WEBVTT

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 Well, we continue our series today as we think about the theme of worry.

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 When you believe in God, but find that you worry all the time.

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 A Christian union in a university was doing a session where they were looking at this subject of worry.

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 And they invited a minister of one of the local churches in that town to come and speak.

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 He was very carefully briefed and when he came, he spoke at length, in great depth and detail,

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 and with real authority as an expert on the subject of worry, stress and anxiety.

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 And he held these people throughout this fairly lengthy talk actually, on the subject of worry and stress.

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 And he said it's really important that you don't worry.

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 And the reason why you shouldn't worry is because the Bible talks about it at length.

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 And he quoted chapter and verse in great detail as he unpacked Scripture before these students.

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 Every time he made another point, he said, you must not worry.

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 Having brought his talk to a bit of a climax, he gave an open appeal.

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 He said, if you are worrying about something right now, I'm going to pray for you.

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 And he led them in a time of prayer, inviting them to bring their worries before God.

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 Because, as he brought his message to a close, he said, do not worry.

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 People responded in prayer.

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 He got to the end of...

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 He went and sat down.

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 After the meeting closed, the leader of the Christian union went over to this minister.

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 And he was sat there looking really quite awkward and uneasy.

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 In fact, he seemed to be breathing in a rather unusual kind of way.

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 And in fact, it became apparent that he seemed to be having some kind of panic attack.

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 And the student, president of the Christian union said, are you okay?

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 He said, no, I'm just really worried that I didn't get my message across.

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 I'm going to level with you this morning, good and proper.

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 I'm not the minister in that story.

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 But I could have been.

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 I'm a worrier.

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 And for as long as I've known myself...

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 It's always been that way.

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 I could try and work it out by sort of thinking about, well, you know, my DNA, maybe.

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 I could think maybe it's stuff that's happened.

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 It's probably a combination of the two.

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 But I'm a worrier.

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 And as I honestly think about that question, what do I worry about?

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 You know, I don't think I can think of a single thing that I haven't worried about at some point in my life.

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 Sometimes I worry because I feel like I haven't got enough to worry about.

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 Sometimes I'll lay awake at night just worrying about one thing after the other.

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 I'll wake up in the morning with my stomach churning and I can't even tell you what it is that I'm worried about.

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 I'm just feeling anxious.

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 Of course, sometimes it's circumstance.

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 I worry about something.

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 It's come, it goes, it's absolutely fine.

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 But do I stop worrying?

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 No.

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 No.

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 No.

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 So why am I telling you this?

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 Well, I'm telling this to you because I know, I know how if you are somebody who worries, I'll come on to that in a moment, if you are somebody who worries too,

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 and if you're somebody who's feeling fraught with anxiety right now for any reason whatsoever,

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 I know that one of the most unhelpful things is when somebody else comes along and tells you not to worry.

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 So I'm not taking any moral or spiritual high ground on this subject because I have not the right or the authority to do so.

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 Anything I'm going to share with you is as one worrier to another.

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 Sometimes I actually wonder whether God lets me worry or whether God chose me to be a minister because he knows I'm a worrier

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 and knows that there's perhaps just a chance that I might be able to connect with you if you're a worrier.

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 It might well be that you're listening to me talking right now and thinking,

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 Russell, I don't really know what you're talking about because I've got worries every now and then,

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 but I don't really know what it's like to feel anxiety in any depth.

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 If that's you, I am genuinely, honestly pleased for you.

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 I really am.

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 But if that is you, please don't switch off because I can guarantee you this,

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 that if we approach this theme of worry and anxiety right now,

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 whilst you might not feel it's directly relevant to you,

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 I promise you, I guarantee you that either the person sat next to you

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 or somebody sat very near you will be somebody that struggles.

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 And I can say that to you as somebody who's been in pastoral ministry for my entire working life.

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 And I know wherever I've been, wherever I go,

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 whatever age or stage in life I look at,

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 the most common pastoral issue is anxiety.

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 Often it goes hand in hand with depression.

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 Perfectionism often has something to do with it as well.

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 But you'd be surprised just how widespread anxiety is.

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 So that's that rather extended introduction out of the way.

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 Let's just think about what worry is.

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 What are we talking about?

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 I want to recommend a book to you.

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 Some of you may have read it before.

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 It's called The Worry Book.

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 If I'd have thought this through, I'd have had a picture of it

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 and ready to shine up on there and put it on the notices,

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 but I forgot. I'm sorry.

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 Now I'm going to be really worried.

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 Google The Worry Book.

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 It will come up.

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 It's written by Will van der Hart and Rob Waller.

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 One of them is an Anglican vicar based in HDB in London.

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 The other is a consultant psychiatrist working in Scotland.

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 It's a brilliant book.

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 It's deep, but it's easy to understand.

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 And it connects from a Christian perspective on the theme of worry.

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 It's based on, some of you may be familiar with,

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 something called CBT, cognitive behavioural therapy,

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 which is a standard approach to dealing with anxiety.

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 And as they unpack worry,

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 they say that there is something which is referred to as neuroticism

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 that is part of what it is to be human.

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 And it exists in all of us to some degree or another.

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 And in fact, it's something that we all need to some degree.

