WEBVTT

00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:10.679
 So first, I just want to introduce myself. I'm Laura Bush, and I, yeah, I didn't write this part

00:00:10.679 --> 00:00:16.440
 out, so, but I live in Cheshire with my husband, and we've been coming to Trinity for about six

00:00:16.440 --> 00:00:29.980
 years, a little over, and I've been a Christian since I was about 13, and did not grow up in a

00:00:29.980 --> 00:00:39.460
 topic. So the basic topic is going to be Bible intake and prayer, okay? So it's pretty basic,

00:00:39.700 --> 00:00:47.400
 right? Like, most of us have been trained in, like, you're supposed to do this every day, right?

00:00:47.920 --> 00:00:55.579
 So I was, likewise, as a teenager, trained in such a way. I knew what I was supposed to do.

00:00:56.479 --> 00:01:01.699
 I was a brand-new Christian. I read the Bible like crazy, like, I'd never read it before, never,

00:01:02.179 --> 00:01:08.980
 very little exposure to it, if any, and I know I read like nuts. The rest, I don't really,

00:01:09.400 --> 00:01:15.700
 I don't remember for many years what my practice was like on a regular basis. I went off to college,

00:01:15.700 --> 00:01:21.439
 and I was part of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, and there, it was, I know, it was very explicit.

00:01:21.439 --> 00:01:28.659
 We were taught how to do it, and encouraged to do it, and, and I know I had seasons where,

00:01:28.899 --> 00:01:35.780
 that was very fruitful. I also had seasons where it was like, this is kind of boring, and I don't

00:01:35.780 --> 00:01:43.379
 understand what I'm doing, and I don't know how to pray, and like, you know, whole parts of the

00:01:43.379 --> 00:01:48.420
 scriptures were just like opaque, like, I had no idea what's going on. Why am I reading this?

00:01:50.140 --> 00:01:57.859
 And, and in fact, I was a full-fledged adult in middle age before I actually had read every

00:01:57.859 --> 00:02:10.419
 book of the Bible. Ezekiel was the last one to fall, and, yeah, so, but I've always been a reader,

00:02:10.419 --> 00:02:17.500
 right, so, in many ways, reading the Bible came, you know, if not naturally, it, it, it wasn't

00:02:17.500 --> 00:02:26.560
 too much of a stretch. I tended not to get, like, I tended to do that somewhat, um, even if prayer

00:02:26.560 --> 00:02:34.079
 came harder. Like, I know that I, I know that I would cry out to God when I was, whatever, afraid,

00:02:34.279 --> 00:02:39.919
 confused, um, but oftentimes I would be like that, and I wouldn't cry out to God. It was not my reflex

00:02:39.919 --> 00:02:51.199
 for many years as a Christian, um, so, over the years, um, I've, I've struggled, as many people do.

00:02:51.599 --> 00:02:57.000
 Different seasons of life are really different. Um, when I had young children, I think, you know,

00:02:57.039 --> 00:03:03.659
 those of you with kids can, can, uh, identify it's, it's really challenging to get 15 minutes alone,

00:03:03.659 --> 00:03:10.879
 um, and for me, I really do best with habits when they're regular, like, same time, same place, same

00:03:10.879 --> 00:03:18.419
 everything every day, and, and that just becomes really hard with, uh, children, um, and other

00:03:18.419 --> 00:03:26.780
 things, obviously, that interfere with our lives and our schedules, changes. Um, I, you know, again,

00:03:26.780 --> 00:03:33.759
 off and on, I had periods of where I was really locked in, and I, and I had maybe a particular

00:03:33.759 --> 00:03:38.860
 method of approaching my time with the Lord, and, and it worked, and it worked, and it worked,

00:03:38.900 --> 00:03:45.659
 and then it started not to work, so to speak, uh, and, and I'm, you know, I'm sure that there were,

00:03:45.659 --> 00:03:53.920
 uh, many periods of, you know, not years, uh, maybe months, uh, where I really didn't read my Bible

00:03:53.919 --> 00:04:01.359
 on my own at all, um, and prayer, you know, has continued to be the harder, the harder part of

00:04:01.359 --> 00:04:12.659
 that, uh, of that duo, um, but in recent years, um, I'm going to say about 15 years ago, but I could

00:04:12.659 --> 00:04:18.360
 be totally wrong, like, I have no sense of, I don't know, you know, it feels to me like 1995 was

00:04:18.360 --> 00:04:25.060
 five years ago, so, you know, uh, you can't trust me on these things, but, um, one of the things I

00:04:25.060 --> 00:04:32.500
 began to do, uh, was read, uh, Puritan authors, and we just had this class on John Owen, um, I started

00:04:32.500 --> 00:04:38.740
 with, uh, authors that were a little more accessible than John Owen, for which I'm grateful, um, and

00:04:38.740 --> 00:04:43.800
 there are, in case any of you are in that class, you're like, oh, I should read John Owen, well, I have a

00:04:43.800 --> 00:04:48.759
 whole list of people you can read who will be easier to start with, get to John Owen, he's excellent, but

00:04:48.759 --> 00:04:56.600
 anyway, that's a, that's just a bonus, um, but what I found in the, in the Puritans was, um,

00:04:57.620 --> 00:05:03.939
 there's a knowledge of scripture that came out in, in every sentence, practically, and they weren't

00:05:03.939 --> 00:05:10.199
 quoting, you know, occasionally, you know, they did quote, but it would be phrases, it would be

00:05:10.199 --> 00:05:17.240
 just thoughts that were clearly drawn from scripture, um, and I'm sure I missed some of

00:05:17.240 --> 00:05:23.839
 them, because I didn't know the Bible as well, but I, but I learned from that, like, wow, the value of

00:05:23.839 --> 00:05:32.539
 that, um, and it really challenged me, like, I don't know the scriptures that well, and, um, I also found

00:05:32.539 --> 00:05:40.039
 in the Puritans that just, uh, such a strong and very real, um, faith that God really was who he says

00:05:40.040 --> 00:05:47.640
 he is, and they took these scriptures really seriously, as, as if they're true, which sounds

00:05:47.640 --> 00:05:54.840
 silly, like, most of us, I'm pretty sure, are convinced that, uh, the Bible is the word of God,

00:05:54.840 --> 00:06:00.980
 and it's true, and it's for us, and it's good, um, but sometimes in our experience, it doesn't

00:06:00.980 --> 00:06:06.780
 feel like that, like, is this really true, and it's easy to kind of, I've found it's easy to,

00:06:06.779 --> 00:06:14.399
 to let some of the, let some of what went on that we read about in scripture, um, just become a little

00:06:14.399 --> 00:06:23.019
 bit like fairy tale, um, like, do we really believe, you know, that God parted the sea, and they walked

00:06:23.019 --> 00:06:29.059
 through on dry land, like, what, were there walls of water, like, we can sort of imagine it, but in my

00:06:29.060 --> 00:06:39.339
 imagination, it looks like a storybook, right, it doesn't seem real, um, so, so, so the Puritans were

00:06:39.339 --> 00:06:44.319
 really, really helpful for me in that way, the other thing I read was a, a biography, uh, no, the

00:06:44.319 --> 00:06:52.240
 autobiography of George Mueller, and George Mueller is famous for answers to prayer, um, he prayed,

00:06:52.240 --> 00:07:01.360
 he prayed about everything, and he relied on God to answer prayers in ways that most of us have

00:07:01.360 --> 00:07:10.060
 probably never experienced, um, he was a builder of orphanages, and he relied for the money to build

00:07:10.060 --> 00:07:17.439
 these orphanages in the 19th century, um, he relied on prayer, I mean, he just relied on God, and he didn't

00:07:17.439 --> 00:07:25.620
 ask for money, didn't, you know, overtly, you know, publicize his needs, or go around, uh, to churches

00:07:25.620 --> 00:07:29.560
 saying, you know, I want to build this orphanage, can you give me some money, like, he didn't do any of

00:07:29.560 --> 00:07:38.680
 that, um, but he prayed, and he prayed in, uh, specific ways, and he saw what, to me, certainly, are

00:07:38.680 --> 00:07:45.279
 remarkable responses, so, so the kids would have nothing to eat at breakfast, and he would be praying,

00:07:45.279 --> 00:07:51.319
 he knew this was true, there was no breakfast for the children, and he would pray, you know, probably

00:07:51.319 --> 00:07:59.359
 before breakfast, um, and there were times when they had sat down, the children were sitting there

00:07:59.359 --> 00:08:05.839
 and ready, and a knock comes on the door, and some guy, you know, from a bakery says, man, I have all

00:08:05.839 --> 00:08:10.279
 this extra stuff, can you use it, you know, and then the children were fed, and this kind of thing

00:08:10.279 --> 00:08:17.539
 happened over and over, um, but I got to thinking, I mean, that, that alone is very challenging, and we

00:08:17.539 --> 00:08:23.139
 can talk about that, um, you know, as we, as we get more into, uh, the prayer part of this class, but,

00:08:23.679 --> 00:08:32.339
 but I got, I, what I realized in the autobiography, um, is how steeped in scripture George Mueller was,

00:08:32.340 --> 00:08:38.759
 and how, there was a line somewhere about how many times he had read through the entire Bible,

00:08:38.759 --> 00:08:43.980
 and it was in the hundreds easily, I, I don't remember the number, but I remember it was like,

00:08:44.800 --> 00:08:51.680
 oh, maybe this is why he could pray like that, maybe this is why he had that faith,

00:08:52.160 --> 00:08:59.320
 that God would really answer prayer, and I, and that was what I saw, um, really clearly,

00:08:59.320 --> 00:09:06.879
 and I was just like, I need to do that, I need to do that, I, you know, I wasn't seeing fruit in my

00:09:06.879 --> 00:09:15.420
 prayer life much, and, and I had never, probably when I read that, I probably, you know, never read

00:09:15.420 --> 00:09:24.000
 the entire Bible in a year, for instance, um, and I decided that's what I wanted to do, um,

00:09:24.000 --> 00:09:32.679
 um, and in that time, uh, you know, since that time, uh, I mean, I decided to read,

00:09:33.279 --> 00:09:37.139
 I just set apart, I, by this time I didn't have young children, so I had a freer schedule,

00:09:37.340 --> 00:09:43.860
 um, and I was able to read, uh, so my daughter actually stimulated me the first time to read

00:09:43.860 --> 00:09:51.039
 the whole Bible in a year, I'd never done that, she was about 16, and, um, I thought, well,

00:09:51.039 --> 00:09:56.699
 good grief, if Amy can do it, surely I can, like, this is ridiculous, I've been a Christian all this

00:09:56.699 --> 00:10:06.179
 time, and never done that, um, so I said, I, so, you know, she, she was my, uh, uh, catalyst, um,

00:10:06.480 --> 00:10:14.939
 and I did it, and then after that, um, I realized, well, that wasn't all that hard, actually, um,

00:10:14.940 --> 00:10:21.580
 and I started reading more than that, so for several years, I'm going to say maybe five years

00:10:21.580 --> 00:10:26.860
 or something, I read through the Bible multiple times every year, sometimes as much, I think three

00:10:26.860 --> 00:10:33.240
 was the most, but it also, but included some reading plans, have you repeat the New Testament,

00:10:33.400 --> 00:10:39.280
 or repeat the Psalms and Proverbs, or, so it, it always had some of that repetition in it, um,

00:10:39.279 --> 00:10:45.980
 and it was a lot of reading, like, like, no joke, um, but I read morning and evening, and I read,

00:10:46.360 --> 00:10:53.179
 you know, chap chunks at a time, and I read, I'll talk more about that later, but, um, but anyway,

00:10:53.319 --> 00:10:59.120
 I, I, I followed this fruit, and I began finding other practices along the way that I found really

00:10:59.120 --> 00:11:06.980
 helpful, uh, for my prayer life, and for absorbing the scriptures, so that's where this class really

00:11:06.980 --> 00:11:12.620
 begins, um, and just stuff that I've found that has been really helpful for me, and I've grown,

00:11:12.840 --> 00:11:19.480
 you know, more in these last 15 years than, than I probably had up till that point, um, and I just

00:11:19.480 --> 00:11:26.580
 want to share these things, um, last fall, so I, a year ago, I started taking seminary classes,

00:11:26.580 --> 00:11:34.840
 uh, online at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, and this past summer, fall, August,

00:11:34.840 --> 00:11:42.280
 September, I took a class in spiritual disciplines, and my professor, uh, was Donald Whitney, who's

00:11:42.280 --> 00:11:48.480
 written this book, um, which is called Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life. This book,

00:11:48.580 --> 00:11:55.360
 there are several copies, um, in the bookstall, and bookstall books are discounted, so, uh,

00:11:56.100 --> 00:12:03.240
 check them out. Um, he goes through a lot of spiritual disciplines here, um, and, and did,

00:12:03.240 --> 00:12:07.799
 and covered quite a few, not quite all of these, but quite a few in the class. It was an eight-week

00:12:07.799 --> 00:12:14.220
 class, um, so he covers Bible intake, he covers prayer, worship, evangelism, serving, stewardship,

00:12:14.519 --> 00:12:24.620
 fasting, silence and solitude, journaling, learning, um, and, and he's very practical, um, and in the

00:12:24.620 --> 00:12:31.639
 class, he was just, it was very practical, and very, like, try this, you know, and, uh, later on,

00:12:31.639 --> 00:12:38.519
 we're going to talk about Bible meditation, and he provided, like, 17 ways to do it, and so it was

00:12:38.519 --> 00:12:43.460
 very practical, you know, you could look at it, and you could go, oh, I could try that, um, and I

00:12:43.460 --> 00:12:49.620
 haven't tried them all, um, I've tried a number of them, but, uh, and the other thing that he's really

00:12:49.620 --> 00:12:55.659
 passionate about, and he has a separate book about, is called Praying the Bible, and I think there's a

00:12:55.659 --> 00:13:02.600
 copy of that in the bookstall as well, it's a little, it's a little book, um, yeah, go ahead,

00:13:02.600 --> 00:13:09.139
 this one, Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life, yep,

00:13:09.740 --> 00:13:15.240
 if I may give a plug, you can actually find a digital copy of that online for you also,

00:13:15.240 --> 00:13:25.700
 yeah, and Dr. Whitney, um, is passionate about getting this material in the hands of

00:13:25.700 --> 00:13:33.580
 folks, people in churches, uh, he travels around the world giving this material, he does, you know,

00:13:33.659 --> 00:13:39.840
 weekend, like, I don't know, class week workshops or something like that, and he's very generous with

00:13:39.840 --> 00:13:47.139
 his, what he's done here, so as the class goes on, you're going to see some of that, um, that will be

00:13:47.139 --> 00:13:52.680
 actually, like, straight from the pen of, of Donald Whitney, and, um, and he's glad for his students to,

00:13:52.879 --> 00:13:58.320
 to do that, um, very generous and just passionate about these things, so that was really encouraging,

00:13:58.460 --> 00:14:04.400
 and it gave me some more, um, it, but it, it dovetailed so nicely with, with what I'd already found,

00:14:04.400 --> 00:14:09.759
 kind of on my own, and pulling from different sources, so that's where this comes from.

00:14:09.840 --> 00:14:21.700
 Um, and so we're going to do, it's five, it's five classes, and let me just, just briefly, I, I could

00:14:21.700 --> 00:14:26.480
 have done a handout, I probably should have, but I didn't, uh, so today's just going to be an

00:14:26.480 --> 00:14:32.700
 introduction, uh, you've already heard some of that, um, but we're going to talk about why we do

00:14:32.700 --> 00:14:39.300
 these things, um, basically, that's today, uh, the next class will be focused on Bible intake,

00:14:39.299 --> 00:14:46.039
 and I say that because we're going to talk about hearing as well as reading and studying, um,

00:14:46.379 --> 00:14:52.579
 so there's all different ways we intake the Bible, and, and yeah, anyway, we'll get there, uh, the third

00:14:52.579 --> 00:14:58.599
 class is going to be all about meditating on the Bible, um, then class four, we're going to start with,

00:14:58.599 --> 00:15:05.240
 uh, prayer, and the last, the last class will be some helps, some practical helps in prayer

00:15:05.240 --> 00:15:15.720
 and praying the Bible, um, so that's what's coming, um, I would just like to ask, um, just ask,

00:15:15.720 --> 00:15:26.620
 uh, what comes to mind when you hear phrases like daily devotions, or in my day, in university,

00:15:26.860 --> 00:15:34.480
 quiet time, morning prayers, what kind of, what kind of feelings rise up, does that, is it like spark,

00:15:34.879 --> 00:15:42.080
 does it spark joy, uh, does it feel like, oh, this chore that, well, I'm not very good at this,

00:15:42.080 --> 00:15:48.180
 I'd just be interested in how, how it hits you, right, where you are right now, and invite you to

00:15:48.180 --> 00:15:53.680
 just, go ahead, Ivor. Um, I like how I've been doing it, uh, pretty much since we got married,

00:15:53.879 --> 00:16:01.879
 every morning, most mornings, I was having a missed occasion, and it's become a, like a part of life,

00:16:02.080 --> 00:16:11.020
 that, uh, we really miss it when it doesn't happen, it seems, you know, a part of, just part of life,

00:16:11.019 --> 00:16:15.620
 yeah, it's great, it's great, yeah, someone else,

00:16:19.620 --> 00:16:20.579
 Mary.

00:16:20.980 --> 00:16:26.679
 I read the Bible every day, and then someone, don't ask me to do that,

00:16:27.419 --> 00:16:31.679
 let's talk about journaling, what stands out to you, what do you feel the Lord is telling you,

00:16:31.779 --> 00:16:33.019
 and journaling really helps.

00:16:33.460 --> 00:16:37.240
 Yep, yeah, we're going to talk a little bit about that as well, yeah, that's been helpful for me as well,

00:16:37.240 --> 00:16:45.700
 yeah, yeah, any questions or problems that you would like solutions for, not that I,

00:16:45.840 --> 00:16:47.980
 not that I'm making any promises, Ivor.

00:16:48.799 --> 00:16:51.879
 It gets kind of rude at times, and you do it every day,

00:16:52.799 --> 00:16:55.480
 it falls into a formula,

00:16:55.840 --> 00:16:57.100
 and you try to,

00:16:57.340 --> 00:17:01.180
 it's very difficult not to.

