WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:09.040 In Luke's Gospel, in chapter 19 and verse 37, we read these words just a moment ago. 00:00:09.099 --> 00:00:12.900 When Jesus came near the place where the road goes down to the Mount of Olives, 00:00:13.700 --> 00:00:20.900 the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for the miracles they had seen. 00:00:22.580 --> 00:00:28.519 Some years ago, I think it was my eldest daughter's 18th birthday, 00:00:28.519 --> 00:00:40.000 and we decided that we would all go out as a family, which in our case is quite a logistics exercise anyway. 00:00:41.679 --> 00:00:47.719 We went to this, it wouldn't be fair for me to give the name of it, but it begins with TGI. 00:00:47.719 --> 00:00:59.500 And we went to this restaurant in High Wycombe, and in we went to celebrate my daughter's 18th birthday. 00:00:59.500 --> 00:01:07.359 And we sat there for a while, and then a waitress came and took a drinks order, 00:01:07.859 --> 00:01:14.960 and then we sat there for a very long while, and she returned with a menu and a notebook and took our orders. 00:01:16.159 --> 00:01:20.240 Then she disappeared for an H, and our starters arrived. 00:01:20.239 --> 00:01:25.439 And then she disappeared for an eon. 00:01:28.319 --> 00:01:36.399 And eventually she brought our meals out, which sadly looked okay, but were pretty well stone cold. 00:01:38.579 --> 00:01:43.699 At that point, my wife had been restraining me. 00:01:43.700 --> 00:01:54.760 I went to the waiter and I pointed out the deficiencies of their service and the food that they'd finally turned up with. 00:01:56.780 --> 00:01:59.700 And he was very apologetic. 00:02:00.620 --> 00:02:10.699 He offered me a 10% discount, which I managed to get up to 50% before violence broke out. 00:02:10.699 --> 00:02:18.179 But I thought to myself, yeah, the whole thing was just a dreadful letdown. 00:02:19.979 --> 00:02:26.299 And then I thought, actually, if I think about my life, 00:02:27.639 --> 00:02:36.620 some of my worst behaviors have arisen from situations where my expectations have been shattered. 00:02:36.620 --> 00:02:42.759 In the world of management science now, it's a big deal. 00:02:43.379 --> 00:02:45.539 You get this phrase all over the place. 00:02:46.020 --> 00:02:49.539 People talking about the management of expectations. 00:02:50.500 --> 00:02:57.680 You put that into Google, within 0.39 of a second, you'll get 189,000 hits. 00:02:58.960 --> 00:03:01.620 189,000 hits on managing expectations. 00:03:02.340 --> 00:03:04.080 I don't know if we ever managed them. 00:03:04.080 --> 00:03:06.960 What I want to talk to you about today is, 00:03:07.900 --> 00:03:15.200 how do we learn to live with those expectations that we've had in our lives that we felt let down on? 00:03:15.300 --> 00:03:21.000 And okay, let's be honest, I got over that meal pretty quickly. 00:03:23.080 --> 00:03:29.800 But other expectations in my life may be more important expectations. 00:03:29.800 --> 00:03:39.100 Relations counselors will tell us that one of the biggest problems that people encounter in their relationships 00:03:39.100 --> 00:03:43.820 is that of unfulfilled expectations. 00:03:43.819 --> 00:03:50.799 Back in the day when I was in local church ministry, shortly after the Reformation, 00:03:53.419 --> 00:03:56.840 I used to have young couples come. 00:03:56.879 --> 00:04:01.120 We had a very nice church in the middle of a field that people wanted to get married at. 00:04:01.459 --> 00:04:04.959 And they would show up there, and I would say to ask them questions like, 00:04:04.960 --> 00:04:07.920 So have you discussed money together? 00:04:08.980 --> 00:04:10.140 I'm like, no. 00:04:11.020 --> 00:04:13.719 Have you discussed having children together? 00:04:14.260 --> 00:04:14.719 No. 00:04:15.680 --> 00:04:19.939 I said, do either of you have any ideas about either of those two subjects? 00:04:21.000 --> 00:04:21.319 Yeah. 00:04:22.340 --> 00:04:26.500 I said, so you have some expectations of how you're going to handle money 00:04:26.500 --> 00:04:28.439 and what you're going to do about children, 00:04:28.439 --> 00:04:31.980 but you've never talked about it. 00:04:34.040 --> 00:04:35.339 It taught me that. 00:04:36.719 --> 00:04:43.420 Actually, it's very easy to have expectations of what's going to happen in your relationships, 00:04:44.139 --> 00:04:48.379 and it's not difficult to feel let down. 00:04:50.019 --> 00:04:54.120 I suppose if I were being totally transparent with you, 00:04:54.180 --> 00:04:58.139 I would have to let my wife come up here and have a few words at this point. 00:04:58.439 --> 00:05:00.779 But I'm not going to do that. 00:05:04.079 --> 00:05:07.660 People starting new jobs start with expectations. 00:05:08.399 --> 00:05:12.480 I was talking to the chief executive of a large company recently. 00:05:13.420 --> 00:05:16.959 He was saying he was interviewing one of those, sadly, 00:05:17.120 --> 00:05:21.560 much maligned kind of groups within our population we call millennials. 00:05:22.339 --> 00:05:24.279 Very maligned group of people. 00:05:24.279 --> 00:05:30.739 And he was just about to give a spiel about, 00:05:31.299 --> 00:05:32.519 at the end of the interview, 00:05:32.639 --> 00:05:35.959 we'll give you an opportunity to ask any questions you might have. 00:05:36.079 --> 00:05:38.799 And the young man said, I have a question already. 00:05:39.979 --> 00:05:40.939 He said, yeah. 00:05:41.099 --> 00:05:43.459 I said, what's this job going to do for me? 00:05:43.459 --> 00:05:47.979 The guy goes, CEO goes, ooh. 00:05:50.299 --> 00:05:52.939 We have a job here we need you to do. 00:05:53.079 --> 00:05:55.060 I hope it will do something for you. 00:05:55.120 --> 00:05:59.399 But actually, my interest in this interview is, can you do the job? 00:05:59.399 --> 00:06:11.379 You see, can you, how quickly expectations can drift in different directions and cause difficulty. 00:06:11.599 --> 00:06:18.599 I could realize one of the most inadvertent but smartest things I ever did 00:06:18.600 --> 00:06:25.800 was when I got to my first parish where I was the minister, senior minister. 