WEBVTT

00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:08.480
 As a church, we're following a series looking at how we can grow as human beings in Jesus Christ

00:00:08.480 --> 00:00:14.419
 and drawing particularly on something that comes up in one of Paul's letters

00:00:14.419 --> 00:00:19.379
 where Paul talks of fruit of the Spirit.

00:00:19.660 --> 00:00:23.920
 It's an image that just as fruit grows gradually,

00:00:23.920 --> 00:00:29.839
 so we have this vision within the New Testament that during the course of our lives,

00:00:30.320 --> 00:00:37.079
 God wants to continue growing things, spiritual realities within our lives.

00:00:37.960 --> 00:00:46.079
 And there is a list, not of different fruits, it's not the plural, it's a singular.

00:00:46.320 --> 00:00:49.519
 When Paul talks about fruit of the Spirit, spiritual fruit,

00:00:49.519 --> 00:00:53.980
 he talks about fruit but with different aspects of that fruit.

00:00:54.159 --> 00:00:57.320
 So the idea is that as we grow as Christians,

00:00:57.320 --> 00:01:02.320
 all of these things actually grow as reality in our lives.

00:01:03.600 --> 00:01:10.579
 Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

00:01:12.219 --> 00:01:15.060
 Today we're thinking specifically about joy.

00:01:15.060 --> 00:01:20.340
 Our Gospel reading, which Carolyn is going to bring to us now,

00:01:20.480 --> 00:01:25.780
 picks up halfway through a piece of narrative in Luke's Gospel.

00:01:25.900 --> 00:01:26.980
 Just to paint the picture.

00:01:27.700 --> 00:01:32.379
 Jesus has been talking to his disciples about how being a Christian can be difficult.

00:01:32.599 --> 00:01:35.159
 He warns them, it's going to be tough, they're not in for an easy ride.

00:01:35.159 --> 00:01:39.799
 Then he prays for them and sends them out to go and to preach,

00:01:39.879 --> 00:01:44.259
 to take the message of good news to people and to pray for people that they may be healed.

00:01:45.239 --> 00:01:48.659
 And depending on which exact translation of Scripture you use,

00:01:48.679 --> 00:01:52.780
 either 70 or 72 of these people that Jesus has sent out,

00:01:52.979 --> 00:01:59.979
 they come back to Jesus really excited over the things that have been taking place

00:01:59.980 --> 00:02:03.460
 as they went out to minister to people.

00:02:04.460 --> 00:02:07.520
 And so we're going to join the story in Luke chapter 10

00:02:07.520 --> 00:02:12.759
 as the disciples come back and tell Jesus everything that they have seen and heard.

00:02:13.539 --> 00:02:17.039
 Carolyn is going to read to us from Luke chapter 10, verse 17.

00:02:17.439 --> 00:02:18.039
 Thank you, Carolyn.

00:02:18.039 --> 00:02:35.099
 C.H. Spurgeon was a Baptist preacher and scholarly writer of the 1800s.

00:02:35.340 --> 00:02:39.579
 He was training a group of people to become preachers.

00:02:39.579 --> 00:02:47.479
 He was speaking to them one day about the importance of facial expression

00:02:47.479 --> 00:02:49.759
 when preaching and he said to them,

00:02:50.099 --> 00:02:53.280
 when you're talking about heaven,

00:02:54.179 --> 00:02:56.319
 then your faces should be full of joy.

00:02:57.639 --> 00:03:00.500
 They should express that sense of joy and happiness.

00:03:01.019 --> 00:03:01.979
 You should look bright.

00:03:02.339 --> 00:03:04.159
 You should look alive and full of joy.

00:03:06.539 --> 00:03:09.000
 When you're preaching about the subject of hell,

00:03:10.459 --> 00:03:12.079
 well, then your normal faces will do.

00:03:12.080 --> 00:03:18.200
 Don't know about you,

00:03:18.280 --> 00:03:22.320
 but I find coming to think about joy

00:03:22.320 --> 00:03:25.340
 as a fruit of the Spirit,

00:03:26.360 --> 00:03:30.780
 coming to think of it as something that God expects,

00:03:31.400 --> 00:03:34.100
 expects to grow in us as Christians

00:03:34.100 --> 00:03:35.720
 alongside these other things,

00:03:36.320 --> 00:03:38.100
 I find that, in fact,

00:03:38.099 --> 00:03:41.659
 the most challenging and the most difficult thing.

00:03:42.960 --> 00:03:45.879
 And the reason why I find it so challenging and so difficult

00:03:45.879 --> 00:03:47.519
 is I look at the other eight.

00:03:47.599 --> 00:03:48.439
 There's nine in this list.

00:03:48.500 --> 00:03:50.579
 I look at the other eight.

00:03:51.060 --> 00:03:53.699
 Love, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,

00:03:53.919 --> 00:03:55.759
 faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

00:03:56.019 --> 00:03:58.539
 All of those seem to have something in common

00:03:58.539 --> 00:04:00.000
 that joy does not.