00:17:01.179 --> 00:17:05.039
 Yeah, yeah, Dr. Whitney talks about this, and he says, like, it's,

00:17:05.619 --> 00:17:07.819
 sometimes we end up, say, in prayer,

00:17:08.419 --> 00:17:10.139
 saying the same old things,

00:17:10.460 --> 00:17:11.480
 in the same old way,

00:17:11.980 --> 00:17:13.700
 and we're praying, I mean,

00:17:14.220 --> 00:17:16.559
 the things before us to pray for,

00:17:17.039 --> 00:17:18.379
 we're praying for our loved ones,

00:17:18.579 --> 00:17:20.259
 well, they don't change day to day, right, I mean,

00:17:20.379 --> 00:17:21.980
 you know, that's, there's a,

00:17:22.220 --> 00:17:24.440
 there's a number of people that we pray for,

00:17:24.539 --> 00:17:26.279
 that we're very close to, we pray for family,

00:17:26.279 --> 00:17:29.700
 and, and we want to do that consistently,

00:17:29.879 --> 00:17:30.839
 but how does it become,

00:17:31.059 --> 00:17:32.759
 but it's easy to become like,

00:17:33.460 --> 00:17:34.559
 yeah, I just did this yesterday,

00:17:34.660 --> 00:17:35.639
 Lord, I said the same things,

00:17:35.700 --> 00:17:37.019
 can you just, whatever.

00:17:38.059 --> 00:17:39.059
 Can't you just say it?

00:17:39.319 --> 00:17:40.740
 Right, right, exactly.

00:17:42.399 --> 00:17:43.980
 And many other things like that,

00:17:44.019 --> 00:17:45.599
 we might pray for, about our work,

00:17:45.720 --> 00:17:46.779
 we might pray about our witness,

00:17:46.920 --> 00:17:48.319
 we might pray about, you know,

00:17:48.579 --> 00:17:49.399
 our missionaries,

00:17:49.460 --> 00:17:50.619
 we might pray about many different things,

00:17:50.660 --> 00:17:51.839
 but it's easy for it to,

00:17:52.039 --> 00:17:54.779
 it to fall into just the same old things,

00:17:54.779 --> 00:17:55.779
 in the same old way.

00:17:56.279 --> 00:18:00.379
 And, and Dr. Whitney talked about that a lot,

00:18:00.519 --> 00:18:02.639
 like, and that's, that's what I hope,

00:18:02.759 --> 00:18:04.099
 that's what, one of the things I hope

00:18:04.099 --> 00:18:06.920
 that we can look at and find some different ways

00:18:06.920 --> 00:18:08.660
 to approach it so that that doesn't happen.

00:18:09.859 --> 00:18:10.059
 Yeah.

00:18:10.379 --> 00:18:13.180
 I think something that discourages me

00:18:13.180 --> 00:18:14.819
 from time to time is,

00:18:16.200 --> 00:18:18.759
 sort of this promise,

00:18:19.240 --> 00:18:22.559
 at least among my generation and younger,

00:18:22.559 --> 00:18:26.379
 that if you do all the right things,

00:18:26.379 --> 00:18:28.299
 in your morning devotion,

00:18:28.299 --> 00:18:29.399
 or quiet time, or whatever,

00:18:29.779 --> 00:18:31.279
 you'll have this, like,

00:18:31.740 --> 00:18:33.720
 wonderful spiritual experience,

00:18:34.259 --> 00:18:35.460
 and that if you,

00:18:35.639 --> 00:18:37.000
 if you didn't have that,

00:18:37.220 --> 00:18:38.339
 you did something wrong,

00:18:38.740 --> 00:18:38.839
 Yeah.

00:18:38.839 --> 00:18:40.639
 or that you're missing out,

00:18:40.839 --> 00:18:44.299
 or that God's favor wasn't with you for some reason.

00:18:44.639 --> 00:18:44.899
 Yeah.

00:18:45.039 --> 00:18:47.419
 And sometimes I'm downright afraid

00:18:47.419 --> 00:18:49.459
 to miss out on that,

00:18:49.939 --> 00:18:52.619
 and either, like,

00:18:52.639 --> 00:18:53.639
 I've disappointed God,

00:18:53.699 --> 00:18:54.179
 or, like,

00:18:55.339 --> 00:18:56.500
 I've done something wrong,

00:18:56.879 --> 00:18:57.939
 He didn't want to talk to me,

00:18:58.139 --> 00:18:58.599
 or something.

00:18:58.599 --> 00:18:59.899
 And I know,

00:19:00.079 --> 00:19:01.439
 I know that there is,

00:19:02.459 --> 00:19:03.379
 that that's not true,

00:19:03.559 --> 00:19:03.679
 Yeah.

00:19:03.679 --> 00:19:05.500
 and that there's practical value to

00:19:05.500 --> 00:19:06.719
 just,

00:19:06.899 --> 00:19:07.279
 just,

00:19:08.000 --> 00:19:10.500
 in taking the precious scriptures,

00:19:10.839 --> 00:19:11.000
 Yeah.

00:19:11.339 --> 00:19:11.759
 Um,

00:19:11.759 --> 00:19:13.379
 saying a prayer to God

00:19:13.379 --> 00:19:15.359
 that you feel like is hitting the ceiling

00:19:15.359 --> 00:19:16.980
 because He hears.

00:19:17.259 --> 00:19:17.459
 Yeah.

00:19:17.459 --> 00:19:18.179
 I know that.

00:19:18.439 --> 00:19:18.599
 Yeah.

00:19:18.619 --> 00:19:21.000
 But there's been just strong influences,

00:19:21.000 --> 00:19:22.240
 I think,

00:19:22.319 --> 00:19:22.699
 in, like,

00:19:22.939 --> 00:19:23.500
 mass,

00:19:23.939 --> 00:19:24.240
 like,

00:19:24.399 --> 00:19:25.299
 spirituality movements

00:19:25.299 --> 00:19:26.039
 that have,

00:19:26.119 --> 00:19:28.700
 have gotten under my skin a little bit,

00:19:28.779 --> 00:19:29.000
 like,

00:19:29.099 --> 00:19:29.339
 saying,

00:19:29.799 --> 00:19:29.980
 No,

00:19:30.059 --> 00:19:30.440
 you should,

00:19:30.879 --> 00:19:33.159
 you should feel amazing all the time.

00:19:33.240 --> 00:19:33.359
 Yeah.

00:19:35.240 --> 00:19:35.720
 Yeah.

00:19:35.899 --> 00:19:37.039
 I think most of us have,

00:19:37.180 --> 00:19:37.879
 have heard that,

00:19:37.919 --> 00:19:39.099
 or been influenced by that.