00:06:27.020 --> 00:06:31.840 And I went to our church council meeting and I took a flip chart with me. 00:06:32.760 --> 00:06:36.100 And I said to the PCC, so what do you think my job is? 00:06:36.820 --> 00:06:38.120 I shout and stuff out. 00:06:38.400 --> 00:06:39.879 We're like on the fourth page. 00:06:39.879 --> 00:06:43.719 And I stopped them. 00:06:43.819 --> 00:06:48.019 I said, so would any of you like this job? 00:06:48.300 --> 00:06:49.420 They're all like, of course not. 00:06:50.759 --> 00:06:56.579 I said, does anybody think there's any human being stalking the earth who could do this job? 00:06:57.779 --> 00:06:58.860 They're like, well, of course not. 00:06:59.719 --> 00:07:03.839 So I said, but actually you're very happy to put that on my shoulders. 00:07:05.079 --> 00:07:06.040 They're like, well, you're paid. 00:07:06.040 --> 00:07:13.540 So what we did was, we did, you know, I said, look, this is what I can do. 00:07:15.040 --> 00:07:18.060 And here is the three and a half pages that I can't do. 00:07:19.240 --> 00:07:21.920 And I'm not saying they're not important, but I can't do that. 00:07:21.980 --> 00:07:24.580 So we're going to have to work out how do we do that together. 00:07:24.780 --> 00:07:26.840 I didn't realize how smart that was. 00:07:28.720 --> 00:07:32.340 But I tell you, it saved me a lot of sleepless nights and stress. 00:07:32.339 --> 00:07:40.619 Jesus entered Jerusalem to a mood of great celebration. 00:07:42.239 --> 00:07:44.419 Comes out even more. 00:07:44.659 --> 00:07:49.120 I mean, you may or may not be aware of this, but this little narrative about Jesus, 00:07:49.299 --> 00:07:55.679 the so-called triumphal entry into Jerusalem, is recorded in all four of the Gospels. 00:07:56.879 --> 00:08:01.199 It must be there to teach people like you and me something really important. 00:08:01.199 --> 00:08:06.699 In the other three versions of it, the celebratory aspect of it is even clearer. 00:08:07.979 --> 00:08:10.159 Luke tells us it was the crowd of disciples. 00:08:10.659 --> 00:08:13.159 The other Gospels tell us it was the whole crowd. 00:08:14.120 --> 00:08:17.099 And as you well know, in Mark's Gospel and Matthew's Gospel, 00:08:17.219 --> 00:08:20.339 they cut down palms from trees and chucked those on the road 00:08:20.339 --> 00:08:24.480 and didn't record that their cloaks were put on the road. 00:08:26.039 --> 00:08:27.039 Something's going on. 00:08:27.040 --> 00:08:31.780 Why would the crowd that shouted, 00:08:32.039 --> 00:08:33.860 Bless God and Hosanna, 00:08:34.320 --> 00:08:37.180 why would that crowd, just a few days later, 00:08:39.259 --> 00:08:41.480 be the same crowd that shouted, Crucify? 00:08:43.600 --> 00:08:44.940 Something had gone wrong. 00:08:47.600 --> 00:08:50.200 Dorothy L. Sayers, in 1941, 00:08:51.159 --> 00:08:54.779 wrote her play, it was actually 12 little plays for radio, 00:08:54.779 --> 00:08:56.919 called The Man Born to be King. 00:08:58.120 --> 00:09:00.459 One of those plays was about Judas. 00:09:00.699 --> 00:09:03.159 Of course, you know that Judas betrayed Jesus 00:09:03.159 --> 00:09:08.500 and went behind his back and sold his soul for 30 pieces of silver, 00:09:08.720 --> 00:09:12.559 which we're not quite sure what that would be worth today. 00:09:12.659 --> 00:09:16.740 It could be anything between 70 pounds and 2,900 pounds, 00:09:16.740 --> 00:09:20.899 but not a lot of money to give somebody's life over to the enemy. 00:09:20.899 --> 00:09:29.919 And Dorothy L. Sayers' theory was that Judas suffered from shattered expectations. 00:09:31.620 --> 00:09:35.319 She said that what Judas thought was that Jesus, the Messiah, 00:09:35.860 --> 00:09:40.179 was entering Jerusalem to lead a political mutiny, 00:09:41.240 --> 00:09:44.379 to overthrow the occupying Roman forces. 00:09:44.379 --> 00:09:49.600 And when they saw him tied up and beat up and dragging a cross, 00:09:49.960 --> 00:09:50.860 something snapped. 00:09:51.820 --> 00:09:55.399 You know, they could see he was not going to fulfill the purpose 00:09:55.399 --> 00:09:57.840 they thought he had come to fulfill. 00:09:59.919 --> 00:10:02.019 And their expectations were shattered. 00:10:04.539 --> 00:10:07.500 And the mood of the crowd turned ugly. 00:10:07.500 --> 00:10:12.220 And they shouted, crucify. 00:10:15.799 --> 00:10:17.399 And if you've ever thought, you know, 00:10:17.460 --> 00:10:20.720 about that little piece in the epistle of James, 00:10:20.799 --> 00:10:23.240 which is a very challenging piece of scripture, 00:10:23.500 --> 00:10:27.059 James says, the tongue, the very same tongue 00:10:27.059 --> 00:10:29.240 that you use to bless God 00:10:29.240 --> 00:10:34.559 is the very same tongue you use to curse human beings. 00:10:34.559 --> 00:10:37.559 Hosanna. 00:10:38.219 --> 00:10:39.119 Bless God. 00:10:39.939 --> 00:10:42.839 Hosanna literally means in Hebrew, save now. 00:10:44.939 --> 00:10:46.819 What that crowd was shouting 00:10:46.819 --> 00:10:49.579 was in effect when Jesus entered Jerusalem, 00:10:49.959 --> 00:10:52.119 they were shouting political slogans. 00:10:53.159 --> 00:10:55.719 It's a bit like, I'm not making a political point here, 00:10:55.779 --> 00:10:57.519 believe me, I'm just making an example. 00:10:57.839 --> 00:11:00.019 It's a bit like, you know, you hear the chant, 00:11:00.159 --> 00:11:00.879 Tories out. 00:11:00.879 --> 00:11:04.820 Well, the shout, save now, Hosanna, 00:11:04.860 --> 00:11:06.279 was a political rant. 00:11:07.120 --> 00:11:09.139 And it would imply that what they were shouting 00:11:09.139 --> 00:11:10.279 was Romans out. 00:11:13.460 --> 00:11:14.820 No wonder the governor, 00:11:16.240 --> 00:11:16.820 Pilate, 00:11:17.860 --> 00:11:18.919 was very nervous 00:11:18.919 --> 00:11:22.259 when he heard this kind of insurrection arising. 00:11:23.559 --> 00:11:24.779 But here's my point, 00:11:24.840 --> 00:11:28.059 and this is what I want to try and help you with, 00:11:28.059 --> 00:11:31.559 and in helping you help myself with, 00:11:32.779 --> 00:11:34.219 is how do we deal 00:11:34.219 --> 00:11:36.319 with expectations 00:11:36.319 --> 00:11:38.139 that are let down? 00:11:39.359 --> 00:11:40.839 Broken expectations, 00:11:42.079 --> 00:11:43.139 hopes dashed, 00:11:44.099 --> 00:11:45.719 disappointment in spades, 00:11:46.939 --> 00:11:48.019 and behavior 00:11:48.019 --> 00:11:50.339 that are out of control, 00:11:50.459 --> 00:11:52.500 behaviors that are out of control. 00:11:52.500 --> 00:11:55.820 Of course, 00:11:55.879 --> 00:11:56.700 that leaves us 00:11:56.700 --> 00:11:59.039 with the very difficult question. 