00:04:00.259 --> 00:04:01.719
 Because I think of those things,

00:04:01.780 --> 00:04:04.659
 and I think even though I might not feel those things

00:04:04.659 --> 00:04:06.120
 deep inside of me,

00:04:06.340 --> 00:04:12.020
 I can understand how God actually can enable me

00:04:12.020 --> 00:04:15.060
 by his grace to discipline those things.

00:04:15.419 --> 00:04:17.319
 So those things could be realities,

00:04:17.600 --> 00:04:19.240
 even though they might not match

00:04:19.240 --> 00:04:22.019
 the way I, or indeed any of us, feel.

00:04:22.879 --> 00:04:24.000
 Just think about it for a moment.

00:04:24.399 --> 00:04:24.819
 Love.

00:04:25.699 --> 00:04:26.699
 Now, you might not feel love.

00:04:26.759 --> 00:04:27.899
 Love can be a feeling,

00:04:28.240 --> 00:04:29.560
 but it's much more than that.

00:04:29.620 --> 00:04:32.139
 And I think we can all kind of get that,

00:04:32.139 --> 00:04:35.079
 that there will be times when love kicks into action,

00:04:35.539 --> 00:04:37.979
 when you don't perhaps feel it inside,

00:04:38.219 --> 00:04:40.759
 but you know what the right thing is to do.

00:04:41.259 --> 00:04:42.639
 Love makes sacrifices,

00:04:42.919 --> 00:04:46.939
 even when it might not feel an emotion inside.

00:04:47.259 --> 00:04:47.680
 Peace.

00:04:47.800 --> 00:04:49.539
 You might not feel at peace,

00:04:49.639 --> 00:04:52.839
 but it's something that somehow you can kind of give,

00:04:52.959 --> 00:04:55.819
 you can bring that about in people, in others.

00:04:56.719 --> 00:04:57.240
 Patience.

00:04:57.360 --> 00:05:00.379
 You might not feel inwardly like being patient,

00:05:00.379 --> 00:05:03.959
 but it can become an action that you're willing to wait,

00:05:04.100 --> 00:05:05.339
 even though it's hard.

00:05:05.980 --> 00:05:06.399
 Kindness.

00:05:06.500 --> 00:05:08.100
 Again, you may not feel like it,

00:05:08.159 --> 00:05:09.159
 but you can do it.

00:05:09.420 --> 00:05:09.740
 Goodness.

00:05:09.980 --> 00:05:10.860
 The same can be said of that.

00:05:10.959 --> 00:05:11.959
 And faithfulness.

00:05:12.439 --> 00:05:13.319
 And gentleness.

00:05:13.759 --> 00:05:14.540
 Self-control.

00:05:14.719 --> 00:05:17.699
 All of those things can be regarded as disciplines,

00:05:18.139 --> 00:05:20.980
 as things that God's Holy Spirit can nurture in us,

00:05:21.159 --> 00:05:23.319
 even when the way we feel inside

00:05:23.319 --> 00:05:25.000
 is telling us something very different.

00:05:25.000 --> 00:05:30.339
 But joy, it strikes me, is quite different.

00:05:30.459 --> 00:05:31.980
 It stands out on its own,

00:05:32.160 --> 00:05:33.720
 because I can't think of joy

00:05:33.720 --> 00:05:37.360
 and think of anything other than an apparent feeling

00:05:37.360 --> 00:05:38.920
 and an emotion.

00:05:40.660 --> 00:05:41.480
 And so I think to myself,

00:05:41.579 --> 00:05:43.180
 how do I make sense of that

00:05:43.180 --> 00:05:46.100
 when I just don't feel it inside?

00:05:47.100 --> 00:05:53.199
 Get this from the words of the Methodist funeral service, okay?

00:05:53.199 --> 00:05:56.219
 This is some of the words that are said in the service book

00:05:56.219 --> 00:05:58.860
 at the beginning of a Methodist funeral.

00:05:59.620 --> 00:06:01.240
 In the presence of death,

00:06:01.860 --> 00:06:04.279
 Christ offers us sure hope,

00:06:05.120 --> 00:06:07.719
 sorry, sure ground for hope

00:06:07.719 --> 00:06:09.740
 and confidence

00:06:09.740 --> 00:06:13.199
 and even joy.

00:06:13.199 --> 00:06:17.599
 Now think how the average feeling,

00:06:18.000 --> 00:06:20.819
 the place on the sort of emotional clock is

00:06:20.819 --> 00:06:23.319
 at your average funeral.

00:06:25.360 --> 00:06:26.800
 Most people, I would say,

00:06:26.860 --> 00:06:29.779
 are probably not in this kind of emotional state

00:06:29.779 --> 00:06:32.120
 that we would describe as joy

00:06:32.120 --> 00:06:33.860
 at that moment in our lives.

