WEBVTT

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 Have you ever Googled yourself?

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 You know what I mean.

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 You ever gone to Google and typed in your name to see what the internet world was saying,

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!

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 Well, I'll admit I Google myself from time to time.

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 Now, mind you, I have legitimate reasons, some of which are not tied to my personal vanity.

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 For example, as an author, I want to see if anyone has interacted with the books or the

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 articles I've written.

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 Perhaps someone's written a scathing review on Reformation20warf1.org.

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 I especially want to see if there's something current.

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 So from time to time, I type in Douglas Sean O'Donnell, make sure my wife isn't looking,

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 and then I click the past 24 hours option.

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 Sad but true.

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 Well, a few weeks ago when I did this, the first hit I got was, guess what?

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 Amazon?

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 No.

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 Facebook?

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 No.

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 The first hit I got was IrishDeaths.com.

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 Well, needless to say, I clicked on the website to see if I was still alive.

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 And thankfully, I didn't find myself on the list.

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 The long list of Irish people who had recently died.

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 A 57-year-old man has died following an assault in Dublin early yesterday.

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 A woman in her late 30s has been killed after being struck by a car in County Tipperary last night.

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 Frank Kelly, the actor best known for playing the foul-mouthed priest, Father Jack, has died at the age of 77.

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 Former assistant county manager George Redman has died following a short illness.

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 Redman was 92.

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 Police in Belfast are investigating after the discovery of a body in a McDonald's in the city center last Thursday night.

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 A teenage girl has been killed this afternoon following a collision involving a truck in West Dublin.

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 A 13-year-old boy in Kildare has drowned after attempting to rescue a friend who fell in a river.

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 Death.

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 It doesn't matter if you're 92 or 13.

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 It doesn't matter if you're Irish, Irish-American, Australian, Welsh, and even English.

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 It doesn't matter if you're male.

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 It doesn't matter if you're female.

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 Death doesn't play favorites.

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 Illness, car wrecks, drowning, murder, death will eventually get us all.

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 And therefore, never send a no for whom the bell tolls.

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 It tolls for thee.

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 Now just so you know, before you say, what is this?

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 Who on earth invited this demented and dour American to speak for this otherwise lovely and enjoyable evening service?

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 Before you say that, before you think such thoughts, I need to tell you that I have been assigned this topic.

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 Well, not precisely.

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 Paul didn't ask me to talk on death, but he approved me speaking on Ecclesiastes.

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 And it's the same thing as saying, hey, Doug, why don't you come and speak on death?

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 So tonight, per my assignment, if not from Paul, definitely from God, from God's word, from this too often neglected part of God's word,

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 I want to give you a brief sermon, brief meaning less than an hour, on what the book of Ecclesiastes has to say on death.

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 What I've entitled, what I've entitled, lively, lively thoughts on death.

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 I say lively because I hope it will make for a lively discussion afterwards.

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 But also lively because I hope that these thoughts on death and on dying will help you and me know how to live.

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 So if you open your Bibles again, we're going to look at Ecclesiastes.

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 We'll look at all of chapter 11 and then also into 12, verses 1 through 8.

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 The structure, Ecclesiastes is a difficult book to kind of outline, but the structure and the key ideas of this text are actually quite obvious.

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 Put simply, it is this, if you kind of go backwards.

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 While you're young, that's what's said in chapter 12, 1 through 8.

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 While you're young, then go backwards, verses 7 through 10 and 11.

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 Fear God, then keep going backwards, 1 through 6.

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 Serve others.

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 I'll put it more precisely, it's this.

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 Before the impending evil days of old age and death strike you like a cosmic thunderstorm, while you're still young, while you're still living,

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 work hard in order to give generously to others.

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 And enjoy life in light of your Creator and your Judge.

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 And we're going to start with the evil days ahead.

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 The real depressing stuff.

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 The stuff that is intended to depress us into dependence on God.

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 And so look at 12, 1 through 8.

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 As these verses were just read, I'm not going to read them again.

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 I'm just going to explain them and apply them.

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 These verses are filled with beautiful imagery about a harsh reality.

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 And the attention of the imagery is emotional engagements.

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 Instead of merely saying that everyone gets old and dies and it ain't fun,

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 Koalef, or Pastor Solomon as I like to call him,

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 he uses images to get us to see and hear and smell and taste and touch our depressing decay.

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 He starts with his picture of old age, the image of an impending and vicious storm.

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 Verse 2.

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 Before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars are darkened and the clouds return after the rain.

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 Now the sun.

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 The sun is mentioned up at this point 34 times in Ecclesiastes.

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 Now in its final time mention, its final scene,

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 the sun along with all the other celestial lights, it takes a bow.

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 It's done.

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 It's pitch black.

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 That's what we're to see here or not see.

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 Using apocalyptic imagery that is strikingly similar to what the prophets used,

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 describing the last day,

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 Solomon heightens the personal tragedy of a person's death

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 by comparing it to the great day of God's cosmic judgment.

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 As in the end of the world, creation will be unmade,

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 so the end of our human life is in the sense that our life is unmade.

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 Our end time is like the end time.

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 When you die, as one commentator put it,

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 a world is ending.

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 Yours.

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 Yours.

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 Now from the black sky in verse 2,

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 the imagery descends down to earth in verses 3 through 6,

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 describing the haunting effects of death.

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 Verse 7 summarizes the sad situation.

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 We're all going to die.

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 The dust returns to the earth as it was.

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 The spirit returns to God who gave us.

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 But before that happens,

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 bodily frailties increase as we age.

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 What was once vibrant,

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 but now unattended,

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 like an unattended state,

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 our hands and our legs and our teeth and our eyes and our ears,

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 our vocal cords,

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 our hair,

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 they all start to deteriorate.

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 In old age,

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 our hands,

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 which once provided for living and protection,

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 they now shake.

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 Verse 3.

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 In the day when the keepers of the house tremble,

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 our legs can't support the weight of our bodies for long,

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 the strong men are bent.

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 Our remaining teeth can't chew food like they used to.

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 The grinders cease because they are few.

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 Our vision declines.

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 Those who look through the windows are dimmed.

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 And if all that wasn't bad enough,

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 there are other awful issues with old age.

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 For example,

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 when we want our ears to work well,

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 they don't.

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 We can't even hear ourselves chew.

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 And the doors of the street are shut when the sound of the grinding is low.

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 But when we would want deafness,

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 our ears work just fine.

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 And one rises up at the sound of a bird.

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 Some of you know all too palpable.

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 It's being described here.

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 Moreover,

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 we can't sing like we used to.

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 Our vocal cords no longer have the elastic strength

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 to make sweet music,

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 to hit the high notes.

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 And all the daughters of song,

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 that's your vocal cords,

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 are brought low.

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 Finally,

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 before we die,

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 we go to what he calls our eternal home.

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 And people mourn for us.

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 The mourners go about in the streets.

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 Our hair turns gray or white.

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 The almond tree blossoms.

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 Nice way to say it.

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 We lose our mobility.

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 And we painfully get around.

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 The grasshopper drags itself along.

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 Our motivation to work.

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 Our appetite for food.

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 Our sex drive diminishes.

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 Desire falls.

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 The fear of falling.

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 And of other dangers increase.

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 They are afraid also of what is high.

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 And the terrors are in the way.

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 And then,

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 and then the moment comes.

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 What was once beautiful,

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 precious,

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 useful,

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 and life-giving

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 is destroyed.

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 The silver cord is snapped.

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 Or the golden bowl is broken.

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 Or the pitcher is shattered at the fountain.

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 Or the wheel broken at the cistern.

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 Light crashes to the ground.

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 And life,

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 it spills out like water.

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 Life is broken beyond repair.

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 Death is final

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 and irreversible.

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 In the movie Rembrandt,

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 Ecclesiastes is featured

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 in the movie's final two scenes.

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 The movie follows the life

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 of the artist Rembrandt.

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 From the time of his considerable wealth

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 and established reputation

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 to his final years

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 where he lived,

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 as the film depicts,

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 in relative obscurity.

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 Rembrandt lost his wife,

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 his fortune,

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 and much of his fame.

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 In the second to final scene,

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 he enters a tavern.

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 After the young men in the tavern

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 give their toast,

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 they say,

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 to beauty,

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 to woman,

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 to youth,

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 to love,

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 to money.

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 They turn to the artist

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 who they didn't recognize

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 as Rembrandt,

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 and they ask,

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 they said,

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 what about you, Grandpa?

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 You haven't given your toast.

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 He responds,

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 I can't think of a toast.

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 The crowd insists,

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 for they had seen him

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 mumbling something

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 into his glass,

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 and Rembrandt replies,

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 that wasn't a toast,

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 and those weren't my words.

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 They were the words

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 of King Solomon.

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 They're the best words I know.

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 And then he quotes

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 four different verses

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 from Ecclesiastes,

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 including 12.8.

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 Vanity of vanities,

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 all is vanity.

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 And the tavern erupts

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 in laughter.

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 Now the final scene

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 depicts Rembrandt alone

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 in his studio.

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 He's completing

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 his self-portrait

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 by looking into

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 a cracked mirror.

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 Through the mirror,

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 the camera

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 focuses on his face.

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 He pauses,

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 he stares at himself,

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 and then he says

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 the film's last words,

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 Vanity of vanity,

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 all is vanity.

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 When my family lived

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 in Chicago,

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 in our upstairs bathroom,

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 there was a vanity mirror.

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 Our vanity mirror

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 had three planes of glass

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 and two on the side,

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 so you can get a whole view

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 of who you are.

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 Ecclesiastes is kind of

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 like that mirror.

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 Ecclesiastes 12,

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 1 through 8 especially.

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 It's just two sides

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 of things that we're to see.

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 On one side,

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 we're to see the utter

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 fleetingness of life.

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 And on this side,

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 there's our reflection of God.

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 We're in the image of God.

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 There's something important

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 about that.

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 It gives both of those

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 truths to us.

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 The first perspective

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 comes post-poem,

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 after the poem.

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 It's after these verses,

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 2 through 7.

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 After this brilliant,

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 exquisite,

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 seven-verse sentence,

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 it gives this bleak ending

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 in verse 8.

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 Vanity of vanity,

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 says the preacher,

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 all is vanity.

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 This is the final time

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 vanity is used.

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 I taught the children today

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 the Hebrew word

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 havel is what it is.

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 You breathe in,

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 you breathe out.

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 Havel.

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 That's what it's like.

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 Hevel.

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 Vanity.

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 Vanity.

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 It's like breath

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 coming out of you

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 and going in the air

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 and disappearing.

00:13:04.259 --> 00:13:05.259
 38 times.