00:12:00.379 --> 00:12:00.960 And I know 00:12:00.960 --> 00:12:02.960 that in a group this size, 00:12:03.120 --> 00:12:04.320 some of you will be suffering 00:12:04.320 --> 00:12:05.440 from this big time. 00:12:06.860 --> 00:12:07.399 And it's this, 00:12:07.519 --> 00:12:08.419 how do we deal 00:12:08.419 --> 00:12:10.000 with disappointment? 00:12:11.940 --> 00:12:13.200 How do we deal 00:12:13.200 --> 00:12:14.659 with our lives 00:12:14.659 --> 00:12:16.100 when we've been 00:12:16.100 --> 00:12:17.779 deeply disappointed? 00:12:19.279 --> 00:12:20.740 I can remember now 00:12:20.740 --> 00:12:21.740 only too well 00:12:21.740 --> 00:12:22.700 as a young fellow 00:12:22.700 --> 00:12:23.259 at 15, 00:12:23.379 --> 00:12:24.480 16 years old. 00:12:24.899 --> 00:12:25.700 I wanted to be 00:12:25.700 --> 00:12:27.120 a professional footballer, 00:12:27.159 --> 00:12:28.340 and I was reasonably good 00:12:28.340 --> 00:12:29.000 at football, 00:12:29.639 --> 00:12:31.000 and I got a certain way 00:12:31.000 --> 00:12:31.419 with that, 00:12:31.480 --> 00:12:32.100 and in the end 00:12:32.100 --> 00:12:33.200 I was told, 00:12:34.120 --> 00:12:35.240 actually by the manager 00:12:35.240 --> 00:12:36.000 of the enemy, 00:12:36.200 --> 00:12:37.100 Manchester City, 00:12:38.480 --> 00:12:40.000 that I would never be good enough 00:12:40.000 --> 00:12:40.460 to play 00:12:40.460 --> 00:12:41.639 in the old first division. 00:12:41.639 --> 00:12:45.819 I mean, 00:12:45.860 --> 00:12:46.899 I tell you that now, 00:12:47.019 --> 00:12:47.279 I mean, 00:12:47.799 --> 00:12:48.879 a few days time, 00:12:49.500 --> 00:12:51.080 I'll be 70 years old. 00:12:52.199 --> 00:12:52.620 So, 00:12:52.840 --> 00:12:55.059 whatever 15 is from 70, 00:12:55.199 --> 00:12:56.199 somebody shout it out. 00:12:56.819 --> 00:12:57.279 55? 00:12:58.399 --> 00:12:58.960 55, 00:12:59.120 --> 00:12:59.980 I can still feel 00:12:59.980 --> 00:13:00.759 the disappointment 00:13:00.759 --> 00:13:02.980 in the pit of my stomach 00:13:02.980 --> 00:13:04.879 at being told that news. 00:13:07.100 --> 00:13:08.600 And I can remember thinking, 00:13:08.720 --> 00:13:09.759 I wasn't a believer then, 00:13:09.799 --> 00:13:10.600 I wasn't a Christian, 00:13:10.600 --> 00:13:12.899 I had nothing inside me 00:13:12.899 --> 00:13:15.500 to fight that kind 00:13:15.500 --> 00:13:16.279 of disappointment. 00:13:16.500 --> 00:13:17.519 So I just got angrier 00:13:17.519 --> 00:13:18.639 than I already was. 00:13:19.840 --> 00:13:22.399 Acted out terrible behaviors. 00:13:23.040 --> 00:13:23.840 And disappointment 00:13:23.840 --> 00:13:25.360 can do that to you. 00:13:26.800 --> 00:13:28.240 It can break your relationships, 00:13:28.480 --> 00:13:29.560 it can break your heart. 00:13:32.440 --> 00:13:33.659 And I know, 00:13:34.580 --> 00:13:34.920 you know, 00:13:35.040 --> 00:13:36.100 having been a pastor 00:13:36.100 --> 00:13:38.120 for the last 40 years, 00:13:38.720 --> 00:13:39.600 how much disappointment, 00:13:39.600 --> 00:13:40.300 disappointment, 00:13:40.300 --> 00:13:41.820 how much shattered 00:13:41.820 --> 00:13:42.879 expectations 00:13:42.879 --> 00:13:44.720 can affect us. 00:13:46.259 --> 00:13:47.379 And my observation is, 00:13:47.480 --> 00:13:48.860 we have a number of ways 00:13:48.860 --> 00:13:49.560 of kind of 00:13:49.560 --> 00:13:51.139 trying to cope with this. 00:13:51.340 --> 00:13:52.420 Some of them are healthy, 00:13:52.779 --> 00:13:54.080 some of them are not so healthy. 00:13:54.200 --> 00:13:55.180 One way of dealing with it 00:13:55.180 --> 00:13:55.340 is, 00:13:55.500 --> 00:13:56.279 you just give up. 00:13:58.420 --> 00:13:59.300 And when I was told 00:13:59.300 --> 00:13:59.940 I wasn't good enough 00:13:59.940 --> 00:14:00.460 to play 00:14:00.460 --> 00:14:02.200 first division football, 00:14:02.200 --> 00:14:03.460 I went off in a sulk 00:14:03.460 --> 00:14:05.279 and played rugby league. 00:14:05.279 --> 00:14:11.579 Some people just give up 00:14:11.579 --> 00:14:12.579 in their relationships 00:14:12.579 --> 00:14:14.000 when their expectations 00:14:14.000 --> 00:14:14.779 are let down. 00:14:16.199 --> 00:14:17.399 A woman said to me 00:14:17.399 --> 00:14:18.000 recently, 00:14:18.259 --> 00:14:18.740 she said, 00:14:19.120 --> 00:14:20.620 we'll have been married 00:14:20.620 --> 00:14:23.100 for 65 years. 00:14:23.399 --> 00:14:24.220 And she said, 00:14:24.720 --> 00:14:25.500 he's not the man 00:14:25.500 --> 00:14:26.120 I married. 00:14:27.139 --> 00:14:27.539 I'm like, 00:14:27.620 --> 00:14:28.659 I bet you're glad 00:14:28.659 --> 00:14:29.220 about that, 00:14:29.319 --> 00:14:29.620 aren't you? 00:14:29.720 --> 00:14:30.279 She's like, 00:14:30.279 --> 00:14:31.100 you know. 00:14:34.939 --> 00:14:36.539 Some people just give up. 00:14:38.899 --> 00:14:41.679 Others push on resentfully. 00:14:43.299 --> 00:14:43.659 You know, 00:14:43.759 --> 00:14:44.360 we're talking about 00:14:44.360 --> 00:14:45.259 expectations. 00:14:46.500 --> 00:14:47.740 What about those of you 00:14:47.740 --> 00:14:49.000 who feel let down by God? 00:14:49.839 --> 00:14:50.100 Right? 00:14:50.519 --> 00:14:51.120 But you're still 00:14:51.120 --> 00:14:52.279 showing up in church. 00:14:53.159 --> 00:14:54.740 But deep down inside, 00:14:55.220 --> 00:14:56.299 week by week, 00:14:56.459 --> 00:14:58.039 you are smoldering 00:14:58.039 --> 00:14:59.220 with resentment. 00:15:00.279 --> 00:15:01.779 thinking that 00:15:01.779 --> 00:15:02.799 this God in heaven 00:15:02.799 --> 00:15:03.439 dealt you 00:15:03.439 --> 00:15:06.480 a tough set of marbles, 00:15:06.579 --> 00:15:07.199 if I can use 00:15:07.199 --> 00:15:09.120 a technical theological phrase. 00:15:12.379 --> 00:15:13.779 That's what some people do. 00:15:14.539 --> 00:15:15.399 They don't deal 00:15:15.399 --> 00:15:16.639 with their lack of expectation. 00:15:16.759 --> 00:15:18.159 They just kind of carry on. 00:15:18.379 --> 00:15:19.699 But they carry on 00:15:19.699 --> 00:15:20.980 with resentfulness 00:15:20.980 --> 00:15:21.839 and bitterness 00:15:21.839 --> 00:15:23.319 in their hearts. 00:15:24.740 --> 00:15:26.000 Then there are those people, 00:15:26.179 --> 00:15:27.980 I suppose I was like this 00:15:27.980 --> 00:15:28.720 when I was young, 00:15:29.059 --> 00:15:30.059 you just lash out. 00:15:30.279 --> 00:15:32.439 I don't mean necessarily 00:15:32.439 --> 00:15:33.019 physically, 00:15:33.220 --> 00:15:33.819 but verbally, 00:15:34.019 --> 00:15:34.339 whatever. 00:15:35.240 --> 00:15:36.139 You just become 00:15:36.139 --> 00:15:37.439 deeply unpleasant. 