00:06:33.939 --> 00:06:35.120
 And yet it is there,

00:06:35.959 --> 00:06:36.300
 clearly,

00:06:37.139 --> 00:06:38.099
 in our liturgy.

00:06:38.100 --> 00:06:41.600
 And if we tended to think

00:06:41.600 --> 00:06:43.960
 that this is only some kind of secondary thing

00:06:43.960 --> 00:06:46.060
 as far as New Testament teaching is concerned,

00:06:46.320 --> 00:06:47.000
 think again.

00:06:47.220 --> 00:06:48.560
 Because the word joy

00:06:48.560 --> 00:06:51.420
 comes up approximately 60 times

00:06:51.420 --> 00:06:52.860
 in the New Testament.

00:06:54.320 --> 00:06:57.140
 And the summons to rejoice

00:06:57.140 --> 00:07:00.020
 comes up closer to 70 times

00:07:00.020 --> 00:07:01.740
 in the New Testament.

00:07:01.960 --> 00:07:03.860
 So this is no minor thing.

00:07:03.860 --> 00:07:08.699
 So as I read this,

00:07:08.819 --> 00:07:10.780
 it challenges me to the core

00:07:10.780 --> 00:07:11.600
 because I think,

00:07:11.800 --> 00:07:13.860
 how do I make sense of those times

00:07:13.860 --> 00:07:17.879
 when I don't feel a sense of joy inside

00:07:17.879 --> 00:07:19.920
 and yet it would seem

00:07:19.920 --> 00:07:21.540
 that if God's Holy Spirit

00:07:21.540 --> 00:07:22.900
 is active within me,

00:07:23.020 --> 00:07:25.420
 there is an expectation on God's part

00:07:25.420 --> 00:07:26.699
 that it ought to be a reality.

00:07:27.000 --> 00:07:28.280
 How do I make sense of that?

00:07:28.280 --> 00:07:28.300
 How do I make sense of that?

00:07:33.860 --> 00:07:34.819
 For one thing,

00:07:35.660 --> 00:07:39.360
 I'm challenged as to how I understand joy.

00:07:40.199 --> 00:07:42.120
 Because I'm tempted to think of it

00:07:42.120 --> 00:07:43.220
 as a feeling,

00:07:43.400 --> 00:07:44.180
 as an emotion.

00:07:45.060 --> 00:07:46.360
 Of course it can be.

00:07:47.860 --> 00:07:49.100
 But when I set it alongside

00:07:49.100 --> 00:07:51.379
 those other eight gifts of the Spirit,

00:07:53.240 --> 00:07:54.080
 fruit of the Spirit,

00:07:54.220 --> 00:07:54.360
 sorry,

00:07:54.500 --> 00:07:54.860
 love,

00:07:55.040 --> 00:07:55.259
 peace,

00:07:55.379 --> 00:07:55.699
 patience,

00:07:55.879 --> 00:07:56.139
 kindness,

00:07:56.300 --> 00:07:56.460
 goodness,

00:07:56.620 --> 00:07:57.000
 faithfulness,

00:07:57.000 --> 00:07:57.400
 gentleness,

00:07:57.600 --> 00:07:58.400
 self-control,

00:07:59.860 --> 00:08:00.800
 it would seem

00:08:00.800 --> 00:08:02.139
 that there is something

00:08:02.139 --> 00:08:05.219
 that goes beyond

00:08:05.219 --> 00:08:06.740
 emotion and feeling.

00:08:08.180 --> 00:08:09.879
 So let's be quite clear,

00:08:10.919 --> 00:08:11.339
 joy,

00:08:11.680 --> 00:08:12.740
 whilst it can be

00:08:12.740 --> 00:08:13.800
 an emotional feeling,

00:08:14.120 --> 00:08:15.219
 it's got to mean,

00:08:15.279 --> 00:08:16.039
 got to mean

00:08:16.039 --> 00:08:17.060
 something deeper

00:08:17.060 --> 00:08:18.419
 than that.

00:08:20.639 --> 00:08:21.599
 C.S. Lewis

00:08:21.599 --> 00:08:22.839
 talked about

00:08:22.839 --> 00:08:24.479
 joy as

00:08:24.479 --> 00:08:26.360
 something closer

00:08:26.360 --> 00:08:27.860
 to a sense of yearning,

00:08:28.439 --> 00:08:29.459
 a sense that we look

00:08:29.459 --> 00:08:30.060
 in our lives

00:08:30.060 --> 00:08:31.199
 and we see the realities

00:08:31.199 --> 00:08:32.200
 and our lives

00:08:32.200 --> 00:08:33.580
 darkened by circumstances,

00:08:33.799 --> 00:08:34.439
 but there's something

00:08:34.439 --> 00:08:35.200
 deep within us

00:08:35.200 --> 00:08:35.799
 that knows,

00:08:37.019 --> 00:08:37.960
 yearns for something

00:08:37.960 --> 00:08:39.039
 different and better

00:08:39.039 --> 00:08:40.539
 and senses that actually

00:08:40.539 --> 00:08:41.240
 there can be

00:08:41.240 --> 00:08:42.059
 and there will be.