00:13:05.659 --> 00:13:06.500
 And it's echoed here

00:13:06.500 --> 00:13:07.559
 at the end of the book

00:13:07.559 --> 00:13:08.259
 and at the beginning

00:13:08.259 --> 00:13:08.840
 of the book.

00:13:09.559 --> 00:13:10.500
 Vanity of vanities,

00:13:10.759 --> 00:13:11.340
 chapter 1,

00:13:11.419 --> 00:13:12.000
 verse 2,

00:13:12.159 --> 00:13:12.840
 says the preacher,

00:13:13.100 --> 00:13:14.240
 vanity of vanities,

00:13:14.379 --> 00:13:15.139
 all is vanity.

00:13:16.379 --> 00:13:17.360
 In light of the description

00:13:17.360 --> 00:13:18.679
 of old age and death,

00:13:18.860 --> 00:13:19.659
 which we were just given,

00:13:19.759 --> 00:13:21.019
 this sense of vanity here

00:13:21.019 --> 00:13:22.799
 is a fleetingness.

00:13:23.639 --> 00:13:25.159
 Life is going to come

00:13:25.159 --> 00:13:26.320
 to an end too soon.

00:13:27.980 --> 00:13:29.220
 The second perspective,

00:13:29.220 --> 00:13:30.600
 then comes pre-paum,

00:13:31.060 --> 00:13:32.420
 the step before the poem.

00:13:33.000 --> 00:13:33.700
 Perhaps you notice

00:13:33.700 --> 00:13:34.560
 the word before,

00:13:34.720 --> 00:13:35.800
 before the evil days

00:13:35.800 --> 00:13:36.080
 come,

00:13:36.160 --> 00:13:36.519
 verse 1,

00:13:36.580 --> 00:13:37.740
 before the sun is dark

00:13:37.740 --> 00:13:38.300
 and loose too,

00:13:38.560 --> 00:13:39.399
 before the silver

00:13:39.399 --> 00:13:40.840
 cord is snapped,

00:13:40.940 --> 00:13:41.440
 verse 6.

00:13:41.720 --> 00:13:43.200
 Those three befores,

00:13:43.680 --> 00:13:44.680
 they push our eyes

00:13:44.680 --> 00:13:45.660
 to what comes

00:13:45.660 --> 00:13:46.899
 before the befores,

00:13:47.399 --> 00:13:48.399
 namely the command

00:13:48.399 --> 00:13:49.540
 in chapter 12,

00:13:49.639 --> 00:13:50.120
 verse 1,

00:13:50.220 --> 00:13:51.779
 remember your creator

00:13:51.779 --> 00:13:52.920
 in the days

00:13:52.920 --> 00:13:54.220
 of your youth.

00:13:54.320 --> 00:13:55.259
 Remember your creator

00:13:55.259 --> 00:13:56.220
 before you die.

00:13:56.220 --> 00:13:57.840
 You see,

00:13:57.960 --> 00:13:58.500
 meditation,

00:13:59.000 --> 00:14:01.899
 meditation on our end

00:14:01.899 --> 00:14:02.980
 should bring us to

00:14:02.980 --> 00:14:03.700
 in the beginning,

00:14:04.340 --> 00:14:04.860
 God.

00:14:05.580 --> 00:14:06.540
 We're to remember

00:14:06.540 --> 00:14:07.580
 our creator,

00:14:07.720 --> 00:14:08.580
 the one who made us

00:14:08.580 --> 00:14:09.680
 and continually gives us

00:14:09.680 --> 00:14:10.519
 good gifts

00:14:10.519 --> 00:14:12.019
 in the days of our youth

00:14:12.019 --> 00:14:13.820
 before we get to this point

00:14:13.820 --> 00:14:15.399
 in which we're at

00:14:15.399 --> 00:14:16.779
 such a point of old age

00:14:16.779 --> 00:14:17.899
 where everything's

00:14:17.899 --> 00:14:18.759
 sort of falling apart

00:14:18.759 --> 00:14:20.100
 until finally it crashes

00:14:20.100 --> 00:14:21.100
 before we die.

00:14:21.100 --> 00:14:24.480
 But how do we remember?

00:14:24.980 --> 00:14:26.120
 How do we remember

00:14:26.120 --> 00:14:26.920
 our creator

00:14:26.920 --> 00:14:27.980
 in the days

00:14:27.980 --> 00:14:29.200
 where we have vitality

00:14:29.200 --> 00:14:30.519
 in the days of our youth?

00:14:31.399 --> 00:14:32.100
 Well, we do so

00:14:32.100 --> 00:14:33.379
 by keeping his commandments.

00:14:33.540 --> 00:14:35.000
 That's how Ecclesiastes ends,

00:14:35.139 --> 00:14:35.680
 chapter 12,

00:14:35.740 --> 00:14:36.460
 verse 13.

00:14:37.100 --> 00:14:38.060
 And especially keeping

00:14:38.060 --> 00:14:39.259
 the great commandments,

00:14:39.680 --> 00:14:40.480
 loving God,

00:14:40.700 --> 00:14:41.680
 the greatest commandments,

00:14:41.960 --> 00:14:42.480
 loving God

00:14:42.480 --> 00:14:43.379
 and loving others.

00:14:43.740 --> 00:14:44.259
 Jesus said,

00:14:44.340 --> 00:14:44.980
 you shall love the Lord

00:14:44.980 --> 00:14:45.379
 your God

00:14:45.379 --> 00:14:46.180
 with all your heart

00:14:46.180 --> 00:14:46.840
 and your soul

00:14:46.840 --> 00:14:47.759
 and your mind

00:14:47.759 --> 00:14:48.779
 and you shall love

00:14:48.779 --> 00:14:49.740
 your neighbor as yourself.

00:14:49.740 --> 00:14:51.460
 And Pastor Solomon here

00:14:51.460 --> 00:14:54.259
 gives a very similar summary.

00:14:54.440 --> 00:14:55.240
 He exhorts us

00:14:55.240 --> 00:14:56.259
 to work hard

00:14:56.259 --> 00:14:57.500
 in order to give

00:14:57.500 --> 00:14:59.399
 generously to others,

00:14:59.560 --> 00:15:00.279
 love others.

00:15:00.720 --> 00:15:01.399
 That's what's said

00:15:01.399 --> 00:15:02.320
 in chapter 11,

00:15:02.379 --> 00:15:03.139
 1 through 6.

00:15:03.680 --> 00:15:05.120
 And then enjoy life

00:15:05.120 --> 00:15:06.600
 in light of your creator

00:15:06.600 --> 00:15:07.639
 and judge

00:15:07.639 --> 00:15:08.659
 your relationship with God,

00:15:08.759 --> 00:15:09.440
 loving God.

00:15:09.659 --> 00:15:11.500
 That's 7 through 10.

00:15:12.500 --> 00:15:13.120
 Now look with me

00:15:13.120 --> 00:15:14.039
 at chapter 11,

00:15:14.159 --> 00:15:15.019
 1 through 6.

00:15:16.139 --> 00:15:17.100
 Cast your bread

00:15:17.100 --> 00:15:18.060
 upon the waters

00:15:18.059 --> 00:15:20.139
 for you will find it

00:15:20.139 --> 00:15:20.959
 after many days.

00:15:21.079 --> 00:15:21.779
 Give a portion

00:15:21.779 --> 00:15:22.319
 to seven,

00:15:22.439 --> 00:15:23.259
 even to eight,

00:15:24.079 --> 00:15:24.779
 for you know not

00:15:24.779 --> 00:15:25.979
 what disaster may happen

00:15:25.979 --> 00:15:26.479
 on earth.

00:15:27.059 --> 00:15:27.679
 If the clouds

00:15:27.679 --> 00:15:28.439
 are full of rain,

00:15:28.500 --> 00:15:29.299
 they empty themselves

00:15:29.299 --> 00:15:29.959
 on the earth.

00:15:30.279 --> 00:15:31.279
 If a tree falls

00:15:31.279 --> 00:15:31.979
 to the south

00:15:31.979 --> 00:15:32.659
 or to the north

00:15:32.659 --> 00:15:33.199
 in the place

00:15:33.199 --> 00:15:34.000
 where the tree falls,

00:15:34.119 --> 00:15:34.879
 there it will lie.

00:15:35.619 --> 00:15:36.379
 He who observes

00:15:36.379 --> 00:15:36.859
 the wind

00:15:36.859 --> 00:15:37.639
 will not sow.

00:15:38.219 --> 00:15:38.959
 He who regards

00:15:38.959 --> 00:15:39.559
 the clouds

00:15:39.559 --> 00:15:40.399
 will not reap.

00:15:41.399 --> 00:15:42.219
 As you do not know

00:15:42.219 --> 00:15:44.279
 the way the spirit

00:15:44.279 --> 00:15:45.559
 comes to the bones

00:15:45.559 --> 00:15:46.379
 in the womb

00:15:46.379 --> 00:15:47.379
 of a woman

00:15:47.379 --> 00:15:48.179
 with child.

00:15:49.179 --> 00:15:49.979
 So you do not know

00:15:49.979 --> 00:15:50.779
 the work of God

00:15:50.779 --> 00:15:51.759
 who makes everything.

00:15:52.199 --> 00:15:52.699
 In the morning,

00:15:52.899 --> 00:15:53.599
 sow your seed.

00:15:53.699 --> 00:15:54.259
 In the evening,

00:15:54.619 --> 00:15:55.899
 withhold not your hand.

00:15:56.579 --> 00:15:57.439
 For you do not know

00:15:57.439 --> 00:15:58.339
 which will prosper,

00:15:58.479 --> 00:15:59.059
 this or that,

00:15:59.139 --> 00:15:59.839
 or whether both

00:15:59.839 --> 00:16:01.000
 alike will be good.

00:16:02.519 --> 00:16:03.519
 Now notice here,

00:16:03.619 --> 00:16:05.000
 there are four commandments

00:16:05.000 --> 00:16:05.439
 given.

00:16:05.639 --> 00:16:05.879
 They are,

00:16:06.239 --> 00:16:06.719
 cast your bread,

00:16:06.819 --> 00:16:07.279
 verse 1,

00:16:07.500 --> 00:16:08.199
 give a portion,

00:16:08.359 --> 00:16:08.779
 verse 2,

00:16:08.899 --> 00:16:09.559
 sow your seed,

00:16:09.679 --> 00:16:10.419
 verse 6a,

00:16:10.839 --> 00:16:11.899
 and do not withhold

00:16:11.899 --> 00:16:12.539
 your hand,

00:16:12.639 --> 00:16:13.699
 verse 6b.

00:16:13.700 --> 00:16:15.440
 Notice also the phrase

00:16:15.440 --> 00:16:16.560
 do not know.