00:15:42.799 --> 00:15:43.399 You know, 00:15:43.480 --> 00:15:43.899 and of course, 00:15:44.079 --> 00:15:46.399 you can see deep unpleasantness 00:15:46.399 --> 00:15:47.360 in other people, 00:15:47.559 --> 00:15:49.579 but sometimes you can miss it 00:15:49.579 --> 00:15:50.779 in yourself. 00:15:50.980 --> 00:15:51.659 I don't know, 00:15:51.720 --> 00:15:52.399 I was a 00:15:52.399 --> 00:15:54.779 Seinfeld fan, 00:15:54.939 --> 00:15:56.659 American TV sitcom 00:15:56.659 --> 00:15:57.620 when I was younger. 00:15:57.620 --> 00:15:58.620 And what's so clever 00:15:58.620 --> 00:15:59.620 about that program 00:15:59.620 --> 00:16:00.740 is that everybody 00:16:00.740 --> 00:16:02.440 on it is basically horrible. 00:16:03.100 --> 00:16:03.679 But somehow, 00:16:04.060 --> 00:16:05.620 they end up making you 00:16:05.620 --> 00:16:06.139 like them. 00:16:08.700 --> 00:16:09.019 Well, 00:16:09.019 --> 00:16:10.179 it doesn't happen like that 00:16:10.179 --> 00:16:10.820 in real life, 00:16:10.879 --> 00:16:11.179 does it? 00:16:12.159 --> 00:16:12.860 People who are 00:16:12.860 --> 00:16:13.740 deeply unpleasant 00:16:13.740 --> 00:16:15.539 end up being 00:16:15.539 --> 00:16:16.820 deeply isolated. 00:16:18.159 --> 00:16:19.360 The fourth thing is, 00:16:19.419 --> 00:16:20.080 and this is where 00:16:20.080 --> 00:16:20.799 it starts to get 00:16:20.799 --> 00:16:21.700 a bit more healthy, 00:16:21.700 --> 00:16:23.700 is we sort of reset 00:16:23.700 --> 00:16:24.800 our expectation 00:16:24.800 --> 00:16:25.320 dial. 00:16:26.960 --> 00:16:27.400 Somehow, 00:16:27.620 --> 00:16:28.500 it dawns on us 00:16:28.500 --> 00:16:29.800 that our expectation 00:16:29.800 --> 00:16:32.420 is unreasonable 00:16:32.420 --> 00:16:33.520 and we need to 00:16:33.520 --> 00:16:35.140 just shift it. 00:16:35.200 --> 00:16:35.340 So, 00:16:35.440 --> 00:16:35.620 you know, 00:16:35.660 --> 00:16:36.220 if you're marrying 00:16:36.220 --> 00:16:37.920 somebody who you think 00:16:37.920 --> 00:16:38.560 is perfect, 00:16:40.980 --> 00:16:41.720 I mean, 00:16:41.800 --> 00:16:42.160 honestly, 00:16:42.240 --> 00:16:42.860 this is true, 00:16:42.960 --> 00:16:43.120 right? 00:16:43.160 --> 00:16:43.620 It shows you 00:16:43.620 --> 00:16:44.379 how way 00:16:44.379 --> 00:16:44.860 what I was. 00:16:45.059 --> 00:16:46.039 When I got married, 00:16:46.500 --> 00:16:47.419 I thought 00:16:47.419 --> 00:16:49.379 I was a real prize. 00:16:52.659 --> 00:16:53.100 I said, 00:16:53.159 --> 00:16:53.779 why are you laughing? 00:16:55.659 --> 00:16:56.340 I thought I was 00:16:56.340 --> 00:16:56.879 a real prize. 00:16:56.980 --> 00:16:57.179 I thought, 00:16:57.240 --> 00:16:57.379 you know, 00:16:57.439 --> 00:16:57.840 women get, 00:16:57.919 --> 00:16:58.960 I'm uncomplicated, 00:16:59.279 --> 00:17:00.200 I'm easygoing, 00:17:00.439 --> 00:17:00.639 you know, 00:17:00.679 --> 00:17:01.679 I'm happy-go-lucking. 00:17:02.539 --> 00:17:03.279 I'm actually not 00:17:03.279 --> 00:17:03.960 at all like that, 00:17:04.000 --> 00:17:04.839 it transpires. 00:17:06.839 --> 00:17:07.380 I'm complicated 00:17:07.380 --> 00:17:08.460 and, 00:17:09.060 --> 00:17:10.260 you know, 00:17:10.300 --> 00:17:11.080 I'm not easy 00:17:11.080 --> 00:17:11.440 and, 00:17:12.600 --> 00:17:12.880 you know, 00:17:12.900 --> 00:17:14.060 I don't want to be like that 00:17:14.060 --> 00:17:14.620 but somehow 00:17:14.620 --> 00:17:16.420 I feel like St. Paul, 00:17:16.520 --> 00:17:16.680 you know, 00:17:16.720 --> 00:17:17.220 when he said, 00:17:17.360 --> 00:17:18.460 the good I want to do 00:17:18.460 --> 00:17:19.920 I find myself avoiding 00:17:19.920 --> 00:17:21.340 and the evil I want to avoid 00:17:21.340 --> 00:17:22.900 I find myself doing. 00:17:24.460 --> 00:17:25.760 I don't want to be like that. 00:17:27.640 --> 00:17:28.480 How come I am? 00:17:29.280 --> 00:17:29.660 Well, 00:17:29.820 --> 00:17:30.600 some people 00:17:30.600 --> 00:17:31.600 will just reset 00:17:31.600 --> 00:17:33.100 their expectation dial 00:17:33.100 --> 00:17:34.080 and if you think 00:17:34.080 --> 00:17:35.340 the person you married 00:17:35.340 --> 00:17:35.940 is perfect, 00:17:36.040 --> 00:17:36.940 you probably need to do 00:17:36.940 --> 00:17:38.360 a little resetting exercise 00:17:38.360 --> 00:17:39.180 pretty quickly 00:17:39.180 --> 00:17:42.259 because nobody 00:17:42.259 --> 00:17:43.700 apart from Jesus Christ 00:17:43.700 --> 00:17:44.779 who walks this planet 00:17:44.779 --> 00:17:45.420 is perfect. 00:17:48.299 --> 00:17:49.019 It's true. 00:17:51.759 --> 00:17:53.259 And the last thing is 00:17:53.259 --> 00:17:56.019 and this is what really 00:17:56.019 --> 00:17:56.900 takes courage 00:17:56.900 --> 00:17:58.160 and takes work 00:17:58.160 --> 00:17:59.200 and sometimes 00:17:59.200 --> 00:18:00.039 takes somebody 00:18:00.039 --> 00:18:00.940 to sit with you 00:18:00.940 --> 00:18:01.920 to help you do it 00:18:01.920 --> 00:18:03.620 is we can renegotiate 00:18:03.620 --> 00:18:04.640 our expectations. 00:18:06.940 --> 00:18:08.100 See how? 00:18:10.320 --> 00:18:10.720 You know, 00:18:10.759 --> 00:18:12.700 when I gave my life 00:18:12.700 --> 00:18:13.320 to Christ 00:18:13.320 --> 00:18:16.660 I came from so far out 00:18:16.660 --> 00:18:17.519 it was unbelievable. 00:18:17.759 --> 00:18:18.019 I mean, 00:18:18.559 --> 00:18:19.400 I won't bore you 00:18:19.400 --> 00:18:19.900 with it now 00:18:19.900 --> 00:18:20.600 but honestly 00:18:20.600 --> 00:18:21.539 the trajectory 00:18:21.539 --> 00:18:23.400 of becoming 00:18:23.400 --> 00:18:24.440 a bishop 00:18:24.440 --> 00:18:25.080 in the church 00:18:25.080 --> 00:18:26.220 my trajectory 00:18:26.220 --> 00:18:27.100 is not normal. 00:18:28.620 --> 00:18:28.799 I mean, 00:18:28.860 --> 00:18:29.320 for a kicker 00:18:29.320 --> 00:18:30.360 as far as I can tell 00:18:30.360 --> 00:18:31.120 most of them 00:18:31.120 --> 00:18:31.840 were converts 00:18:31.840 --> 00:18:32.779 to a Christian faith 00:18:32.779 --> 00:18:33.220 like me. 00:18:33.299 --> 00:18:33.440 You know, 00:18:33.480 --> 00:18:34.380 I was brought up in it. 00:18:34.380 --> 00:18:36.480 I was never brought up in it. 00:18:37.400 --> 00:18:38.640 But when I became 00:18:38.640 --> 00:18:39.260 a Christian 00:18:39.260 --> 00:18:42.380 I very quickly 00:18:42.380 --> 00:18:43.080 discovered 00:18:43.080 --> 00:18:44.940 what my life's mission 00:18:44.940 --> 00:18:45.740 was. 00:18:47.820 --> 00:18:48.760 And everything 00:18:48.760 --> 00:18:49.780 that had been important 00:18:49.780 --> 00:18:50.140 to me 00:18:50.140 --> 00:18:51.400 ceased to be important 00:18:51.400 --> 00:18:51.940 to me 00:18:51.940 --> 00:18:53.800 and what God gave me 00:18:53.800 --> 00:18:55.000 as my life's mission 00:18:55.000 --> 00:18:57.460 became really important 00:18:57.460 --> 00:18:57.920 to me. 00:18:57.920 --> 00:19:01.940 If we're living 00:19:01.940 --> 00:19:04.019 with 00:19:04.019 --> 00:19:06.140 damaged 00:19:06.140 --> 00:19:07.120 expectations 00:19:07.120 --> 00:19:09.180 then 00:19:09.180 --> 00:19:10.680 we are going to 00:19:10.680 --> 00:19:11.380 find life 00:19:11.380 --> 00:19:12.380 a little tricky. 