00:19:39.500 --> 00:19:39.819
 Um,

00:19:39.819 --> 00:19:42.139
 and also that feeling of guilt

00:19:42.139 --> 00:19:43.180
 when,

00:19:43.359 --> 00:19:45.819
 when we miss a few days,

00:19:45.819 --> 00:19:46.220
 or,

00:19:46.740 --> 00:19:47.319
 or whatever,

00:19:47.539 --> 00:19:47.799
 you know,

00:19:47.799 --> 00:19:48.740
 guilt when,

00:19:48.740 --> 00:19:50.879
 we find ourselves

00:19:50.879 --> 00:19:53.680
 running our eyes over the words of scripture,

00:19:53.680 --> 00:19:55.880
 but not actually paying any attention,

00:19:56.220 --> 00:19:56.400
 like,

00:19:57.039 --> 00:19:57.860
 I can do that,

00:19:57.980 --> 00:19:58.220
 like,

00:19:58.680 --> 00:19:59.660
 and I go through,

00:19:59.740 --> 00:20:00.460
 I finish a chapter,

00:20:00.560 --> 00:20:01.940
 and I don't remember what I read,

00:20:02.120 --> 00:20:03.820
 because I'm just like,

00:20:04.860 --> 00:20:06.440
 yeah,

00:20:06.799 --> 00:20:07.420
 um,

00:20:07.820 --> 00:20:09.039
 and then I feel guilty,

00:20:09.620 --> 00:20:10.060
 uh,

00:20:10.240 --> 00:20:10.600
 you know,

00:20:10.640 --> 00:20:11.460
 or I feel like,

00:20:12.039 --> 00:20:12.240
 yeah,

00:20:12.279 --> 00:20:13.039
 I did it wrong,

00:20:13.779 --> 00:20:14.240
 um,

00:20:14.240 --> 00:20:14.840
 so yeah,

00:20:14.840 --> 00:20:16.340
 looking for that big reward,

00:20:16.759 --> 00:20:17.180
 um,

00:20:17.279 --> 00:20:18.860
 or feeling guilty about,

00:20:19.160 --> 00:20:21.000
 I must be doing it wrong,

00:20:21.140 --> 00:20:21.360
 or,

00:20:22.080 --> 00:20:23.500
 God doesn't want to hear this again,

00:20:23.680 --> 00:20:24.220
 or,

00:20:25.060 --> 00:20:26.220
 all kinds of things,

00:20:26.299 --> 00:20:26.740
 or being,

00:20:27.560 --> 00:20:27.960
 I don't know,

00:20:28.080 --> 00:20:29.560
 anyone been bored reading,

00:20:30.240 --> 00:20:30.759
 I don't know,

00:20:31.000 --> 00:20:31.560
 Leviticus,

00:20:31.940 --> 00:20:32.259
 uh,

00:20:32.580 --> 00:20:34.080
 parts of numbers,

00:20:35.660 --> 00:20:35.960
 uh,

00:20:36.060 --> 00:20:36.380
 you know,

00:20:36.440 --> 00:20:37.880
 when you get to a genealogy,

00:20:37.980 --> 00:20:38.940
 what do you do with that,

00:20:39.080 --> 00:20:39.560
 do you,

00:20:40.120 --> 00:20:41.940
 it's hard,

00:20:42.420 --> 00:20:43.259
 it's hard,

00:20:43.400 --> 00:20:45.720
 do you make yourself read every word,

00:20:45.840 --> 00:20:46.299
 and feel like,

00:20:46.360 --> 00:20:46.500
 ah,

00:20:46.640 --> 00:20:46.799
 well,

00:20:46.880 --> 00:20:47.160
 I did,

00:20:47.340 --> 00:20:48.140
 that's a good job,

00:20:48.200 --> 00:20:48.720
 I did that,

00:20:49.000 --> 00:20:49.759
 like it was pointless,

00:20:49.940 --> 00:20:50.640
 it felt pointless,

00:20:50.779 --> 00:20:50.980
 right,

00:20:51.539 --> 00:20:51.960
 um,

00:20:52.059 --> 00:20:52.360
 but,

00:20:53.140 --> 00:20:54.579
 or do we just skim over it,

00:20:54.579 --> 00:20:54.880
 and,

00:20:54.980 --> 00:20:57.039
 and then feel guilty for that,

00:20:57.160 --> 00:20:57.319
 you know,

00:20:57.339 --> 00:20:58.660
 so there's just a lot of,

00:20:59.299 --> 00:21:00.140
 a lot of those things,

00:21:00.200 --> 00:21:00.920
 are really practical,

00:21:00.920 --> 00:21:01.680
 and really,

00:21:01.680 --> 00:21:02.099
 um,

00:21:02.740 --> 00:21:03.200
 challenging,

00:21:03.420 --> 00:21:04.519
 so anything you do every day,

00:21:04.620 --> 00:21:05.099
 is going to be,

00:21:05.920 --> 00:21:06.220
 um,

00:21:07.460 --> 00:21:08.680
 is going to tend to become rote,

00:21:08.920 --> 00:21:10.339
 and while we want that,

00:21:10.400 --> 00:21:11.700
 out of some of our practices,

00:21:12.440 --> 00:21:12.660
 you know,

00:21:12.660 --> 00:21:13.200
 I think of,

00:21:13.279 --> 00:21:13.559
 uh,

00:21:14.019 --> 00:21:15.180
 how many people,

00:21:15.180 --> 00:21:16.220
 think really hard,

00:21:16.319 --> 00:21:17.480
 and work really hard,

00:21:17.480 --> 00:21:19.039
 to brush your teeth every day,

00:21:19.759 --> 00:21:20.960
 like for most of us,

00:21:21.360 --> 00:21:23.200
 that was drilled in from childhood,

00:21:23.200 --> 00:21:24.559
 and you just do it,

00:21:24.599 --> 00:21:25.579
 and you don't think about it,

00:21:25.660 --> 00:21:26.180
 you don't think,

00:21:26.620 --> 00:21:26.920
 oh,

00:21:27.400 --> 00:21:28.640
 should I brush my teeth today,

00:21:29.019 --> 00:21:29.880
 like most of us,

00:21:29.940 --> 00:21:30.740
 aren't doing that,

00:21:31.319 --> 00:21:31.740
 um,

00:21:32.339 --> 00:21:33.380
 and that's fine,

00:21:33.460 --> 00:21:34.900
 and we do it the same way,

00:21:35.160 --> 00:21:36.059
 the same old way,

00:21:36.259 --> 00:21:36.799
 you know,

00:21:36.900 --> 00:21:37.720
 the same thing,

00:21:37.759 --> 00:21:38.599
 in the same old way,

00:21:38.720 --> 00:21:39.339
 and you know,

00:21:39.519 --> 00:21:40.299
 that's fine,

00:21:40.440 --> 00:21:41.420
 for that,

00:21:42.039 --> 00:21:42.500
 um,

00:21:42.500 --> 00:21:43.700
 we don't need a lot of variety,

00:21:43.700 --> 00:21:45.079
 in our tooth brushing habits,

00:21:45.880 --> 00:21:47.039
 but when it comes to the word of God,

00:21:47.039 --> 00:21:47.579
 we feel like,

00:21:47.639 --> 00:21:47.740
 well,

00:21:48.119 --> 00:21:49.440
 this deserves more,

00:21:49.799 --> 00:21:50.759
 and it does,

00:21:51.119 --> 00:21:51.299
 but,

00:21:51.659 --> 00:21:51.839
 yeah,

00:21:52.359 --> 00:21:52.579
 anyway,

00:21:52.639 --> 00:21:53.200
 Dave had something,

00:21:53.519 --> 00:21:53.740
 yeah,

00:21:53.920 --> 00:21:54.759
 so I was just going to say,

00:21:54.940 --> 00:21:57.599
 it's only quite a bit,

00:21:57.720 --> 00:22:00.859
 but when I think about,

00:22:01.079 --> 00:22:02.460
 the spiritual disciplines,

00:22:02.720 --> 00:22:03.119
 um,

00:22:03.519 --> 00:22:04.759
 I think of,

00:22:04.879 --> 00:22:07.159
 them similar to,

00:22:07.159 --> 00:22:07.659
 um,

00:22:09.159 --> 00:22:09.659
 exercise,

00:22:10.319 --> 00:22:10.819
 or,

00:22:11.079 --> 00:22:11.319
 you know,

00:22:11.319 --> 00:22:12.379
 any of the other,

00:22:13.000 --> 00:22:14.119
 multitude of things,

00:22:14.319 --> 00:22:14.920
 that we all know,

00:22:15.019 --> 00:22:16.220
 we ought to be doing,

00:22:16.480 --> 00:22:16.579
 right,

00:22:16.579 --> 00:22:17.439
 um,

00:22:17.720 --> 00:22:18.720
 and,

00:22:18.720 --> 00:22:21.899
 similar to those things,

00:22:21.899 --> 00:22:22.559
 that we all know,

00:22:22.599 --> 00:22:23.659
 we ought to be doing,

00:22:23.779 --> 00:22:25.099
 and sometimes aren't,

00:22:25.619 --> 00:22:25.939
 uh,

00:22:25.939 --> 00:22:26.899
 because they're a struggle,

00:22:27.079 --> 00:22:28.379
 to develop that new habit,

00:22:29.059 --> 00:22:29.559
 um,

00:22:29.779 --> 00:22:30.619
 they're also,

00:22:30.879 --> 00:22:31.059
 the,

00:22:31.119 --> 00:22:32.399
 the results are,

00:22:32.399 --> 00:22:33.879
 long-term,

00:22:34.720 --> 00:22:35.279
 results,

00:22:35.779 --> 00:22:36.119
 like,

00:22:36.220 --> 00:22:37.539
 you're not going to,

00:22:37.679 --> 00:22:38.059
 you know,

00:22:38.619 --> 00:22:40.579
 read Genesis chapter one,

00:22:40.579 --> 00:22:41.079
 today,

00:22:41.079 --> 00:22:41.599
 and,

00:22:41.720 --> 00:22:42.119
 you know,

00:22:42.119 --> 00:22:43.799
 automatically,

00:22:44.139 --> 00:22:45.779
 have this amazing relationship,

00:22:45.779 --> 00:22:46.299
 with God,

00:22:46.359 --> 00:22:46.719
 because,

00:22:47.359 --> 00:22:47.979
 all of,

00:22:48.139 --> 00:22:49.479
 all of the spiritual disciplines,

00:22:49.739 --> 00:22:50.479
 all of the,

00:22:50.939 --> 00:22:51.819
 life disciplines,

00:22:51.819 --> 00:22:52.779
 that we go through,

00:22:53.299 --> 00:22:55.019
 build upon themselves,

00:22:55.019 --> 00:22:56.459
 so that,

00:22:56.659 --> 00:22:56.959
 you know,

00:22:57.059 --> 00:22:58.079
 when you get to be,

00:22:58.659 --> 00:22:59.079
 you know,

00:22:59.399 --> 00:23:00.959
 15 years down the road,

00:23:01.179 --> 00:23:02.139
 with the practice,

00:23:03.419 --> 00:23:03.859
 now,

00:23:04.259 --> 00:23:05.500
 you can look back,

00:23:05.579 --> 00:23:05.779
 and go,

00:23:05.980 --> 00:23:06.259
 oh,

00:23:06.680 --> 00:23:07.619
 look how much I've grown,

00:23:08.759 --> 00:23:09.039
 yep,

00:23:09.279 --> 00:23:10.440
 you want to pass that back,

00:23:11.279 --> 00:23:12.079
 Debbie had something,

00:23:12.660 --> 00:23:12.859
 yeah,

00:23:12.940 --> 00:23:13.200
 I was saying,

00:23:13.279 --> 00:23:14.940
 sometimes it feels like,

00:23:15.019 --> 00:23:16.339
 it's more of a,

00:23:17.559 --> 00:23:19.099
 an intellectual pursuit,

00:23:19.359 --> 00:23:19.700
 or,

00:23:20.079 --> 00:23:20.440
 just,

00:23:20.579 --> 00:23:22.220
 an engagement of my mind,

00:23:22.339 --> 00:23:24.240
 and I long for it to be,

00:23:24.339 --> 00:23:25.920
 an engagement of my emotions,

00:23:26.160 --> 00:23:26.660
 in worship,

00:23:26.940 --> 00:23:27.500
 and joy,

00:23:27.859 --> 00:23:28.099
 yeah,

00:23:28.099 --> 00:23:29.579
 and I do have that,

00:23:29.779 --> 00:23:30.319
 at times,

00:23:30.639 --> 00:23:31.339
 but those times,

00:23:31.460 --> 00:23:32.119
 are much fewer,

00:23:32.279 --> 00:23:32.799
 far between,

00:23:32.980 --> 00:23:34.319
 and that's what I really long for,

00:23:34.539 --> 00:23:35.559
 that feeling of having,

00:23:35.559 --> 00:23:36.399
 met with God,

00:23:36.480 --> 00:23:37.139
 and not just,

00:23:37.919 --> 00:23:38.279
 you know,

00:23:38.359 --> 00:23:40.359
 yep,

00:23:41.359 --> 00:23:41.720
 yeah,

00:23:42.480 --> 00:23:43.000
 yeah,

00:23:43.059 --> 00:23:43.980
 so a lot of those things,

00:23:44.099 --> 00:23:44.399
 you know,

00:23:44.440 --> 00:23:45.559
 I hope to sort of address,

00:23:45.659 --> 00:23:46.679
 I'm not going to fix everything,

00:23:46.839 --> 00:23:47.079
 and I'm,

00:23:47.279 --> 00:23:47.480
 you know,

00:23:47.539 --> 00:23:48.259
 and it's not like,

00:23:48.319 --> 00:23:49.079
 I don't experience,

00:23:49.079 --> 00:23:50.220
 many of these same things,

00:23:50.460 --> 00:23:51.779
 now,

00:23:52.639 --> 00:23:53.019
 it's not,

00:23:53.099 --> 00:23:53.240
 you know,

00:23:53.259 --> 00:23:53.879
 I haven't arrived,

00:23:54.919 --> 00:23:55.639
 but,

00:23:56.119 --> 00:23:56.940
 but I hope we can talk,

00:23:57.099 --> 00:23:57.659
 about those things,

00:23:58.000 --> 00:23:58.220
 and,

00:23:58.339 --> 00:24:00.240
 and I would also like to say,

00:24:00.279 --> 00:24:01.159
 if you have any specific,

00:24:01.159 --> 00:24:02.879
 questions or issues,

00:24:02.879 --> 00:24:03.639
 you hope that,

00:24:03.919 --> 00:24:04.659
 will be covered,

00:24:04.740 --> 00:24:05.259
 if there's something,

00:24:05.259 --> 00:24:05.720
 you thought,

00:24:05.839 --> 00:24:05.960
 oh,

00:24:06.079 --> 00:24:06.339
 maybe,

00:24:06.519 --> 00:24:07.680
 maybe she'll talk about this,

00:24:08.339 --> 00:24:10.140
 feel free to let me know,

00:24:10.220 --> 00:24:11.019
 I have some,

00:24:11.019 --> 00:24:13.079
 three by five cards up here,

00:24:13.119 --> 00:24:14.519
 if you just want to write something down,

00:24:14.960 --> 00:24:15.779
 and give it to me,

00:24:16.000 --> 00:24:16.579
 that would be,