00:16:17.379 --> 00:16:18.120
 Do not know.

00:16:18.240 --> 00:16:19.140
 You do not know.

00:16:19.400 --> 00:16:20.940
 It's repeated four times

00:16:20.940 --> 00:16:21.820
 in these verses.

00:16:23.120 --> 00:16:23.860
 We know something

00:16:23.860 --> 00:16:24.879
 about precipitation

00:16:24.879 --> 00:16:25.940
 and gravity.

00:16:26.680 --> 00:16:27.240
 If the clouds

00:16:27.240 --> 00:16:28.060
 are full of rain,

00:16:28.140 --> 00:16:29.220
 they empty themselves

00:16:29.220 --> 00:16:30.100
 upon the earth.

00:16:30.840 --> 00:16:32.120
 If a tree falls

00:16:32.120 --> 00:16:32.680
 to the south

00:16:32.680 --> 00:16:33.360
 or to the north

00:16:33.360 --> 00:16:33.800
 and the place

00:16:33.800 --> 00:16:34.540
 where the tree falls,

00:16:34.660 --> 00:16:35.259
 there it will lie.

00:16:35.340 --> 00:16:36.520
 Very impressive knowledge

00:16:36.520 --> 00:16:37.280
 that we have.

00:16:38.759 --> 00:16:39.080
 However,

00:16:39.280 --> 00:16:39.940
 there are some

00:16:39.940 --> 00:16:40.640
 limitations

00:16:40.640 --> 00:16:41.660
 to our knowledge.

00:16:42.320 --> 00:16:43.180
 And three limitations

00:16:43.179 --> 00:16:44.159
 are listed here.

00:16:44.839 --> 00:16:45.419
 Two have to do

00:16:45.419 --> 00:16:45.959
 with the future.

00:16:46.099 --> 00:16:46.539
 We don't know

00:16:46.539 --> 00:16:47.179
 when disaster

00:16:47.179 --> 00:16:47.699
 will strike,

00:16:47.799 --> 00:16:48.219
 verse 2.

00:16:48.500 --> 00:16:49.079
 We don't know

00:16:49.079 --> 00:16:49.899
 if we'll be prosperous

00:16:49.899 --> 00:16:50.459
 or not,

00:16:50.559 --> 00:16:51.219
 verse 6.

00:16:51.799 --> 00:16:52.879
 The other limitation

00:16:52.879 --> 00:16:54.099
 has to do with God.

00:16:54.620 --> 00:16:55.539
 Just as we don't

00:16:55.539 --> 00:16:56.099
 fully,

00:16:56.500 --> 00:16:57.359
 perfectly understand

00:16:57.359 --> 00:16:58.439
 how a baby

00:16:58.439 --> 00:16:59.639
 is formed

00:16:59.639 --> 00:17:01.479
 inside of a woman's womb.

00:17:02.659 --> 00:17:03.279
 Even with all

00:17:03.279 --> 00:17:04.139
 of our technology,

00:17:04.279 --> 00:17:05.359
 it's still quite a mystery

00:17:05.359 --> 00:17:05.879
 and amazing.

00:17:07.039 --> 00:17:08.279
 So we can't

00:17:08.279 --> 00:17:09.039
 comprehend

00:17:09.039 --> 00:17:11.179
 all that God does.

00:17:11.180 --> 00:17:13.759
 A few years ago,

00:17:13.799 --> 00:17:15.320
 I took my youngest son,

00:17:15.320 --> 00:17:16.160
 Simeon,

00:17:16.680 --> 00:17:17.539
 on a trip.

00:17:18.600 --> 00:17:19.140
 And we stayed

00:17:19.140 --> 00:17:20.080
 at this old,

00:17:20.200 --> 00:17:22.140
 refurbished granary

00:17:22.140 --> 00:17:23.460
 on a farm

00:17:23.460 --> 00:17:25.220
 of a friend of mine.

00:17:26.220 --> 00:17:26.680
 And at night,

00:17:26.759 --> 00:17:27.539
 we made a fire

00:17:27.539 --> 00:17:28.200
 and we warmed

00:17:28.200 --> 00:17:29.299
 ourselves around it.

00:17:29.380 --> 00:17:31.140
 Around this cast-iron

00:17:31.140 --> 00:17:32.720
 wood-burning stove,

00:17:32.920 --> 00:17:34.080
 we had a fireside

00:17:34.080 --> 00:17:34.519
 checked.

00:17:35.960 --> 00:17:36.560
 And I don't know

00:17:36.560 --> 00:17:37.360
 how that conversation

00:17:37.360 --> 00:17:38.380
 got to the topic

00:17:38.380 --> 00:17:39.539
 of heaven and hell,

00:17:39.539 --> 00:17:40.039
 but it did.

00:17:40.139 --> 00:17:40.680
 Stranger things

00:17:40.680 --> 00:17:41.299
 happen when you

00:17:41.299 --> 00:17:42.339
 hang out with me.

00:17:43.299 --> 00:17:43.599
 Anyway,

00:17:43.759 --> 00:17:44.480
 Simeon asked,

00:17:45.680 --> 00:17:46.319
 what happens

00:17:46.319 --> 00:17:47.119
 to babies

00:17:47.119 --> 00:17:48.779
 who die

00:17:48.779 --> 00:17:49.920
 in a mommy's tummy?

00:17:52.240 --> 00:17:52.879
 The question

00:17:52.879 --> 00:17:54.279
 took me by surprise.

00:17:54.539 --> 00:17:55.019
 Not in the sense

00:17:55.019 --> 00:17:55.599
 that I hadn't

00:17:55.599 --> 00:17:56.399
 heard it before,

00:17:56.940 --> 00:17:57.579
 but that it was

00:17:57.579 --> 00:17:58.039
 coming from

00:17:58.039 --> 00:17:59.119
 my seven-year-old son.

00:18:00.299 --> 00:18:01.399
 So I fumbled around

00:18:01.399 --> 00:18:02.099
 and I said

00:18:02.099 --> 00:18:02.859
 something like,

00:18:03.639 --> 00:18:03.819
 well,

00:18:03.920 --> 00:18:04.980
 whatever happens,

00:18:05.180 --> 00:18:05.859
 remember that

00:18:05.859 --> 00:18:07.619
 God is merciful.

00:18:07.619 --> 00:18:09.879
 And Simeon replied,

00:18:10.419 --> 00:18:10.599
 yeah,

00:18:10.779 --> 00:18:11.839
 maybe he brings

00:18:11.839 --> 00:18:12.359
 them to heaven.

00:18:13.500 --> 00:18:14.139
 Then he shrugged

00:18:14.139 --> 00:18:14.599
 his shoulders

00:18:14.599 --> 00:18:15.219
 and he says,

00:18:16.219 --> 00:18:17.079
 who knows?

00:18:19.079 --> 00:18:20.239
 Wise people learn

00:18:20.239 --> 00:18:20.639
 to say,

00:18:20.759 --> 00:18:21.979
 who knows,

00:18:23.019 --> 00:18:24.079
 to a lot of questions.

00:18:25.439 --> 00:18:25.739
 However,

00:18:25.819 --> 00:18:27.019
 wise people also learn

00:18:27.019 --> 00:18:28.959
 to labor diligently

00:18:28.959 --> 00:18:29.879
 in spite of our

00:18:29.879 --> 00:18:30.979
 lack of knowledge.

00:18:32.179 --> 00:18:32.399
 You see,

00:18:32.479 --> 00:18:33.599
 if you put together

00:18:33.599 --> 00:18:34.639
 the commandments

00:18:34.639 --> 00:18:35.719
 here to work,

00:18:36.179 --> 00:18:36.659
 cast,

00:18:36.819 --> 00:18:37.079
 give,

00:18:37.079 --> 00:18:37.599
 so,

00:18:38.139 --> 00:18:38.859
 withhold not your

00:18:38.859 --> 00:18:39.220
 hand,

00:18:39.359 --> 00:18:40.179
 with these statements

00:18:40.179 --> 00:18:41.019
 of ignorance,

00:18:41.220 --> 00:18:42.000
 you do not know,

00:18:42.240 --> 00:18:42.899
 you do not know,

00:18:43.000 --> 00:18:43.799
 you do not know.

00:18:44.099 --> 00:18:44.659
 What do you get?

00:18:44.720 --> 00:18:44.779
 Well,

00:18:44.779 --> 00:18:45.279
 you get this,

00:18:45.439 --> 00:18:46.500
 work diligently

00:18:46.500 --> 00:18:47.779
 in spite of your

00:18:47.779 --> 00:18:48.720
 lack of knowledge.

00:18:49.740 --> 00:18:50.419
 Put differently,

00:18:50.720 --> 00:18:52.199
 let God take care

00:18:52.199 --> 00:18:53.099
 of his mysteries

00:18:53.099 --> 00:18:54.819
 and let us take care

00:18:54.819 --> 00:18:55.919
 of our work.

00:18:56.819 --> 00:18:57.720
 The irony is that

00:18:57.720 --> 00:18:58.519
 our limitations

00:18:58.519 --> 00:18:59.619
 should not lead us

00:18:59.619 --> 00:19:00.599
 to despair

00:19:00.599 --> 00:19:02.199
 or to sloth,

00:19:02.199 --> 00:19:03.059
 but rather

00:19:03.059 --> 00:19:03.720
 they should lead us

00:19:03.720 --> 00:19:04.980
 to investment

00:19:04.980 --> 00:19:06.079
 and to industry.

00:19:07.079 --> 00:19:08.399
 verses 4 and 6

00:19:08.399 --> 00:19:09.439
 especially touch

00:19:09.439 --> 00:19:10.000
 on this theme.

00:19:10.139 --> 00:19:10.980
 Verse 4 reads,

00:19:11.299 --> 00:19:12.039
 He who observes

00:19:12.039 --> 00:19:12.679
 the wind

00:19:12.679 --> 00:19:13.939
 will not sow

00:19:13.939 --> 00:19:15.059
 and he who regards

00:19:15.059 --> 00:19:15.779
 the clouds

00:19:15.779 --> 00:19:17.259
 will not reap.

00:19:17.399 --> 00:19:18.139
 And I'll paraphrase,

00:19:18.480 --> 00:19:19.519
 if you're watching

00:19:19.519 --> 00:19:20.199
 the Weather Channel

00:19:20.199 --> 00:19:21.000
 all day for the

00:19:21.000 --> 00:19:22.059
 perfect weather,

00:19:22.539 --> 00:19:23.299
 no wind,

00:19:23.539 --> 00:19:24.539
 no clouds,

00:19:25.159 --> 00:19:25.759
 for the time

00:19:25.759 --> 00:19:26.099
 you're going to

00:19:26.099 --> 00:19:27.059
 plant your crops,

00:19:27.139 --> 00:19:27.259
 well,

00:19:27.279 --> 00:19:27.939
 you will never,

00:19:27.939 --> 00:19:29.199
 ever leave the sofa.