00:19:13.600 --> 00:19:14.440 Of course 00:19:14.440 --> 00:19:15.519 we know full well 00:19:15.519 --> 00:19:15.920 that throughout 00:19:15.920 --> 00:19:16.860 the whole arena 00:19:16.860 --> 00:19:18.000 of Christian history 00:19:18.000 --> 00:19:19.200 and even before that 00:19:19.200 --> 00:19:20.680 there were disciples 00:19:20.680 --> 00:19:21.660 who gave up. 00:19:22.660 --> 00:19:23.880 John chapter 6 00:19:23.880 --> 00:19:24.960 and verse 66 00:19:24.960 --> 00:19:26.500 very interesting 00:19:26.500 --> 00:19:27.299 numerology 00:19:27.299 --> 00:19:28.000 for those of you 00:19:28.000 --> 00:19:28.519 who are interested 00:19:28.519 --> 00:19:29.559 in that kind of thing 00:19:29.559 --> 00:19:30.240 666 00:19:30.240 --> 00:19:31.380 the mark of the beast 00:19:31.380 --> 00:19:32.799 it says that 00:19:32.799 --> 00:19:34.259 several of the 00:19:34.259 --> 00:19:35.259 disciples of Jesus 00:19:35.259 --> 00:19:36.039 gave up. 00:19:37.940 --> 00:19:38.620 And there are 00:19:38.620 --> 00:19:39.600 disciples of Jesus 00:19:39.600 --> 00:19:40.140 today 00:19:40.140 --> 00:19:41.000 who give up. 00:19:42.279 --> 00:19:43.079 And it's worth 00:19:43.079 --> 00:19:44.039 remembering isn't it 00:19:44.039 --> 00:19:44.680 that at the end 00:19:44.680 --> 00:19:45.940 of three dynamic 00:19:45.940 --> 00:19:46.920 years of Jesus 00:19:46.920 --> 00:19:48.120 healing ministry 00:19:48.120 --> 00:19:49.900 where thousands 00:19:49.900 --> 00:19:50.640 of people 00:19:50.640 --> 00:19:51.720 if you include 00:19:51.720 --> 00:19:52.160 the feeding 00:19:52.160 --> 00:19:53.100 of the 5,000 00:19:53.100 --> 00:19:54.680 thousands of people 00:19:54.680 --> 00:19:55.140 were touched 00:19:55.140 --> 00:19:55.980 by the supernatural 00:19:55.980 --> 00:19:57.340 ministry of Jesus. 00:19:57.900 --> 00:19:58.720 There were only 00:19:58.720 --> 00:20:00.180 120 people 00:20:00.180 --> 00:20:00.660 left 00:20:00.660 --> 00:20:02.980 immediately 00:20:02.980 --> 00:20:03.740 before 00:20:03.740 --> 00:20:04.500 the day 00:20:04.500 --> 00:20:05.340 of Pentecost. 00:20:05.820 --> 00:20:06.259 You can read 00:20:06.259 --> 00:20:06.799 about that 00:20:06.799 --> 00:20:07.960 in Acts chapter 1. 00:20:09.660 --> 00:20:10.600 And there is 00:20:10.600 --> 00:20:11.220 the likelihood 00:20:11.220 --> 00:20:12.420 that some of you 00:20:12.420 --> 00:20:13.180 will give up 00:20:13.180 --> 00:20:15.080 and I hope 00:20:15.080 --> 00:20:15.620 and pray 00:20:15.620 --> 00:20:16.840 that you really 00:20:16.840 --> 00:20:17.220 won't. 00:20:20.840 --> 00:20:21.720 I want you 00:20:21.720 --> 00:20:22.700 to just 00:20:22.700 --> 00:20:23.799 focus for a 00:20:23.799 --> 00:20:24.079 moment 00:20:24.079 --> 00:20:24.960 as I come 00:20:24.960 --> 00:20:25.539 to an end 00:20:25.539 --> 00:20:27.259 on some 00:20:27.259 --> 00:20:27.759 things that 00:20:27.759 --> 00:20:28.500 you could do 00:20:28.500 --> 00:20:29.079 which might 00:20:29.079 --> 00:20:29.740 help some 00:20:29.740 --> 00:20:30.139 of you 00:20:30.139 --> 00:20:30.819 make a 00:20:30.819 --> 00:20:31.579 massive move 00:20:31.579 --> 00:20:32.079 forward 00:20:32.079 --> 00:20:33.059 in your 00:20:33.059 --> 00:20:34.220 spiritual life. 00:20:35.779 --> 00:20:36.579 First thing 00:20:36.579 --> 00:20:37.299 is this. 00:20:38.419 --> 00:20:38.720 You will 00:20:38.720 --> 00:20:39.519 never deal 00:20:39.519 --> 00:20:40.399 with disappointment 00:20:40.399 --> 00:20:41.279 unless you 00:20:41.279 --> 00:20:42.200 try and feel 00:20:42.200 --> 00:20:42.799 it strongly. 00:20:44.339 --> 00:20:45.180 Let me say 00:20:45.180 --> 00:20:45.659 that again. 00:20:46.319 --> 00:20:46.740 You will 00:20:46.740 --> 00:20:47.619 never deal 00:20:47.619 --> 00:20:48.460 with disappointment 00:20:48.460 --> 00:20:49.440 unless you 00:20:49.440 --> 00:20:50.519 can feel it 00:20:50.519 --> 00:20:51.259 as strongly 00:20:51.259 --> 00:20:52.099 as you 00:20:52.099 --> 00:20:52.420 can. 00:20:54.220 --> 00:20:54.740 If you 00:20:54.740 --> 00:20:55.420 just allow 00:20:55.420 --> 00:20:55.819 it to 00:20:55.819 --> 00:20:56.460 gnaw away 00:20:56.460 --> 00:20:56.859 at you 00:20:56.859 --> 00:20:57.319 in a kind 00:20:57.319 --> 00:20:57.700 of low 00:20:57.700 --> 00:20:58.359 level way 00:20:58.359 --> 00:20:58.960 that's 00:20:58.960 --> 00:20:59.319 exactly 00:20:59.319 --> 00:20:59.680 what it 00:20:59.680 --> 00:21:00.059 will do 00:21:00.059 --> 00:21:00.359 and it 00:21:00.359 --> 00:21:00.779 will stay 00:21:00.779 --> 00:21:01.099 with you 00:21:01.099 --> 00:21:01.420 for the 00:21:01.420 --> 00:21:01.799 whole of 00:21:01.799 --> 00:21:02.319 your earthly 00:21:02.319 --> 00:21:02.599 life. 00:21:02.799 --> 00:21:03.140 If you 00:21:03.140 --> 00:21:03.700 can feel 00:21:03.700 --> 00:21:04.359 it strongly 00:21:04.359 --> 00:21:08.200 then you 00:21:08.200 --> 00:21:08.579 might be 00:21:08.579 --> 00:21:08.819 able to 00:21:08.819 --> 00:21:09.200 let go 00:21:09.200 --> 00:21:09.579 of it. 00:21:10.859 --> 00:21:11.299 Second 00:21:11.299 --> 00:21:11.900 thing you 00:21:11.900 --> 00:21:12.420 could try 00:21:12.420 --> 00:21:13.140 is this. 00:21:13.660 --> 00:21:14.220 Like the 00:21:14.220 --> 00:21:14.700 psalmist. 00:21:14.839 --> 00:21:14.980 You know 00:21:14.980 --> 00:21:15.480 what I love 00:21:15.480 --> 00:21:15.960 about the 00:21:15.960 --> 00:21:16.519 psalms is 00:21:16.519 --> 00:21:18.779 how outrageous 00:21:18.779 --> 00:21:19.660 people are. 00:21:19.779 --> 00:21:19.920 You know 00:21:19.920 --> 00:21:20.700 we Anglicans 00:21:20.700 --> 00:21:21.359 come together 00:21:21.359 --> 00:21:21.539 and you're 00:21:21.539 --> 00:21:21.960 oh mighty 00:21:21.960 --> 00:21:22.980 God blah blah 00:21:22.980 --> 00:21:23.379 blah blah 00:21:23.379 --> 00:21:24.139 yada yada 00:21:24.139 --> 00:21:25.240 not the 00:21:25.240 --> 00:21:25.779 psalmist. 