00:24:16.720 --> 00:24:17.859
 totally welcome,

00:24:18.240 --> 00:24:18.480
 so,

00:24:18.819 --> 00:24:19.099
 I mean,

00:24:19.180 --> 00:24:19.480
 for now,

00:24:19.519 --> 00:24:20.359
 I'll just put these here,

00:24:20.900 --> 00:24:22.920
 if anyone wants to do that,

00:24:22.980 --> 00:24:23.420
 or just,

00:24:24.200 --> 00:24:24.900
 send me an email,

00:24:25.140 --> 00:24:25.259
 or,

00:24:25.940 --> 00:24:26.680
 talk to me in person,

00:24:26.920 --> 00:24:27.160
 whatever,

00:24:27.299 --> 00:24:29.920
 so now,

00:24:29.980 --> 00:24:30.799
 I want to talk a little bit about,

00:24:30.799 --> 00:24:31.159
 just,

00:24:31.299 --> 00:24:33.039
 just to give us a,

00:24:33.039 --> 00:24:34.139
 a foundation,

00:24:34.740 --> 00:24:35.039
 for,

00:24:35.579 --> 00:24:37.319
 why do we do this anyway,

00:24:37.480 --> 00:24:38.759
 and I think most of us have,

00:24:38.980 --> 00:24:40.879
 a pretty good idea,

00:24:41.379 --> 00:24:41.659
 so,

00:24:41.899 --> 00:24:44.480
 yeah,

00:24:44.879 --> 00:24:45.200
 but,

00:24:45.419 --> 00:24:45.519
 I,

00:24:45.659 --> 00:24:45.839
 yeah,

00:24:45.879 --> 00:24:46.259
 I feel like,

00:24:46.339 --> 00:24:47.440
 we need this foundation,

00:24:47.440 --> 00:24:48.460
 for what we're doing,

00:24:48.599 --> 00:24:48.659
 and,

00:24:48.799 --> 00:24:49.940
 and why we're doing it,

00:24:49.940 --> 00:24:53.320
 if you have a Bible,

00:24:53.440 --> 00:24:54.539
 and you want to follow along,

00:24:54.600 --> 00:24:55.340
 I'm going to read,

00:24:55.519 --> 00:24:57.500
 from Deuteronomy chapter 17,

00:24:58.600 --> 00:25:02.299
 so the book of Deuteronomy,

00:25:02.640 --> 00:25:03.700
 Moses is kind of,

00:25:04.120 --> 00:25:05.720
 it's his last sort of speech,

00:25:05.740 --> 00:25:06.860
 before the people of Israel,

00:25:06.920 --> 00:25:08.180
 before they enter the land,

00:25:08.660 --> 00:25:09.640
 he's reviewing,

00:25:10.100 --> 00:25:11.440
 much of the teaching,

00:25:11.680 --> 00:25:12.460
 that he has,

00:25:13.240 --> 00:25:13.759
 been,

00:25:14.299 --> 00:25:15.580
 that they've received,

00:25:15.580 --> 00:25:16.519
 from the Lord,

00:25:16.700 --> 00:25:17.100
 over,

00:25:17.320 --> 00:25:19.440
 over the years,

00:25:19.440 --> 00:25:20.240
 since the Exodus,

00:25:21.140 --> 00:25:23.220
 and he's,

00:25:23.580 --> 00:25:24.620
 a lot of it,

00:25:24.980 --> 00:25:26.519
 I love Deuteronomy,

00:25:26.620 --> 00:25:28.140
 because so much of it is like,

00:25:28.820 --> 00:25:29.340
 remember,

00:25:29.799 --> 00:25:30.440
 remember,

00:25:30.900 --> 00:25:31.400
 remember,

00:25:31.580 --> 00:25:32.400
 teach your children,

00:25:32.600 --> 00:25:33.420
 pass it on,

00:25:34.100 --> 00:25:34.600
 remember,

00:25:35.299 --> 00:25:36.980
 don't do these things,

00:25:37.080 --> 00:25:38.500
 they lead to curses,

00:25:38.640 --> 00:25:39.600
 they lead to judgment,

00:25:39.820 --> 00:25:40.720
 do these things,

00:25:40.820 --> 00:25:41.820
 they lead to blessing,

00:25:41.960 --> 00:25:43.059
 like it's very straightforward,

00:25:43.059 --> 00:25:43.380
 and,

00:25:43.380 --> 00:25:45.900
 and I just,

00:25:46.039 --> 00:25:46.960
 I find I need it,

00:25:47.340 --> 00:25:47.580
 you know,

00:25:47.620 --> 00:25:48.960
 I need these reminders,

00:25:49.440 --> 00:25:51.240
 in Deuteronomy 17,

00:25:51.640 --> 00:25:53.420
 I'm going to start at verse 14,

00:25:54.220 --> 00:25:54.740
 he,

00:25:55.120 --> 00:25:56.480
 he starts addressing,

00:25:56.820 --> 00:25:59.299
 laws about kings,

00:25:59.420 --> 00:26:00.460
 so he recognizes,

00:26:00.460 --> 00:26:01.400
 that in the future,

00:26:01.519 --> 00:26:02.779
 and God recognized this,

00:26:02.840 --> 00:26:03.360
 in the future,

00:26:03.500 --> 00:26:04.980
 that Israel would want a king,

00:26:05.740 --> 00:26:07.400
 so here's some instructions,

00:26:07.519 --> 00:26:08.480
 they don't have a king yet,

00:26:08.660 --> 00:26:08.860
 right,

00:26:09.120 --> 00:26:09.779
 but,

00:26:10.019 --> 00:26:10.820
 as we know,

00:26:10.980 --> 00:26:11.279
 they will,

00:26:11.279 --> 00:26:12.500
 they will begin to get them,

00:26:13.500 --> 00:26:14.820
 so here's,

00:26:14.940 --> 00:26:16.580
 here's what he teaches here,

00:26:16.579 --> 00:26:18.279
 when you come to the land,

00:26:18.379 --> 00:26:20.139
 that the Lord your God is giving you,

00:26:20.220 --> 00:26:21.199
 and you possess it,

00:26:21.299 --> 00:26:22.059
 and dwell in it,

00:26:22.319 --> 00:26:22.899
 and then say,

00:26:23.119 --> 00:26:24.399
 I will set a king over me,

00:26:24.519 --> 00:26:25.500
 like all the nations,

00:26:25.500 --> 00:26:26.480
 that are around me,

00:26:27.399 --> 00:26:28.559
 you may indeed,

00:26:29.259 --> 00:26:30.259
 set a king,

00:26:30.460 --> 00:26:31.960
 over you,

00:26:32.500 --> 00:26:33.740
 whom the Lord your God,

00:26:33.779 --> 00:26:34.419
 will choose,

00:26:34.799 --> 00:26:36.159
 one from among your brothers,

00:26:36.279 --> 00:26:37.799
 you shall set as king over you,

00:26:37.960 --> 00:26:39.759
 you may not put a foreigner over you,

00:26:39.819 --> 00:26:40.659
 who is not your brother,

00:26:41.220 --> 00:26:42.460
 only he must not acquire,

00:26:42.460 --> 00:26:43.759
 many horses for himself,

00:26:43.759 --> 00:26:45.960
 or cause the people to return to Egypt,

00:26:46.099 --> 00:26:47.680
 in order to acquire many horses,

00:26:48.180 --> 00:26:49.660
 since the Lord has said to you,

00:26:49.839 --> 00:26:51.660
 you shall never return that way again,

00:26:52.160 --> 00:26:53.579
 and he shall not acquire,

00:26:53.759 --> 00:26:55.220
 many wives for himself,

00:26:55.359 --> 00:26:56.680
 lest his heart turn away,

00:26:57.099 --> 00:26:58.759
 nor shall he acquire for himself,

00:26:58.879 --> 00:27:00.299
 excessive silver and gold,

00:27:01.180 --> 00:27:02.279
 and when he sits on the throne,

00:27:02.319 --> 00:27:02.879
 of his kingdom,

00:27:03.119 --> 00:27:04.359
 he shall write for himself,

00:27:04.500 --> 00:27:04.960
 in a book,

00:27:05.259 --> 00:27:06.700
 a copy of this law,

00:27:07.160 --> 00:27:09.220
 approved by the Levitical priests,

00:27:09.640 --> 00:27:11.279
 and it shall be with him,

00:27:11.279 --> 00:27:12.680
 and he shall read in it,

00:27:12.819 --> 00:27:13.960
 all the days of his life,

00:27:14.240 --> 00:27:15.660
 that he may learn to fear,

00:27:15.740 --> 00:27:16.740
 the Lord his God,

00:27:16.819 --> 00:27:18.599
 by keeping all the words,

00:27:18.680 --> 00:27:19.420
 of this law,

00:27:19.599 --> 00:27:20.519
 and these statutes,

00:27:20.759 --> 00:27:21.379
 and doing them,

00:27:21.859 --> 00:27:22.539
 that his heart,

00:27:22.619 --> 00:27:23.940
 may not be lifted up,

00:27:24.019 --> 00:27:24.920
 above his brothers,

00:27:25.299 --> 00:27:26.960
 and that he may not turn aside,

00:27:27.039 --> 00:27:28.059
 from the commandment,

00:27:28.500 --> 00:27:29.740
 either to the right hand,

00:27:29.799 --> 00:27:30.639
 or to the left,

00:27:31.019 --> 00:27:32.220
 so that he may continue,

00:27:32.399 --> 00:27:33.299
 long in his kingdom,

00:27:33.740 --> 00:27:34.519
 he and his children,

00:27:34.940 --> 00:27:35.460
 in Israel.

00:27:35.460 --> 00:27:38.940
 So this is specifically,

00:27:39.480 --> 00:27:41.660
 addressing a future king,

00:27:42.120 --> 00:27:45.440
 but I think we can,

00:27:45.519 --> 00:27:47.079
 we can see in this,

00:27:47.380 --> 00:27:49.539
 a pattern that ought to,

00:27:50.340 --> 00:27:54.100
 it ought to apply to all of us,

00:27:54.220 --> 00:27:54.440
 right,

00:27:54.860 --> 00:27:56.180
 if we want to,

00:27:56.259 --> 00:27:56.920
 as it says,

00:27:57.600 --> 00:28:00.059
 learn to fear the Lord our God,

00:28:01.819 --> 00:28:03.460
 keep all his words,

00:28:03.840 --> 00:28:04.420
 do them,

00:28:04.420 --> 00:28:07.300
 not turn aside,

00:28:07.380 --> 00:28:08.080
 from the commandment,

00:28:08.120 --> 00:28:08.600
 to the left,

00:28:08.660 --> 00:28:09.160
 or the right,

00:28:09.880 --> 00:28:11.640
 this is,

00:28:11.740 --> 00:28:13.600
 this is what Moses gives,

00:28:14.240 --> 00:28:16.180
 for this is how you do that,

00:28:16.480 --> 00:28:17.660
 this is how you hang on,

00:28:17.720 --> 00:28:18.360
 to these things,

00:28:18.620 --> 00:28:20.060
 and he's probably talking,

00:28:20.279 --> 00:28:21.340
 mostly about the,

00:28:21.340 --> 00:28:22.940
 the very book of Deuteronomy,

00:28:23.500 --> 00:28:24.660
 when he,

00:28:24.779 --> 00:28:26.259
 when he says a book of,

00:28:26.440 --> 00:28:27.820
 a copy of this law,

00:28:28.480 --> 00:28:30.380
 and we don't act,

00:28:30.460 --> 00:28:31.140
 we don't know,

00:28:31.259 --> 00:28:32.640
 if any kings actually,

00:28:32.640 --> 00:28:33.380
 ever did this,

00:28:33.380 --> 00:28:34.660
 we see a lot of evidence,

00:28:34.660 --> 00:28:36.140
 that they didn't obey it,

00:28:36.720 --> 00:28:37.000
 right,

00:28:37.200 --> 00:28:38.260
 we have kings who,

00:28:38.400 --> 00:28:39.400
 acquired many wives,

00:28:39.460 --> 00:28:40.160
 and many horses,

00:28:40.720 --> 00:28:42.320
 and turned away,

00:28:42.780 --> 00:28:45.400
 and they acquired for themselves,

00:28:45.560 --> 00:28:46.840
 excessive silver and gold,

00:28:46.900 --> 00:28:47.940
 we see a lot of that,

00:28:48.500 --> 00:28:49.380
 as we,

00:28:49.460 --> 00:28:50.680
 as we move through the scriptures,

00:28:50.880 --> 00:28:52.120
 but we don't see a lot of,

00:28:54.280 --> 00:28:55.560
 we don't have really evidence,

00:28:55.560 --> 00:28:56.760
 of a lot of this,

00:28:56.759 --> 00:28:59.160
 really knowing,

00:28:59.759 --> 00:29:01.259
 the instructions that God has given,

00:29:01.379 --> 00:29:02.220
 and that word law,

00:29:02.740 --> 00:29:04.079
 it does really mean,

00:29:04.140 --> 00:29:05.000
 kind of instructions,

00:29:05.359 --> 00:29:05.879
 rather than,

00:29:06.180 --> 00:29:07.460
 it's not like a code of law,

00:29:07.579 --> 00:29:08.220
 it's not like they're,

00:29:08.519 --> 00:29:08.759
 you know,

00:29:08.799 --> 00:29:10.119
 it's not like what we would find at,

00:29:10.759 --> 00:29:11.220
 I don't know,

00:29:11.359 --> 00:29:11.819
 City Hall,

00:29:11.920 --> 00:29:12.099
 or something,

00:29:12.099 --> 00:29:12.500
 I don't know,

00:29:12.599 --> 00:29:13.379
 who has a law code,

00:29:13.460 --> 00:29:13.779
 but those,

00:29:13.980 --> 00:29:14.160
 you know,

00:29:14.720 --> 00:29:16.099
 you know,

00:29:16.200 --> 00:29:16.700
 the laws,

00:29:17.000 --> 00:29:19.720
 it's not necessarily that,

00:29:19.819 --> 00:29:20.279
 but it's,

00:29:20.319 --> 00:29:21.500
 it's God's instruction,

00:29:21.500 --> 00:29:21.640
 instruction,

00:29:22.200 --> 00:29:22.839
 for life,

00:29:23.119 --> 00:29:23.740
 and for worship,

00:29:24.099 --> 00:29:24.519
 and for,

00:29:25.160 --> 00:29:26.220
 all the things,

00:29:26.460 --> 00:29:27.119
 that are,

00:29:27.240 --> 00:29:27.960
 that's in there,

00:29:28.000 --> 00:29:29.059
 in the book of Deuteronomy,

00:29:29.180 --> 00:29:30.160
 and the previous chapters,

00:29:30.359 --> 00:29:31.299
 previous books as well,

00:29:31.299 --> 00:29:33.759
 so,

00:29:34.420 --> 00:29:37.180
 what is the goal here?