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 There is such a thing as a healthy level of neuroticism.

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 Because it's the kind of sensitivity that stops you getting into trouble.

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 It's the kind of thing that when alarm bells start going off

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 and lights start to flash and you can see that danger is on its way,

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 that's a healthy level of neuroticism going on you.

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 It's the sort of thing that stops you getting into trouble,

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 stops you making rash decisions,

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 stops you getting into fights.

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 We need a healthy level of neuroticism in us.

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 But it can get out of control.

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 And when it does,

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 it can develop into something that is called

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 generalised anxiety disorder.

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 And that's the thing

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 when we start getting things way out of proportion,

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 out of perspective.

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 When worry and anxiety gets a hold of us

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 really deep within

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 so that independently of circumstances,

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 we're feeling anxious.

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 And when that happens,

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 it can get us into a lot of trouble.

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 Now, what I think they very unhelpfully unpack in this book

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 is the way in which,

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 because there is such a thing as a healthy level of neuroticism,

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 that the danger for us when we worry

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 is we think that there could be something good and helpful

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 about the habit of worrying.

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 You see, there are two, broadly speaking, types of worries.

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 There's what you call solvable worries.

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 Those are worries that have a solution.

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 And normally, they're quite simple, actually.

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 You're worrying about something,

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 but it is solvable.

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 There's an answer there.

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 And in that situation,

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 worry has a helpful place to play

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 because it's as you start to think about it,

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 perhaps get a little bit nervous about it,

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 that it leads to solutions.

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 And the nervous worry is something

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 that drives you to that point of solution.

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 So there can be such a thing

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 as a good type of worry.

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 And because there can be such a thing

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 as a good and healthy type of worry

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 and such a thing as a good and healthy type of neuroticism,

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 the danger can be that we latch ourselves onto that

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 so that we can't tell the difference

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 between good, helpful worry and unhelpful worry.

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 So we start to worry about everything

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 because there's something deep inside us

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 that's telling us it's a good thing to do this.

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 If you worry, it's somehow going to help the situation along.

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 Whereas, in fact, it's doing the very opposite.

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 It can destroy you completely.

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 So, if that's broadly how worry can help us

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 and how worry can actually also be our worst enemy,

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 what can we say in terms of faith?

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 Now, I've already said

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 that one of the most unhelpful things

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 to hear if you're worried

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 is somebody else telling you to get a grip,

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 to get some perspective.

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 But I just want to think about perspective for one moment.

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 We're going to watch a very short video clip

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 from my favourite all-time TV vicar,

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 Father Ted.

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 What will we do for the next two weeks?

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 Will I put on the kettle?

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 Yeah, go on.

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 Must be one of the ones that clicks off automatically.

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 Yes.

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 Yes.

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 Bit of steam there.

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 Incidentally,

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 did you bring any tea bags?

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 No.

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 Right.

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 Okay, one last time.

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 These are small,

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 but the ones out there

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 are far away.

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 small,

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 far away.

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 I forget it.

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 Perspective.

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 And that's how worry can get into the system

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 and things can get totally out of perspective.

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 When we see something,

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 when we're lying there awake at night,

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 it's keeping us awake

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 and we're worrying about it,

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 it can seem so much bigger

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 than it does in the cold light of day.

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 And getting things into perspective

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 can be one of the first

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 and most helpful things

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 that we can do.

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 Samuel Johnson,

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 apparently,

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 came up with this idea

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 called the 100-year rule.

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 And he said this,

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 that if you're worried about something,

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 ask yourself the question,

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 what's the worst possible thing

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 that could happen

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 if what you're worrying about

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 actually does go wrong

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 in the way that you're thinking it might?

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 And ask yourself the difference.

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 Would it make any,

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 what difference would it make

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 to you or to anyone

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 100 years from now?

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 Now,

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 putting it in that perspective,

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 then ask yourself the question,

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 what difference would it make

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 if this thing you're worrying about

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 goes wrong,

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 what difference would it make

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 in 20 years' time?

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 What about in 10 years' time?

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 Five?

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 What about next week?

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 And sometimes when we begin

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 to ask those questions

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 and unpack our worries,

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 it puts things

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 into a certain perspective.

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 Now, I'm going to come back

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 to that for a moment,

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 but before I do,

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 I just want to share with you

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 another thing.

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 J. Arthur Rank

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 had a way of dealing

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 with his worries.

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 He kept what was called

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 a worry box.

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 And whenever he worried

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 about something,

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 he wrote it down

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 on a piece of paper

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 and he put it

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 in his worry box.

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 And he resolved

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 that once a week

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 he would open that box.

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 I think it was a Wednesday.

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 He would open his box

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 and he would go

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 through his worries.

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 And almost every time,

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 without exception,

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 he found that by the time

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 he'd opened the box,

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 the thing that he'd written down

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 earlier in the week

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 had been and gone

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 and he'd forgotten about it.

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 Now, I share this with you

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 because perspective

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 against time

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 is a really important thing

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 when it comes to

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 disarming worry

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 of its power.

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 Jesus has this to say.

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 Therefore, I tell you,

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 do not worry

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 about your life.

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 Simple as that.

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 Clearly, Jesus

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 had not read

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 the pastoral care manuals.