00:21:26.639 --> 00:21:26.799 You know 00:21:26.799 --> 00:21:27.019 in the 00:21:27.019 --> 00:21:27.319 Hebrew 00:21:27.319 --> 00:21:27.879 there's one 00:21:27.879 --> 00:21:28.220 psalm 00:21:28.220 --> 00:21:28.539 where it 00:21:28.539 --> 00:21:28.940 says in 00:21:28.940 --> 00:21:29.379 the Hebrew 00:21:29.379 --> 00:21:30.400 where the 00:21:30.400 --> 00:21:30.920 hell are 00:21:30.920 --> 00:21:31.379 you God? 00:21:32.240 --> 00:21:32.519 You know 00:21:32.519 --> 00:21:32.740 are you 00:21:32.740 --> 00:21:33.240 stuck in 00:21:33.240 --> 00:21:33.639 the loo? 00:21:37.720 --> 00:21:38.400 We need 00:21:38.400 --> 00:21:38.759 to bring 00:21:38.759 --> 00:21:39.420 those strong 00:21:39.420 --> 00:21:39.859 feelings 00:21:39.859 --> 00:21:40.639 before God. 00:21:42.700 --> 00:21:43.180 Sometimes 00:21:43.180 --> 00:21:43.660 they're better 00:21:43.660 --> 00:21:44.139 said to 00:21:44.139 --> 00:21:44.819 God than 00:21:44.819 --> 00:21:45.339 to someone 00:21:45.339 --> 00:21:45.839 you love 00:21:45.839 --> 00:21:46.139 as a 00:21:46.139 --> 00:21:46.480 matter of 00:21:46.480 --> 00:21:46.859 fact. 00:21:48.500 --> 00:21:48.980 And let 00:21:48.980 --> 00:21:49.879 them kind 00:21:49.879 --> 00:21:50.759 of sail 00:21:50.759 --> 00:21:51.119 with him. 00:21:51.220 --> 00:21:51.659 God can 00:21:51.659 --> 00:21:52.559 deal with 00:21:52.559 --> 00:21:52.779 your 00:21:52.779 --> 00:21:53.459 disappointment 00:21:53.459 --> 00:21:54.240 even if 00:21:54.240 --> 00:21:54.799 you can't. 00:21:55.659 --> 00:21:56.139 The third 00:21:56.139 --> 00:21:56.659 thing is 00:21:56.659 --> 00:21:57.419 remember 00:21:57.419 --> 00:21:57.939 with God 00:21:57.939 --> 00:21:58.519 all things 00:21:58.519 --> 00:21:59.179 are possible 00:21:59.179 --> 00:22:00.079 but not 00:22:00.079 --> 00:22:00.579 all things 00:22:00.579 --> 00:22:01.139 are probable. 00:22:03.559 --> 00:22:03.720 You know 00:22:03.720 --> 00:22:04.199 this is one 00:22:04.199 --> 00:22:04.459 of the 00:22:04.459 --> 00:22:05.159 things where 00:22:05.159 --> 00:22:05.559 I think 00:22:05.559 --> 00:22:06.079 people of 00:22:06.079 --> 00:22:06.599 faith live 00:22:06.599 --> 00:22:06.839 in a 00:22:06.839 --> 00:22:07.839 kind of 00:22:07.839 --> 00:22:09.139 shadow. 00:22:09.779 --> 00:22:10.099 On the 00:22:10.099 --> 00:22:10.500 one thing 00:22:10.500 --> 00:22:10.980 wanting to 00:22:10.980 --> 00:22:11.399 believe that 00:22:11.399 --> 00:22:11.779 with God 00:22:11.779 --> 00:22:12.359 all things 00:22:12.359 --> 00:22:12.959 are possible 00:22:12.959 --> 00:22:13.379 and by 00:22:13.379 --> 00:22:13.699 very 00:22:13.699 --> 00:22:14.339 definition 00:22:14.339 --> 00:22:14.980 because 00:22:14.980 --> 00:22:15.619 God is 00:22:15.619 --> 00:22:16.039 who God 00:22:16.039 --> 00:22:16.239 is 00:22:16.239 --> 00:22:16.899 all things 00:22:16.899 --> 00:22:17.399 must be 00:22:17.399 --> 00:22:17.899 possible 00:22:17.899 --> 00:22:21.159 but why 00:22:21.159 --> 00:22:21.719 doesn't 00:22:21.719 --> 00:22:22.199 everything 00:22:22.199 --> 00:22:23.000 I want 00:22:23.000 --> 00:22:23.679 to happen 00:22:23.679 --> 00:22:24.799 happen? 00:22:27.599 --> 00:22:28.199 You know 00:22:28.199 --> 00:22:28.579 why haven't 00:22:28.579 --> 00:22:29.039 I got a 00:22:29.039 --> 00:22:29.359 yacht? 00:22:31.879 --> 00:22:32.239 You know 00:22:32.239 --> 00:22:32.559 why am I 00:22:32.559 --> 00:22:32.979 not driving 00:22:32.979 --> 00:22:33.579 around town 00:22:33.579 --> 00:22:34.019 in a big 00:22:34.019 --> 00:22:34.399 beamer? 00:22:36.579 --> 00:22:37.179 You know 00:22:37.179 --> 00:22:37.759 why do I 00:22:37.759 --> 00:22:38.739 still struggle 00:22:38.740 --> 00:22:40.120 in so 00:22:40.120 --> 00:22:40.839 many ways? 00:22:43.559 --> 00:22:44.160 I don't 00:22:44.160 --> 00:22:44.420 think we 00:22:44.420 --> 00:22:44.920 should ever 00:22:44.920 --> 00:22:45.519 lose sight 00:22:45.519 --> 00:22:45.839 of the 00:22:45.839 --> 00:22:46.359 fact that 00:22:46.359 --> 00:22:46.759 with God 00:22:46.759 --> 00:22:47.259 all things 00:22:47.259 --> 00:22:47.819 are possible 00:22:47.819 --> 00:22:50.039 but we 00:22:50.039 --> 00:22:50.620 should also 00:22:50.620 --> 00:22:51.220 work out 00:22:51.220 --> 00:22:51.759 that what's 00:22:51.759 --> 00:22:52.539 probable is 00:22:52.539 --> 00:22:53.039 that what 00:22:53.039 --> 00:22:53.620 God might 00:22:53.620 --> 00:22:54.059 do for 00:22:54.059 --> 00:22:54.660 me is 00:22:54.660 --> 00:22:55.079 more likely 00:22:55.079 --> 00:22:55.400 to be 00:22:55.400 --> 00:22:55.960 driven by 00:22:55.960 --> 00:22:56.640 my own 00:22:56.640 --> 00:22:57.400 ego and 00:22:57.400 --> 00:22:57.859 self 00:22:57.859 --> 00:22:59.880 selfishness 00:22:59.880 --> 00:23:01.160 than it 00:23:01.160 --> 00:23:01.839 is by a 00:23:01.839 --> 00:23:02.160 genuine 00:23:02.160 --> 00:23:02.900 desire to 00:23:02.900 --> 00:23:03.480 see God's 00:23:03.480 --> 00:23:03.900 will done 00:23:03.900 --> 00:23:04.200 in my 00:23:04.200 --> 00:23:04.660 life. 00:23:05.779 --> 00:23:06.259 Fourth 00:23:06.259 --> 00:23:06.720 thing is 00:23:06.720 --> 00:23:07.360 really 00:23:07.360 --> 00:23:07.940 important. 00:23:09.279 --> 00:23:09.519 You know 00:23:09.519 --> 00:23:10.220 I really 00:23:10.220 --> 00:23:12.120 don't like 00:23:12.120 --> 00:23:12.500 to hear 00:23:12.500 --> 00:23:13.140 preachers 00:23:13.140 --> 00:23:13.559 who will 00:23:13.559 --> 00:23:14.299 tell you 00:23:14.299 --> 00:23:15.860 that if 00:23:15.860 --> 00:23:16.319 you trust 00:23:16.319 --> 00:23:16.839 God your 00:23:16.839 --> 00:23:17.400 life will 00:23:17.400 --> 00:23:17.740 become 00:23:17.740 --> 00:23:18.360 comfortable 00:23:18.360 --> 00:23:19.339 and all 00:23:19.339 --> 00:23:19.980 your problems 00:23:19.980 --> 00:23:20.440 will be 00:23:20.440 --> 00:23:21.220 over and 00:23:21.220 --> 00:23:22.240 it doesn't 00:23:22.240 --> 00:23:22.720 work like 00:23:22.720 --> 00:23:23.160 that does 00:23:23.160 --> 00:23:23.360 it? 00:23:27.720 --> 00:23:28.299 Trusting 00:23:28.299 --> 00:23:28.680 God is 00:23:28.680 --> 00:23:29.380 not always 00:23:29.380 --> 00:23:29.779 the most 00:23:29.779 --> 00:23:30.240 comfortable 00:23:30.240 --> 00:23:30.779 option. 00:23:31.460 --> 00:23:31.660 You ever 00:23:31.660 --> 00:23:32.160 seen that 00:23:32.160 --> 00:23:34.059 picture of 00:23:34.059 --> 00:23:34.319 Saint 00:23:34.319 --> 00:23:34.940 Sebastian? 