00:29:39.819 --> 00:29:41.880
 It's that he may not turn aside,

00:29:42.059 --> 00:29:42.859
 from the commandment,

00:29:43.140 --> 00:29:44.759
 it's that he keeps to this path,

00:29:44.819 --> 00:29:45.779
 and throughout the scriptures,

00:29:46.000 --> 00:29:46.480
 we see,

00:29:47.119 --> 00:29:49.460
 Israel failing to keep to that path,

00:29:50.200 --> 00:29:50.740
 why?

00:29:51.500 --> 00:29:52.779
 Because they turn,

00:29:53.720 --> 00:29:55.140
 to this God over here,

00:29:55.700 --> 00:29:56.539
 like these guys,

00:29:57.039 --> 00:29:57.640
 they have a,

00:29:57.759 --> 00:29:59.140
 they have an interesting God,

00:29:59.859 --> 00:30:00.220
 let's,

00:30:00.339 --> 00:30:01.279
 let's include him,

00:30:01.819 --> 00:30:02.900
 let's pull him in,

00:30:02.980 --> 00:30:04.359
 like he might be able to help us out,

00:30:04.819 --> 00:30:06.140
 Baal was like a rain God,

00:30:06.220 --> 00:30:06.559
 I think,

00:30:06.660 --> 00:30:06.799
 so,

00:30:06.920 --> 00:30:07.180
 you know,

00:30:07.980 --> 00:30:08.339
 it's a,

00:30:08.519 --> 00:30:08.980
 it's a,

00:30:09.099 --> 00:30:09.299
 you know,

00:30:09.319 --> 00:30:10.140
 we're having a drought,

00:30:10.779 --> 00:30:12.180
 maybe we should go to the rain God,

00:30:12.480 --> 00:30:12.799
 you know,

00:30:12.880 --> 00:30:13.200
 and,

00:30:13.819 --> 00:30:14.299
 and,

00:30:14.980 --> 00:30:15.619
 things like that,

00:30:15.660 --> 00:30:17.200
 so they were highly influenced,

00:30:17.200 --> 00:30:18.640
 by the people around them,

00:30:18.700 --> 00:30:20.079
 the pagan peoples around them,

00:30:20.359 --> 00:30:21.380
 and as you read,

00:30:21.500 --> 00:30:22.640
 through,

00:30:23.180 --> 00:30:23.819
 the,

00:30:23.819 --> 00:30:25.500
 books of Moses,

00:30:25.759 --> 00:30:26.339
 you find,

00:30:26.740 --> 00:30:27.740
 all kinds of,

00:30:28.180 --> 00:30:29.059
 you shall be holy,

00:30:29.380 --> 00:30:30.500
 you shall be set apart,

00:30:30.680 --> 00:30:31.680
 you should be different,

00:30:32.339 --> 00:30:33.859
 you should not be like them,

00:30:34.000 --> 00:30:35.160
 and here he says,

00:30:35.519 --> 00:30:37.559
 you know,

00:30:37.640 --> 00:30:39.140
 don't put a foreigner over you,

00:30:39.200 --> 00:30:40.039
 who's not your brother,

00:30:40.279 --> 00:30:40.519
 you know,

00:30:40.799 --> 00:30:41.000
 it,

00:30:41.240 --> 00:30:43.160
 you're supposed to be different,

00:30:43.380 --> 00:30:44.180
 from the world,

00:30:44.180 --> 00:30:48.960
 yeah,

00:30:49.140 --> 00:30:49.420
 so that,

00:30:49.700 --> 00:30:50.400
 so there's a,

00:30:50.440 --> 00:30:51.980
 so there's a basic teaching there,

00:30:52.140 --> 00:30:53.840
 that one of the ways to do that,

00:30:54.240 --> 00:30:54.680
 is,

00:30:55.440 --> 00:30:56.560
 to read the word,

00:30:57.500 --> 00:30:58.340
 to remember it,

00:30:58.460 --> 00:30:59.200
 to keep it,

00:30:59.440 --> 00:31:00.140
 to do it,

00:31:00.340 --> 00:31:01.180
 to read it again,

00:31:01.440 --> 00:31:02.240
 to read it again,

00:31:02.240 --> 00:31:04.680
 writing for yourself,

00:31:04.759 --> 00:31:06.299
 a book of the copy of the law,

00:31:06.500 --> 00:31:07.980
 that's a pretty cool thing to do,

00:31:08.059 --> 00:31:09.759
 I've never done that,

00:31:09.880 --> 00:31:10.660
 but I have,

00:31:11.299 --> 00:31:12.920
 I have written out,

00:31:12.920 --> 00:31:13.740
 scriptures,

00:31:13.920 --> 00:31:14.880
 not for,

00:31:15.599 --> 00:31:17.059
 necessarily a purpose,

00:31:17.200 --> 00:31:17.839
 other than,

00:31:17.980 --> 00:31:18.559
 to engage,

00:31:18.920 --> 00:31:19.500
 my hand,

00:31:19.980 --> 00:31:21.200
 and my eyes,

00:31:21.299 --> 00:31:22.220
 in a different way,

00:31:22.220 --> 00:31:25.120
 I don't think,

00:31:25.120 --> 00:31:26.160
 the detail is like,

00:31:26.200 --> 00:31:27.360
 I don't think we all are required,

00:31:27.480 --> 00:31:28.339
 to write out a book of the law,

00:31:28.420 --> 00:31:29.200
 but it would probably,

00:31:29.200 --> 00:31:29.960
 be a great,

00:31:30.160 --> 00:31:31.039
 great thing to do,

00:31:31.259 --> 00:31:32.039
 at one point,

00:31:32.299 --> 00:31:32.940
 you could buy,

00:31:33.259 --> 00:31:34.000
 books that had,

00:31:35.140 --> 00:31:36.400
 they were basically blank books,

00:31:36.480 --> 00:31:36.960
 but they were,

00:31:37.279 --> 00:31:38.480
 keyed to a book of the bible,

00:31:38.960 --> 00:31:39.700
 and they gave you,

00:31:39.839 --> 00:31:40.000
 they,

00:31:40.220 --> 00:31:41.000
 they gave you the,

00:31:41.480 --> 00:31:42.640
 the verse references,

00:31:42.839 --> 00:31:43.539
 and they had sort of,

00:31:43.539 --> 00:31:44.220
 figured out about,

00:31:44.380 --> 00:31:45.240
 how much space,

00:31:45.420 --> 00:31:45.980
 that might take,

00:31:46.000 --> 00:31:46.539
 in handwriting,

00:31:46.759 --> 00:31:47.900
 and you just filled it in,

00:31:48.120 --> 00:31:48.700
 and you just wrote,

00:31:49.100 --> 00:31:50.039
 and I've done some of that,

00:31:50.660 --> 00:31:51.980
 yeah,

00:31:52.220 --> 00:31:52.620
 so,

00:31:53.400 --> 00:31:54.480
 nothing wrong with that,

00:31:54.620 --> 00:31:54.980
 and it's a,

00:31:55.019 --> 00:31:55.600
 it's a good,

00:31:55.740 --> 00:31:56.759
 it's a good practice,

00:31:57.339 --> 00:32:00.279
 but apart from the specifics,

00:32:00.279 --> 00:32:01.660
 I think we get the message here,

00:32:02.460 --> 00:32:04.400
 Paul,

00:32:04.860 --> 00:32:06.140
 in the book of Romans,

00:32:06.740 --> 00:32:07.940
 many of us will be familiar,

00:32:08.180 --> 00:32:08.440
 with this,

00:32:08.539 --> 00:32:08.779
 verses,

00:32:09.519 --> 00:32:10.500
 chapter 12,

00:32:10.620 --> 00:32:11.980
 verses 1 and 2,

00:32:13.200 --> 00:32:13.600
 Paul,

00:32:13.779 --> 00:32:14.680
 here in the New Testament,

00:32:14.960 --> 00:32:15.100
 says,

00:32:15.240 --> 00:32:16.140
 I appeal to you,

00:32:16.259 --> 00:32:16.440
 therefore,

00:32:16.700 --> 00:32:17.100
 brothers,

00:32:17.279 --> 00:32:18.940
 by the mercies of God,

00:32:19.059 --> 00:32:20.240
 to present your bodies,

00:32:20.400 --> 00:32:21.620
 as a living sacrifice,

00:32:22.339 --> 00:32:22.659
 holy,

00:32:22.939 --> 00:32:24.139
 and acceptable to God,

00:32:24.439 --> 00:32:26.039
 which is your spiritual worship,

00:32:26.639 --> 00:32:28.019
 do not be conformed,

00:32:28.019 --> 00:32:28.619
 to this world,

00:32:28.759 --> 00:32:29.699
 but be transformed,

00:32:30.059 --> 00:32:31.459
 by the renewal of your mind,

00:32:31.919 --> 00:32:32.679
 that by testing,

00:32:32.799 --> 00:32:33.539
 you may discern,

00:32:33.759 --> 00:32:34.819
 what is the will of God,

00:32:35.199 --> 00:32:35.959
 what is good,

00:32:36.339 --> 00:32:36.919
 and acceptable,

00:32:37.419 --> 00:32:38.019
 and perfect,

00:32:38.019 --> 00:32:41.839
 do not be conformed,

00:32:41.839 --> 00:32:42.539
 to this world,

00:32:43.099 --> 00:32:44.039
 by nature,

00:32:44.639 --> 00:32:46.160
 we're kind of like chameleons,

00:32:46.299 --> 00:32:46.480
 right,

00:32:46.579 --> 00:32:48.599
 we kind of want to blend in,

00:32:48.660 --> 00:32:49.839
 with the people around us,

00:32:49.879 --> 00:32:51.339
 we don't necessarily,

00:32:51.339 --> 00:32:52.500
 want to stand out,

00:32:52.559 --> 00:32:53.819
 and draw attention to ourselves,

00:32:53.940 --> 00:32:55.259
 especially negative attention,

00:32:55.259 --> 00:32:57.920
 it's our natural,

00:32:58.599 --> 00:32:59.460
 that's just natural,

00:32:59.579 --> 00:33:00.640
 that's human nature,

00:33:01.220 --> 00:33:02.640
 because there's safety,

00:33:03.019 --> 00:33:04.839
 in being part of a group,

00:33:04.940 --> 00:33:05.879
 we want to belong,

00:33:06.099 --> 00:33:06.420
 we want to,

00:33:06.460 --> 00:33:07.859
 and so we're living,

00:33:08.599 --> 00:33:11.319
 even more than Israel,

00:33:11.400 --> 00:33:12.059
 at some times,

00:33:12.119 --> 00:33:13.220
 of their history,

00:33:13.400 --> 00:33:14.319
 we're living,

00:33:14.660 --> 00:33:15.700
 all mixed up,

00:33:15.859 --> 00:33:17.140
 with many people,

00:33:17.259 --> 00:33:18.220
 who do not know the Lord,

00:33:18.359 --> 00:33:18.579
 right,

00:33:18.579 --> 00:33:20.000
 we're working with them,

00:33:20.059 --> 00:33:20.799
 we're rubbing shoulders,

00:33:20.799 --> 00:33:22.000
 with them all the time,

00:33:22.659 --> 00:33:25.799
 and our natural,

00:33:26.339 --> 00:33:27.720
 the natural thing to do,

00:33:28.099 --> 00:33:29.500
 is to just absorb,

00:33:30.259 --> 00:33:31.019
 absorb,

00:33:31.259 --> 00:33:31.699
 absorb,

00:33:31.859 --> 00:33:34.099
 what this culture,

00:33:34.299 --> 00:33:35.059
 is telling us,

00:33:35.259 --> 00:33:36.579
 and become like that,

00:33:36.879 --> 00:33:37.539
 like that's what,

00:33:37.639 --> 00:33:38.740
 if we don't do anything,

00:33:39.240 --> 00:33:40.279
 that's what we'll be like,

00:33:40.379 --> 00:33:40.579
 right,

00:33:40.819 --> 00:33:42.199
 now there's a lot of diversity,

00:33:42.199 --> 00:33:42.779
 in the culture,

00:33:42.879 --> 00:33:43.919
 we might become like this,

00:33:43.960 --> 00:33:44.519
 or like that,

00:33:44.539 --> 00:33:45.019
 or like that,

00:33:45.139 --> 00:33:47.779
 but we're influenced,

00:33:47.779 --> 00:33:49.519
 by what is around us,

00:33:49.779 --> 00:33:50.099
 right,

00:33:50.180 --> 00:33:51.359
 to a high degree,

00:33:51.720 --> 00:33:53.519
 sometimes more than we know,

00:33:54.099 --> 00:33:55.879
 because we're just immersed in it,

00:33:55.940 --> 00:33:56.660
 we don't realize,

00:33:56.759 --> 00:33:57.460
 oh that's a message,

00:33:57.460 --> 00:33:58.440
 that's coming from,

00:33:59.240 --> 00:34:00.019
 the world,

00:34:00.759 --> 00:34:02.500
 not actually,

00:34:02.740 --> 00:34:02.920
 it may,

00:34:03.059 --> 00:34:04.019
 what if it's not true,

00:34:04.240 --> 00:34:05.859
 like there are many things like that,

00:34:05.920 --> 00:34:06.879
 we probably never question,

00:34:07.019 --> 00:34:09.039
 because they're just in the water,

00:34:09.239 --> 00:34:09.420
 right,

00:34:09.480 --> 00:34:11.019
 it's just what we're swimming in,

00:34:11.960 --> 00:34:15.139
 but God calls us,

00:34:15.619 --> 00:34:16.239
 to be different,

00:34:16.940 --> 00:34:17.219
 right,

00:34:17.780 --> 00:34:19.540
 not like a chameleon,

00:34:19.780 --> 00:34:20.120
 you know,

00:34:20.240 --> 00:34:21.660
 whose like skin matches,

00:34:21.860 --> 00:34:23.060
 wherever he is,

00:34:24.320 --> 00:34:24.960
 but,

00:34:25.240 --> 00:34:27.000
 but to be his,

00:34:27.120 --> 00:34:28.440
 and distinctly his,

00:34:29.019 --> 00:34:29.500
 so he says,

00:34:29.600 --> 00:34:30.540
 do not be conformed,

00:34:30.540 --> 00:34:31.100
 to this world,

00:34:31.180 --> 00:34:32.019
 but be transformed,

00:34:32.019 --> 00:34:32.920
 by the renewal,

00:34:32.920 --> 00:34:33.980
 of your mind,

00:34:34.600 --> 00:34:35.740
 and this to me,

00:34:35.820 --> 00:34:36.540
 is just,

00:34:37.320 --> 00:34:38.620
 saying in a,

00:34:38.740 --> 00:34:39.740
 in a more straightforward,

00:34:39.940 --> 00:34:41.060
 propositional way,

00:34:41.600 --> 00:34:43.360
 what Moses was saying,

00:34:43.460 --> 00:34:44.260
 to the future king,

00:34:44.260 --> 00:34:46.640
 you need to be different,

00:34:47.640 --> 00:34:49.300
 and here's how it's going to happen,

00:34:49.400 --> 00:34:50.860
 by the renewal of your mind,

00:34:51.260 --> 00:34:52.600
 we need to be different,

00:34:53.140 --> 00:34:54.300
 from the world,

00:34:54.440 --> 00:34:55.760
 like not in every single way,

00:34:56.060 --> 00:34:56.360
 you know,

00:34:56.420 --> 00:34:57.620
 we're all pretty much dressed,

00:34:57.720 --> 00:34:58.580
 like our neighbors,

00:34:59.040 --> 00:34:59.300
 right,

00:34:59.300 --> 00:35:02.160
 and,

00:35:02.360 --> 00:35:02.760
 you know,

00:35:02.800 --> 00:35:03.140
 it's not,

00:35:03.220 --> 00:35:03.940
 it's not a difference,

00:35:03.940 --> 00:35:05.260
 just for the sake of difference,

00:35:05.760 --> 00:35:07.880
 but if we're following God's way,

00:35:08.740 --> 00:35:08.960
 and,

00:35:09.120 --> 00:35:10.400
 I love how,

00:35:10.800 --> 00:35:11.400
 God's way is,

00:35:11.420 --> 00:35:12.420
 is often,

00:35:12.680 --> 00:35:14.340
 the metaphors of a path,

00:35:14.680 --> 00:35:15.660
 it's a straight line,

00:35:15.900 --> 00:35:16.120
 right,

00:35:16.380 --> 00:35:16.720
 don't,

00:35:16.800 --> 00:35:17.920
 don't divergence,

00:35:18.180 --> 00:35:19.019
 over and over again,

00:35:19.100 --> 00:35:19.360
 to the,

00:35:19.420 --> 00:35:20.519
 to the left or the right,

00:35:21.120 --> 00:35:21.900
 to the right or the left,

00:35:21.960 --> 00:35:22.200
 whatever,

00:35:22.519 --> 00:35:24.939
 don't turn off it,

00:35:25.099 --> 00:35:25.299
 right,

00:35:25.699 --> 00:35:26.059
 it does,

00:35:26.179 --> 00:35:28.119
 it often doesn't look like a straight line to us,

00:35:28.319 --> 00:35:29.319
 because it's confusing,

00:35:29.519 --> 00:35:32.039
 and we don't see it clearly,

00:35:32.519 --> 00:35:32.679
 but,

00:35:33.599 --> 00:35:35.519
 but we're supposed to hold to that path,

00:35:35.619 --> 00:35:36.960
 ask for the ancient paths,

00:35:37.319 --> 00:35:38.339
 the scripture says,

00:35:38.460 --> 00:35:38.759
 don't,

00:35:38.960 --> 00:35:39.139
 you know,

00:35:39.199 --> 00:35:40.460
 and walk in those,

00:35:40.939 --> 00:35:41.699
 walk in the,

00:35:41.859 --> 00:35:43.619
 in the way that's been handed down to you,

00:35:43.619 --> 00:35:44.579
 from your forefathers,

00:35:45.219 --> 00:35:46.119
 in the Lord,

00:35:46.500 --> 00:35:46.939
 so,

00:35:47.159 --> 00:35:48.000
 from the scripture,

00:35:48.179 --> 00:35:49.099
 we have these things,

00:35:49.099 --> 00:35:51.159
 so,

00:35:51.319 --> 00:35:52.960
 just in order to counteract,

00:35:53.219 --> 00:35:54.360
 the influence of the world,

00:35:54.719 --> 00:35:54.880
 and,

00:35:55.380 --> 00:35:55.699
 you know,

00:35:55.779 --> 00:35:56.460
 I don't need to,

00:35:56.659 --> 00:35:56.839
 like,

00:35:56.980 --> 00:35:57.219
 you know,

00:35:57.719 --> 00:35:58.539
 it's on TV,

00:35:58.779 --> 00:35:59.259
 it's in,

00:35:59.440 --> 00:36:00.079
 on Netflix,

00:36:00.420 --> 00:36:00.739
 it's,

00:36:01.139 --> 00:36:02.420
 in all the social media,

00:36:02.739 --> 00:36:03.119
 it's,

00:36:03.940 --> 00:36:04.279
 you know,

00:36:04.339 --> 00:36:04.639
 it's,

00:36:04.779 --> 00:36:05.599
 it's the news,

00:36:05.779 --> 00:36:06.299
 it's the,

00:36:06.659 --> 00:36:08.079
 everything that we're taking in,

00:36:08.139 --> 00:36:09.139
 we are taking in,

00:36:09.139 --> 00:36:10.599
 so much more,

00:36:11.519 --> 00:36:12.719
 of those influences,

00:36:13.339 --> 00:36:13.779
 than,

00:36:14.420 --> 00:36:15.400
 any king of Israel,

00:36:15.619 --> 00:36:16.460
 had access to,

00:36:17.159 --> 00:36:17.739
 you know,

00:36:17.799 --> 00:36:18.839
 it's just overwhelming,

00:36:18.840 --> 00:36:19.940
 if you think about it,

00:36:20.039 --> 00:36:20.220
 I mean,

00:36:20.260 --> 00:36:20.780
 they didn't even have,

00:36:20.920 --> 00:36:21.000
 like,

00:36:21.019 --> 00:36:21.700
 a newspaper,

00:36:21.700 --> 00:36:22.620
 for the world news,

00:36:22.700 --> 00:36:22.860
 I mean,

00:36:22.900 --> 00:36:23.380
 they didn't,

00:36:23.940 --> 00:36:24.180
 you know,

00:36:24.260 --> 00:36:24.440
 if,

00:36:24.440 --> 00:36:26.340
 if Ukraine had been invaded,

00:36:26.340 --> 00:36:27.160
 in their day,

00:36:27.600 --> 00:36:27.800
 they,

00:36:27.800 --> 00:36:28.700
 they wouldn't know,

00:36:28.900 --> 00:36:30.380
 for perhaps years,

00:36:31.140 --> 00:36:32.180
 so,

00:36:32.340 --> 00:36:33.720
 we have all this information,

00:36:33.940 --> 00:36:34.860
 pouring into us,

00:36:34.920 --> 00:36:35.620
 all the time,

00:36:35.780 --> 00:36:37.480
 and it's all affecting us,

00:36:37.720 --> 00:36:38.320
 we like to think,

00:36:38.400 --> 00:36:39.480
 it's not really affecting us,

00:36:39.500 --> 00:36:40.820
 or it's just informing us,

00:36:41.039 --> 00:36:42.700
 but it's all affecting us,

00:36:43.260 --> 00:36:44.860
 and our natural tendency,

00:36:45.180 --> 00:36:45.680
 is to,

00:36:46.019 --> 00:36:46.740
 go with the flow,

00:36:47.579 --> 00:36:47.840
 you know,

00:36:47.840 --> 00:36:48.340
 we're,

