

00:33:29.079 --> 00:33:31.359
 and that leads us

00:33:31.359 --> 00:33:32.339
 to the third part

00:33:32.339 --> 00:33:33.279
 our mission

00:33:33.279 --> 00:33:35.659
 our third value

00:33:35.659 --> 00:33:36.819
 is a mission

00:33:36.819 --> 00:33:39.359
 that if we believe

00:33:39.359 --> 00:33:39.859
 in the gospel

00:33:39.859 --> 00:33:40.480
 to be true

00:33:40.480 --> 00:33:41.519
 that if Christ

00:33:41.519 --> 00:33:42.259
 died for us

00:33:42.259 --> 00:33:43.339
 to reconcile us

00:33:43.339 --> 00:33:44.240
 with God

00:33:44.240 --> 00:33:45.859
 that he will come again

00:33:45.859 --> 00:33:47.000
 and that

00:33:47.000 --> 00:33:48.319
 in his story

00:33:48.319 --> 00:33:49.039
 that there is

00:33:49.039 --> 00:33:49.779
 eternal life

00:33:49.779 --> 00:33:51.019
 if we really believe

00:33:51.019 --> 00:33:51.399
 that

00:33:51.399 --> 00:33:53.240
 if the story

00:33:53.240 --> 00:33:53.960
 that we tell

00:33:53.960 --> 00:33:54.599
 is true

00:33:54.599 --> 00:33:56.019
 why would we not

00:33:56.019 --> 00:33:56.779
 go

00:33:56.779 --> 00:33:57.740
 and share

00:33:57.740 --> 00:33:58.680
 that message

00:33:58.680 --> 00:33:59.720
 both in our story

00:33:59.720 --> 00:34:00.000
 living

00:34:00.000 --> 00:34:00.779
 and our storytelling

00:34:00.779 --> 00:34:01.480
 to the people

00:34:01.480 --> 00:34:02.299
 around us

00:34:02.299 --> 00:34:05.279
 James leaves us

00:34:05.279 --> 00:34:06.160
 with a lot of challenges

00:34:06.160 --> 00:34:07.039
 and he leaves us

00:34:07.039 --> 00:34:08.139
 with examining

00:34:08.139 --> 00:34:08.900
 our hearts

00:34:08.900 --> 00:34:10.360
 but ultimately

00:34:10.360 --> 00:34:11.219
 you know

00:34:11.219 --> 00:34:12.039
 where you are at

00:34:12.039 --> 00:34:14.400
 and so I want

00:34:14.400 --> 00:34:15.340
 to pray with us

00:34:15.340 --> 00:34:16.159
 as we just take

00:34:16.159 --> 00:34:16.679
 this challenge

00:34:16.679 --> 00:34:17.000
 out

00:34:17.000 --> 00:34:18.460
 into this week

00:34:18.460 --> 00:34:19.179
 and into

00:34:19.179 --> 00:34:20.079
 our own lives

00:34:20.079 --> 00:34:21.539
 and just to see

00:34:21.539 --> 00:34:22.159
 what God

00:34:22.159 --> 00:34:22.860
 continues to do

00:34:22.860 --> 00:34:23.360
 with his word

00:34:23.360 --> 00:34:23.780
 in us

00:34:23.780 --> 00:34:24.700
 let me pray

00:34:24.700 --> 00:34:30.240
 Father we

00:34:30.240 --> 00:34:31.700
 just come before you

00:34:31.700 --> 00:34:32.320
 just realizing

00:34:32.320 --> 00:34:32.880
 that sometimes

00:34:32.880 --> 00:34:34.280
 the story

00:34:34.280 --> 00:34:35.079
 that we confess

00:34:35.079 --> 00:34:37.120
 may not be

00:34:37.120 --> 00:34:37.599
 the story

00:34:37.599 --> 00:34:38.160
 that we live

00:34:38.160 --> 00:34:38.660
 in our everyday

00:34:38.660 --> 00:34:39.400
 action

00:34:39.400 --> 00:34:40.019
 and that we get

00:34:40.019 --> 00:34:40.660
 sidetracked

00:34:40.660 --> 00:34:42.200
 and discouraged

00:34:42.200 --> 00:34:43.700
 and so Father

00:34:43.700 --> 00:34:44.160
 let's pray

00:34:44.160 --> 00:34:44.780
 that today

00:34:44.780 --> 00:34:45.440
 we would just see

00:34:45.440 --> 00:34:46.019
 that in your love

00:34:46.019 --> 00:34:46.400
 and grace

00:34:46.400 --> 00:34:47.360
 you call us back

00:34:47.360 --> 00:34:49.340
 to you

00:34:49.340 --> 00:34:50.740
 let's pray

00:34:50.740 --> 00:34:51.880
 that we as a community

00:34:51.880 --> 00:34:53.400
 would live that story

00:34:53.400 --> 00:34:54.420
 well to each other

00:34:54.420 --> 00:34:55.740
 remind us

00:34:55.740 --> 00:34:56.539
 and tell the story

00:34:56.539 --> 00:34:57.099
 to each other

00:34:57.099 --> 00:34:57.880
 again and again

00:34:57.880 --> 00:35:01.320
 Father let's pray

00:35:01.320 --> 00:35:02.320
 for everyone

00:35:02.320 --> 00:35:02.980
 here today

00:35:02.980 --> 00:35:04.000
 that as they look

00:35:04.000 --> 00:35:04.760
 into the story

00:35:04.760 --> 00:35:05.460
 of their lives

00:35:05.460 --> 00:35:07.380
 that they live out

00:35:07.380 --> 00:35:08.860
 that it is one

00:35:08.860 --> 00:35:09.420
 of the stories

00:35:09.420 --> 00:35:10.039
 of the world

00:35:10.039 --> 00:35:10.400
 that

00:35:10.400 --> 00:35:11.900
 where they try

00:35:11.900 --> 00:35:12.860
 to cling to meaning

00:35:12.860 --> 00:35:14.380
 I pray that you

00:35:14.380 --> 00:35:16.400
 would just open

00:35:16.400 --> 00:35:17.460
 the eyes of everyone

00:35:17.460 --> 00:35:17.820
 here

00:35:17.820 --> 00:35:19.780
 just make your story

00:35:19.780 --> 00:35:20.300
 known

00:35:20.300 --> 00:35:22.039
 show the truth

00:35:22.039 --> 00:35:23.200
 of who you are

00:35:23.200 --> 00:35:23.720
 and the power

00:35:23.720 --> 00:35:24.260
 that is in your

00:35:24.260 --> 00:35:25.099
 gospel message

00:35:25.099 --> 00:35:26.420
 we pray all this

00:35:26.420 --> 00:35:27.200
 in Christ's name

00:35:27.200 --> 00:35:28.200
 Amen