00:23:36.299 --> 00:23:36.480 You know 00:23:36.480 --> 00:23:36.880 this is one 00:23:36.880 --> 00:23:37.319 of God's 00:23:37.319 --> 00:23:37.759 faithful 00:23:37.759 --> 00:23:38.299 soldiers 00:23:38.299 --> 00:23:39.079 and servants 00:23:39.079 --> 00:23:39.980 and the 00:23:39.980 --> 00:23:40.720 most commonly 00:23:40.720 --> 00:23:41.279 known 00:23:41.279 --> 00:23:42.099 seen 00:23:42.099 --> 00:23:42.700 picture of 00:23:42.700 --> 00:23:42.860 Saint 00:23:42.860 --> 00:23:43.420 Sebastian 00:23:43.420 --> 00:23:43.680 is 00:23:43.680 --> 00:23:44.240 there's 00:23:44.240 --> 00:23:44.680 this guy 00:23:44.680 --> 00:23:45.220 nailed to 00:23:45.220 --> 00:23:45.620 a cross 00:23:45.620 --> 00:23:46.200 like Jesus 00:23:46.200 --> 00:23:46.620 was 00:23:46.620 --> 00:23:47.799 except that 00:23:47.799 --> 00:23:48.720 somebody's 00:23:48.720 --> 00:23:49.220 fired about 00:23:49.220 --> 00:23:50.160 28 arrows 00:23:50.160 --> 00:23:50.779 through him 00:23:50.779 --> 00:23:51.380 while he's 00:23:51.380 --> 00:23:51.720 on the 00:23:51.720 --> 00:23:52.099 cross. 00:23:52.700 --> 00:23:53.000 You're like 00:23:53.000 --> 00:23:54.039 I wonder if 00:23:54.039 --> 00:23:54.700 Saint Sebastian 00:23:54.700 --> 00:23:55.240 was feeling 00:23:55.240 --> 00:23:55.920 comfortable 00:23:55.920 --> 00:23:56.420 at that 00:23:56.420 --> 00:23:56.819 moment. 00:24:00.259 --> 00:24:00.940 God 00:24:00.940 --> 00:24:01.319 doesn't 00:24:01.319 --> 00:24:02.079 promise you 00:24:02.079 --> 00:24:02.559 an easy 00:24:02.559 --> 00:24:03.099 life. 00:24:03.099 --> 00:24:05.139 he promises 00:24:05.139 --> 00:24:05.559 you a 00:24:05.559 --> 00:24:05.879 fulfilled 00:24:05.879 --> 00:24:06.579 life 00:24:06.579 --> 00:24:08.779 and you 00:24:08.779 --> 00:24:09.099 need to 00:24:09.099 --> 00:24:09.699 think about 00:24:09.699 --> 00:24:10.059 that. 00:24:11.339 --> 00:24:11.839 The fifth 00:24:11.839 --> 00:24:12.240 thing is 00:24:12.240 --> 00:24:13.000 always be 00:24:13.000 --> 00:24:14.000 open to 00:24:14.000 --> 00:24:14.439 a new 00:24:14.439 --> 00:24:15.119 move from 00:24:15.119 --> 00:24:15.500 God 00:24:15.500 --> 00:24:17.559 and the 00:24:17.559 --> 00:24:18.059 sixth thing 00:24:18.059 --> 00:24:19.500 is hang 00:24:19.500 --> 00:24:20.079 on in 00:24:20.079 --> 00:24:20.919 there please. 00:24:22.679 --> 00:24:23.079 I'm going 00:24:23.079 --> 00:24:23.519 to close 00:24:23.519 --> 00:24:23.879 with a 00:24:23.879 --> 00:24:24.699 story about 00:24:24.699 --> 00:24:27.059 I say he's 00:24:27.059 --> 00:24:27.599 a friend of 00:24:27.599 --> 00:24:28.000 mine and 00:24:28.000 --> 00:24:28.379 I probably 00:24:28.379 --> 00:24:28.819 haven't seen 00:24:28.819 --> 00:24:29.219 him for 00:24:29.219 --> 00:24:30.759 37 years 00:24:30.759 --> 00:24:31.099 now. 00:24:31.339 --> 00:24:31.779 We're that 00:24:31.779 --> 00:24:32.140 close. 00:24:34.900 --> 00:24:35.740 And he 00:24:35.740 --> 00:24:36.359 was a 00:24:36.359 --> 00:24:37.400 licensed lay 00:24:37.400 --> 00:24:38.960 minister in 00:24:38.960 --> 00:24:39.420 the church 00:24:39.420 --> 00:24:39.879 where I was 00:24:39.879 --> 00:24:40.440 a curer. 00:24:41.720 --> 00:24:42.480 And he 00:24:42.480 --> 00:24:43.859 was married 00:24:43.859 --> 00:24:46.180 and they 00:24:46.180 --> 00:24:46.619 had their 00:24:46.619 --> 00:24:47.420 first child 00:24:47.420 --> 00:24:48.920 and this 00:24:48.920 --> 00:24:49.859 child was 00:24:49.859 --> 00:24:51.079 severely 00:24:51.079 --> 00:24:51.940 severely 00:24:51.940 --> 00:24:52.599 disabled 00:24:52.599 --> 00:24:53.160 child. 00:24:54.460 --> 00:24:55.059 For the 00:24:55.059 --> 00:24:55.940 first year 00:24:55.940 --> 00:24:56.519 of this 00:24:56.519 --> 00:24:57.220 child's life 00:24:57.220 --> 00:24:58.180 he virtually 00:24:58.180 --> 00:24:58.960 never stopped 00:24:58.960 --> 00:24:59.440 screaming. 00:24:59.440 --> 00:25:00.759 all through 00:25:00.759 --> 00:25:01.259 the night 00:25:01.259 --> 00:25:03.220 really 00:25:03.220 --> 00:25:03.700 difficult 00:25:03.700 --> 00:25:04.259 stuff. 00:25:06.480 --> 00:25:06.740 And 00:25:06.740 --> 00:25:07.880 you know 00:25:07.880 --> 00:25:08.240 there's this 00:25:08.240 --> 00:25:08.640 kind of 00:25:08.640 --> 00:25:09.259 drip feed 00:25:09.259 --> 00:25:09.680 from the 00:25:09.680 --> 00:25:10.059 doctors 00:25:10.059 --> 00:25:10.720 about quite 00:25:10.720 --> 00:25:11.360 how acute 00:25:11.360 --> 00:25:12.100 his condition 00:25:12.100 --> 00:25:13.340 was. 00:25:13.880 --> 00:25:14.240 And they 00:25:14.240 --> 00:25:14.700 were told 00:25:14.700 --> 00:25:14.940 he would 00:25:14.940 --> 00:25:16.039 never live 00:25:16.039 --> 00:25:16.539 past the 00:25:16.539 --> 00:25:16.920 age of 00:25:16.920 --> 00:25:17.180 five. 00:25:17.279 --> 00:25:17.580 In fact 00:25:17.580 --> 00:25:18.039 he lived 00:25:18.039 --> 00:25:18.259 until he 00:25:18.259 --> 00:25:18.720 was 18 00:25:18.720 --> 00:25:19.400 years old 00:25:19.400 --> 00:25:19.900 and then 00:25:19.900 --> 00:25:20.360 he died. 00:25:23.180 --> 00:25:24.120 One night 00:25:24.120 --> 00:25:26.080 it got 00:25:26.080 --> 00:25:26.720 so bad 00:25:26.720 --> 00:25:27.819 Colin went 00:25:27.819 --> 00:25:28.420 into 00:25:28.420 --> 00:25:29.579 Matthew's 00:25:29.579 --> 00:25:29.900 room 00:25:29.900 --> 00:25:31.640 and he 00:25:31.640 --> 00:25:32.039 picked up 00:25:32.039 --> 00:25:32.519 a pillow. 00:25:37.680 --> 00:25:38.299 He was 00:25:38.299 --> 00:25:38.700 about to 00:25:38.700 --> 00:25:39.140 put the 00:25:39.140 --> 00:25:39.440 pillow 00:25:39.440 --> 00:25:41.000 over the 00:25:41.000 --> 00:25:41.440 baby's 00:25:41.440 --> 00:25:41.740 head 00:25:41.740 --> 00:25:43.880 and suffocate 00:25:43.880 --> 00:25:44.160 little 00:25:44.160 --> 00:25:44.579 Matthew. 00:25:46.220 --> 00:25:46.980 They put 00:25:46.980 --> 00:25:47.420 the pillow 00:25:47.420 --> 00:25:47.740 on the 00:25:47.740 --> 00:25:48.180 baby's 00:25:48.180 --> 00:25:48.579 face 00:25:48.579 --> 00:25:50.880 and he 00:25:50.880 --> 00:25:51.140 heard a 00:25:51.140 --> 00:25:51.559 voice. 00:25:51.559 --> 00:25:53.160 A voice 00:25:53.160 --> 00:25:55.620 said don't 00:25:55.619 --> 00:25:56.159 do that. 00:25:57.500 --> 00:25:57.979 This is 00:25:57.979 --> 00:25:58.739 my child. 00:26:00.679 --> 00:26:00.899 It's 00:26:00.899 --> 00:26:01.919 like you 00:26:01.919 --> 00:26:03.279 know maybe 00:26:03.279 --> 00:26:03.699 I need to 00:26:03.699 --> 00:26:04.159 change my 00:26:04.159 --> 00:26:04.799 medication. 