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 You know, I've already said to you,

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 I don't like it

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 when somebody says to me,

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 stop worrying,

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 get a grip.

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 But strangely,

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 with Jesus,

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 we can make an exception.

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 And I find there's something

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 amazingly empowering

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 about the fact that

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 Jesus, the Son of God,

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 the Lord of all eternity,

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 the one who conquers sin and death

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 on a cross

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 and walks away from the grave,

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 says,

00:14:45.320 --> 00:14:46.360
 therefore,

00:14:46.919 --> 00:14:48.480
 I

00:14:48.480 --> 00:14:50.720
 tell you.

00:14:53.320 --> 00:14:55.019
 Next time you're worrying

00:14:55.019 --> 00:14:56.580
 about anything,

00:14:57.639 --> 00:14:59.460
 don't just read those words,

00:15:01.059 --> 00:15:02.220
 but read those words

00:15:02.220 --> 00:15:04.160
 and think about

00:15:04.160 --> 00:15:04.700
 who it is

00:15:04.700 --> 00:15:05.759
 that's saying them.

00:15:07.700 --> 00:15:08.720
 Jesus says,

00:15:09.560 --> 00:15:11.820
 do not worry.

00:15:14.460 --> 00:15:15.399
 Now, I'm not going to pretend

00:15:15.399 --> 00:15:15.879
 it's easy.

00:15:16.120 --> 00:15:17.340
 The evangelist J. John

00:15:17.340 --> 00:15:18.440
 said that of all

00:15:18.440 --> 00:15:19.680
 of Jesus' commandments,

00:15:20.899 --> 00:15:21.480
 the commandment

00:15:21.480 --> 00:15:22.139
 not to worry

00:15:22.139 --> 00:15:23.100
 is arguably

00:15:23.100 --> 00:15:23.980
 the most challenging.

00:15:23.980 --> 00:15:30.259
 What might it look like

00:15:30.259 --> 00:15:31.240
 in practical terms?

00:15:32.899 --> 00:15:33.960
 Let's just take this

00:15:33.960 --> 00:15:34.840
 up to the next level

00:15:34.840 --> 00:15:36.060
 and go to Paul.

00:15:37.920 --> 00:15:38.899
 Because Paul

00:15:38.899 --> 00:15:39.680
 offered

00:15:39.680 --> 00:15:41.060
 some very,

00:15:41.360 --> 00:15:42.420
 very helpful

00:15:42.420 --> 00:15:43.759
 advice

00:15:43.759 --> 00:15:44.340
 when it comes

00:15:44.340 --> 00:15:44.820
 to worry.

00:15:46.159 --> 00:15:47.620
 In 2 Corinthians 10,

00:15:47.700 --> 00:15:48.420
 he writes this,

00:15:49.620 --> 00:15:50.740
 for the weapons

00:15:50.740 --> 00:15:52.039
 of our warfare

00:15:52.039 --> 00:15:53.740
 are not merely

00:15:53.740 --> 00:15:54.219
 human,

00:15:55.219 --> 00:15:56.199
 but they have

00:15:56.199 --> 00:15:57.079
 divine power

00:15:57.079 --> 00:15:57.819
 to destroy

00:15:57.819 --> 00:15:58.959
 strongholds.

00:15:59.919 --> 00:16:00.839
 We destroy

00:16:00.839 --> 00:16:01.500
 arguments

00:16:01.500 --> 00:16:02.500
 and every

00:16:02.500 --> 00:16:03.599
 proud obstacle

00:16:03.599 --> 00:16:04.699
 raised up against

00:16:04.699 --> 00:16:05.639
 the knowledge of God.

00:16:05.740 --> 00:16:06.459
 Now, listen to this.

00:16:07.559 --> 00:16:08.360
 And we take

00:16:08.360 --> 00:16:09.719
 every thought

00:16:09.719 --> 00:16:10.360
 captive

00:16:10.360 --> 00:16:11.959
 to obey

00:16:11.959 --> 00:16:12.559
 Christ.

00:16:14.019 --> 00:16:14.919
 We take

00:16:14.919 --> 00:16:16.139
 every thought

00:16:16.139 --> 00:16:16.740
 captive

00:16:16.740 --> 00:16:18.279
 to obey

00:16:18.279 --> 00:16:18.799
 Christ.

00:16:20.759 --> 00:16:21.279
 Now,

00:16:21.279 --> 00:16:21.659
 when Paul

00:16:21.659 --> 00:16:22.139
 was talking

00:16:22.139 --> 00:16:22.319
 here,

00:16:22.379 --> 00:16:22.819
 he was talking

00:16:22.819 --> 00:16:23.220
 about

00:16:23.220 --> 00:16:24.939
 fighting a

00:16:24.939 --> 00:16:25.839
 spiritual battle

00:16:25.839 --> 00:16:26.839
 and engaging

00:16:26.839 --> 00:16:27.699
 in the objections

00:16:27.699 --> 00:16:28.360
 that people

00:16:28.360 --> 00:16:29.159
 put up against

00:16:29.159 --> 00:16:29.679
 the Christian

00:16:29.679 --> 00:16:30.120
 gospel.