00:08:42.759 --> 00:08:44.120
 And it's not reality yet,

00:08:44.220 --> 00:08:46.019
 but it will be.

00:08:47.000 --> 00:08:48.240
 And it's that sense,

00:08:48.340 --> 00:08:49.379
 that point of tension

00:08:49.379 --> 00:08:51.120
 that actually we can describe

00:08:51.120 --> 00:08:52.700
 as that sense of joy.

00:08:52.799 --> 00:08:53.899
 It's not always apparent,

00:08:53.899 --> 00:08:54.779
 but it's there.

00:08:54.779 --> 00:08:54.840
 It's there.

00:08:54.840 --> 00:08:54.899
 It's there.

00:09:01.200 --> 00:09:01.940
 But what about

00:09:01.940 --> 00:09:03.320
 that kind of

00:09:03.320 --> 00:09:05.300
 contrast that we see

00:09:05.300 --> 00:09:07.360
 between stuff

00:09:07.360 --> 00:09:08.460
 going on in our lives,

00:09:08.520 --> 00:09:09.480
 the way we feel,

00:09:10.340 --> 00:09:12.200
 and that challenge

00:09:12.200 --> 00:09:12.660
 to joy,

00:09:12.860 --> 00:09:13.480
 to have joy?

00:09:15.180 --> 00:09:15.580
 Well,

00:09:15.620 --> 00:09:16.300
 what I want to suggest

00:09:16.300 --> 00:09:17.060
 is perhaps

00:09:17.060 --> 00:09:18.540
 it is precisely

00:09:18.540 --> 00:09:20.300
 in that contradiction

00:09:20.300 --> 00:09:21.259
 or that apparent

00:09:21.259 --> 00:09:21.920
 contradiction

00:09:21.920 --> 00:09:23.800
 between how we feel

00:09:23.800 --> 00:09:24.560
 and what we read

00:09:24.560 --> 00:09:25.259
 in Scripture

00:09:25.259 --> 00:09:27.360
 that actually gives us

00:09:27.360 --> 00:09:28.660
 a practical way forward.

00:09:28.659 --> 00:09:32.279
 Let me say a bit more

00:09:32.279 --> 00:09:33.279
 about what I mean by that.

00:09:34.100 --> 00:09:35.240
 A couple of weeks ago

00:09:35.240 --> 00:09:36.379
 when I was preaching

00:09:36.379 --> 00:09:36.860
 here before,

00:09:36.980 --> 00:09:37.919
 I made reference

00:09:37.919 --> 00:09:40.860
 to a great Christian leader

00:09:40.860 --> 00:09:43.639
 called Dr. Martin Lloyd-Jones.

00:09:44.159 --> 00:09:45.079
 He was,

00:09:45.240 --> 00:09:46.740
 for over 30 years,

00:09:46.939 --> 00:09:48.519
 pastor of Westminster Chapel

00:09:48.519 --> 00:09:49.199
 in London.

00:09:50.360 --> 00:09:51.899
 And Martin Lloyd-Jones,

00:09:51.899 --> 00:09:53.299
 who came from

00:09:53.299 --> 00:09:54.240
 medical background,

00:09:56.019 --> 00:09:58.360
 in 1964, 1965,

00:09:58.659 --> 00:09:59.620
 preached a series

00:09:59.620 --> 00:10:00.279
 of sermons

00:10:00.279 --> 00:10:00.959
 over the course

00:10:00.959 --> 00:10:01.559
 of a year

00:10:01.559 --> 00:10:02.620
 at Westminster Chapel,

00:10:02.679 --> 00:10:03.179
 which eventually

00:10:03.179 --> 00:10:03.860
 became published

00:10:03.860 --> 00:10:04.339
 in the book

00:10:04.339 --> 00:10:05.600
 Spiritual Depression.

00:10:06.620 --> 00:10:07.419
 And in that book,

00:10:07.620 --> 00:10:08.539
 even though it was written

00:10:08.539 --> 00:10:10.059
 over half a century ago now,

00:10:10.120 --> 00:10:11.019
 it still speaks

00:10:11.019 --> 00:10:12.740
 to our contemporary world,

00:10:12.779 --> 00:10:13.299
 I would say.

00:10:14.980 --> 00:10:16.100
 He takes,

00:10:16.299 --> 00:10:17.620
 as his central theme,

00:10:18.459 --> 00:10:19.339
 this idea

00:10:19.339 --> 00:10:20.679
 that we spend

00:10:20.679 --> 00:10:21.879
 too much time

00:10:21.879 --> 00:10:23.419
 listening to ourselves.

00:10:24.620 --> 00:10:26.100
 We spend too much time

00:10:26.100 --> 00:10:27.740
 listening to our emotions

00:10:27.740 --> 00:10:30.519
 and what our inner feelings

00:10:30.519 --> 00:10:32.519
 are telling us.