00:36:48.340 --> 00:36:48.360
 we're,

00:36:48.360 --> 00:36:50.200
 we're in the stream,

00:36:50.559 --> 00:36:51.600
 and we just want to go along,

00:36:51.720 --> 00:36:52.500
 because that's easier,

00:36:52.740 --> 00:36:52.940
 right,

00:36:53.460 --> 00:36:55.079
 so Paul is calling us,

00:36:55.260 --> 00:36:56.079
 don't be conformed,

00:36:56.120 --> 00:36:56.559
 to the world,

00:36:56.680 --> 00:36:57.400
 but be transformed,

00:36:57.400 --> 00:36:58.300
 by the renewal,

00:36:58.300 --> 00:36:59.140
 of your mind,

00:36:59.220 --> 00:36:59.900
 and our minds,

00:37:00.079 --> 00:37:01.260
 are super important,

00:37:01.680 --> 00:37:02.480
 what are we pouring,

00:37:02.480 --> 00:37:03.200
 into our minds,

00:37:03.480 --> 00:37:03.760
 you know,

00:37:03.820 --> 00:37:04.059
 and,

00:37:04.300 --> 00:37:05.140
 and most of us,

00:37:05.140 --> 00:37:05.780
 are pouring,

00:37:06.019 --> 00:37:06.740
 way more,

00:37:07.200 --> 00:37:07.559
 of,

00:37:08.100 --> 00:37:09.039
 the world's messages,

00:37:09.039 --> 00:37:10.019
 into our minds,

00:37:10.340 --> 00:37:10.740
 than,

00:37:11.220 --> 00:37:11.880
 God's messages,

00:37:12.400 --> 00:37:13.240
 I think that's just,

00:37:13.539 --> 00:37:13.840
 I mean,

00:37:13.880 --> 00:37:15.039
 I think that's just axiomatic,

00:37:15.160 --> 00:37:15.260
 like,

00:37:15.260 --> 00:37:16.160
 that's what we're getting,

00:37:16.600 --> 00:37:17.680
 and so we really need,

00:37:17.680 --> 00:37:18.400
 to work at,

00:37:18.600 --> 00:37:19.860
 getting,

00:37:20.420 --> 00:37:21.080
 the scriptures,

00:37:21.320 --> 00:37:22.200
 and God's ways,

00:37:22.280 --> 00:37:23.080
 and his path,

00:37:23.660 --> 00:37:24.820
 ingrained in us,

00:37:24.840 --> 00:37:25.420
 so that it becomes,

00:37:25.480 --> 00:37:26.280
 a part of us,

00:37:26.540 --> 00:37:27.360
 and this is part,

00:37:27.360 --> 00:37:28.720
 of what I saw,

00:37:28.720 --> 00:37:29.440
 in the,

00:37:29.440 --> 00:37:30.780
 in the Puritans,

00:37:30.900 --> 00:37:31.800
 that it was so,

00:37:31.800 --> 00:37:32.520
 ingrained,

00:37:32.980 --> 00:37:33.900
 in these writers,

00:37:34.440 --> 00:37:35.240
 that it was just,

00:37:36.160 --> 00:37:37.180
 this was the,

00:37:38.260 --> 00:37:39.200
 the world,

00:37:39.199 --> 00:37:39.859
 of the scriptures,

00:37:40.039 --> 00:37:40.659
 was the world,

00:37:40.879 --> 00:37:41.879
 they were swimming in,

00:37:42.399 --> 00:37:43.139
 not that they weren't,

00:37:43.139 --> 00:37:43.559
 affected,

00:37:44.079 --> 00:37:44.439
 you know,

00:37:44.679 --> 00:37:44.879
 by,

00:37:44.960 --> 00:37:46.099
 by unbelievers,

00:37:46.179 --> 00:37:46.799
 around them,

00:37:47.319 --> 00:37:48.859
 just as,

00:37:48.980 --> 00:37:49.719
 just as we are,

00:37:49.879 --> 00:37:50.039
 but,

00:37:50.679 --> 00:37:51.460
 but they,

00:37:51.619 --> 00:37:52.699
 they had this,

00:37:52.699 --> 00:37:53.319
 concentration,

00:37:53.719 --> 00:37:54.199
 and focus,

00:37:54.319 --> 00:37:55.119
 on the word of God,

00:37:55.219 --> 00:37:56.199
 and they spent time,

00:37:56.299 --> 00:37:56.539
 in it,

00:37:56.899 --> 00:37:58.359
 and you can see,

00:37:58.539 --> 00:37:59.500
 that just in their words,

00:37:59.579 --> 00:38:00.699
 how their language works,

00:38:00.799 --> 00:38:01.159
 how they,

00:38:02.099 --> 00:38:02.419
 you know,

00:38:02.500 --> 00:38:03.399
 and just how they,

00:38:03.399 --> 00:38:04.039
 think about,

00:38:04.259 --> 00:38:04.919
 the world,

00:38:04.920 --> 00:38:06.840
 and I believe,

00:38:07.079 --> 00:38:07.280
 it's,

00:38:07.280 --> 00:38:09.659
 it's Bible intake,

00:38:10.119 --> 00:38:11.019
 and prayer,

00:38:11.180 --> 00:38:11.780
 as we'll get to,

00:38:13.400 --> 00:38:14.720
 just one,

00:38:14.900 --> 00:38:15.380
 well,

00:38:15.500 --> 00:38:15.960
 a couple more,

00:38:16.420 --> 00:38:16.940
 scriptures,

00:38:18.360 --> 00:38:19.360
 Psalm 119,

00:38:19.599 --> 00:38:20.059
 you could read,

00:38:20.380 --> 00:38:20.740
 any,

00:38:22.320 --> 00:38:23.180
 eight verses,

00:38:23.340 --> 00:38:23.780
 in a row,

00:38:24.079 --> 00:38:25.280
 and find,

00:38:26.280 --> 00:38:26.720
 you know,

00:38:26.740 --> 00:38:27.420
 a lot of this,

00:38:27.700 --> 00:38:29.079
 so I just picked one,

00:38:29.159 --> 00:38:29.280
 that,

00:38:29.440 --> 00:38:30.500
 that I saw,

00:38:30.619 --> 00:38:31.639
 as I was looking through,

00:38:32.400 --> 00:38:33.820
 Psalm 119,

00:38:33.960 --> 00:38:34.579
 I'm going to begin,

00:38:34.579 --> 00:38:35.579
 in verse 25,

00:38:36.239 --> 00:38:39.599
 my soul clings,

00:38:39.719 --> 00:38:40.340
 to the dust,

00:38:41.119 --> 00:38:42.000
 give me life,

00:38:42.079 --> 00:38:43.360
 according to your word,

00:38:43.940 --> 00:38:44.779
 when I told,

00:38:44.840 --> 00:38:45.539
 of my ways,

00:38:45.619 --> 00:38:46.340
 you answered me,

00:38:46.980 --> 00:38:48.420
 teach me your statutes,

00:38:49.019 --> 00:38:50.279
 make me understand,

00:38:50.599 --> 00:38:51.960
 the way of your precepts,

00:38:51.980 --> 00:38:52.799
 and I will meditate,

00:38:53.099 --> 00:38:54.239
 on your wondrous works,

00:38:55.039 --> 00:38:55.759
 my soul,

00:38:56.119 --> 00:38:56.840
 melts away,

00:38:56.960 --> 00:38:57.519
 for sorrow,

00:38:58.000 --> 00:38:58.920
 strengthen me,

00:38:59.059 --> 00:39:00.360
 according to your word,

00:39:01.119 --> 00:39:02.219
 put false ways,

00:39:02.219 --> 00:39:02.960
 far from me,

00:39:03.019 --> 00:39:03.799
 and graciously,

00:39:03.799 --> 00:39:04.400
 teach me,

00:39:04.400 --> 00:39:04.940
 your law,

00:39:05.460 --> 00:39:06.440
 I have chosen,

00:39:06.559 --> 00:39:07.539
 the way of faithfulness,

00:39:07.760 --> 00:39:09.160
 I set your rules,

00:39:09.260 --> 00:39:09.860
 before me,

00:39:10.360 --> 00:39:11.160
 I cling,

00:39:11.280 --> 00:39:12.260
 to your testimonies,

00:39:12.300 --> 00:39:12.720
 oh Lord,

00:39:13.200 --> 00:39:14.320
 let me not be put,

00:39:14.320 --> 00:39:14.800
 to shame,

00:39:15.360 --> 00:39:16.320
 I will run,

00:39:16.400 --> 00:39:16.960
 in the way,

00:39:17.000 --> 00:39:17.960
 of your commandments,

00:39:18.139 --> 00:39:19.079
 when you enlarge,

00:39:19.139 --> 00:39:19.720
 my heart,

00:39:19.719 --> 00:39:22.379
 so as I say,

00:39:22.379 --> 00:39:23.079
 you could have picked,

00:39:23.079 --> 00:39:24.639
 any chunk,

00:39:24.739 --> 00:39:25.779
 of Psalm 119,

00:39:25.779 --> 00:39:27.000
 and seen a lot,

00:39:27.039 --> 00:39:28.039
 of the same things,

00:39:28.259 --> 00:39:31.139
 but how many ways,

00:39:31.199 --> 00:39:32.299
 he talks about,

00:39:32.679 --> 00:39:33.919
 the word of God,

00:39:34.259 --> 00:39:35.579
 and how many ways,

00:39:35.579 --> 00:39:36.500
 he talks about,

00:39:36.579 --> 00:39:37.739
 the benefits to him,

00:39:37.739 --> 00:39:39.279
 you know,

00:39:39.279 --> 00:39:40.159
 he comes in the,

00:39:40.239 --> 00:39:41.019
 in the beginning of this,

00:39:41.099 --> 00:39:42.079
 my soul clings,

00:39:42.179 --> 00:39:42.839
 to the dust,

00:39:43.000 --> 00:39:44.019
 give me life,

00:39:44.119 --> 00:39:45.219
 according to your word,

00:39:45.479 --> 00:39:46.619
 what more basic,

00:39:46.819 --> 00:39:47.979
 need do we have,

00:39:48.019 --> 00:39:48.579
 than life,

00:39:49.379 --> 00:39:51.159
 and,

00:39:51.279 --> 00:39:52.199
 and he,

00:39:52.319 --> 00:39:53.119
 and he talks about,

00:39:53.199 --> 00:39:54.199
 make me understand,

00:39:54.739 --> 00:39:55.679
 I will meditate,

00:39:56.679 --> 00:39:58.039
 my soul melts away,

00:39:58.039 --> 00:39:58.879
 for sorrow,

00:39:59.339 --> 00:40:00.339
 strengthen me,

00:40:00.340 --> 00:40:02.340
 how many of us,

00:40:02.460 --> 00:40:03.320
 have not felt like,

00:40:03.519 --> 00:40:03.660
 you know,

00:40:03.700 --> 00:40:04.840
 our souls were melting,

00:40:04.840 --> 00:40:05.800
 away from sorrow,

00:40:06.200 --> 00:40:06.940
 and we need,

00:40:07.120 --> 00:40:07.680
 strength,

00:40:07.880 --> 00:40:08.880
 to walk through that,

00:40:09.000 --> 00:40:09.200
 right,

00:40:09.620 --> 00:40:10.280
 especially,

00:40:10.500 --> 00:40:11.720
 if we want to walk through it,

00:40:11.780 --> 00:40:12.680
 in a godly way,

00:40:13.240 --> 00:40:15.900
 I've chosen the way,

00:40:16.019 --> 00:40:16.860
 of faithfulness,

00:40:16.960 --> 00:40:18.079
 I set your rules,

00:40:18.180 --> 00:40:18.820
 before me,

00:40:19.780 --> 00:40:21.240
 you know,

00:40:21.320 --> 00:40:21.640
 this is,

00:40:21.720 --> 00:40:22.039
 and that's,

00:40:22.360 --> 00:40:23.260
 you get the sense,

00:40:23.320 --> 00:40:24.680
 of this deliberateness,

00:40:24.780 --> 00:40:24.960
 like,

00:40:25.460 --> 00:40:26.840
 I'm setting your way,

00:40:26.920 --> 00:40:27.480
 before me,

00:40:27.600 --> 00:40:28.480
 this is the path,

00:40:28.539 --> 00:40:29.059
 I've chosen,

00:40:29.059 --> 00:40:30.320
 this is what,

00:40:30.380 --> 00:40:30.960
 and I'm putting it,

00:40:31.000 --> 00:40:31.519
 in front of me,

00:40:31.739 --> 00:40:32.440
 so I don't forget,

00:40:33.299 --> 00:40:33.559
 right,

00:40:33.679 --> 00:40:33.880
 and,

00:40:34.699 --> 00:40:36.360
 there's been a history,

00:40:36.659 --> 00:40:37.000
 of course,

00:40:37.199 --> 00:40:38.000
 beginning in,

00:40:38.079 --> 00:40:39.219
 in the days of Israel,

00:40:39.219 --> 00:40:39.920
 when they would,

00:40:40.099 --> 00:40:41.119
 when they would attach,

00:40:41.299 --> 00:40:42.599
 scriptures to the,

00:40:43.019 --> 00:40:43.519
 door,

00:40:43.739 --> 00:40:44.739
 the door front,

00:40:45.039 --> 00:40:45.920
 to their,

00:40:46.299 --> 00:40:47.179
 four locks,

00:40:47.340 --> 00:40:47.420
 and,

00:40:48.279 --> 00:40:48.799
 all that,

00:40:49.139 --> 00:40:49.340
 right,

00:40:49.460 --> 00:40:50.199
 that was scripture,

00:40:50.519 --> 00:40:51.299
 and they were setting it,

00:40:51.400 --> 00:40:51.659
 before them,

00:40:51.699 --> 00:40:52.820
 in a very physical way,

00:40:53.320 --> 00:40:55.420
 I'm not really,

00:40:55.420 --> 00:40:56.079
 going to advocate,

00:40:56.079 --> 00:40:57.460
 for putting little boxes,

00:40:57.460 --> 00:40:58.159
 with the scriptures,

00:40:58.340 --> 00:40:58.579
 on your,

00:40:58.579 --> 00:40:59.639
 part of your hairdo,

00:41:00.219 --> 00:41:01.099
 not that it would be,

00:41:01.259 --> 00:41:01.579
 horrible,

00:41:01.759 --> 00:41:02.119
 but it would,

00:41:02.119 --> 00:41:02.819
 make you different,

00:41:02.940 --> 00:41:04.059
 in a way that might not be,

00:41:04.559 --> 00:41:05.420
 the best,

00:41:05.920 --> 00:41:06.139
 but,

00:41:06.239 --> 00:41:07.679
 but I mean,

00:41:07.779 --> 00:41:08.000
 I,

00:41:08.099 --> 00:41:09.179
 I write down scriptures,

00:41:09.179 --> 00:41:09.759
 and just,

00:41:09.900 --> 00:41:11.000
 I have a sticky note,

00:41:11.099 --> 00:41:11.719
 in the kitchen,

00:41:11.840 --> 00:41:12.340
 in the cupboard,

00:41:13.559 --> 00:41:14.360
 that's been there,

00:41:14.460 --> 00:41:15.299
 I think it's still there,

00:41:15.559 --> 00:41:16.460
 is it still there,

00:41:16.719 --> 00:41:18.940
 that it has a scripture,

00:41:19.099 --> 00:41:19.619
 that I wrote down,

00:41:19.699 --> 00:41:20.380
 for some reason,

00:41:20.920 --> 00:41:21.579
 and I wrote it,

00:41:21.579 --> 00:41:22.159
 on a sticky note,

00:41:22.239 --> 00:41:22.920
 and then I saw it,

00:41:22.960 --> 00:41:24.019
 and I just stuck it up there,

00:41:24.039 --> 00:41:24.579
 it's been up there,

00:41:24.599 --> 00:41:25.219
 and I read it,

00:41:25.219 --> 00:41:27.259
 and it's just helpful,

00:41:27.579 --> 00:41:27.859
 you know,

00:41:27.859 --> 00:41:28.399
 it's just helpful,

00:41:28.399 --> 00:41:29.879
 to sort of refocus your mind,

00:41:29.939 --> 00:41:30.639
 and get it into you,

00:41:30.679 --> 00:41:31.339
 and many of us have,

00:41:31.339 --> 00:41:32.279
 pretty plaques,

00:41:32.339 --> 00:41:33.659
 with scriptures around our houses,

00:41:33.819 --> 00:41:35.199
 or just phrases,

00:41:35.599 --> 00:41:36.119
 on you know,

00:41:36.199 --> 00:41:37.239
 some decor,

00:41:37.239 --> 00:41:39.719
 if we read it,

00:41:39.799 --> 00:41:40.019
 you know,

00:41:40.059 --> 00:41:40.699
 we look at it,

00:41:40.739 --> 00:41:41.579
 that's valuable,

00:41:42.099 --> 00:41:43.379
 and we need to make,

00:41:43.379 --> 00:41:43.939
 these efforts,

00:41:43.939 --> 00:41:45.059
 because of the influence,

00:41:45.059 --> 00:41:45.679
 of the world,

00:41:45.879 --> 00:41:46.479
 on us,

00:41:47.059 --> 00:41:48.039
 so let's set,

00:41:48.399 --> 00:41:49.299
 set the scriptures,

00:41:49.299 --> 00:41:50.099
 before us,

00:41:50.359 --> 00:41:53.199
 and then also,

00:41:53.319 --> 00:41:54.639
 in Psalm 919,

00:41:55.739 --> 00:41:56.599
 I just chose,

00:41:56.679 --> 00:41:57.299
 these couple verses,

00:41:57.559 --> 00:41:57.899
 because,

00:41:58.259 --> 00:42:00.039
 they are,

00:42:00.239 --> 00:42:00.819
 a couple verses,

00:42:00.979 --> 00:42:01.819
 is verse 36,

00:42:01.879 --> 00:42:02.479
 and 37,

00:42:03.299 --> 00:42:03.719
 and,

00:42:03.959 --> 00:42:04.679
 they're verses,

00:42:04.679 --> 00:42:06.299
 that I have used,

00:42:06.300 --> 00:42:07.400
 for many years,

00:42:07.720 --> 00:42:09.240
 in prayer,

00:42:09.360 --> 00:42:10.180
 before I go,

00:42:10.400 --> 00:42:11.060
 to the scriptures,

00:42:11.800 --> 00:42:12.480
 particularly,

00:42:12.980 --> 00:42:13.640
 on days,

00:42:13.740 --> 00:42:14.900
 when I'm just kind of like,

00:42:15.320 --> 00:42:17.280
 I got things to do,

00:42:17.360 --> 00:42:18.180
 I don't want to do this,

00:42:18.300 --> 00:42:18.440
 like,

00:42:18.880 --> 00:42:19.160
 you know,

00:42:19.240 --> 00:42:19.340
 I,

00:42:19.580 --> 00:42:21.460
 I'm not feeling it Lord,

00:42:21.740 --> 00:42:21.980
 like,

00:42:22.340 --> 00:42:23.400
 do I really have to,

00:42:23.480 --> 00:42:23.660
 like,

00:42:23.740 --> 00:42:24.560
 read your word today,

00:42:24.720 --> 00:42:26.420
 and,

00:42:26.640 --> 00:42:27.800
 the psalmist here says,

00:42:27.940 --> 00:42:29.200
 incline my heart,

00:42:29.320 --> 00:42:30.539
 to your testimonies,

00:42:30.600 --> 00:42:32.060
 and not to selfish gain,

00:42:32.700 --> 00:42:33.820
 turn my eyes,

00:42:33.820 --> 00:42:34.440
 from looking,

00:42:34.580 --> 00:42:35.640
 at worthless things,

00:42:35.639 --> 00:42:36.940
 and give me life,

00:42:37.019 --> 00:42:38.000
 in your ways,

00:42:38.460 --> 00:42:40.279
 that's the practice,

00:42:40.420 --> 00:42:41.619
 we need to be about,

00:42:42.000 --> 00:42:42.279
 right,

00:42:42.319 --> 00:42:43.079
 if we don't want to be,

00:42:43.079 --> 00:42:44.079
 conformed to the world,

00:42:44.139 --> 00:42:44.819
 around us,

00:42:45.259 --> 00:42:46.199
 we need to,

00:42:46.199 --> 00:42:50.440
 ask the Lord,

00:42:50.519 --> 00:42:51.659
 to incline our hearts,

00:42:51.719 --> 00:42:52.659
 to his testimonies,

00:42:52.659 --> 00:42:53.359
 on those days,

00:42:53.440 --> 00:42:53.779
 that's what,

00:42:53.900 --> 00:42:54.159
 I mean,

00:42:54.179 --> 00:42:54.940
 I just pray that,

00:42:55.000 --> 00:42:55.359
 I'm like,

00:42:55.859 --> 00:42:56.099
 Lord,

00:42:56.359 --> 00:42:58.059
 this section,

00:42:58.339 --> 00:42:59.199
 that I'm in,

00:42:59.239 --> 00:42:59.659
 in scriptures,

00:42:59.839 --> 00:43:00.420
 is boring,

00:43:00.619 --> 00:43:00.900
 okay,

00:43:00.900 --> 00:43:02.259
 and I need help,

00:43:02.379 --> 00:43:03.579
 my heart is not inclined,

00:43:03.920 --> 00:43:04.400
 to this,

00:43:04.400 --> 00:43:05.960
 and,

00:43:06.119 --> 00:43:07.980
 he answers prayer,

00:43:08.539 --> 00:43:09.800
 he really does,

00:43:09.960 --> 00:43:10.760
 and it doesn't mean,

00:43:10.860 --> 00:43:11.680
 that that moment,

00:43:11.800 --> 00:43:12.180
 you're going to be,

00:43:12.320 --> 00:43:13.059
 all sparked about,

00:43:13.200 --> 00:43:13.940
 that genealogy,

00:43:14.039 --> 00:43:14.559
 in front of you,

00:43:15.000 --> 00:43:15.480
 but,

00:43:16.240 --> 00:43:17.680
 he does answer these prayers,

00:43:18.000 --> 00:43:19.380
 and he does draw us,

00:43:19.579 --> 00:43:20.860
 and he does bless us,

00:43:20.940 --> 00:43:21.820
 as we seek,

00:43:22.700 --> 00:43:23.920
 to incline our hearts,

00:43:24.099 --> 00:43:25.320