00:16:32.439 --> 00:16:33.100
 But hey,

00:16:33.159 --> 00:16:33.860
 if anxiety

00:16:33.860 --> 00:16:34.699
 isn't one of

00:16:34.699 --> 00:16:35.500
 those obstacles,

00:16:36.019 --> 00:16:36.539
 then I don't

00:16:36.539 --> 00:16:37.199
 know what is.

00:16:39.039 --> 00:16:39.679
 So whilst

00:16:39.679 --> 00:16:40.279
 he may not

00:16:40.279 --> 00:16:40.759
 specifically

00:16:40.759 --> 00:16:41.000
 have been

00:16:41.000 --> 00:16:41.459
 talking about

00:16:41.459 --> 00:16:42.159
 the psychology

00:16:42.159 --> 00:16:43.179
 of worrying,

00:16:44.220 --> 00:16:45.259
 there's a really

00:16:45.259 --> 00:16:46.039
 important principle

00:16:46.039 --> 00:16:46.360
 here,

00:16:46.419 --> 00:16:46.980
 and it's this.

00:16:48.079 --> 00:16:49.039
 Paul is saying

00:16:49.039 --> 00:16:50.059
 pay really close

00:16:50.059 --> 00:16:50.819
 attention to your

00:16:50.820 --> 00:16:51.240
 thoughts.

00:16:52.560 --> 00:16:53.580
 Take every

00:16:53.580 --> 00:16:55.000
 thought captive.

00:16:56.379 --> 00:16:57.060
 Let me give you

00:16:57.060 --> 00:16:57.580
 an illustration.

00:16:58.540 --> 00:16:59.120
 I've got a coin

00:16:59.120 --> 00:16:59.940
 in my hand here,

00:17:00.580 --> 00:17:01.379
 and you probably

00:17:01.379 --> 00:17:01.879
 won't be able to

00:17:01.879 --> 00:17:02.860
 make out what that

00:17:02.860 --> 00:17:03.700
 is exactly,

00:17:03.760 --> 00:17:04.880
 other than a coin,

00:17:05.039 --> 00:17:06.620
 but I've got a

00:17:06.620 --> 00:17:07.279
 drawer at home,

00:17:07.320 --> 00:17:07.840
 and in that drawer

00:17:07.840 --> 00:17:08.360
 there's an old

00:17:08.360 --> 00:17:09.160
 ice cream tub.

00:17:10.039 --> 00:17:11.279
 It's full of coins.

00:17:11.740 --> 00:17:12.400
 I carry loose

00:17:12.400 --> 00:17:13.259
 change with me

00:17:13.259 --> 00:17:13.980
 most of the time,

00:17:14.019 --> 00:17:14.500
 and when I've got

00:17:14.500 --> 00:17:15.220
 too much of it,

00:17:15.259 --> 00:17:15.960
 I just chuck it

00:17:15.960 --> 00:17:17.019
 in this ice cream tub.

00:17:17.420 --> 00:17:18.220
 A few months ago,

00:17:18.299 --> 00:17:19.160
 it was full up,

00:17:19.160 --> 00:17:20.019
 so I decided to

00:17:20.019 --> 00:17:20.620
 take it into the

00:17:20.620 --> 00:17:20.920
 bank,

00:17:21.160 --> 00:17:21.720
 where they've got

00:17:21.720 --> 00:17:22.240
 one of those

00:17:22.240 --> 00:17:23.420
 fantastic machines

00:17:23.420 --> 00:17:24.060
 where you tip

00:17:24.060 --> 00:17:25.019
 loose change into.

00:17:25.360 --> 00:17:26.560
 It counts it out

00:17:26.560 --> 00:17:27.400
 within a fraction

00:17:27.400 --> 00:17:28.320
 of a nanosecond

00:17:28.320 --> 00:17:29.120
 and spits out

00:17:29.120 --> 00:17:29.880
 a piece of paper

00:17:29.880 --> 00:17:30.680
 saying how much

00:17:30.680 --> 00:17:31.040
 it is.

00:17:31.259 --> 00:17:31.860
 You take it to

00:17:31.860 --> 00:17:32.259
 the counter,

00:17:32.440 --> 00:17:33.120
 you cash it in.

00:17:33.259 --> 00:17:33.720
 You've probably

00:17:33.720 --> 00:17:34.259
 seen them.

00:17:35.220 --> 00:17:36.279
 On this occasion,

00:17:36.920 --> 00:17:38.660
 it's not only

00:17:38.660 --> 00:17:39.480
 spat out the

00:17:39.480 --> 00:17:40.200
 piece of paper,

00:17:40.779 --> 00:17:41.680
 it's spat out

00:17:41.680 --> 00:17:42.279
 this coin.

00:17:43.680 --> 00:17:44.300
 Now, from where

00:17:44.300 --> 00:17:44.700
 you're sitting,

00:17:44.820 --> 00:17:45.460
 you might just

00:17:45.460 --> 00:17:46.140
 about be able

00:17:46.140 --> 00:17:46.500
 to make it out

00:17:46.500 --> 00:17:46.620
 and think,

00:17:46.619 --> 00:17:47.019
 well, that looks

00:17:47.019 --> 00:17:47.879
 like a 5p.