00:10:34.019 --> 00:10:34.419
 Whereas,

00:10:34.600 --> 00:10:35.419
 Martin Lloyd-Jones says,

00:10:35.700 --> 00:10:36.240
 we need to spend

00:10:36.240 --> 00:10:36.919
 less time

00:10:36.919 --> 00:10:39.180
 listening to ourselves

00:10:39.180 --> 00:10:40.399
 and more time

00:10:40.399 --> 00:10:42.000
 talking to ourselves.

00:10:43.460 --> 00:10:43.659
 Now,

00:10:43.700 --> 00:10:44.419
 when he said that,

00:10:44.700 --> 00:10:45.440
 he didn't mean

00:10:45.440 --> 00:10:46.259
 talking to yourselves

00:10:46.259 --> 00:10:47.220
 in the sort of way that,

00:10:47.580 --> 00:10:48.139
 I don't know about you,

00:10:48.180 --> 00:10:48.580
 but if I'm honest,

00:10:49.000 --> 00:10:49.379
 I do.

00:10:50.180 --> 00:10:51.240
 If I'm on my own,

00:10:51.560 --> 00:10:52.080
 and I'm saying,

00:10:52.159 --> 00:10:52.360
 Russell,

00:10:52.440 --> 00:10:53.080
 what are you doing?

00:10:53.159 --> 00:10:54.180
 Why did I come upstairs?

00:10:54.279 --> 00:10:55.019
 What did I come into

00:10:55.019 --> 00:10:55.580
 this room for?

00:10:55.580 --> 00:10:55.940
 Oh yeah,

00:10:56.160 --> 00:10:56.940
 I think I'll make myself

00:10:56.940 --> 00:10:57.480
 a cup of coffee.

00:10:57.639 --> 00:10:58.200
 He's not talking about

00:10:58.200 --> 00:10:59.020
 that kind of talking

00:10:59.020 --> 00:10:59.480
 to yourself.

00:11:00.520 --> 00:11:01.560
 He actually says,

00:11:01.660 --> 00:11:02.639
 we need to preach

00:11:02.639 --> 00:11:03.480
 to ourselves.

00:11:04.759 --> 00:11:05.460
 And what he means

00:11:05.460 --> 00:11:06.320
 by that is,

00:11:06.720 --> 00:11:08.080
 we don't just present

00:11:08.080 --> 00:11:09.000
 our own thoughts

00:11:09.000 --> 00:11:09.860
 to ourselves.

00:11:10.600 --> 00:11:11.000
 Instead,

00:11:11.360 --> 00:11:12.259
 we actually take

00:11:12.259 --> 00:11:13.480
 the words of Scripture,

00:11:14.060 --> 00:11:14.840
 even though,

00:11:14.960 --> 00:11:15.120
 no,

00:11:15.360 --> 00:11:16.540
 precisely because

00:11:16.540 --> 00:11:17.460
 they stand

00:11:17.460 --> 00:11:18.620
 in stark contradiction

00:11:18.620 --> 00:11:20.040
 with the way we feel,

00:11:20.039 --> 00:11:21.679
 and we bring

00:11:21.679 --> 00:11:22.279
 those truths

00:11:22.279 --> 00:11:22.819
 of Scripture

00:11:22.819 --> 00:11:23.459
 to bear

00:11:23.459 --> 00:11:25.139
 on our circumstances

00:11:25.139 --> 00:11:26.319
 and on our feelings.

00:11:27.259 --> 00:11:27.819
 He says this,

00:11:27.860 --> 00:11:28.799
 instead of allowing

00:11:28.799 --> 00:11:29.599
 the future

00:11:29.599 --> 00:11:31.059
 and thoughts of it

00:11:31.059 --> 00:11:31.759
 to grip you,

00:11:32.139 --> 00:11:33.199
 talk to yourself.

00:11:34.159 --> 00:11:35.219
 Remind yourself

00:11:35.219 --> 00:11:36.299
 of who you are

00:11:36.299 --> 00:11:37.439
 and what you are

00:11:37.439 --> 00:11:38.899
 and of what spirit

00:11:38.899 --> 00:11:39.959
 is within you.

00:11:41.199 --> 00:11:42.899
 And having reminded yourself

00:11:42.899 --> 00:11:43.799
 of the character

00:11:43.799 --> 00:11:44.699
 of the spirit,

00:11:45.480 --> 00:11:46.419
 you will be able

00:11:46.419 --> 00:11:48.139
 to go steadily forward,

00:11:48.399 --> 00:11:49.319
 fearing nothing,

00:11:49.320 --> 00:11:51.140
 living in the present,

00:11:51.580 --> 00:11:52.940
 ready for the future,

00:11:53.320 --> 00:11:55.260
 with one desire only,

00:11:55.800 --> 00:11:57.879
 to glorify him

00:11:57.879 --> 00:12:00.760
 who gave his all for you.