00:19:29.859 --> 00:19:31.059
 So stop the sloth.

00:19:31.659 --> 00:19:33.059
 Put off procrastinating.

00:19:33.059 --> 00:19:35.179
 Ignorance is no excuse

00:19:35.179 --> 00:19:35.940
 for idleness.

00:19:36.940 --> 00:19:37.659
 Trust God,

00:19:37.759 --> 00:19:38.639
 get off your duff

00:19:38.639 --> 00:19:39.139
 and obey.

00:19:39.279 --> 00:19:39.899
 Verse 6,

00:19:40.559 --> 00:19:41.179
 In the morning,

00:19:41.339 --> 00:19:42.099
 sow your seed.

00:19:42.419 --> 00:19:42.940
 At evening,

00:19:43.099 --> 00:19:44.259
 withhold not your hand.

00:19:45.200 --> 00:19:46.559
 Work all day.

00:19:47.659 --> 00:19:48.940
 Put in a full week.

00:19:49.279 --> 00:19:50.319
 Not 24-7,

00:19:50.440 --> 00:19:51.720
 but 12-6.

00:19:52.700 --> 00:19:53.220
 Why?

00:19:53.899 --> 00:19:54.799
 For you do not know

00:19:54.799 --> 00:19:55.539
 which will prosper,

00:19:55.659 --> 00:19:56.119
 this or that,

00:19:56.179 --> 00:19:57.019
 or both alike.

00:19:57.019 --> 00:19:59.339
 We cannot know

00:19:59.339 --> 00:20:00.599
 all the works of God.

00:20:00.720 --> 00:20:01.500
 The wind blows

00:20:01.500 --> 00:20:02.319
 where it wishes,

00:20:02.420 --> 00:20:03.240
 as Jesus said.

00:20:03.720 --> 00:20:04.960
 But we can know

00:20:04.960 --> 00:20:06.639
 that our sovereign God

00:20:06.639 --> 00:20:07.819
 wants us to work.

00:20:08.639 --> 00:20:09.660
 So let's work.

00:20:11.180 --> 00:20:11.379
 Now,

00:20:11.420 --> 00:20:12.279
 industry is great,

00:20:12.359 --> 00:20:13.279
 and the wisdom literature

00:20:13.279 --> 00:20:14.379
 persistently

00:20:14.379 --> 00:20:15.839
 rolls us out of bed

00:20:15.839 --> 00:20:16.619
 and pushes us

00:20:16.619 --> 00:20:17.319
 off the sofa.

00:20:17.779 --> 00:20:18.019
 However,

00:20:18.160 --> 00:20:18.940
 biblical industry

00:20:18.940 --> 00:20:20.839
 centers not on self,

00:20:21.599 --> 00:20:22.619
 but on others.

00:20:23.720 --> 00:20:25.079
 We work for the benefit

00:20:25.079 --> 00:20:25.900
 of others.

00:20:25.900 --> 00:20:26.480
 Note that.

00:20:26.480 --> 00:20:27.620
 Don't forget that.

00:20:28.079 --> 00:20:29.599
 Look again at verses 1 and 2.

00:20:29.799 --> 00:20:30.480
 Chapter 11.

00:20:32.559 --> 00:20:33.640
 Cast your bread

00:20:33.640 --> 00:20:34.660
 upon the waters,

00:20:35.620 --> 00:20:36.860
 for you will find it

00:20:36.860 --> 00:20:37.559
 after many days.

00:20:37.640 --> 00:20:38.339
 Give a portion

00:20:38.339 --> 00:20:39.099
 to seven,

00:20:39.900 --> 00:20:40.960
 or even to eight,

00:20:41.120 --> 00:20:41.920
 for you know not

00:20:41.920 --> 00:20:43.220
 what disaster may happen

00:20:43.220 --> 00:20:43.779
 on earth.

00:20:44.120 --> 00:20:45.120
 The images here

00:20:45.120 --> 00:20:45.640
 are actually

00:20:45.640 --> 00:20:47.700
 of fearless generosity.

00:20:48.120 --> 00:20:49.400
 Fearless generosity.

00:20:50.240 --> 00:20:51.240
 The casting of bread

00:20:51.240 --> 00:20:52.079
 upon the waters

00:20:52.079 --> 00:20:53.319
 is an image

00:20:53.319 --> 00:20:54.360
 of complete commitment

00:20:54.360 --> 00:20:54.940
 and courage.

00:20:54.940 --> 00:20:56.900
 It is likely

00:20:56.900 --> 00:20:57.880
 that the image here

00:20:57.880 --> 00:20:58.980
 of tossing

00:20:58.980 --> 00:21:00.100
 a stale,

00:21:00.340 --> 00:21:00.960
 hard,

00:21:01.140 --> 00:21:01.980
 easy to float

00:21:01.980 --> 00:21:03.640
 piece of pita bread

00:21:03.640 --> 00:21:04.580
 on a river

00:21:04.580 --> 00:21:05.220
 is not that

00:21:05.220 --> 00:21:06.180
 of a careless risk,

00:21:06.240 --> 00:21:06.720
 but it's actually

00:21:06.720 --> 00:21:08.160
 that of a calculated one.

00:21:08.680 --> 00:21:09.360
 You know you're going

00:21:09.360 --> 00:21:10.120
 to find it.

00:21:11.720 --> 00:21:12.779
 And that confidence

00:21:12.779 --> 00:21:13.460
 is expressed

00:21:13.460 --> 00:21:13.940
 in the phrase,

00:21:13.940 --> 00:21:15.000
 you will find it

00:21:15.000 --> 00:21:16.140
 after many days.

00:21:16.220 --> 00:21:17.140
 And many commentators

00:21:17.140 --> 00:21:17.820
 think here actually

00:21:17.820 --> 00:21:18.700
 the bread image

00:21:18.700 --> 00:21:19.700
 on the water

00:21:19.700 --> 00:21:20.820
 represents ancient

00:21:20.820 --> 00:21:21.779
 sea trade.

00:21:22.380 --> 00:21:23.120
 For example,

00:21:23.279 --> 00:21:24.140
 if you wanted

00:21:24.140 --> 00:21:25.860
 to sail from Palestine

00:21:25.860 --> 00:21:27.240
 to Italy and back,

00:21:27.279 --> 00:21:29.420
 it was a very perilous

00:21:29.420 --> 00:21:30.460
 but a very profitable

00:21:30.460 --> 00:21:31.340
 enterprise.

00:21:32.740 --> 00:21:34.600
 Even if one of three ships

00:21:34.600 --> 00:21:35.080
 you sent

00:21:35.080 --> 00:21:36.100
 made it to port

00:21:36.100 --> 00:21:37.440
 and sold its cargo

00:21:37.440 --> 00:21:38.559
 and received goods

00:21:38.559 --> 00:21:39.680
 and brought them back

00:21:39.680 --> 00:21:40.140
 to trade,

00:21:40.240 --> 00:21:41.180
 the whole venture

00:21:41.180 --> 00:21:42.340
 was worth it.

00:21:42.339 --> 00:21:43.699
 The profit was enormous.

00:21:44.319 --> 00:21:45.399
 And I think the point here

00:21:45.399 --> 00:21:46.879
 of this whole bread analogy

00:21:46.879 --> 00:21:47.359
 is,

00:21:48.019 --> 00:21:49.659
 in verse one,

00:21:49.740 --> 00:21:50.679
 is nothing ventured,

00:21:50.819 --> 00:21:51.339
 nothing gained.

00:21:52.139 --> 00:21:53.159
 To borrow just the

00:21:53.159 --> 00:21:54.599
 traditional investment slogan.

00:21:55.339 --> 00:21:56.439
 And then verse two follows.

00:21:56.699 --> 00:21:57.779
 Give a portion then.

00:21:58.279 --> 00:21:59.119
 After you've invested,

00:21:59.279 --> 00:21:59.959
 give a portion.

00:22:00.220 --> 00:22:00.959
 To seven,

00:22:01.139 --> 00:22:02.139
 or even to eight.

00:22:02.720 --> 00:22:03.459
 For you don't know

00:22:03.459 --> 00:22:04.639
 what disaster might happen

00:22:04.639 --> 00:22:05.179
 on earth.

00:22:06.199 --> 00:22:07.220
 Now this verse might speak

00:22:07.220 --> 00:22:08.819
 of just spreading the risk.

00:22:08.919 --> 00:22:09.159
 However,

00:22:09.159 --> 00:22:10.240
 I think it deals with

00:22:10.240 --> 00:22:11.259
 diversifying

00:22:11.259 --> 00:22:12.900
 your earnings,

00:22:13.099 --> 00:22:14.119
 not your investments.

00:22:15.359 --> 00:22:16.279
 I say that because

00:22:16.279 --> 00:22:17.700
 it's imperative to give.

00:22:17.799 --> 00:22:18.500
 We're to give

00:22:18.500 --> 00:22:19.720
 a portion of seven,

00:22:19.799 --> 00:22:19.940
 no,

00:22:20.000 --> 00:22:20.920
 even eights.

00:22:21.640 --> 00:22:22.960
 If we gain from

00:22:22.960 --> 00:22:24.500
 courageous investments,

00:22:25.240 --> 00:22:25.900
 we're to give

00:22:25.900 --> 00:22:27.379
 just as courageously.

00:22:28.240 --> 00:22:28.559
 Why?

00:22:28.740 --> 00:22:29.599
 For you know not

00:22:29.599 --> 00:22:30.660
 what disaster

00:22:30.660 --> 00:22:31.740
 may happen on earth.

00:22:32.259 --> 00:22:32.879
 And if Jesus'

00:22:33.099 --> 00:22:33.680
 parable here,

00:22:33.740 --> 00:22:34.539
 if the rich fool

00:22:34.539 --> 00:22:35.119
 comes to mind,

00:22:35.180 --> 00:22:35.559
 it should,

00:22:35.660 --> 00:22:36.079
 because it's almost

00:22:36.079 --> 00:22:36.900
 the same point.

00:22:37.640 --> 00:22:38.980
 Instead of making money

00:22:38.980 --> 00:22:40.259
 so as to hoard it,

00:22:40.779 --> 00:22:41.799
 we're to spend it

00:22:41.799 --> 00:22:42.539
 on others.