00:17:48.719 --> 00:17:49.019
 Do you know,

00:17:49.059 --> 00:17:49.719
 I'm holding it up

00:17:49.719 --> 00:17:50.359
 right here and I

00:17:50.359 --> 00:17:50.759
 think it looks

00:17:50.759 --> 00:17:51.559
 like a 5p,

00:17:52.339 --> 00:17:52.979
 but it's not.

00:17:53.679 --> 00:17:54.279
 In fact, I haven't

00:17:54.279 --> 00:17:55.199
 a clue what currency

00:17:55.199 --> 00:17:55.859
 it is and I don't

00:17:55.859 --> 00:17:56.639
 know where it came

00:17:56.639 --> 00:17:57.359
 from, so if anyone

00:17:57.359 --> 00:17:57.939
 wants to come out

00:17:57.939 --> 00:17:58.479
 afterwards and try

00:17:58.479 --> 00:17:59.219
 and identify it,

00:17:59.239 --> 00:17:59.659
 you're welcome.

00:18:00.939 --> 00:18:01.979
 The point is this.

00:18:02.519 --> 00:18:03.359
 For ages, it was

00:18:03.359 --> 00:18:04.339
 sat on a pile of

00:18:04.339 --> 00:18:06.619
 5ps and I thought

00:18:06.619 --> 00:18:08.579
 it was another 5p.

00:18:09.699 --> 00:18:10.319
 You see, it's not

00:18:10.319 --> 00:18:11.299
 easy to tell the

00:18:11.299 --> 00:18:12.000
 difference between

00:18:12.000 --> 00:18:12.679
 coins when they

00:18:12.679 --> 00:18:13.319
 look the same.

00:18:13.319 --> 00:18:15.599
 It's even harder

00:18:15.599 --> 00:18:16.480
 to filter out

00:18:16.480 --> 00:18:17.740
 thoughts from

00:18:17.740 --> 00:18:18.779
 helpful thoughts

00:18:18.779 --> 00:18:19.839
 to unhelpful

00:18:19.839 --> 00:18:20.299
 thoughts.

00:18:21.179 --> 00:18:21.559
 And what I want

00:18:21.559 --> 00:18:22.039
 to say to you is

00:18:22.039 --> 00:18:22.700
 that sometimes

00:18:22.700 --> 00:18:23.279
 when we are

00:18:23.279 --> 00:18:24.139
 worrying, the

00:18:24.139 --> 00:18:25.379
 problem is that

00:18:25.379 --> 00:18:26.079
 we have not

00:18:26.079 --> 00:18:27.379
 learnt to filter

00:18:27.379 --> 00:18:28.039
 out what is

00:18:28.039 --> 00:18:28.720
 helpful from

00:18:28.720 --> 00:18:29.679
 what is unhelpful.

00:18:30.639 --> 00:18:31.500
 And because of

00:18:31.500 --> 00:18:33.000
 the subtlety of

00:18:33.000 --> 00:18:35.039
 neuroticism, it

00:18:35.039 --> 00:18:35.639
 can come in a

00:18:35.639 --> 00:18:36.460
 healthy form but

00:18:36.460 --> 00:18:37.179
 it can also be

00:18:37.179 --> 00:18:37.679
 destructive.

00:18:38.119 --> 00:18:38.700
 And it might

00:18:38.700 --> 00:18:40.179
 well be that the

00:18:40.179 --> 00:18:40.899
 thing that we're

00:18:40.899 --> 00:18:41.939
 thinking about is

00:18:41.940 --> 00:18:43.220
 a healthy type

00:18:43.220 --> 00:18:43.640
 of worry.

00:18:43.960 --> 00:18:44.360
 But you know,

00:18:44.440 --> 00:18:44.940
 more often than

00:18:44.940 --> 00:18:45.580
 not, I bet it's

00:18:45.580 --> 00:18:45.820
 not.

00:18:48.620 --> 00:18:49.580
 And so Paul

00:18:49.580 --> 00:18:51.980
 says, take

00:18:51.980 --> 00:18:53.220
 every thought

00:18:53.220 --> 00:18:55.519
 captive to

00:18:55.519 --> 00:18:56.279
 obey Christ.

00:18:57.200 --> 00:18:57.779
 What does that

00:18:57.779 --> 00:18:58.420
 mean in practical

00:18:58.420 --> 00:18:59.299
 spiritual terms?

00:19:00.460 --> 00:19:01.240
 Next time you

00:19:01.240 --> 00:19:01.960
 have a worry and

00:19:01.960 --> 00:19:02.600
 a thought, just

00:19:02.600 --> 00:19:03.299
 pay attention to

00:19:03.299 --> 00:19:04.019
 that thought and

00:19:04.019 --> 00:19:04.600
 unpack it and

00:19:04.600 --> 00:19:05.240
 think, what is it?

00:19:05.559 --> 00:19:06.320
 How helpful is

00:19:06.320 --> 00:19:06.559
 that?

00:19:07.559 --> 00:19:08.320
 But don't stop

00:19:08.320 --> 00:19:08.640
 there.

00:19:09.400 --> 00:19:10.180
 Take it captive.

00:19:10.740 --> 00:19:11.380
 In other words,

00:19:11.380 --> 00:19:13.180
 take it in

00:19:13.180 --> 00:19:15.200
 prayer and

00:19:15.200 --> 00:19:15.760
 offer it to

00:19:15.760 --> 00:19:16.020
 Jesus.