00:12:03.600 --> 00:12:05.260
 Rather than allowing

00:12:05.260 --> 00:12:06.480
 our culture,

00:12:08.379 --> 00:12:09.760
 allowing our circumstances

00:12:09.760 --> 00:12:10.900
 and our feelings

00:12:10.900 --> 00:12:14.960
 to dictate things,

00:12:15.700 --> 00:12:17.080
 we need to draw

00:12:17.080 --> 00:12:18.580
 on God's living word

00:12:18.580 --> 00:12:20.100
 precisely because

00:12:20.100 --> 00:12:22.100
 it contradicts

00:12:22.100 --> 00:12:23.620
 our feelings,

00:12:23.759 --> 00:12:24.620
 our circumstances

00:12:24.620 --> 00:12:25.480
 and our culture.

00:12:27.800 --> 00:12:28.759
 I read a book

00:12:28.759 --> 00:12:31.780
 not that long ago

00:12:31.780 --> 00:12:32.540
 called

00:12:32.540 --> 00:12:33.740
 The Happy Christian.

00:12:34.560 --> 00:12:35.259
 Now, if that sounds

00:12:35.259 --> 00:12:36.420
 a bit trivial to you,

00:12:36.480 --> 00:12:36.980
 it's actually quite

00:12:36.980 --> 00:12:37.700
 a serious book.

00:12:37.740 --> 00:12:38.460
 It was written by

00:12:38.460 --> 00:12:39.180
 a guy called

00:12:39.180 --> 00:12:39.820
 David Murray

00:12:39.820 --> 00:12:41.360
 who's a professor

00:12:41.360 --> 00:12:42.379
 of practical theology

00:12:42.379 --> 00:12:43.600
 and he looks

00:12:43.600 --> 00:12:44.360
 at two things.

00:12:44.420 --> 00:12:44.920
 He looks at the

00:12:44.920 --> 00:12:46.040
 theology of joy

00:12:46.039 --> 00:12:46.719
 and happiness

00:12:46.719 --> 00:12:48.299
 and he also looks

00:12:48.299 --> 00:12:49.360
 at the psychology,

00:12:49.519 --> 00:12:50.319
 what is known in psychology

00:12:50.319 --> 00:12:51.659
 as positive thinking,

00:12:51.879 --> 00:12:53.519
 as a serious science.

00:12:55.019 --> 00:12:57.439
 And he makes a number

00:12:57.439 --> 00:12:57.919
 of really,

00:12:58.099 --> 00:12:59.299
 really interesting observations

00:12:59.299 --> 00:13:01.199
 and he begins

00:13:01.199 --> 00:13:02.679
 his discourse

00:13:02.679 --> 00:13:03.799
 on The Happy Christian

00:13:03.799 --> 00:13:04.579
 by citing

00:13:04.579 --> 00:13:06.019
 some research,

00:13:06.500 --> 00:13:06.779
 not,

00:13:06.879 --> 00:13:08.259
 this isn't theological research,

00:13:08.399 --> 00:13:09.480
 this is psychology.

00:13:10.480 --> 00:13:11.799
 Psychology which says

00:13:11.799 --> 00:13:13.399
 that apparently,

00:13:14.000 --> 00:13:15.979
 and I acknowledge

00:13:15.979 --> 00:13:17.359
 that it's not

00:13:17.359 --> 00:13:18.819
 that easy

00:13:18.819 --> 00:13:19.359
 to sort of

00:13:19.359 --> 00:13:20.599
 quantify these things,

00:13:21.039 --> 00:13:22.679
 but it's generally

00:13:22.679 --> 00:13:23.259
 reckoned

00:13:23.259 --> 00:13:24.859
 by positive

00:13:24.859 --> 00:13:25.799
 psychologists

00:13:25.799 --> 00:13:27.599
 that

00:13:27.599 --> 00:13:30.439
 our circumstances

00:13:30.439 --> 00:13:31.240
 generally

00:13:31.240 --> 00:13:32.079
 only account

00:13:32.079 --> 00:13:32.620
 for about

00:13:32.620 --> 00:13:33.259
 10%

00:13:33.259 --> 00:13:34.199
 of our state

00:13:34.199 --> 00:13:34.859
 of mood.

00:13:35.859 --> 00:13:36.500
 10%.

00:13:36.500 --> 00:13:38.319
 So by circumstances

00:13:38.319 --> 00:13:39.000
 it could be

00:13:39.000 --> 00:13:40.120
 financial well-being,

00:13:40.120 --> 00:13:40.899
 it could be

00:13:40.899 --> 00:13:41.399
 the state

00:13:41.399 --> 00:13:42.259
 of relationships,

00:13:42.659 --> 00:13:43.200
 how happy

00:13:43.200 --> 00:13:43.620
 you are

00:13:43.620 --> 00:13:44.220
 in your job,

00:13:44.279 --> 00:13:44.919
 in your work,

00:13:45.200 --> 00:13:45.659
 how happy

00:13:45.659 --> 00:13:46.100
 you feel

00:13:46.100 --> 00:13:46.580
 at home.