 to his testimonies,

00:43:25.780 --> 00:43:27.460
 and not to selfish gain,

00:43:27.559 --> 00:43:27.740
 like,

00:43:27.940 --> 00:43:29.019
 what does that look like,

00:43:29.119 --> 00:43:29.300
 well,

00:43:29.579 --> 00:43:29.840
 you know,

00:43:29.860 --> 00:43:30.660
 it could look like,

00:43:31.139 --> 00:43:32.579
 a few more minutes of sleep,

00:43:32.579 --> 00:43:33.819
 it could look like,

00:43:33.980 --> 00:43:34.340
 I want to,

00:43:34.579 --> 00:43:35.779
 I need to start work early,

00:43:35.860 --> 00:43:36.199
 because,

00:43:36.400 --> 00:43:36.599
 you know,

00:43:36.639 --> 00:43:37.619
 I got things to do,

00:43:37.860 --> 00:43:39.199
 and there are times,

00:43:39.199 --> 00:43:40.779
 when those things are fine,

00:43:40.920 --> 00:43:41.119
 like,

00:43:41.199 --> 00:43:41.400
 I don't,

00:43:41.480 --> 00:43:42.319
 I don't want to be,

00:43:42.319 --> 00:43:43.920
 a legalist about these things,

00:43:43.960 --> 00:43:44.139
 and say,

00:43:44.199 --> 00:43:44.279
 well,

00:43:44.299 --> 00:43:44.779
 you must,

00:43:44.840 --> 00:43:45.199
 you must,

00:43:45.759 --> 00:43:47.659
 but I think,

00:43:47.699 --> 00:43:48.719
 we can recognize this,

00:43:48.940 --> 00:43:50.159
 it's not always necessary,

00:43:50.360 --> 00:43:51.619
 we don't always need to,

00:43:51.980 --> 00:43:52.299
 you know,

00:43:53.340 --> 00:43:54.420
 sleep another 10 minutes,

00:43:54.460 --> 00:43:55.199
 if we do,

00:43:55.639 --> 00:43:55.860
 maybe,

00:43:56.039 --> 00:43:57.199
 maybe we need to adjust,

00:43:57.299 --> 00:43:58.199
 bedtime or something,

00:43:58.259 --> 00:43:58.840
 I don't know,

00:43:58.840 --> 00:44:01.579
 or have that time with the Lord,

00:44:01.640 --> 00:44:02.539
 at another time of day,

00:44:02.660 --> 00:44:03.579
 you know,

00:44:03.660 --> 00:44:04.300
 so anyway,

00:44:04.880 --> 00:44:07.320
 we need to turn our eyes,

00:44:07.360 --> 00:44:08.579
 from looking at the worthless things,

00:44:08.660 --> 00:44:10.720
 from hearing the worthless things,

00:44:10.960 --> 00:44:11.960
 from the world,

00:44:12.059 --> 00:44:12.980
 that we hear every day,

00:44:13.559 --> 00:44:15.100
 you know,

00:44:15.220 --> 00:44:17.420
 maybe we don't need to be spending,

00:44:17.640 --> 00:44:18.980
 as much time as we are,

00:44:19.240 --> 00:44:20.180
 on Facebook,

00:44:20.320 --> 00:44:20.740
 or Twitter,

00:44:20.900 --> 00:44:22.140
 and this has just become like,

00:44:22.559 --> 00:44:23.539
 everyone says this,

00:44:23.800 --> 00:44:24.039
 but,

00:44:24.680 --> 00:44:25.519
 it's still true,

00:44:25.519 --> 00:44:28.759
 the last verse,

00:44:28.820 --> 00:44:29.519
 I want to point to,

00:44:29.739 --> 00:44:31.880
 is 1 Timothy 4,

00:44:31.960 --> 00:44:32.300
 7,

00:44:32.460 --> 00:44:33.420
 now this was a verse,

00:44:33.420 --> 00:44:33.820
 that,

00:44:35.199 --> 00:44:38.500
 Dr. Whitney,

00:44:38.659 --> 00:44:39.519
 in the class,

00:44:39.780 --> 00:44:40.920
 he had us memorize,

00:44:41.019 --> 00:44:41.820
 a couple of verses,

00:44:42.900 --> 00:44:46.019
 and,

00:44:46.099 --> 00:44:47.500
 I'm not going to recite it to you,

00:44:47.559 --> 00:44:48.480
 although I did memorize it,

00:44:48.519 --> 00:44:48.780
 but I,

00:44:48.780 --> 00:44:50.340
 I wrote down part of it,

00:44:50.360 --> 00:44:50.780
 I'm not sure,

00:44:50.840 --> 00:44:51.780
 if I wrote down the whole thing,

00:44:51.780 --> 00:45:03.660
 1 Timothy 4,

00:45:03.800 --> 00:45:04.740
 verse 7,

00:45:05.180 --> 00:45:08.420
 have nothing to do,

00:45:08.620 --> 00:45:09.400
 with irreverent,

00:45:09.600 --> 00:45:10.580
 silly myths,

00:45:11.300 --> 00:45:11.720
 rather,

00:45:12.380 --> 00:45:13.420
 train yourself,

00:45:13.740 --> 00:45:14.360
 for godliness,

00:45:16.140 --> 00:45:18.800
 I think another translation,

00:45:19.180 --> 00:45:19.700
 might have,

00:45:19.940 --> 00:45:20.960
 discipline yourself,

00:45:20.960 --> 00:45:21.840
 for the purpose,

00:45:21.840 --> 00:45:22.579
 of godliness,

00:45:23.159 --> 00:45:24.280
 and Dr. Whitney,

00:45:24.460 --> 00:45:25.139
 in his book,

00:45:26.280 --> 00:45:27.840
 has in every single,

00:45:27.840 --> 00:45:29.119
 chapter title,

00:45:30.039 --> 00:45:30.599
 for instance,

00:45:30.720 --> 00:45:31.420
 I just opened to,

00:45:31.579 --> 00:45:32.079
 stewardship,

00:45:32.760 --> 00:45:33.559
 for the purpose,

00:45:33.639 --> 00:45:34.220
 of godliness,

00:45:34.679 --> 00:45:35.460
 every chapter,

00:45:35.760 --> 00:45:37.099
 he reminds his readers,

00:45:37.679 --> 00:45:38.579
 this is the point,

00:45:38.940 --> 00:45:39.940
 it's to be godly,

00:45:40.059 --> 00:45:41.300
 it's to be like Jesus,

00:45:41.760 --> 00:45:42.960
 we want to be like him,

00:45:43.179 --> 00:45:44.559
 we want to grow closer to him,

00:45:44.659 --> 00:45:45.119
 we want to,

00:45:45.360 --> 00:45:46.940
 be imitators of him,

00:45:48.039 --> 00:45:48.880
 and that's what,

00:45:48.880 --> 00:45:50.039
 spiritual disciplines,

00:45:50.199 --> 00:45:50.699
 in general,

00:45:50.960 --> 00:45:52.179
 are to be for,

00:45:52.760 --> 00:45:53.900
 it's not to check something,

00:45:53.900 --> 00:45:54.699
 off a box,

00:45:55.340 --> 00:45:55.500
 you know,

00:45:55.539 --> 00:45:55.699
 I think,

00:45:55.840 --> 00:45:56.440
 and I,

00:45:56.539 --> 00:45:57.880
 I recognize that,

00:45:58.199 --> 00:45:58.940
 most of us,

00:45:59.000 --> 00:45:59.139
 like,

00:45:59.940 --> 00:46:01.380
 we know these things,

00:46:01.980 --> 00:46:03.679
 like Josh was saying,

00:46:03.740 --> 00:46:04.780
 we know them in our heads,

00:46:04.840 --> 00:46:05.000
 right,

00:46:05.000 --> 00:46:05.619
 we know,

00:46:06.119 --> 00:46:07.380
 the point is not,

00:46:07.820 --> 00:46:08.059
 you know,

00:46:08.059 --> 00:46:08.980
 to just get it done,

00:46:09.079 --> 00:46:10.380
 and then God will be pleased,

00:46:10.380 --> 00:46:13.860
 but to get this into our hearts,

00:46:14.500 --> 00:46:16.980
 and to recognize the beauty,

00:46:16.980 --> 00:46:18.360
 of godliness,

00:46:18.660 --> 00:46:20.019
 to really want that,

00:46:20.099 --> 00:46:20.640
 in our hearts,

00:46:20.680 --> 00:46:21.340
 and that's something,

00:46:21.480 --> 00:46:21.880
 I think,

00:46:22.800 --> 00:46:24.019
 I think if we don't want it,

00:46:24.180 --> 00:46:25.820
 we just need to be praying about it,

00:46:25.900 --> 00:46:27.180
 and give me that desire,

00:46:27.440 --> 00:46:27.800
 because,

00:46:28.640 --> 00:46:29.740
 because we need that,

00:46:30.260 --> 00:46:32.200
 that desire,

00:46:32.640 --> 00:46:33.220
 and the Lord,

00:46:33.800 --> 00:46:35.240
 he loves to answer those prayers,

00:46:35.239 --> 00:46:37.019
 he loves to answer prayers like that,

00:46:37.759 --> 00:46:39.759
 so if you find yourself,

00:46:40.039 --> 00:46:40.059
 like,

00:46:41.119 --> 00:46:41.539
 okay,

00:46:41.879 --> 00:46:42.279
 I say,

00:46:42.339 --> 00:46:42.539
 okay,

00:46:42.639 --> 00:46:43.539
 so if I read my Bible,

00:46:43.619 --> 00:46:44.459
 and pray every day,

00:46:45.019 --> 00:46:47.019
 I will become more godly,

00:46:47.859 --> 00:46:48.079
 well,

00:46:48.099 --> 00:46:48.479
 who cares,

00:46:48.839 --> 00:46:49.019
 I mean,

00:46:49.579 --> 00:46:49.839
 you know,

00:46:49.939 --> 00:46:50.379
 in some,

00:46:50.539 --> 00:46:52.000
 in some way,

00:46:52.119 --> 00:46:52.739
 I think that,

00:46:53.299 --> 00:46:54.000
 there's some of that,

00:46:54.000 --> 00:46:54.859
 in all of our hearts,

00:46:55.099 --> 00:46:55.239
 right,

00:46:55.459 --> 00:46:55.639
 like,

00:46:55.959 --> 00:46:57.000
 I'm good enough,

00:46:57.579 --> 00:46:59.039
 can we just move on,

00:46:59.599 --> 00:47:02.799
 but if we get a grip,

00:47:02.959 --> 00:47:04.299
 of the beauty of godliness,

00:47:04.300 --> 00:47:05.560
 and the beauty of our lord,

00:47:05.660 --> 00:47:06.880
 that we could be like him,

00:47:07.480 --> 00:47:09.880
 even a little more like him,

00:47:10.300 --> 00:47:12.620
 that's a great thing,

00:47:12.760 --> 00:47:14.120
 and that's what we want to keep in mind,

00:47:14.200 --> 00:47:15.780
 that the purpose is not,

00:47:16.920 --> 00:47:17.220
 you know,

00:47:17.280 --> 00:47:18.039
 to check a box,

00:47:18.260 --> 00:47:20.360
 or to earn God's favor,

00:47:20.940 --> 00:47:21.740
 that's not for that,

00:47:22.519 --> 00:47:24.320
 God is no more pleased with you,

00:47:24.800 --> 00:47:26.280
 when you read the scriptures,

00:47:27.539 --> 00:47:27.900
 you know,

00:47:28.019 --> 00:47:29.019
 on a regular basis,

00:47:29.240 --> 00:47:30.120
 than if you don't,

00:47:30.420 --> 00:47:31.420
 he loves us,

00:47:31.460 --> 00:47:32.560
 because we're in Christ,

00:47:32.559 --> 00:47:34.139
 and he's not,

00:47:34.139 --> 00:47:36.219
 irritated at us,

00:47:36.219 --> 00:47:36.779
 when we,

00:47:36.779 --> 00:47:38.920
 doze through our quiet times,

00:47:39.000 --> 00:47:39.400
 or whatever,

00:47:40.059 --> 00:47:40.420
 he,

00:47:40.639 --> 00:47:42.340
 he knows that we are dust,

00:47:43.019 --> 00:47:44.059
 at the same time,

00:47:44.179 --> 00:47:45.579
 don't we want to be more like him,

00:47:45.779 --> 00:47:46.559
 don't we want to,

00:47:47.079 --> 00:47:48.820
 follow that straight path,

00:47:48.900 --> 00:47:49.980
 that he set out for us,

00:47:50.639 --> 00:47:53.900
 yeah,

00:47:54.019 --> 00:47:55.019
 so we're called to pursue,

00:47:55.179 --> 00:47:56.360
 holiness,

00:47:56.799 --> 00:47:57.880
 Hebrews chapter 12,

00:47:58.000 --> 00:47:58.599
 14,

00:47:58.840 --> 00:47:59.320
 you don't really need,

00:47:59.360 --> 00:48:00.019
 to turn to this,

00:48:00.019 --> 00:48:02.139
 the writer says,

00:48:02.259 --> 00:48:03.820
 strive for the holiness,

00:48:04.039 --> 00:48:04.679
 without which,

00:48:04.820 --> 00:48:06.420
 no one will see the Lord,

00:48:07.199 --> 00:48:08.659
 and now that could be unpacked,

00:48:08.679 --> 00:48:09.380
 much more,

00:48:09.579 --> 00:48:10.340
 than I'm going to do,

00:48:10.840 --> 00:48:12.800
 but we pursue holiness,

00:48:13.039 --> 00:48:13.280
 not,

00:48:13.739 --> 00:48:15.259
 not so that we will,

00:48:15.519 --> 00:48:16.659
 gain access to God,

00:48:16.739 --> 00:48:18.320
 but because we have,

00:48:18.559 --> 00:48:20.460
 been freely given that access,

00:48:20.780 --> 00:48:22.420
 by the grace of God,

00:48:22.539 --> 00:48:23.199
 in Christ,

00:48:23.619 --> 00:48:25.059
 we want to pursue it,

00:48:25.239 --> 00:48:26.059
 because we've been,

00:48:26.599 --> 00:48:27.699
 given the opportunity,

00:48:27.699 --> 00:48:28.539
 to pursue it,

00:48:28.539 --> 00:48:29.599
 we've been given,

00:48:29.759 --> 00:48:30.619
 by the Holy Spirit,

00:48:30.739 --> 00:48:31.400
 the ability,

00:48:31.840 --> 00:48:33.079
 to strive for holiness,

00:48:33.699 --> 00:48:35.059
 and we want to do that,

00:48:35.119 --> 00:48:36.300
 that takes some action,

00:48:36.460 --> 00:48:36.980
 on our part,

00:48:37.900 --> 00:48:39.579
 Philippians 2,

00:48:39.659 --> 00:48:40.019
 12,

00:48:40.179 --> 00:48:41.119
 therefore my beloved,

00:48:41.219 --> 00:48:42.400
 as you have always obeyed,

00:48:42.659 --> 00:48:43.179
 so now,

00:48:43.300 --> 00:48:44.719
 not only in my presence,

00:48:44.820 --> 00:48:46.079
 but much more in my absence,

00:48:46.699 --> 00:48:48.300
 work out your own salvation,

00:48:48.500 --> 00:48:49.079
 with fear,

00:48:49.199 --> 00:48:49.800
 and trembling,

00:48:50.460 --> 00:48:51.460
 for it is God,

00:48:51.559 --> 00:48:52.619
 who works in you,

00:48:53.079 --> 00:48:54.440
 so we work out,

00:48:54.519 --> 00:48:55.179
 our salvation,

00:48:55.179 --> 00:48:56.259
 we work out,

00:48:56.339 --> 00:48:57.599
 our discipline,

00:48:57.859 --> 00:48:58.619
 our path,

00:48:58.759 --> 00:49:00.119
 our growing in godliness,

00:49:00.379 --> 00:49:02.000
 because God's at work in us,

00:49:02.259 --> 00:49:02.980
 so we don't,

00:49:03.460 --> 00:49:04.279
 work it out,

00:49:04.619 --> 00:49:05.139
 so that,

00:49:05.519 --> 00:49:06.359
 God will then,

00:49:07.519 --> 00:49:08.159
 like us better,

00:49:08.719 --> 00:49:09.819
 he loves us,

00:49:09.899 --> 00:49:10.980
 more than we can imagine,

00:49:11.339 --> 00:49:11.980
 when we have,

00:49:12.079 --> 00:49:13.059
 nothing together,

00:49:13.299 --> 00:49:14.279
 he chose us,

00:49:14.559 --> 00:49:15.579
 before the foundation,

00:49:15.739 --> 00:49:16.259
 of the world,

00:49:16.379 --> 00:49:17.079
 when we were,

00:49:17.579 --> 00:49:18.099
 useless,

00:49:18.619 --> 00:49:19.339
 we're always useless,

00:49:19.460 --> 00:49:19.719
 to him,

00:49:19.799 --> 00:49:20.000
 but he,

00:49:20.719 --> 00:49:21.699
 he overlooks that,

00:49:21.699 --> 00:49:22.899
 we were useless,

00:49:23.339 --> 00:49:24.139
 we were rebels,

00:49:24.619 --> 00:49:25.439
 we were self-centered,

00:49:25.799 --> 00:49:26.480
 we were arrogant,

00:49:26.899 --> 00:49:27.399
 we were like,

00:49:27.539 --> 00:49:28.279
 nothing in us,

00:49:28.379 --> 00:49:29.279
 commended us to God,

00:49:29.319 --> 00:49:30.319
 and he chose us,

00:49:30.579 --> 00:49:31.960
 but what a wonder that is,

00:49:32.539 --> 00:49:33.379
 don't we want to,

00:49:35.319 --> 00:49:36.619
 give ourselves to him,

00:49:36.839 --> 00:49:37.779
 know him better,

00:49:38.439 --> 00:49:39.599
 revel in that,

00:49:39.719 --> 00:49:40.659
 don't we want to experience,

00:49:40.839 --> 00:49:41.319
 that joy,

00:49:41.439 --> 00:49:42.319
 as Debbie was saying,

00:49:43.079 --> 00:49:44.539
 the joy of communing,

00:49:44.739 --> 00:49:45.359
 with God,

00:49:46.219 --> 00:49:47.019
 so,

00:49:47.679 --> 00:49:48.359
 that's the,

00:49:48.500 --> 00:49:49.439
 that's the point,

00:49:49.440 --> 00:49:54.599
 and it,

00:49:54.599 --> 00:49:56.519
 it can easily become,

00:49:56.720 --> 00:49:58.200
 a kind of legalistic pursuit,

00:49:58.340 --> 00:49:58.860
 I think we've,

00:49:59.079 --> 00:49:59.340
 you know,

00:49:59.840 --> 00:50:00.720
 all of us are adults,

00:50:00.820 --> 00:50:01.960
 we've probably experienced that,

00:50:02.019 --> 00:50:02.920
 somewhere along the line,

00:50:03.059 --> 00:50:03.579
 unless we're,

00:50:03.700 --> 00:50:03.900
 you know,

00:50:03.940 --> 00:50:04.700
 brand new Christians,

00:50:05.340 --> 00:50:08.280
 at the same time,

00:50:08.320 --> 00:50:09.220
 we do need to,

00:50:09.220 --> 00:50:10.700
 discipline ourselves,

00:50:11.720 --> 00:50:13.019
 it does take work,

00:50:13.260 --> 00:50:14.440
 we need to pursue it,

00:50:14.519 --> 00:50:15.340
 we need to seek it,

00:50:15.460 --> 00:50:16.179
 we need to,

00:50:16.659 --> 00:50:18.059
 work it out,

00:50:18.480 --> 00:50:19.420
 work out your own self,

00:50:19.440 --> 00:50:19.700
 isolation,

00:50:20.460 --> 00:50:21.579
 we need to,

00:50:21.579 --> 00:50:22.659
 discipline ourselves,

00:50:23.200 --> 00:50:23.900
 it's an effort,

00:50:26.460 --> 00:50:28.079
 it's always going to be an effort,

00:50:28.440 --> 00:50:29.420
 some days are going to be,

00:50:29.420 --> 00:50:30.320
 harder than others,

00:50:30.840 --> 00:50:32.460
 and there are ways,

00:50:32.900 --> 00:50:34.380
 to make it more enjoyable,

00:50:34.619 --> 00:50:34.940
 and thus,

00:50:35.099 --> 00:50:36.000
 less of a chore,

00:50:36.539 --> 00:50:37.480
 so that's what I hope,

00:50:37.579 --> 00:50:37.920
 we're going to,

00:50:37.920 --> 00:50:39.159
 we're going to talk about it,

00:50:39.159 --> 00:50:47.879
 I just,

00:50:48.079 --> 00:50:50.239
 I've done a lot of ad-libbing,

00:50:50.339 --> 00:50:51.039
 I just don't want to,

00:50:53.679 --> 00:50:54.460
 so yeah,

00:50:54.460 --> 00:50:54.799
 I,

00:50:54.799 --> 00:50:55.299
 I,

00:50:55.299 --> 00:50:57.799
 when we,

00:50:57.960 --> 00:50:59.839
 we know that we ought to be reading the scriptures,

00:50:59.839 --> 00:51:00.299
 and praying,

00:51:00.639 --> 00:51:02.219
 we know that we should be doing this regularly,

00:51:02.219 --> 00:51:04.939
 but we don't always,

00:51:05.279 --> 00:51:07.039
 and we don't always enjoy it when we do,

00:51:07.679 --> 00:51:09.039
 sometimes we do,

00:51:09.119 --> 00:51:09.959
 and sometimes we don't,

00:51:10.059 --> 00:51:11.599
 that's been my experience,

00:51:12.019 --> 00:51:16.539
 but God is not calling us to just plug on joylessly,