00:19:17.940 --> 00:19:18.500
 And if you're

00:19:18.500 --> 00:19:18.840
 thinking, well,

00:19:18.860 --> 00:19:19.320
 how do I do

00:19:19.320 --> 00:19:19.560
 that?

00:19:19.680 --> 00:19:19.980
 Well, let's

00:19:19.980 --> 00:19:20.540
 stay with Paul

00:19:20.540 --> 00:19:21.040
 because he gives

00:19:21.040 --> 00:19:21.640
 us even more

00:19:21.640 --> 00:19:22.040
 advice.

00:19:22.880 --> 00:19:23.460
 Because in

00:19:23.460 --> 00:19:24.020
 Philippians he

00:19:24.020 --> 00:19:24.560
 says this,

00:19:25.440 --> 00:19:26.560
 rejoice in the

00:19:26.560 --> 00:19:27.200
 Lord always.

00:19:27.320 --> 00:19:27.940
 Again, I say

00:19:27.940 --> 00:19:28.320
 rejoice.

00:19:28.480 --> 00:19:28.780
 Let your

00:19:28.780 --> 00:19:29.560
 gentleness be

00:19:29.560 --> 00:19:30.040
 known to

00:19:30.040 --> 00:19:30.560
 everyone.

00:19:30.920 --> 00:19:31.500
 The Lord is

00:19:31.500 --> 00:19:31.780
 near.

00:19:32.100 --> 00:19:33.040
 Do not worry

00:19:33.040 --> 00:19:34.440
 about anything.

00:19:35.920 --> 00:19:36.380
 But in

00:19:36.380 --> 00:19:37.920
 everything, by

00:19:37.920 --> 00:19:38.500
 prayer and

00:19:38.500 --> 00:19:39.260
 supplication,

00:19:39.420 --> 00:19:40.320
 with thanksgiving,

00:19:40.319 --> 00:19:40.759
 let your

00:19:40.759 --> 00:19:41.480
 requests be

00:19:41.480 --> 00:19:41.980
 made known

00:19:41.980 --> 00:19:42.399
 to God.

00:19:42.599 --> 00:19:42.939
 And the

00:19:42.939 --> 00:19:43.339
 peace of

00:19:43.339 --> 00:19:43.759
 God which

00:19:43.759 --> 00:19:44.599
 surpasses all

00:19:44.599 --> 00:19:45.839
 understanding will

00:19:45.839 --> 00:19:46.339
 guard your

00:19:46.339 --> 00:19:47.000
 hearts and your

00:19:47.000 --> 00:19:47.500
 minds in

00:19:47.500 --> 00:19:48.159
 Christ Jesus.

00:19:49.539 --> 00:19:50.220
 Now, notice

00:19:50.220 --> 00:19:50.960
 there that Paul

00:19:50.960 --> 00:19:52.319
 directly instructs,

00:19:52.519 --> 00:19:53.399
 do not worry

00:19:53.399 --> 00:19:54.220
 about anything.

00:19:55.059 --> 00:19:55.419
 Now, I've

00:19:55.419 --> 00:19:56.279
 already told you

00:19:56.279 --> 00:19:57.379
 this morning my

00:19:57.379 --> 00:19:58.299
 hang-ups about

00:19:58.299 --> 00:19:59.279
 being spoken to

00:19:59.279 --> 00:19:59.779
 like that.

00:19:59.779 --> 00:20:02.319
 I did say,

00:20:02.460 --> 00:20:03.139
 however, that I

00:20:03.139 --> 00:20:03.500
 make an

00:20:03.500 --> 00:20:04.200
 exception when

00:20:04.200 --> 00:20:04.680
 it comes to

00:20:04.680 --> 00:20:05.019
 Jesus.

00:20:06.440 --> 00:20:07.779
 And because I

00:20:07.779 --> 00:20:08.559
 regard Scripture

00:20:08.559 --> 00:20:09.099
 as God's

00:20:09.099 --> 00:20:09.879
 word, I'm

00:20:09.879 --> 00:20:10.799
 also up for

00:20:10.799 --> 00:20:11.519
 being told what

00:20:11.519 --> 00:20:12.000
 to do by

00:20:12.000 --> 00:20:12.299
 Paul.

00:20:13.779 --> 00:20:14.639
 But notice

00:20:14.639 --> 00:20:15.160
 that Paul

00:20:15.160 --> 00:20:15.819
 here simply

00:20:15.819 --> 00:20:16.759
 doesn't tell us

00:20:16.759 --> 00:20:17.279
 to quit

00:20:17.279 --> 00:20:17.799
 worrying.

00:20:19.119 --> 00:20:20.200
 Rather, he

00:20:20.200 --> 00:20:22.599
 urges us to

00:20:22.599 --> 00:20:23.700
 bring our

00:20:23.700 --> 00:20:24.899
 worried thoughts

00:20:24.899 --> 00:20:25.879
 before God in

00:20:25.879 --> 00:20:26.160
 prayer.