00:22:43.019 --> 00:22:43.660
 We're to spend it

00:22:43.660 --> 00:22:44.400
 on others because

00:22:44.400 --> 00:22:45.700
 we never know

00:22:45.700 --> 00:22:46.779
 if this very day

00:22:46.779 --> 00:22:47.819
 our soul might be

00:22:47.819 --> 00:22:48.880
 required of us.

00:22:49.700 --> 00:22:50.539
 So don't lay up

00:22:50.539 --> 00:22:51.779
 treasure for yourself.

00:22:52.779 --> 00:22:54.140
 Be rich towards God

00:22:54.140 --> 00:22:55.420
 by richly giving

00:22:55.420 --> 00:22:56.680
 to others.

00:22:57.000 --> 00:22:58.120
 Before it's too late,

00:22:58.279 --> 00:22:59.000
 divide your earnings.

00:22:59.860 --> 00:23:00.120
 Seven,

00:23:00.240 --> 00:23:00.360
 no,

00:23:00.440 --> 00:23:01.920
 make it eight ways.

00:23:02.579 --> 00:23:03.220
 It's the better

00:23:03.220 --> 00:23:03.839
 than perfect,

00:23:04.039 --> 00:23:04.680
 seven being the

00:23:04.680 --> 00:23:05.319
 perfect number,

00:23:05.519 --> 00:23:05.880
 seven,

00:23:05.880 --> 00:23:08.060
 perfect way to live.

00:23:08.140 --> 00:23:08.940
 It's the perfect way

00:23:08.940 --> 00:23:09.640
 to give.

00:23:11.380 --> 00:23:11.620
 Listen,

00:23:11.700 --> 00:23:12.840
 we don't know much.

00:23:13.800 --> 00:23:14.480
 We do not know,

00:23:14.540 --> 00:23:15.100
 we do not know,

00:23:15.180 --> 00:23:15.720
 we do not know,

00:23:15.800 --> 00:23:16.300
 we do not know.

00:23:16.360 --> 00:23:16.540
 However,

00:23:16.620 --> 00:23:17.020
 as Christians,

00:23:17.200 --> 00:23:18.660
 we do know this.

00:23:19.620 --> 00:23:21.060
 We know the grace

00:23:21.060 --> 00:23:22.200
 of our Lord Jesus Christ

00:23:22.200 --> 00:23:23.700
 that though he was rich,

00:23:24.220 --> 00:23:25.220
 yet for your sake

00:23:25.220 --> 00:23:26.120
 he became poor

00:23:26.120 --> 00:23:28.020
 so that you

00:23:28.020 --> 00:23:28.980
 by his poverty

00:23:28.980 --> 00:23:30.640
 might become rich.

00:23:30.840 --> 00:23:32.820
 So as our humble creator,

00:23:32.960 --> 00:23:33.820
 remember your creator

00:23:33.820 --> 00:23:34.740
 in the days of youth,

00:23:34.820 --> 00:23:35.360
 and Savior,

00:23:35.359 --> 00:23:36.959
 humbly served us

00:23:36.959 --> 00:23:37.779
 through the sacrifice

00:23:37.779 --> 00:23:38.539
 of the cross,

00:23:38.659 --> 00:23:40.619
 let us be of the same mind

00:23:40.619 --> 00:23:41.559
 as Paul said.

00:23:42.479 --> 00:23:43.859
 Let us put first

00:23:43.859 --> 00:23:45.379
 the interests of others.

00:23:45.740 --> 00:23:46.659
 Let us not be wicked

00:23:46.659 --> 00:23:48.740
 and slothful servants

00:23:48.740 --> 00:23:50.059
 as in Jesus' parable

00:23:50.059 --> 00:23:51.179
 of the talents,

00:23:51.240 --> 00:23:52.699
 but good and faithful ones.

00:23:53.219 --> 00:23:54.339
 People who serve others

00:23:54.339 --> 00:23:55.139
 by sharing,

00:23:55.319 --> 00:23:56.099
 sharing what God

00:23:56.099 --> 00:23:57.279
 has entrusted to us.

00:23:57.619 --> 00:23:58.899
 Let us give bountifully

00:23:58.899 --> 00:24:00.439
 in order to give freely.

00:24:00.859 --> 00:24:02.240
 Let us do honest work

00:24:02.240 --> 00:24:03.359
 with our own hands

00:24:03.359 --> 00:24:04.259
 as Paul puts it,

00:24:04.259 --> 00:24:05.160
 so that we may have

00:24:05.160 --> 00:24:06.379
 something to share

00:24:06.379 --> 00:24:07.720
 with those in need.

00:24:07.720 --> 00:24:10.039
 Let us be venture capitalists

00:24:10.039 --> 00:24:11.559
 for the kingdom of God.

00:24:11.980 --> 00:24:12.240
 Let us,

00:24:12.319 --> 00:24:13.359
 as John Wesley put it,

00:24:13.519 --> 00:24:14.680
 make all we can,

00:24:14.879 --> 00:24:16.160
 save all we can,

00:24:16.500 --> 00:24:17.680
 and give all we can.

00:24:20.039 --> 00:24:20.839
 It's industry.

00:24:21.099 --> 00:24:22.359
 Industry for others.

00:24:23.039 --> 00:24:23.160
 Now,

00:24:23.200 --> 00:24:24.379
 adding to this industry

00:24:24.379 --> 00:24:26.519
 is our enjoyment.

00:24:26.519 --> 00:24:28.639
 Look at verses 7 and 8.

00:24:30.180 --> 00:24:31.039
 Verse 7 says,

00:24:31.539 --> 00:24:32.400
 Light is sweet,

00:24:32.579 --> 00:24:33.480
 and it is pleasant

00:24:33.480 --> 00:24:34.579
 for the eyes

00:24:34.579 --> 00:24:35.539
 to see the sun.

00:24:35.819 --> 00:24:36.099
 That is,

00:24:36.139 --> 00:24:37.139
 it's good to be alive.

00:24:37.400 --> 00:24:38.519
 Poetic way of saying that.

00:24:39.259 --> 00:24:40.220
 Verse 8 continues,

00:24:40.339 --> 00:24:41.240
 So if a person lives

00:24:41.240 --> 00:24:41.759
 many years,

00:24:41.839 --> 00:24:42.599
 let him rejoice

00:24:42.599 --> 00:24:44.039
 in them all.

00:24:45.619 --> 00:24:46.480
 And then that theme

00:24:46.480 --> 00:24:47.420
 of joy just continues

00:24:47.420 --> 00:24:48.460
 in the next few verses.

00:24:48.639 --> 00:24:49.700
 Verse 9 begins,

00:24:49.779 --> 00:24:50.259
 Rejoice,

00:24:50.339 --> 00:24:50.940
 O young man,

00:24:50.960 --> 00:24:51.599
 in your youth,

00:24:51.599 --> 00:24:52.899
 and let not your heart

00:24:52.899 --> 00:24:53.539
 cheer you,

00:24:53.639 --> 00:24:54.199
 but let your heart

00:24:54.199 --> 00:24:55.039
 cheer you in the days

00:24:55.039 --> 00:24:55.679
 of your youth.

00:24:55.859 --> 00:24:56.939
 And verse 10 begins

00:24:56.939 --> 00:24:58.439
 with basically the same command,

00:24:58.539 --> 00:24:59.459
 just said a little differently.

00:24:59.639 --> 00:25:00.559
 Remove vexation,

00:25:00.659 --> 00:25:02.219
 that is remove unhappiness,

00:25:02.379 --> 00:25:04.019
 sorrow from your heart.

00:25:04.219 --> 00:25:05.339
 And he's not saying here,

00:25:05.439 --> 00:25:05.879
 don't worry,

00:25:05.959 --> 00:25:06.500
 be happy,

00:25:06.639 --> 00:25:07.079
 but he's saying,

00:25:07.319 --> 00:25:07.839
 be happy.

00:25:08.240 --> 00:25:08.939
 He's saying that.

00:25:09.019 --> 00:25:09.459
 Be happy,

00:25:09.579 --> 00:25:10.000
 rejoice.

00:25:11.679 --> 00:25:12.079
 Rejoice.

00:25:13.799 --> 00:25:15.459
 In a Calvin and Hobbes

00:25:15.459 --> 00:25:16.500
 comic strip,

00:25:16.779 --> 00:25:17.259
 Bill Waters

00:25:17.259 --> 00:25:18.059
 in the cartoonist,

00:25:18.059 --> 00:25:19.079
 he shows the boy,

00:25:19.679 --> 00:25:20.119
 Calvin,

00:25:20.119 --> 00:25:21.859
 and his tiger,

00:25:22.459 --> 00:25:23.139
 Hobbes,

00:25:23.619 --> 00:25:24.199
 they're sitting

00:25:24.199 --> 00:25:25.219
 with their backs

00:25:25.219 --> 00:25:26.119
 on the ground

00:25:26.119 --> 00:25:26.759
 with their backs

00:25:26.759 --> 00:25:27.599
 on a tree.

00:25:28.239 --> 00:25:28.919
 In the first frame,

00:25:29.039 --> 00:25:30.419
 Calvin leans forward

00:25:30.419 --> 00:25:31.000
 and he says,

00:25:31.399 --> 00:25:32.159
 I don't understand

00:25:32.159 --> 00:25:32.859
 this business

00:25:32.859 --> 00:25:34.279
 about death.

00:25:35.359 --> 00:25:36.379
 In the second frame,

00:25:36.479 --> 00:25:37.639
 the drawing focuses

00:25:37.639 --> 00:25:38.839
 entirely on him

00:25:38.839 --> 00:25:39.519
 and his arms

00:25:39.519 --> 00:25:40.259
 are stretched out

00:25:40.259 --> 00:25:40.799
 like this

00:25:40.799 --> 00:25:41.799
 and he asks,

00:25:42.259 --> 00:25:43.739
 if we're just going to die,

00:25:44.500 --> 00:25:45.099
 what's the point

00:25:45.099 --> 00:25:45.479
 of living?

00:25:46.759 --> 00:25:47.919
 The third frame

00:25:47.919 --> 00:25:48.899
 shows them

00:25:48.899 --> 00:25:49.899
 staring straight

00:25:49.900 --> 00:25:50.400
 at the reader

00:25:50.400 --> 00:25:52.019
 with baffled looks

00:25:52.019 --> 00:25:52.759
 on their faces.

00:25:53.040 --> 00:25:53.600
 They're silent.

00:25:53.780 --> 00:25:54.259
 They have nothing

00:25:54.259 --> 00:25:55.180
 to say in that frame.