00:13:47.259 --> 00:13:48.000
 Generally speaking,

00:13:48.080 --> 00:13:49.159
 the circumstances,

00:13:49.500 --> 00:13:50.500
 things external

00:13:50.500 --> 00:13:51.340
 to yourself,

00:13:51.679 --> 00:13:52.340
 those things

00:13:52.340 --> 00:13:52.840
 generally

00:13:52.840 --> 00:13:53.519
 only account

00:13:53.519 --> 00:13:53.960
 for about

00:13:53.960 --> 00:13:54.919
 10%

00:13:54.919 --> 00:13:56.659
 of your state

00:13:56.659 --> 00:13:57.259
 of mood

00:13:57.259 --> 00:13:57.960
 on average

00:13:57.960 --> 00:13:58.700
 at any given

00:13:58.700 --> 00:13:59.120
 time.

00:14:00.100 --> 00:14:00.659
 So what about

00:14:00.659 --> 00:14:01.360
 the other 90?

00:14:02.700 --> 00:14:03.679
 Well get this,

00:14:04.580 --> 00:14:05.320
 it's reckoned

00:14:05.320 --> 00:14:05.879
 that about

00:14:05.879 --> 00:14:07.340
 50%,

00:14:07.340 --> 00:14:07.879
 yes,

00:14:08.159 --> 00:14:08.720
 half,

00:14:08.720 --> 00:14:10.460
 half

00:14:10.460 --> 00:14:11.279
 of our

00:14:11.279 --> 00:14:11.720
 mood

00:14:11.720 --> 00:14:13.420
 is set

00:14:13.420 --> 00:14:14.160
 genetically.

00:14:15.259 --> 00:14:15.960
 It's in your

00:14:15.960 --> 00:14:16.300
 DNA.

00:14:17.399 --> 00:14:18.160
 You can't do

00:14:18.160 --> 00:14:18.740
 anything about it,

00:14:18.759 --> 00:14:19.440
 it's at a lower

00:14:19.440 --> 00:14:19.800
 base,

00:14:19.860 --> 00:14:20.399
 it will move

00:14:20.399 --> 00:14:20.860
 a little bit

00:14:20.860 --> 00:14:21.160
 like that,

00:14:21.220 --> 00:14:21.740
 but generally

00:14:21.740 --> 00:14:22.300
 speaking,

00:14:22.600 --> 00:14:23.120
 all of us

00:14:23.120 --> 00:14:23.700
 have about

00:14:23.700 --> 00:14:24.300
 ourselves

00:14:24.300 --> 00:14:25.779
 a state

00:14:25.779 --> 00:14:26.660
 of psychological

00:14:26.660 --> 00:14:27.500
 disposition

00:14:27.500 --> 00:14:29.440
 that can sort

00:14:29.440 --> 00:14:29.860
 of change,

00:14:29.940 --> 00:14:30.540
 but it's always

00:14:30.540 --> 00:14:30.960
 going to be

00:14:30.960 --> 00:14:31.580
 at a certain

00:14:31.580 --> 00:14:32.480
 ground base.

00:14:32.560 --> 00:14:33.340
 Now that may

00:14:33.340 --> 00:14:34.120
 bring you comfort,

00:14:34.259 --> 00:14:35.040
 it may not,

00:14:35.039 --> 00:14:37.240
 but that is

00:14:37.240 --> 00:14:37.959
 generally,

00:14:38.259 --> 00:14:39.599
 I can't

00:14:39.599 --> 00:14:40.179
 emphasise strongly

00:14:40.179 --> 00:14:40.379
 enough,

00:14:40.699 --> 00:14:41.379
 generally

00:14:41.379 --> 00:14:42.360
 reckoned

00:14:42.360 --> 00:14:43.199
 as a broad

00:14:43.199 --> 00:14:43.919
 brush

00:14:43.919 --> 00:14:44.959
 figure.

00:14:46.319 --> 00:14:47.500
 So the

00:14:47.500 --> 00:14:48.139
 mathematicians

00:14:48.139 --> 00:14:48.759
 among us

00:14:48.759 --> 00:14:49.179
 will be

00:14:49.179 --> 00:14:49.480
 thinking,

00:14:49.740 --> 00:14:50.099
 what were

00:14:50.099 --> 00:14:50.379
 the other

00:14:50.379 --> 00:14:51.159
 40%?

00:14:54.659 --> 00:14:55.439
 The other

00:14:55.439 --> 00:14:56.360
 40%,

00:14:56.360 --> 00:14:57.439
 it is

00:14:57.439 --> 00:14:57.939
 reckoned,

00:14:57.939 --> 00:15:00.159
 of our

00:15:00.159 --> 00:15:00.579
 mood

00:15:00.580 --> 00:15:01.540
 is connected

00:15:01.540 --> 00:15:03.080
 directly

00:15:03.080 --> 00:15:03.900
 to

00:15:03.900 --> 00:15:05.100
 our

00:15:05.100 --> 00:15:05.400
 daily

00:15:05.400 --> 00:15:06.000
 choices

00:15:06.000 --> 00:15:07.280
 and the

00:15:07.280 --> 00:15:07.660
 way that

00:15:07.660 --> 00:15:08.320
 we choose

00:15:08.320 --> 00:15:09.000
 to think.