00:20:26.160 --> 00:20:28.160
 So another

00:20:28.160 --> 00:20:28.800
 way of putting

00:20:28.800 --> 00:20:29.360
 it would be

00:20:29.360 --> 00:20:29.860
 to say,

00:20:31.000 --> 00:20:31.620
 take your

00:20:31.620 --> 00:20:32.460
 worried thoughts

00:20:32.460 --> 00:20:33.080
 captive.

00:20:34.060 --> 00:20:34.660
 Filter them

00:20:34.660 --> 00:20:35.300
 out and take

00:20:35.300 --> 00:20:35.880
 them captive.

00:20:36.540 --> 00:20:37.420
 And then let

00:20:37.420 --> 00:20:38.100
 them go,

00:20:38.700 --> 00:20:39.360
 releasing them

00:20:39.360 --> 00:20:39.880
 to God in

00:20:39.880 --> 00:20:40.279
 faith.

00:20:42.060 --> 00:20:42.540
 And all of

00:20:42.540 --> 00:20:42.980
 that's set

00:20:42.980 --> 00:20:43.400
 within the

00:20:43.400 --> 00:20:44.160
 framework of

00:20:44.160 --> 00:20:44.880
 rejoicing and

00:20:44.880 --> 00:20:45.480
 thanksgiving.

00:20:46.700 --> 00:20:47.040
 In other

00:20:47.040 --> 00:20:48.660
 words, to

00:20:48.660 --> 00:20:49.380
 contemplate the

00:20:49.380 --> 00:20:50.180
 eternity of

00:20:50.180 --> 00:20:50.600
 God who's

00:20:50.600 --> 00:20:50.920
 near.

00:20:52.240 --> 00:20:52.640
 And so it

00:20:52.640 --> 00:20:53.300
 all is that

00:20:53.300 --> 00:20:54.040
 Paul continues,

00:20:54.460 --> 00:20:55.360
 finally, beloved,

00:20:55.359 --> 00:20:56.279
 whatever is

00:20:56.279 --> 00:20:56.939
 true, whatever

00:20:56.939 --> 00:20:57.519
 is honourable,

00:20:57.619 --> 00:20:57.979
 whatever is

00:20:57.979 --> 00:20:58.619
 just, whatever

00:20:58.619 --> 00:20:59.459
 is pure, whatever

00:20:59.459 --> 00:21:00.039
 is pleasing,

00:21:00.199 --> 00:21:00.539
 whatever is

00:21:00.539 --> 00:21:01.139
 commendable.

00:21:01.339 --> 00:21:02.179
 If there's any

00:21:02.179 --> 00:21:03.019
 excellence and

00:21:03.019 --> 00:21:03.419
 if there is

00:21:03.419 --> 00:21:04.099
 anything worthy

00:21:04.099 --> 00:21:04.719
 of praise,

00:21:05.639 --> 00:21:06.299
 think about

00:21:06.299 --> 00:21:07.019
 these things.

00:21:08.899 --> 00:21:09.339
 We're going to

00:21:09.339 --> 00:21:10.000
 pray now and I

00:21:10.000 --> 00:21:11.419
 want to help us

00:21:11.419 --> 00:21:11.899
 into that.

00:21:12.500 --> 00:21:13.099
 Think about

00:21:13.099 --> 00:21:13.759
 this.

00:21:15.179 --> 00:21:15.699
 There is a

00:21:15.699 --> 00:21:16.019
 saying,

00:21:17.839 --> 00:21:18.779
 glance at your

00:21:18.779 --> 00:21:19.219
 worries,

00:21:21.799 --> 00:21:22.419
 gaze upon

00:21:22.419 --> 00:21:22.759
 God.

00:21:22.759 --> 00:21:22.839
 God.

00:21:24.680 --> 00:21:25.420
 I think that's

00:21:25.420 --> 00:21:25.920
 what Paul's

00:21:25.920 --> 00:21:26.440
 saying to do

00:21:26.440 --> 00:21:26.680
 there.

00:21:27.839 --> 00:21:28.879
 To think about

00:21:28.879 --> 00:21:29.700
 the good things

00:21:29.700 --> 00:21:30.079
 of God.

00:21:30.240 --> 00:21:30.779
 Not as a

00:21:30.779 --> 00:21:31.079
 form of

00:21:31.079 --> 00:21:31.660
 distraction,

00:21:32.200 --> 00:21:32.740
 but as a

00:21:32.740 --> 00:21:33.359
 way of

00:21:33.359 --> 00:21:34.440
 letting go of

00:21:34.440 --> 00:21:35.140
 that which is

00:21:35.140 --> 00:21:35.759
 unhelpful.

00:21:37.579 --> 00:21:38.220
 I've shared

00:21:38.220 --> 00:21:39.460
 this picture with

00:21:39.460 --> 00:21:39.839
 you before,

00:21:39.920 --> 00:21:40.359
 but I'm going to

00:21:40.359 --> 00:21:40.799
 do it again.

00:21:42.819 --> 00:21:43.559
 Imagine you're

00:21:43.559 --> 00:21:44.140
 behind the wheel

00:21:44.140 --> 00:21:44.660
 of a car and

00:21:44.660 --> 00:21:45.059
 you're driving

00:21:45.059 --> 00:21:45.500
 forward.