00:25:56.280 --> 00:25:56.740
 And finally,

00:25:56.860 --> 00:25:57.660
 we come to the fourth

00:25:57.660 --> 00:25:58.820
 and final frame

00:25:58.820 --> 00:25:59.740
 that the answer

00:25:59.740 --> 00:26:00.580
 comes from hungry

00:26:00.580 --> 00:26:01.600
 and humorous Hobbes.

00:26:01.660 --> 00:26:01.940
 He says,

00:26:02.019 --> 00:26:02.240
 well,

00:26:02.320 --> 00:26:03.060
 there's seafood.

00:26:05.140 --> 00:26:05.840
 The answer,

00:26:06.000 --> 00:26:06.200
 well,

00:26:06.240 --> 00:26:07.080
 there's seafood,

00:26:07.660 --> 00:26:08.880
 is not the answer

00:26:08.880 --> 00:26:09.660
 the Bible gives,

00:26:09.759 --> 00:26:10.440
 but it's not

00:26:10.440 --> 00:26:11.660
 as far off

00:26:11.660 --> 00:26:12.440
 as you might think.

00:26:13.940 --> 00:26:14.860
 In Ecclesiastes,

00:26:15.040 --> 00:26:16.080
 one of the responses

00:26:16.079 --> 00:26:17.519
 to the reality

00:26:17.519 --> 00:26:18.619
 of death

00:26:18.619 --> 00:26:20.220
 is to rejoice

00:26:20.220 --> 00:26:20.980
 in life.

00:26:22.179 --> 00:26:23.039
 Go eat your bread

00:26:23.039 --> 00:26:23.539
 and joy.

00:26:23.679 --> 00:26:24.439
 Drink your wine

00:26:24.439 --> 00:26:25.299
 with a merry heart.

00:26:25.500 --> 00:26:26.339
 Let your garments

00:26:26.339 --> 00:26:27.579
 be always white.

00:26:27.859 --> 00:26:29.199
 Let oil not be lacking

00:26:29.199 --> 00:26:29.699
 on your head.

00:26:29.839 --> 00:26:30.879
 Enjoy life.

00:26:31.519 --> 00:26:32.240
 Whatever your hand

00:26:32.240 --> 00:26:33.039
 finds to do,

00:26:33.139 --> 00:26:34.319
 do it with all your might.

00:26:34.819 --> 00:26:35.139
 You see,

00:26:35.220 --> 00:26:36.179
 in the most depressing

00:26:36.179 --> 00:26:36.980
 book in the Bible,

00:26:37.079 --> 00:26:38.000
 that's Ecclesiastes,

00:26:38.579 --> 00:26:40.159
 you find six

00:26:40.159 --> 00:26:41.299
 enjoyments

00:26:41.299 --> 00:26:42.480
 exhortations,

00:26:42.679 --> 00:26:43.419
 like the one

00:26:43.420 --> 00:26:43.980
 you just heard.

00:26:44.720 --> 00:26:45.200
 We can,

00:26:45.279 --> 00:26:46.460
 if we trust God,

00:26:46.560 --> 00:26:47.720
 if we trust our creator,

00:26:47.840 --> 00:26:48.279
 the one who is

00:26:48.279 --> 00:26:49.180
 in control

00:26:49.180 --> 00:26:50.340
 of this exceedingly

00:26:50.340 --> 00:26:51.360
 complex universe,

00:26:51.680 --> 00:26:52.820
 we can then rejoice.

00:26:53.620 --> 00:26:54.539
 We can rejoice

00:26:54.539 --> 00:26:55.560
 in what he does

00:26:55.560 --> 00:26:56.320
 and what we do.

00:26:57.680 --> 00:26:58.980
 In his brilliant poem,

00:26:59.140 --> 00:27:00.100
 Memento Mori,

00:27:01.120 --> 00:27:01.800
 U.S. poet,

00:27:01.960 --> 00:27:02.720
 laureate,

00:27:02.800 --> 00:27:03.600
 Billy Collins,

00:27:03.720 --> 00:27:04.100
 begins,

00:27:04.920 --> 00:27:06.300
 it doesn't take much

00:27:06.300 --> 00:27:07.259
 to remind me

00:27:07.259 --> 00:27:08.980
 what a soap bubble

00:27:08.980 --> 00:27:09.740
 I am

00:27:09.740 --> 00:27:11.200
 floating over

00:27:11.200 --> 00:27:12.500
 a children's party.

00:27:12.500 --> 00:27:16.000
 Then later,

00:27:16.119 --> 00:27:16.740
 he shifts.

00:27:16.819 --> 00:27:18.279
 He shifts his thought

00:27:18.279 --> 00:27:20.000
 from human transience

00:27:20.000 --> 00:27:21.220
 to human delight.

00:27:21.460 --> 00:27:22.259
 And he concludes

00:27:22.259 --> 00:27:23.319
 the poem in this way.

00:27:24.279 --> 00:27:25.119
 And the realization

00:27:25.119 --> 00:27:25.839
 that no one

00:27:25.839 --> 00:27:26.380
 who is ever

00:27:26.380 --> 00:27:27.279
 breast of the water

00:27:27.279 --> 00:27:27.819
 of times

00:27:27.819 --> 00:27:28.619
 has figured out

00:27:28.619 --> 00:27:30.079
 a way to avoid dying

00:27:30.079 --> 00:27:32.440
 always pulls me

00:27:32.440 --> 00:27:33.140
 by the rains

00:27:33.140 --> 00:27:34.220
 and settles me down

00:27:34.220 --> 00:27:35.299
 by the roadside,

00:27:35.859 --> 00:27:37.839
 grateful for the sweet weeds

00:27:37.839 --> 00:27:39.279
 and the mouthful,

00:27:39.740 --> 00:27:41.180
 mouthfuls of colorful

00:27:41.180 --> 00:27:42.480
 wildflowers.

00:27:42.500 --> 00:27:44.079
 You see,

00:27:44.160 --> 00:27:45.019
 we can respond

00:27:45.019 --> 00:27:45.839
 to the reality

00:27:45.839 --> 00:27:46.460
 of death

00:27:46.460 --> 00:27:47.700
 with cynicism.

00:27:48.500 --> 00:27:49.200
 Life is just

00:27:49.200 --> 00:27:49.980
 a dirty trick

00:27:49.980 --> 00:27:50.859
 from nothingness

00:27:50.859 --> 00:27:51.640
 to nothingness.

00:27:51.720 --> 00:27:52.140
 Hemingway.

00:27:53.079 --> 00:27:54.200
 Or with resentment

00:27:54.200 --> 00:27:55.240
 at the end of it all.

00:27:56.500 --> 00:27:57.720
 I have time at last

00:27:57.720 --> 00:27:58.299
 to consider

00:27:58.299 --> 00:27:59.539
 my life

00:27:59.539 --> 00:28:00.859
 its stubby,

00:28:01.059 --> 00:28:01.500
 stale,

00:28:01.500 --> 00:28:02.500
 and updike.

00:28:02.500 --> 00:28:03.440
 And updike.

00:28:04.259 --> 00:28:04.779
 Or,

00:28:05.460 --> 00:28:06.579
 we can follow

00:28:06.579 --> 00:28:07.180
 another poem.

00:28:07.299 --> 00:28:08.500
 We can take joy.

00:28:09.240 --> 00:28:09.920
 Take joy.

00:28:11.339 --> 00:28:12.200
 We can take

00:28:12.200 --> 00:28:13.140
 all the reminders

00:28:13.140 --> 00:28:14.200
 of our mortality

00:28:14.200 --> 00:28:15.680
 and use them

00:28:15.680 --> 00:28:17.059
 to motivate us

00:28:17.059 --> 00:28:18.400
 to rejoice now.

00:28:18.799 --> 00:28:19.339
 To rejoice

00:28:19.339 --> 00:28:20.259
 in what we see.

00:28:20.420 --> 00:28:20.839
 To rejoice

00:28:20.839 --> 00:28:22.140
 in what we do.

00:28:22.460 --> 00:28:22.880
 To rejoice

00:28:22.880 --> 00:28:24.259
 in who we are.

00:28:24.660 --> 00:28:25.619
 What we've been given.

00:28:25.900 --> 00:28:26.079
 Yes,

00:28:26.140 --> 00:28:26.579
 to rejoice

00:28:26.579 --> 00:28:27.519
 even in seafood

00:28:27.519 --> 00:28:29.160
 and steak

00:28:29.160 --> 00:28:30.940
 and weeds

00:28:30.940 --> 00:28:32.819
 and wildflowers.

00:28:33.900 --> 00:28:34.160
 You see,

00:28:34.240 --> 00:28:35.500
 the book of Ecclesiastes

00:28:35.500 --> 00:28:37.119
 teaches us

00:28:37.119 --> 00:28:38.480
 that death

00:28:38.480 --> 00:28:39.779
 with all of its bitterness

00:28:39.779 --> 00:28:40.740
 can also be

00:28:40.740 --> 00:28:41.720
 an impetus

00:28:41.720 --> 00:28:43.099
 to remind us

00:28:43.099 --> 00:28:43.859
 to celebrate

00:28:43.859 --> 00:28:44.480
 what we have.

00:28:44.940 --> 00:28:46.019
 To celebrate life.

00:28:47.460 --> 00:28:47.980
 Rejoice,

00:28:48.180 --> 00:28:49.019
 O young man,

00:28:49.099 --> 00:28:49.819
 in your youth.

00:28:50.400 --> 00:28:51.220
 And let your heart

00:28:51.220 --> 00:28:51.879
 cheer you

00:28:51.879 --> 00:28:52.900
 in the days of your youth.

00:28:53.019 --> 00:28:53.819
 Walk in the ways

00:28:53.819 --> 00:28:54.359
 of your heart

00:28:54.359 --> 00:28:54.759
 and the sight

00:28:54.759 --> 00:28:55.559
 of your eyes.

00:28:56.759 --> 00:28:57.199
 But know

00:28:57.199 --> 00:28:58.240
 that for all these things

00:28:58.240 --> 00:28:59.059
 God will bring you

00:28:59.059 --> 00:28:59.719
 into judgment.

00:29:01.419 --> 00:29:02.439
 Remove vexation

00:29:02.439 --> 00:29:03.159
 from your heart.

00:29:03.299 --> 00:29:03.899
 Put away pain

00:29:03.899 --> 00:29:04.579
 from your body

00:29:04.579 --> 00:29:05.179
 for youth

00:29:05.179 --> 00:29:06.099
 and the dawn of life

00:29:06.099 --> 00:29:07.319
 are fleeting.

00:29:08.559 --> 00:29:09.359
 Then 12.1,

00:29:09.459 --> 00:29:09.919
 Remember.