00:51:17.320 --> 00:51:18.360
 there's a time,

00:51:18.860 --> 00:51:19.860
 there are times,

00:51:20.000 --> 00:51:21.960
 when it's just going to be hard for a season,

00:51:22.159 --> 00:51:24.639
 and God is using that for his purposes,

00:51:24.639 --> 00:51:25.300
 I believe,

00:51:25.719 --> 00:51:27.360
 he's using that in our lives,

00:51:27.880 --> 00:51:28.199
 but,

00:51:29.059 --> 00:51:30.300
 considered,

00:51:30.779 --> 00:51:31.000
 you know,

00:51:31.039 --> 00:51:32.279
 over the course of our lives,

00:51:32.380 --> 00:51:33.639
 it should not be,

00:51:34.300 --> 00:51:35.539
 a chore always,

00:51:35.759 --> 00:51:36.079
 that's,

00:51:36.460 --> 00:51:37.119
 no fun,

00:51:37.279 --> 00:51:37.659
 but just,

00:51:37.840 --> 00:51:38.000
 okay,

00:51:38.059 --> 00:51:38.860
 I got to do this,

00:51:39.340 --> 00:51:39.920
 you get up,

00:51:40.059 --> 00:51:40.460
 you like,

00:51:40.559 --> 00:51:41.300
 I got to do this,

00:51:41.340 --> 00:51:41.940
 or you go to bed,

00:51:42.019 --> 00:51:42.279
 you think,

00:51:42.420 --> 00:51:42.940
 before I go to bed,

00:51:42.980 --> 00:51:43.699
 I need to do this,

00:51:44.019 --> 00:51:45.840
 whatever your pattern is,

00:51:45.840 --> 00:51:50.460
 he does call us to persevere,

00:51:50.940 --> 00:51:52.000
 to plug along,

00:51:52.620 --> 00:51:54.500
 but there are joys to be had,

00:51:54.700 --> 00:51:56.539
 and I think we dishonor him,

00:51:56.620 --> 00:51:58.220
 when we just do it as a chore,

00:51:58.400 --> 00:52:00.260
 expecting no benefit,

00:52:00.420 --> 00:52:01.600
 because he's given it to us,

00:52:01.660 --> 00:52:02.940
 he's given us these means,

00:52:03.480 --> 00:52:04.320
 means of grace,

00:52:05.000 --> 00:52:06.760
 these means to grow closer to him,

00:52:06.860 --> 00:52:09.340
 these means to enjoy him more,

00:52:11.440 --> 00:52:12.860
 so I just leave you with this,

00:52:13.460 --> 00:52:14.500
 sometimes when it's boring,

00:52:15.280 --> 00:52:15.539
 right,

00:52:15.539 --> 00:52:16.900
 or praying the same old things,

00:52:16.960 --> 00:52:17.840
 in the same old way,

00:52:18.139 --> 00:52:19.719
 or whatever,

00:52:20.960 --> 00:52:22.980
 what if it's not a problem,

00:52:23.079 --> 00:52:23.659
 in our hearts,

00:52:24.099 --> 00:52:25.380
 what if it's a problem,

00:52:25.500 --> 00:52:26.679
 in our approach to this,

00:52:26.860 --> 00:52:28.219
 really practically speaking,

00:52:28.619 --> 00:52:29.019
 what if we're,

00:52:29.659 --> 00:52:31.380
 not doing it wrong,

00:52:31.639 --> 00:52:33.360
 but what if there are other ways,

00:52:33.480 --> 00:52:34.099
 to do it,

00:52:34.380 --> 00:52:35.659
 that might freshen it,

00:52:36.219 --> 00:52:37.759
 and might be more effective,

00:52:38.480 --> 00:52:39.420
 in our hearts,

00:52:39.579 --> 00:52:40.679
 and in our lives,

00:52:40.679 --> 00:52:43.239
 so that's what I hope,

00:52:43.579 --> 00:52:44.599
 most of the rest of the class,

00:52:44.659 --> 00:52:45.179
 is going to be,

00:52:45.440 --> 00:52:48.619
 can be really kind of brass tacks practical,

00:52:49.419 --> 00:52:51.739
 hoping to offer,

00:52:52.239 --> 00:52:53.480
 some of those new approaches,

00:52:53.719 --> 00:52:54.239
 they may be new,

00:52:54.480 --> 00:52:54.759
 that they're,

00:52:54.879 --> 00:52:56.299
 most of them are actually ancient,

00:52:56.300 --> 00:52:56.660
 but,

00:52:56.780 --> 00:52:58.620
 but they might be new to us,

00:52:59.060 --> 00:53:00.460
 a whole lot of different,

00:53:00.460 --> 00:53:02.380
 different kinds of things,

00:53:02.440 --> 00:53:03.160
 you could try,

00:53:03.460 --> 00:53:04.920
 when you're in a rut,

00:53:05.039 --> 00:53:05.680
 or when you're,

00:53:06.100 --> 00:53:06.400
 you know,

00:53:06.480 --> 00:53:07.840
 finding it joyless,

00:53:08.660 --> 00:53:10.960
 there are ways,

00:53:11.160 --> 00:53:11.580
 you can,

00:53:12.039 --> 00:53:12.860
 we'll talk briefly,

00:53:12.940 --> 00:53:14.060
 about memorizing scripture,

00:53:14.059 --> 00:53:15.559
 and there are ways,

00:53:15.840 --> 00:53:16.559
 to do that,

00:53:16.639 --> 00:53:17.019
 that are,

00:53:18.299 --> 00:53:18.699
 I mean,

00:53:18.820 --> 00:53:19.799
 in my experience,

00:53:19.960 --> 00:53:20.219
 I've,

00:53:20.420 --> 00:53:21.599
 I've had great benefit,

00:53:21.940 --> 00:53:23.519
 from actually not,

00:53:24.880 --> 00:53:25.119
 yeah,

00:53:25.239 --> 00:53:25.659
 it doesn't matter,

00:53:25.699 --> 00:53:26.179
 I'll get there,

00:53:26.639 --> 00:53:28.759
 but just absorbing the scriptures,

00:53:28.900 --> 00:53:30.380
 how can we be like the Puritans,

00:53:30.480 --> 00:53:30.599
 who,

00:53:30.739 --> 00:53:31.559
 I'm guessing,

00:53:32.039 --> 00:53:32.719
 they may have,

00:53:32.840 --> 00:53:34.679
 maybe John knows better than I do,

00:53:34.799 --> 00:53:34.920
 but,

00:53:35.460 --> 00:53:36.579
 but did they sit down,

00:53:36.699 --> 00:53:36.980
 you know,

00:53:37.059 --> 00:53:37.360
 with their,

00:53:37.500 --> 00:53:38.799
 with their app on their phone,

00:53:38.900 --> 00:53:39.199
 and like,

00:53:39.480 --> 00:53:41.039
 work at memorizing,

00:53:41.039 --> 00:53:41.679
 this scripture,

00:53:42.019 --> 00:53:42.719
 or did they just,

00:53:42.719 --> 00:53:44.199
 read it so much,

00:53:44.639 --> 00:53:46.139
 and absorb it so much,

00:53:46.279 --> 00:53:47.339
 that it was in their hearts,

00:53:47.739 --> 00:53:48.719
 and in their lives,

00:53:48.799 --> 00:53:49.959
 did it just flow out,

00:53:50.559 --> 00:53:51.739
 I forget which guy,

00:53:52.379 --> 00:53:53.139
 said something like,

00:53:53.719 --> 00:53:54.980
 I want to be such,

00:53:55.079 --> 00:53:55.739
 that when you cut me,

00:53:55.819 --> 00:53:56.579
 I bleed scripture,

00:53:57.139 --> 00:53:59.480
 you know,

00:53:59.699 --> 00:54:00.359
 and that's what,

00:54:00.480 --> 00:54:01.639
 that captured my heart,

00:54:02.039 --> 00:54:02.819
 15 years ago,

00:54:02.939 --> 00:54:03.079
 like,

00:54:03.139 --> 00:54:03.439
 I was like,

00:54:04.019 --> 00:54:05.000
 that's what I want to be,

00:54:05.439 --> 00:54:06.679
 and the only way to do it,

00:54:06.739 --> 00:54:07.319
 is to read,

00:54:07.379 --> 00:54:07.599
 and read,

00:54:07.679 --> 00:54:07.939
 and read,

00:54:08.399 --> 00:54:09.879
 so,

00:54:09.879 --> 00:54:11.379
 but it doesn't have to be,

00:54:11.839 --> 00:54:12.079
 read,

00:54:12.179 --> 00:54:12.399
 and read,

00:54:12.400 --> 00:54:12.760
 and read,

00:54:13.119 --> 00:54:13.340
 right,

00:54:13.480 --> 00:54:14.340
 and in fact,

00:54:14.400 --> 00:54:15.380
 that's not going to be,

00:54:15.380 --> 00:54:16.059
 that effective,

00:54:16.519 --> 00:54:16.720
 okay,

00:54:16.980 --> 00:54:17.300
 so,

00:54:17.639 --> 00:54:19.680
 that's where we're going,

00:54:20.260 --> 00:54:22.860
 and again,

00:54:23.079 --> 00:54:25.000
 if you have particular things,

00:54:25.440 --> 00:54:26.700
 particular problems,

00:54:26.800 --> 00:54:27.519
 or questions,

00:54:27.660 --> 00:54:27.940
 or,

00:54:28.180 --> 00:54:29.960
 what abouts,

00:54:30.360 --> 00:54:32.700
 you can write them down for me,

00:54:33.500 --> 00:54:34.380
 and again,

00:54:34.440 --> 00:54:35.059
 I don't promise,

00:54:35.260 --> 00:54:36.320
 I'll address,

00:54:36.460 --> 00:54:37.539
 and certainly don't promise,

00:54:37.619 --> 00:54:38.420
 I'll fix anything,

00:54:38.900 --> 00:54:40.039
 but just,

00:54:40.720 --> 00:54:40.960
 you know,

00:54:40.960 --> 00:54:42.260
 if there's something in particular,

00:54:42.420 --> 00:54:43.320
 that you hoped you would get out,

00:54:43.320 --> 00:54:44.039
 of this class,

00:54:44.780 --> 00:54:46.300
 write it down,

00:54:46.440 --> 00:54:47.139
 and maybe I'll say,

00:54:47.280 --> 00:54:47.780
 it's not really,

00:54:47.860 --> 00:54:49.099
 that's not really going to fit in,

00:54:49.500 --> 00:54:51.400
 but it might be really helpful,

00:54:51.659 --> 00:54:52.360
 because I have not,

00:54:52.420 --> 00:54:52.579
 like,

00:54:52.659 --> 00:54:53.360
 written in stone,

00:54:53.480 --> 00:54:53.780
 the whole,

00:54:54.440 --> 00:54:54.599
 you know,

00:54:54.599 --> 00:54:55.119
 to be honest,

00:54:55.159 --> 00:54:55.659
 I haven't written,

00:54:55.860 --> 00:54:56.760
 the rest of the class,

00:54:56.860 --> 00:54:57.000
 so,

00:54:57.380 --> 00:54:58.820
 you know,

00:54:59.480 --> 00:55:00.199
 feel free,

00:55:00.619 --> 00:55:02.059
 and I would welcome that,

00:55:02.059 --> 00:55:05.059
 so,

00:55:05.059 --> 00:55:05.860
 so,

00:55:06.400 --> 00:55:08.880
 does anyone have questions now,

00:55:08.940 --> 00:55:09.619
 or comments?

00:55:20.519 --> 00:55:21.460
 I just think,

00:55:21.639 --> 00:55:24.039
 I'm hoping this class,

00:55:24.799 --> 00:55:25.119
 well,

00:55:25.279 --> 00:55:26.239
 with what you're doing,

00:55:26.320 --> 00:55:27.480
 and the books you're saying,

00:55:27.619 --> 00:55:27.840
 you know,

00:55:27.880 --> 00:55:28.739
 that may be helpful,

00:55:28.960 --> 00:55:30.980
 help us grow closer to God,

00:55:30.980 --> 00:55:32.980
 and make our time alone with God,

00:55:33.059 --> 00:55:33.380
 help me.

00:55:34.539 --> 00:55:34.940
 Yep.

00:55:35.659 --> 00:55:36.059
 Yeah,

00:55:36.059 --> 00:55:36.719
 that's the goal.

00:55:37.760 --> 00:55:38.119
 Absolutely.

00:55:40.260 --> 00:55:40.619
 Yeah.

00:55:40.619 --> 00:55:43.579
 And again,

00:55:43.719 --> 00:55:44.119
 I mean,

00:55:44.159 --> 00:55:45.659
 I don't think these ideas are,

00:55:45.659 --> 00:55:47.420
 going to be gimmicky,

00:55:48.059 --> 00:55:48.319
 you know,

00:55:48.480 --> 00:55:49.219
 and many times,

00:55:49.299 --> 00:55:50.460
 they are ancient practices,

00:55:50.960 --> 00:55:52.759
 some of them are more modern,

00:55:53.019 --> 00:55:53.579
 you know,

00:55:53.699 --> 00:55:54.099
 I think,

00:55:54.420 --> 00:55:58.039
 and I,

00:55:58.099 --> 00:55:58.940
 and I don't think,

00:55:59.159 --> 00:55:59.359
 you know,

00:55:59.420 --> 00:55:59.599
 I,

00:55:59.880 --> 00:56:00.239
 you know,

00:56:00.239 --> 00:56:01.539
 I hope not to make it,

00:56:02.639 --> 00:56:03.000
 you know,

00:56:03.079 --> 00:56:05.079
 it shouldn't be insurmountable,

00:56:05.079 --> 00:56:06.159
 to do this,

00:56:06.380 --> 00:56:06.599
 you know,

00:56:06.619 --> 00:56:07.380
 it should not be,

00:56:08.000 --> 00:56:09.359
 it doesn't need to take,

00:56:09.480 --> 00:56:10.259
 hours and hours,

00:56:10.260 --> 00:56:10.800
 hours of your day,

00:56:11.000 --> 00:56:12.120
 you don't need to,

00:56:12.480 --> 00:56:13.000
 as I said,

00:56:13.060 --> 00:56:14.300
 I did for a season,

00:56:14.440 --> 00:56:15.240
 I don't still do it,

00:56:15.300 --> 00:56:16.460
 but you don't need to read,

00:56:16.560 --> 00:56:17.200
 through the scriptures,

00:56:17.980 --> 00:56:19.660
 with repetition of Psalms,

00:56:19.720 --> 00:56:20.480
 and the New Testament,

00:56:20.660 --> 00:56:21.820
 three times in a year,

00:56:21.900 --> 00:56:23.000
 in order to benefit,

00:56:23.620 --> 00:56:25.340
 from the kinds of things,

00:56:25.400 --> 00:56:26.580
 I'm going to throw out at you,

00:56:26.660 --> 00:56:27.960
 you may decide you want to,

00:56:28.400 --> 00:56:29.480
 and I would encourage it,

00:56:29.760 --> 00:56:29.980
 but,

00:56:30.060 --> 00:56:31.200
 you know,

00:56:31.200 --> 00:56:32.040
 it doesn't need to be,

00:56:32.040 --> 00:56:33.320
 I don't want it to be intimidating,

00:56:33.720 --> 00:56:34.620
 and I hope it's not,

00:56:36.120 --> 00:56:36.400
 yeah,

00:56:37.760 --> 00:56:37.980
 but,

00:56:38.740 --> 00:56:39.400
 well if you're saying anything,

00:56:39.460 --> 00:56:39.580
 oh,

00:56:39.620 --> 00:56:39.960
 go ahead,

00:56:40.260 --> 00:56:41.680
 will you give us homework?

00:56:43.000 --> 00:56:43.440
 So,

00:56:44.220 --> 00:56:45.840
 I kind of will,

00:56:46.220 --> 00:56:47.580
 but the other thing I want to do,

00:56:47.640 --> 00:56:49.080
 is we're going to practice some things,

00:56:49.160 --> 00:56:50.060
 right in class,

00:56:50.460 --> 00:56:52.340
 so rather than just tell you,

00:56:52.480 --> 00:56:52.700
 and say,

00:56:52.780 --> 00:56:52.880
 okay,

00:56:52.920 --> 00:56:53.980
 go home and try that,

00:56:54.640 --> 00:56:55.740
 I want to do it in class,

00:56:55.900 --> 00:56:56.180
 because,

00:56:57.240 --> 00:56:58.280
 because who does their homework,

00:56:58.460 --> 00:56:58.600
 right?

00:56:58.740 --> 00:56:58.940
 I mean,

00:56:59.180 --> 00:57:00.920
 you know,

00:57:00.980 --> 00:57:02.640
 how often are you actually going to go,

00:57:02.700 --> 00:57:02.800
 oh,

00:57:02.800 --> 00:57:03.880
 I want to try that and do it,

00:57:03.940 --> 00:57:05.640
 and some of you absolutely will,

00:57:06.140 --> 00:57:07.360
 but some of us just wouldn't,

00:57:07.360 --> 00:57:08.860
 and so I want to,

00:57:09.039 --> 00:57:10.780
 I will give some time,

00:57:11.039 --> 00:57:12.680
 actually in class,

00:57:12.940 --> 00:57:14.539
 to try some of these different things,

00:57:14.880 --> 00:57:18.019
 so I hope that's practical and not intimidating,

00:57:18.300 --> 00:57:20.700
 but I'm going to ask for some participation,

00:57:20.700 --> 00:57:20.820
 yeah,

00:57:20.820 --> 00:57:24.539
 good question,

00:57:24.539 --> 00:57:24.780
 yeah,

00:57:24.780 --> 00:57:27.000
 so again,

00:57:27.000 --> 00:57:28.460
 I just want to mention the book again,

00:57:29.719 --> 00:57:32.139
 Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life,

00:57:32.199 --> 00:57:33.039
 by Donald Whitney,

00:57:33.800 --> 00:57:35.039
 he has another book called,

00:57:35.119 --> 00:57:35.860
 Praying the Bible,

00:57:35.980 --> 00:57:36.800
 which we'll be covering,

00:57:37.820 --> 00:57:39.380
 also in this class,

00:57:39.699 --> 00:57:40.679
 that's a skinny little book,

00:57:41.559 --> 00:57:43.119
 and,

00:57:43.239 --> 00:57:43.940
 and again,

00:57:44.019 --> 00:57:45.019
 he covers a lot more,

00:57:45.099 --> 00:57:45.920
 than I'm going to touch,

00:57:46.300 --> 00:57:47.079
 in this class,

00:57:47.760 --> 00:57:48.519
 and,

00:57:48.780 --> 00:57:49.659
 you know,

00:57:49.699 --> 00:57:50.480
 I spent eight weeks,

00:57:50.519 --> 00:57:52.019
 listening to lectures by him,

00:57:52.199 --> 00:57:53.500
 and engaging with him,

00:57:53.500 --> 00:57:53.739
 in,

00:57:53.860 --> 00:57:54.820
 in live,

00:57:54.880 --> 00:57:55.980
 Zoom sessions,

00:57:55.980 --> 00:57:56.940
 and things like that,

00:57:57.360 --> 00:57:58.559
 and he just has,

00:57:58.639 --> 00:57:59.719
 he has a heart for this,

00:58:00.280 --> 00:58:02.219
 he is passionate about,

00:58:03.260 --> 00:58:04.860
 regular people in the pew,

00:58:05.280 --> 00:58:06.500
 pursuing godliness,

00:58:07.340 --> 00:58:09.019
 in serious ways,

00:58:09.679 --> 00:58:09.880
 you know,

00:58:09.980 --> 00:58:10.360
 by serious,

00:58:10.460 --> 00:58:10.900
 I don't mean,

00:58:11.840 --> 00:58:12.179
 you know,

00:58:13.380 --> 00:58:14.579
 way too hard ways,

00:58:14.740 --> 00:58:15.659
 but,

00:58:15.980 --> 00:58:16.800
 let's be purposeful,

00:58:16.880 --> 00:58:18.059
 let's discipline ourselves,

00:58:18.380 --> 00:58:18.400
 and,

00:58:18.539 --> 00:58:19.860
 and there's a lot of encouragement,

00:58:20.119 --> 00:58:20.900
 there's a lot of good stories,

00:58:21.000 --> 00:58:21.940
 I'm not a big storyteller,

00:58:22.079 --> 00:58:22.199
 but,

00:58:22.579 --> 00:58:23.039
 he is,

00:58:23.260 --> 00:58:23.480
 so,

00:58:23.760 --> 00:58:24.900
 there's some fun things in here,

00:58:24.960 --> 00:58:25.740
 it's an easy read,

00:58:25.980 --> 00:58:28.800
 there are a lot of practical things,

00:58:28.980 --> 00:58:29.940
 if you read it,

00:58:30.800 --> 00:58:32.639
 I'll be repeating a lot of the stuff,

00:58:32.860 --> 00:58:32.960
 but,

00:58:33.340 --> 00:58:34.559
 but only in those chapters,

00:58:34.679 --> 00:58:35.219
 that I'm actually,

00:58:35.360 --> 00:58:36.159
 going to cover,

00:58:36.360 --> 00:58:36.599
 so,

00:58:36.980 --> 00:58:38.480
 I do recommend it,

00:58:38.679 --> 00:58:39.519
 and it is in the bookstall,

00:58:40.219 --> 00:58:40.500
 so,

00:58:41.240 --> 00:58:42.740
 let's just close in prayer,

00:58:42.980 --> 00:58:43.380
 shall we?

00:58:43.380 --> 00:58:49.260
 Heavenly Father,

00:58:49.260 --> 00:58:49.280
 Heavenly Father,

00:58:50.119 --> 00:58:51.660
 you have given us,

00:58:51.660 --> 00:58:53.079
 your word,

00:58:53.880 --> 00:58:55.019
 your word,

00:58:55.200 --> 00:58:56.420
 your message for us,

00:58:56.500 --> 00:58:57.340
 your instructions,

00:58:57.340 --> 00:59:00.840
 you have given us,

00:59:00.840 --> 00:59:02.559
 history,

00:59:03.559 --> 00:59:05.420
 and stories,

00:59:06.079 --> 00:59:07.019
 and poems,

00:59:07.019 --> 00:59:09.360
 and prophecies,

00:59:10.019 --> 00:59:10.840
 and visions,

00:59:10.840 --> 00:59:11.659
 and visions of the future,

00:59:12.179 --> 00:59:13.800
 you've given us,

00:59:14.000 --> 00:59:15.340
 the precious accounts,

00:59:15.420 --> 00:59:16.179
 of our Lord Jesus,

00:59:17.179 --> 00:59:18.519
 so we can see him,

00:59:18.940 --> 00:59:19.420
 more clearly,

00:59:19.840 --> 00:59:20.880
 and love him,

00:59:21.039 --> 00:59:21.619
 more dearly,

00:59:22.019 --> 00:59:22.739
 Lord,

00:59:22.800 --> 00:59:24.139
 all this you have given to us,

00:59:24.420 --> 00:59:24.980
 and then,

00:59:25.099 --> 00:59:25.980
 you didn't stop there,

00:59:26.039 --> 00:59:26.619
 you gave us,

00:59:26.679 --> 00:59:27.719
 access to yourself,

00:59:28.000 --> 00:59:28.179
 Lord,

00:59:28.239 --> 00:59:29.000
 that we can pray,

00:59:29.000 --> 00:59:31.000
 and you will hear us,

00:59:31.760 --> 00:59:33.059
 really hear us,

00:59:34.019 --> 00:59:36.260
 even when it just sounds like nonsense,

00:59:36.719 --> 00:59:37.639
 and often is,

00:59:38.119 --> 00:59:39.059
 you hear us,

00:59:39.900 --> 00:59:40.940
 and you draw near,

00:59:41.079 --> 00:59:42.320
 and you desire to hear us,

00:59:42.900 --> 00:59:43.119
 Lord,

00:59:43.280 --> 00:59:45.280
 fill us with the wonder of that,

00:59:45.719 --> 00:59:47.019
 the privilege we have,

00:59:47.199 --> 00:59:48.260
 to seek the scriptures,

00:59:48.820 --> 00:59:50.139
 to seek you in prayer,

00:59:50.679 --> 00:59:52.039
 to be drawn closer to you,

00:59:53.039 --> 00:59:53.539
 oh Father,

00:59:53.599 --> 00:59:54.280
 would you help us,

00:59:54.340 --> 00:59:55.800
 give us that desire for godliness,

00:59:56.559 --> 00:59:58.960
 that will push us forward,

00:59:59.000 --> 00:59:59.760
 in this pursuit,

01:00:00.559 --> 01:00:01.579
 help us as we,

01:00:01.780 --> 01:00:02.840
 move on in this class,

01:00:03.099 --> 01:00:04.500
 to learn some new,

01:00:04.980 --> 01:00:06.639
 approaches to scriptures,

01:00:06.800 --> 01:00:07.380
 and to prayer,

01:00:07.920 --> 01:00:08.440
 that would,

01:00:08.559 --> 01:00:09.980
 that would help us,

01:00:10.079 --> 01:00:11.320
 to benefit even more,

01:00:11.480 --> 01:00:13.239
 from time we set aside for you,

01:00:14.760 --> 01:00:15.239
 Lord,

01:00:15.340 --> 01:00:16.719
 I just pray that your word,

01:00:16.860 --> 01:00:17.460
 would bear fruit,

01:00:17.820 --> 01:00:18.400
 in our lives,

01:00:18.980 --> 01:00:20.079
 in Jesus name,

01:00:20.500 --> 01:00:20.719
 Amen.