00:26:06.679 --> 00:26:07.419 Starts to 00:26:07.419 --> 00:26:07.979 press down 00:26:07.979 --> 00:26:08.279 on the 00:26:08.279 --> 00:26:08.500 pillow. 00:26:08.619 --> 00:26:08.899 The voice 00:26:08.899 --> 00:26:09.599 comes again. 00:26:10.619 --> 00:26:11.439 Don't do 00:26:11.439 --> 00:26:11.839 this. 00:26:13.279 --> 00:26:13.859 This is 00:26:13.859 --> 00:26:14.579 my child. 00:26:16.959 --> 00:26:17.839 They took 00:26:17.839 --> 00:26:18.259 the pillow 00:26:18.259 --> 00:26:20.679 away and 00:26:20.679 --> 00:26:21.099 it's like 00:26:21.099 --> 00:26:22.299 what was 00:26:22.299 --> 00:26:22.919 that voice? 00:26:23.000 --> 00:26:23.239 So he 00:26:23.239 --> 00:26:23.519 went to 00:26:23.519 --> 00:26:23.899 see the 00:26:23.899 --> 00:26:24.199 local 00:26:24.199 --> 00:26:24.779 vicar. 00:26:25.619 --> 00:26:26.359 The local 00:26:26.359 --> 00:26:27.039 vicar said 00:26:27.039 --> 00:26:29.479 I think 00:26:29.479 --> 00:26:30.159 very likely 00:26:30.159 --> 00:26:31.079 God made 00:26:31.079 --> 00:26:31.519 a move 00:26:31.519 --> 00:26:31.859 in your 00:26:31.859 --> 00:26:32.339 life. 00:26:34.799 --> 00:26:35.319 It's 00:26:35.319 --> 00:26:35.639 like well 00:26:35.639 --> 00:26:36.519 why would 00:26:36.519 --> 00:26:37.319 God allow 00:26:37.319 --> 00:26:37.839 my child 00:26:37.839 --> 00:26:38.379 to be born 00:26:38.379 --> 00:26:39.000 like this? 00:26:39.579 --> 00:26:39.899 The vicar 00:26:39.899 --> 00:26:40.259 said I 00:26:40.259 --> 00:26:40.539 cannot 00:26:40.539 --> 00:26:41.139 answer that 00:26:41.139 --> 00:26:41.659 question. 00:26:43.699 --> 00:26:44.339 But I 00:26:44.339 --> 00:26:44.839 think God's 00:26:44.839 --> 00:26:45.399 making a 00:26:45.399 --> 00:26:46.559 move in 00:26:46.559 --> 00:26:47.239 your life. 00:26:49.199 --> 00:26:49.419 The 00:26:49.419 --> 00:26:49.719 upshot 00:26:49.719 --> 00:26:50.099 it was 00:26:50.099 --> 00:26:50.539 Colin 00:26:50.539 --> 00:26:51.679 and his 00:26:51.679 --> 00:26:53.399 wife gave 00:26:53.399 --> 00:26:53.899 their lives 00:26:53.899 --> 00:26:54.519 to Christ. 00:26:55.619 --> 00:26:56.739 And when 00:26:56.739 --> 00:26:57.579 Matthew died 00:26:57.579 --> 00:26:58.099 at the 00:26:58.099 --> 00:26:58.539 age of 00:26:58.539 --> 00:26:59.199 18 they 00:26:59.199 --> 00:26:59.939 told me 00:26:59.939 --> 00:27:01.539 that at 00:27:01.539 --> 00:27:02.019 Matthew's 00:27:02.019 --> 00:27:02.500 funeral 00:27:02.500 --> 00:27:04.739 Colin stood 00:27:04.739 --> 00:27:05.059 up and 00:27:05.059 --> 00:27:05.439 said the 00:27:05.439 --> 00:27:06.399 only thing 00:27:06.399 --> 00:27:06.879 that I 00:27:06.879 --> 00:27:07.479 got right 00:27:07.479 --> 00:27:08.019 with that 00:27:08.019 --> 00:27:08.579 little boy 00:27:08.579 --> 00:27:08.899 when he 00:27:08.899 --> 00:27:09.339 was first 00:27:09.339 --> 00:27:09.979 born was 00:27:09.979 --> 00:27:10.979 we gave 00:27:10.979 --> 00:27:11.319 him the 00:27:11.319 --> 00:27:11.619 name 00:27:11.619 --> 00:27:12.279 Matthew 00:27:12.279 --> 00:27:14.719 because 00:27:14.719 --> 00:27:15.159 Matthew 00:27:15.159 --> 00:27:15.579 was an 00:27:15.579 --> 00:27:16.500 evangelist 00:27:16.500 --> 00:27:18.079 and he 00:27:18.079 --> 00:27:18.500 led his 00:27:18.500 --> 00:27:18.939 mummy and 00:27:18.939 --> 00:27:19.979 daddy to 00:27:19.979 --> 00:27:20.319 Jesus 00:27:20.319 --> 00:27:20.859 Christ. 00:27:26.700 --> 00:27:27.460 Listen 00:27:27.460 --> 00:27:27.779 to me. 00:27:29.619 --> 00:27:30.339 You 00:27:30.339 --> 00:27:30.519 got 00:27:30.519 --> 00:27:31.200 disappointment 00:27:31.200 --> 00:27:31.679 in your 00:27:31.679 --> 00:27:32.200 life that 00:27:32.200 --> 00:27:32.579 you're not 00:27:32.579 --> 00:27:33.359 dealing with. 00:27:34.759 --> 00:27:35.559 I want to 00:27:35.559 --> 00:27:36.159 plead with 00:27:36.159 --> 00:27:36.359 you. 00:27:37.439 --> 00:27:37.779 Do 00:27:37.779 --> 00:27:38.339 something. 00:27:39.619 --> 00:27:40.200 Feel the 00:27:40.200 --> 00:27:40.819 disappointment. 00:27:41.899 --> 00:27:42.279 Try and 00:27:42.279 --> 00:27:42.639 hand it 00:27:42.639 --> 00:27:42.899 on. 00:27:44.279 --> 00:27:44.619 Speak 00:27:44.619 --> 00:27:45.399 openly and 00:27:45.399 --> 00:27:46.159 honestly with 00:27:46.160 --> 00:27:46.480 God. 00:27:48.940 --> 00:27:49.720 Let it 00:27:49.720 --> 00:27:50.100 go. 00:27:52.279 --> 00:27:53.180 It may be 00:27:53.180 --> 00:27:53.540 most 00:27:53.540 --> 00:27:55.920 important and 00:27:55.920 --> 00:27:56.380 those of 00:27:56.380 --> 00:27:57.120 you who 00:27:57.120 --> 00:27:58.640 feel this 00:27:58.640 --> 00:28:00.300 will know 00:28:00.300 --> 00:28:00.560 it. 00:28:01.940 --> 00:28:02.940 It may be 00:28:02.940 --> 00:28:03.340 that you 00:28:03.340 --> 00:28:04.160 need a new 00:28:04.160 --> 00:28:04.640 move of 00:28:04.640 --> 00:28:05.560 God in 00:28:05.560 --> 00:28:06.279 your life 00:28:06.279 --> 00:28:08.420 and I 00:28:08.420 --> 00:28:08.820 can't make 00:28:08.820 --> 00:28:09.440 that happen. 00:28:09.440 --> 00:28:11.980 all I can 00:28:11.980 --> 00:28:12.880 do is 00:28:12.880 --> 00:28:13.600 plead with 00:28:13.600 --> 00:28:13.840 you. 00:28:15.059 --> 00:28:15.700 Just be 00:28:15.700 --> 00:28:17.700 open to 00:28:17.700 --> 00:28:18.360 this God 00:28:18.360 --> 00:28:21.640 who can 00:28:21.640 --> 00:28:22.059 do a 00:28:22.059 --> 00:28:22.740 mighty move 00:28:22.740 --> 00:28:23.100 in your 00:28:23.100 --> 00:28:25.200 life and 00:28:25.200 --> 00:28:26.380 can transform 00:28:26.380 --> 00:28:27.120 the deepest 00:28:27.120 --> 00:28:27.759 parts of 00:28:27.759 --> 00:28:27.960 your 00:28:27.960 --> 00:28:28.620 disappointment 00:28:28.620 --> 00:28:30.240 in a way 00:28:30.240 --> 00:28:30.519 that you 00:28:30.519 --> 00:28:31.059 would never 00:28:31.059 --> 00:28:31.680 dare to 00:28:31.680 --> 00:28:32.320 ask or 00:28:32.320 --> 00:28:32.820 imagine. 00:28:34.160 --> 00:28:35.140 To him 00:28:35.140 --> 00:28:36.220 be glory. 00:28:38.660 --> 00:28:39.340 Let's 00:28:39.339 --> 00:28:39.679 not be 00:28:39.679 --> 00:28:40.179 part of 00:28:40.179 --> 00:28:40.839 that crowd 00:28:40.839 --> 00:28:42.019 that shouts 00:28:42.019 --> 00:28:42.899 Hosanna one 00:28:42.899 --> 00:28:44.959 day and 00:28:44.959 --> 00:28:45.259 shouts 00:28:45.259 --> 00:28:46.399 crucify just 00:28:46.399 --> 00:28:47.079 a few days 00:28:47.079 --> 00:28:47.539 later.