00:29:11.000 --> 00:29:11.740
 Remember also

00:29:11.740 --> 00:29:12.339
 your creator

00:29:12.339 --> 00:29:12.859
 in the days

00:29:12.859 --> 00:29:13.359
 of your youth

00:29:13.359 --> 00:29:14.819
 before evil days

00:29:14.819 --> 00:29:15.259
 come

00:29:15.259 --> 00:29:16.779
 and years

00:29:16.779 --> 00:29:17.439
 draw near

00:29:17.439 --> 00:29:19.119
 to which you will say

00:29:19.119 --> 00:29:19.919
 I have no pleasure

00:29:19.919 --> 00:29:20.319
 in them.

00:29:21.879 --> 00:29:23.000
 Why if we know

00:29:23.000 --> 00:29:24.119
 that the evil days

00:29:24.119 --> 00:29:24.539
 are coming

00:29:24.539 --> 00:29:25.139
 old age

00:29:25.139 --> 00:29:25.619
 is coming

00:29:25.619 --> 00:29:26.379
 and with that

00:29:26.379 --> 00:29:26.819
 dying

00:29:26.819 --> 00:29:27.359
 and eventually

00:29:27.359 --> 00:29:27.859
 death

00:29:27.859 --> 00:29:29.079
 why can we

00:29:29.079 --> 00:29:30.079
 enjoy life?

00:29:31.059 --> 00:29:31.639
 What motives

00:29:31.639 --> 00:29:32.019
 are given?

00:29:32.239 --> 00:29:32.500
 Again,

00:29:32.639 --> 00:29:33.359
 the motive

00:29:33.359 --> 00:29:33.959
 of time

00:29:33.959 --> 00:29:34.500
 is mentioned

00:29:34.500 --> 00:29:35.719
 in verse 10.

00:29:36.239 --> 00:29:36.959
 We should remove

00:29:36.959 --> 00:29:37.639
 vexation

00:29:37.639 --> 00:29:38.639
 because youth

00:29:38.639 --> 00:29:40.859
 the dawn of life

00:29:40.859 --> 00:29:41.759
 is vanity.

00:29:41.939 --> 00:29:42.219
 In other words

00:29:42.219 --> 00:29:43.659
 life is short lived.

00:29:44.939 --> 00:29:45.719
 But there is

00:29:45.719 --> 00:29:46.619
 a new motivation

00:29:46.619 --> 00:29:47.719
 and a central motivation

00:29:47.719 --> 00:29:48.659
 also given here

00:29:48.659 --> 00:29:49.679
 and that is God.

00:29:50.419 --> 00:29:51.559
 God is our creator

00:29:51.559 --> 00:29:52.459
 chapter 12.1

00:29:52.459 --> 00:29:53.279
 but God is also

00:29:53.279 --> 00:29:54.319
 our judge.

00:29:55.299 --> 00:29:56.220
 11.9

00:29:56.220 --> 00:29:57.599
 Rejoice in your youth

00:29:57.599 --> 00:29:58.579
 walk in the ways

00:29:58.579 --> 00:29:59.139
 of your heart

00:29:59.139 --> 00:29:59.819
 but know that

00:29:59.819 --> 00:30:00.319
 God is going to

00:30:00.319 --> 00:30:01.079
 bring everything

00:30:01.079 --> 00:30:02.619
 into judgment.

00:30:03.000 --> 00:30:03.519
 And a judgment

00:30:03.519 --> 00:30:04.259
 here could just

00:30:04.259 --> 00:30:05.240
 refer to death.

00:30:06.099 --> 00:30:06.660
 I think though

00:30:06.660 --> 00:30:07.539
 because in Hebrew

00:30:07.539 --> 00:30:08.180
 there is a definite

00:30:08.180 --> 00:30:08.559
 article

00:30:08.559 --> 00:30:09.420
 it is the judgment

00:30:09.420 --> 00:30:10.960
 I think it envisions

00:30:10.960 --> 00:30:12.279
 the day of judgment

00:30:12.279 --> 00:30:13.920
 the day of judgment.

00:30:14.720 --> 00:30:15.519
 So what is going on here?

00:30:15.599 --> 00:30:16.639
 Well some people think

00:30:16.639 --> 00:30:17.700
 that the coming

00:30:17.700 --> 00:30:18.960
 judgment of God

00:30:18.960 --> 00:30:20.620
 it stifles

00:30:20.620 --> 00:30:21.819
 it chokes

00:30:21.819 --> 00:30:22.720
 our freedom

00:30:22.720 --> 00:30:24.160
 and our fun.

00:30:24.880 --> 00:30:25.900
 But that's precisely

00:30:25.900 --> 00:30:26.840
 the opposite way

00:30:26.840 --> 00:30:27.759
 that Solomon

00:30:27.759 --> 00:30:28.440
 sees it.

00:30:29.220 --> 00:30:29.680
 It is rather

00:30:29.680 --> 00:30:30.779
 due to God's

00:30:30.779 --> 00:30:31.360
 judgment

00:30:31.360 --> 00:30:33.079
 that we can live

00:30:33.079 --> 00:30:34.180
 life fully

00:30:34.180 --> 00:30:35.319
 to the end.

00:30:35.860 --> 00:30:37.079
 Because we are all

00:30:37.079 --> 00:30:37.980
 marching towards

00:30:37.980 --> 00:30:38.779
 old age

00:30:38.779 --> 00:30:39.779
 and death

00:30:39.779 --> 00:30:40.759
 and the judgments

00:30:40.759 --> 00:30:43.340
 we can enjoy food.

00:30:44.079 --> 00:30:45.460
 Ecclesiastes 2.25

00:30:45.460 --> 00:30:46.160
 Drink wine.

00:30:46.279 --> 00:30:46.800
 9.7

00:30:46.800 --> 00:30:47.860
 Love your spouse.

00:30:47.980 --> 00:30:48.480
 9.9

00:30:48.480 --> 00:30:49.180
 Take a break.

00:30:49.519 --> 00:30:50.080
 4.6

00:30:50.080 --> 00:30:50.940
 Pursue dancing

00:30:50.940 --> 00:30:51.600
 and laughter.

00:30:52.040 --> 00:30:52.660
 3.4

00:30:52.660 --> 00:30:53.120
 and 5

00:30:53.120 --> 00:30:54.500
 Appreciate money.

00:30:55.279 --> 00:30:55.980
 7.11

00:30:55.980 --> 00:30:56.620
 and 12

00:30:56.620 --> 00:30:57.259
 Take pleasures

00:30:57.259 --> 00:30:57.880
 in gardens

00:30:57.880 --> 00:30:58.540
 and music.

00:30:58.680 --> 00:30:59.560
 Chapter 2.5

00:30:59.560 --> 00:30:59.860
 and 8

00:30:59.860 --> 00:31:00.500
 Put differently

00:31:00.500 --> 00:31:01.340
 because you are

00:31:01.340 --> 00:31:02.320
 marching towards

00:31:02.320 --> 00:31:03.100
 God

00:31:03.100 --> 00:31:05.180
 who is not only

00:31:05.180 --> 00:31:05.880
 your creator

00:31:05.880 --> 00:31:06.820
 but will also

00:31:06.820 --> 00:31:07.920
 be your judge

00:31:07.920 --> 00:31:09.500
 we can rejoice

00:31:09.500 --> 00:31:10.920
 responsibly.

00:31:11.960 --> 00:31:12.519
 We can pursue

00:31:12.519 --> 00:31:13.220
 with all of our

00:31:13.220 --> 00:31:13.560
 hearts

00:31:13.560 --> 00:31:14.460
 as Paul puts it

00:31:14.460 --> 00:31:15.180
 righteousness

00:31:15.180 --> 00:31:16.120
 and faith

00:31:16.120 --> 00:31:17.060
 and love

00:31:17.060 --> 00:31:17.700
 and peace

00:31:17.700 --> 00:31:18.460
 the attitudes

00:31:18.460 --> 00:31:19.340
 and actions

00:31:19.340 --> 00:31:20.279
 that bring with

00:31:20.279 --> 00:31:21.080
 them genuine

00:31:21.080 --> 00:31:21.740
 joy.

00:31:22.299 --> 00:31:22.779
 Holiness

00:31:22.779 --> 00:31:23.380
 I have this

00:31:23.380 --> 00:31:24.000
 slogan I tell

00:31:24.000 --> 00:31:24.720
 myself over and

00:31:24.720 --> 00:31:24.900
 over

00:31:24.900 --> 00:31:26.120
 holiness leads

00:31:26.120 --> 00:31:26.759
 to happiness.

00:31:27.580 --> 00:31:28.740
 When I'm holy

00:31:28.740 --> 00:31:29.259
 when I'm in a

00:31:29.259 --> 00:31:30.100
 right relationship

00:31:30.100 --> 00:31:30.779
 with God

00:31:30.779 --> 00:31:31.240
 and others

00:31:31.240 --> 00:31:31.880
 when I'm loving

00:31:31.880 --> 00:31:32.220
 others

00:31:32.220 --> 00:31:32.900
 when I'm enjoying

00:31:32.900 --> 00:31:33.620
 the life that

00:31:33.620 --> 00:31:34.140
 God has given

00:31:34.140 --> 00:31:34.480
 me

00:31:34.480 --> 00:31:34.980
 it actually

00:31:34.980 --> 00:31:36.259
 it makes me

00:31:36.259 --> 00:31:36.600
 full

00:31:36.600 --> 00:31:37.299
 it satiates

00:31:37.299 --> 00:31:37.779
 my soul

00:31:37.779 --> 00:31:38.120
 as I said

00:31:38.120 --> 00:31:38.580
 this morning

00:31:38.580 --> 00:31:39.400
 an endless

00:31:39.400 --> 00:31:40.200
 indulgence

00:31:40.200 --> 00:31:41.440
 it always leads

00:31:41.440 --> 00:31:42.380
 to misery

00:31:42.380 --> 00:31:43.420
 endless misery

00:31:43.420 --> 00:31:44.039
 eventually.