00:21:46.160 --> 00:21:46.720
 Now in terms of

00:21:46.720 --> 00:21:47.619
 observation, in the

00:21:47.619 --> 00:21:48.180
 broadest sense,

00:21:48.259 --> 00:21:48.599
 there are two

00:21:48.599 --> 00:21:49.180
 things that need

00:21:49.180 --> 00:21:49.539
 to be going

00:21:49.539 --> 00:21:49.819
 on.

00:21:49.819 --> 00:21:51.679
 One is to

00:21:51.679 --> 00:21:52.240
 be gazing

00:21:52.240 --> 00:21:52.939
 forward through

00:21:52.939 --> 00:21:53.519
 the windscreen.

00:21:55.019 --> 00:21:56.059
 Two is to

00:21:56.059 --> 00:21:56.619
 take the

00:21:56.619 --> 00:21:57.559
 occasional glance

00:21:57.559 --> 00:21:58.059
 in the mirror

00:21:58.059 --> 00:21:58.500
 so you can

00:21:58.500 --> 00:21:58.960
 see what's

00:21:58.960 --> 00:21:59.539
 behind you.

00:22:01.379 --> 00:22:02.799
 Imagine the

00:22:02.799 --> 00:22:03.659
 disaster that

00:22:03.659 --> 00:22:04.819
 could occur if

00:22:04.819 --> 00:22:05.579
 you got it the

00:22:05.579 --> 00:22:05.939
 other way

00:22:05.939 --> 00:22:06.379
 round.

00:22:08.039 --> 00:22:08.639
 You were

00:22:08.639 --> 00:22:09.339
 gazing in your

00:22:09.339 --> 00:22:11.220
 mirror and

00:22:11.220 --> 00:22:11.839
 just occasionally

00:22:11.839 --> 00:22:12.819
 glancing forward.

00:22:14.980 --> 00:22:15.539
 And yet that's

00:22:15.539 --> 00:22:16.619
 exactly what we

00:22:16.619 --> 00:22:18.119
 do when it

00:22:18.119 --> 00:22:18.740
 comes to the

00:22:18.740 --> 00:22:19.299
 distinction

00:22:19.299 --> 00:22:20.500
 between helpful

00:22:20.500 --> 00:22:21.779
 and destructive

00:22:21.779 --> 00:22:22.460
 thoughts.

00:22:23.400 --> 00:22:24.339
 When it comes

00:22:24.339 --> 00:22:25.019
 to those forms

00:22:25.019 --> 00:22:25.940
 of contemplation

00:22:25.940 --> 00:22:26.799
 that are helpful

00:22:26.799 --> 00:22:27.779
 and life-giving

00:22:27.779 --> 00:22:31.579
 and those that

00:22:31.579 --> 00:22:32.039
 will bring us

00:22:32.039 --> 00:22:32.319
 down.

00:22:34.839 --> 00:22:35.859
 And Paul's

00:22:35.859 --> 00:22:36.920
 invitation to

00:22:36.920 --> 00:22:37.519
 each one of

00:22:37.519 --> 00:22:39.480
 us is to

00:22:39.480 --> 00:22:40.240
 filter out those

00:22:40.240 --> 00:22:41.339
 thoughts, to

00:22:41.339 --> 00:22:41.799
 take every

00:22:41.799 --> 00:22:42.539
 thought captive

00:22:42.539 --> 00:22:43.720
 and to take

00:22:43.720 --> 00:22:44.480
 those destructive

00:22:44.480 --> 00:22:45.319
 ones, to take

00:22:45.319 --> 00:22:46.140
 them before God

00:22:46.140 --> 00:22:49.180
 and not

00:22:49.180 --> 00:22:51.100
 to ignore

00:22:51.100 --> 00:22:53.340
 them, but

00:22:53.340 --> 00:22:54.020
 just to glance

00:22:54.020 --> 00:22:56.040
 at them, to

00:22:56.040 --> 00:22:56.660
 hold them in

00:22:56.660 --> 00:22:57.400
 their rightful

00:22:57.400 --> 00:22:57.980
 place of

00:22:57.980 --> 00:22:58.980
 perspective because

00:22:58.980 --> 00:23:00.980
 we gaze on

00:23:00.980 --> 00:23:01.380
 God.

00:23:02.800 --> 00:23:03.660
 It doesn't

00:23:03.660 --> 00:23:04.140
 deny the

00:23:04.140 --> 00:23:04.759
 reality of

00:23:04.759 --> 00:23:05.240
 those things

00:23:05.240 --> 00:23:05.700
 that worry

00:23:05.700 --> 00:23:07.840
 us, but it

00:23:07.840 --> 00:23:08.640
 puts them into

00:23:08.640 --> 00:23:09.140
 perspective.

00:23:09.140 --> 00:23:09.580
 anything

00:23:09.580 --> 00:23:19.180
 that

00:23:19.180 --> 00:23:21.600
 are

00:23:21.600 --> 00:23:25.940
 very

00:23:25.940 --> 00:23:26.040
 important

00:23:26.040 --> 00:23:26.600
 to

00:23:26.600 --> 00:23:27.900
 identify

00:23:27.900 --> 00:23:28.460
 the

00:23:28.460 --> 00:23:30.160
 hygiene