00:31:44.039 --> 00:31:44.940
 You see

00:31:44.940 --> 00:31:45.500
 walking the

00:31:45.500 --> 00:31:45.960
 ways of

00:31:45.960 --> 00:31:46.539
 your heart

00:31:46.539 --> 00:31:46.899
 here

00:31:46.899 --> 00:31:47.559
 is not

00:31:47.559 --> 00:31:48.319
 romanticism

00:31:48.319 --> 00:31:48.799
 it's actually

00:31:48.799 --> 00:31:49.619
 biblicism

00:31:49.619 --> 00:31:50.659
 to neglect

00:31:50.659 --> 00:31:51.379
 God is to

00:31:51.379 --> 00:31:52.299
 neglect joy

00:31:52.299 --> 00:31:53.119
 God has

00:31:53.119 --> 00:31:53.859
 designed us

00:31:53.859 --> 00:31:54.399
 for pleasure

00:31:54.399 --> 00:31:55.019
 to enjoy

00:31:55.019 --> 00:31:55.480
 all the

00:31:55.480 --> 00:31:55.839
 pleasures

00:31:55.839 --> 00:31:56.299
 that come

00:31:56.299 --> 00:31:56.759
 from being

00:31:56.759 --> 00:31:57.740
 faithful to

00:31:57.740 --> 00:31:58.039
 him

00:31:58.039 --> 00:31:59.119
 and his

00:31:59.119 --> 00:31:59.680
 rules

00:31:59.680 --> 00:32:01.379
 so remember

00:32:01.379 --> 00:32:01.680
 him

00:32:01.680 --> 00:32:02.619
 fear him

00:32:02.619 --> 00:32:03.819
 and in a sense

00:32:03.819 --> 00:32:05.039
 watch the

00:32:05.039 --> 00:32:05.539
 freedom

00:32:05.539 --> 00:32:06.000
 follow

00:32:06.000 --> 00:32:07.319
 watch the

00:32:07.319 --> 00:32:07.659
 fun

00:32:07.659 --> 00:32:08.099
 follow

00:32:08.099 --> 00:32:10.119
 he's designed

00:32:10.119 --> 00:32:10.799
 us for this

00:32:10.799 --> 00:32:11.359
 that he is

00:32:11.359 --> 00:32:12.019
 our creator

00:32:12.019 --> 00:32:12.720
 and our

00:32:12.720 --> 00:32:13.359
 judge

00:32:13.359 --> 00:32:16.680
 Samuel Beckett

00:32:16.680 --> 00:32:19.139
 in 1969

00:32:19.139 --> 00:32:19.799
 he wrote

00:32:19.799 --> 00:32:20.200
 a play

00:32:20.200 --> 00:32:20.539
 called

00:32:20.539 --> 00:32:21.200
 Breath

00:32:21.200 --> 00:32:22.900
 if you know

00:32:22.900 --> 00:32:23.599
 anything about it

00:32:23.599 --> 00:32:23.900
 you know

00:32:23.900 --> 00:32:24.359
 that it is

00:32:24.359 --> 00:32:25.619
 unusually short

00:32:25.619 --> 00:32:26.539
 it lasts

00:32:26.539 --> 00:32:28.079
 35 seconds

00:32:28.079 --> 00:32:30.700
 I'll describe it

00:32:30.700 --> 00:32:31.079
 for you

00:32:31.079 --> 00:32:31.900
 that the

00:32:31.900 --> 00:32:32.660
 curtain opens

00:32:32.660 --> 00:32:34.160
 there on the

00:32:34.160 --> 00:32:34.740
 stage is a

00:32:34.740 --> 00:32:35.240
 pile of

00:32:35.240 --> 00:32:35.740
 rubbish

00:32:35.740 --> 00:32:37.420
 illuminated by

00:32:37.420 --> 00:32:38.079
 a single

00:32:38.079 --> 00:32:38.559
 light

00:32:38.559 --> 00:32:39.460
 the light

00:32:39.460 --> 00:32:39.960
 dims

00:32:39.960 --> 00:32:40.240
 then it

00:32:40.240 --> 00:32:40.720
 brightens a

00:32:40.720 --> 00:32:40.859
 little

00:32:40.859 --> 00:32:41.240
 before

00:32:41.240 --> 00:32:41.720
 completely

00:32:41.720 --> 00:32:42.339
 going out

00:32:42.339 --> 00:32:43.399
 there are

00:32:43.399 --> 00:32:44.119
 no actors

00:32:44.119 --> 00:32:44.740
 there's no

00:32:44.740 --> 00:32:45.299
 words

00:32:45.299 --> 00:32:46.579
 there's only

00:32:46.579 --> 00:32:47.259
 a soundtrack

00:32:47.259 --> 00:32:49.000
 of a human

00:32:49.000 --> 00:32:49.639
 cry

00:32:49.639 --> 00:32:51.319
 followed by

00:32:51.319 --> 00:32:52.440
 an inhaled

00:32:52.440 --> 00:32:52.839
 breath

00:32:52.839 --> 00:32:54.879
 an exhaled

00:32:54.879 --> 00:32:55.220
 breath

00:32:55.220 --> 00:32:57.259
 and another

00:32:57.259 --> 00:32:57.779
 cry

00:32:57.779 --> 00:32:59.599
 and that's

00:32:59.599 --> 00:32:59.859
 it

00:32:59.859 --> 00:33:03.000
 I'm sorry

00:33:03.000 --> 00:33:03.799
 if it comes

00:33:03.799 --> 00:33:04.139
 to London

00:33:04.139 --> 00:33:04.639
 you shouldn't

00:33:04.639 --> 00:33:05.119
 go see it

00:33:05.119 --> 00:33:05.399
 because I've

00:33:05.399 --> 00:33:05.839
 given away

00:33:05.839 --> 00:33:06.419
 the plot

00:33:06.420 --> 00:33:09.460
 but don't

00:33:09.460 --> 00:33:10.039
 miss this

00:33:10.039 --> 00:33:10.440
 point

00:33:10.440 --> 00:33:11.140
 don't pass

00:33:11.140 --> 00:33:11.740
 on this

00:33:11.740 --> 00:33:13.380
 whether you're

00:33:13.380 --> 00:33:14.259
 a modernist

00:33:14.259 --> 00:33:14.940
 who disliked

00:33:14.940 --> 00:33:15.460
 Christianity

00:33:15.460 --> 00:33:16.160
 like Beckett

00:33:16.160 --> 00:33:17.180
 or you're a

00:33:17.180 --> 00:33:17.860
 post-modernist

00:33:17.860 --> 00:33:18.220
 who likes

00:33:18.220 --> 00:33:18.720
 Christianity

00:33:18.720 --> 00:33:19.160
 whoever you

00:33:19.160 --> 00:33:19.279
 are

00:33:19.279 --> 00:33:19.759
 whatever you

00:33:19.759 --> 00:33:20.039
 are

00:33:20.039 --> 00:33:21.660
 for all of

00:33:21.660 --> 00:33:21.960
 us the

00:33:21.960 --> 00:33:22.700
 dark days

00:33:22.700 --> 00:33:23.700
 are coming

00:33:23.700 --> 00:33:25.720
 life will

00:33:25.720 --> 00:33:26.539
 be gone

00:33:26.539 --> 00:33:27.060
 sooner than

00:33:27.060 --> 00:33:27.700
 you ever

00:33:27.700 --> 00:33:28.300
 imagined

00:33:28.300 --> 00:33:28.700
 it will

00:33:28.700 --> 00:33:29.440
 seem like

00:33:29.440 --> 00:33:31.560
 35 seconds

00:33:31.560 --> 00:33:32.620
 of breath

00:33:32.620 --> 00:33:34.620
 34

00:33:34.620 --> 00:33:36.080
 33

00:33:36.079 --> 00:33:37.859
 32

00:33:37.859 --> 00:33:39.019
 10

00:33:39.019 --> 00:33:39.759
 9

00:33:39.759 --> 00:33:40.299
 8

00:33:40.299 --> 00:33:40.720
 3

00:33:40.720 --> 00:33:41.159
 2

00:33:41.159 --> 00:33:41.679
 1

00:33:41.679 --> 00:33:42.799
 0

00:33:42.799 --> 00:33:45.679
 so then

00:33:45.679 --> 00:33:46.000
 what would

00:33:46.000 --> 00:33:46.399
 it do

00:33:46.399 --> 00:33:48.480
 put on

00:33:48.480 --> 00:33:48.939
 wisdom

00:33:48.939 --> 00:33:50.439
 would it

00:33:50.439 --> 00:33:50.699
 put on

00:33:50.699 --> 00:33:51.339
 the lasting

00:33:51.339 --> 00:33:51.939
 and profound

00:33:51.939 --> 00:33:52.419
 wisdom

00:33:52.419 --> 00:33:52.919
 that's taught

00:33:52.919 --> 00:33:53.159
 here in

00:33:53.159 --> 00:33:53.939
 Ecclesiastes

00:33:53.939 --> 00:33:55.759
 before these

00:33:55.759 --> 00:33:56.379
 days come

00:33:56.379 --> 00:33:57.119
 before the

00:33:57.119 --> 00:33:57.919
 impending

00:33:57.919 --> 00:33:58.939
 evil days

00:33:58.939 --> 00:33:59.699
 of old age

00:33:59.699 --> 00:34:00.139
 and death

00:34:00.139 --> 00:34:00.759
 strike you

00:34:00.759 --> 00:34:01.319
 like a

00:34:01.319 --> 00:34:01.899
 cosmic

00:34:01.899 --> 00:34:02.839
 thunderstorm

00:34:02.839 --> 00:34:03.619
 while you're

00:34:03.619 --> 00:34:04.559
 still young

00:34:04.559 --> 00:34:06.759
 work hard

00:34:06.759 --> 00:34:08.179
 in order to

00:34:08.179 --> 00:34:09.219
 give generously

00:34:09.219 --> 00:34:10.019
 to others

00:34:10.019 --> 00:34:11.380
 and enjoy

00:34:11.380 --> 00:34:12.599
 life in

00:34:12.599 --> 00:34:12.880
 light of

00:34:12.880 --> 00:34:13.619
 your creator

00:34:13.619 --> 00:34:15.059
 and in

00:34:15.059 --> 00:34:15.320
 light of

00:34:15.320 --> 00:34:15.920
 your judge

00:34:15.920 --> 00:34:18.099
 let's pray

00:34:18.539 --> 00:34:19.599
 ending

00:34:19.599 --> 00:34:20.219
 ending

00:34:20.219 --> 00:34:20.219


00:34:20.219 --> 00:34:20.219


00:34:20.219 --> 00:34:20.219


00:34:20.219 --> 00:34:20.219


00:34:20.219 --> 00:34:20.619
 ending

00:34:20.619 --> 00:34:20.619


00:34:20.619 --> 00:34:20.619


00:34:20.619 --> 00:34:20.619


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00:34:20.619 --> 00:34:20.619


00:34:20.619 --> 00:34:21.339
 ending

00:34:21.339 --> 00:34:21.920
 ending

00:34:21.920 --> 00:34:23.019
 ending

00:34:23.019 --> 00:34:23.019


00:34:23.019 --> 00:34:23.759
 ending

00:34:23.759 --> 00:34:23.759


00:34:23.759 --> 00:34:24.719
 ending

00:34:24.719 --> 00:34:24.719


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