00:15:11.040 --> 00:15:11.560
 That's

00:15:11.560 --> 00:15:11.900
 quite a

00:15:11.900 --> 00:15:12.440
 wake-up call,

00:15:12.520 --> 00:15:12.820
 isn't it?

00:15:13.500 --> 00:15:13.879
 Now you

00:15:13.879 --> 00:15:14.120
 could think

00:15:14.120 --> 00:15:14.500
 that's only

00:15:14.500 --> 00:15:15.160
 40%,

00:15:15.160 --> 00:15:15.600
 or you

00:15:15.600 --> 00:15:15.840
 could think

00:15:15.840 --> 00:15:16.200
 actually,

00:15:17.240 --> 00:15:18.020
 40%,

00:15:18.020 --> 00:15:18.520
 that's a

00:15:18.520 --> 00:15:19.240
 huge chunk.

00:15:20.440 --> 00:15:21.080
 If it is

00:15:21.080 --> 00:15:21.720
 the case

00:15:21.720 --> 00:15:22.320
 that the

00:15:22.320 --> 00:15:22.940
 way we

00:15:22.940 --> 00:15:23.639
 feel

00:15:23.639 --> 00:15:25.100
 can be

00:15:25.100 --> 00:15:25.860
 changed,

00:15:26.080 --> 00:15:26.960
 40%,

00:15:26.960 --> 00:15:27.480
 that's a

00:15:27.480 --> 00:15:27.879
 massive,

00:15:27.980 --> 00:15:28.660
 massive slab

00:15:28.660 --> 00:15:29.160
 of our

00:15:29.160 --> 00:15:29.600
 mood.

00:15:30.580 --> 00:15:31.240
 can be

00:15:31.240 --> 00:15:32.060
 changed

00:15:32.060 --> 00:15:32.879
 by the

00:15:32.879 --> 00:15:33.680
 way we

00:15:33.680 --> 00:15:34.379
 choose to

00:15:34.379 --> 00:15:34.920
 think.

00:15:36.920 --> 00:15:37.480
 Boy,

00:15:37.560 --> 00:15:37.780
 that's

00:15:37.780 --> 00:15:38.160
 huge.

00:15:39.340 --> 00:15:39.920
 That's

00:15:39.920 --> 00:15:40.320
 huge.

00:15:42.200 --> 00:15:42.920
 So,

00:15:43.100 --> 00:15:43.540
 with that

00:15:43.540 --> 00:15:44.160
 in mind,

00:15:45.360 --> 00:15:46.720
 what might

00:15:46.720 --> 00:15:47.259
 it be

00:15:47.259 --> 00:15:47.980
 about the

00:15:47.980 --> 00:15:48.420
 Christian

00:15:48.420 --> 00:15:48.940
 gospel,

00:15:50.080 --> 00:15:50.780
 what might

00:15:50.780 --> 00:15:51.139
 it be

00:15:51.139 --> 00:15:51.520
 that may

00:15:51.520 --> 00:15:52.220
 stand in

00:15:52.220 --> 00:15:52.620
 stark

00:15:52.620 --> 00:15:53.259
 contradiction

00:15:53.259 --> 00:15:53.800
 to our

00:15:53.800 --> 00:15:54.640
 circumstances

00:15:54.640 --> 00:15:55.220
 and how

00:15:55.220 --> 00:15:55.620
 we would

00:15:55.620 --> 00:15:56.540
 feel about

00:15:56.540 --> 00:15:56.820
 things

00:15:56.820 --> 00:15:57.320
 otherwise,

00:15:57.840 --> 00:15:58.520
 what might

00:15:58.520 --> 00:15:58.920
 it be

00:15:58.920 --> 00:15:59.300
 that we

00:15:59.300 --> 00:15:59.759
 can bring

00:15:59.759 --> 00:16:00.360
 to bear

00:16:00.360 --> 00:16:01.360
 on ourselves

00:16:01.360 --> 00:16:01.820
 and on

00:16:01.820 --> 00:16:02.060
 our

00:16:02.060 --> 00:16:02.759
 moods?

00:16:04.800 --> 00:16:05.200
 Well,

00:16:05.240 --> 00:16:05.419
 I took

00:16:05.419 --> 00:16:05.779
 my time

00:16:05.779 --> 00:16:06.259
 getting to

00:16:06.259 --> 00:16:06.419
 it,

00:16:06.500 --> 00:16:06.759
 but it's

00:16:06.759 --> 00:16:07.080
 here I

00:16:07.080 --> 00:16:07.379
 want to

00:16:07.379 --> 00:16:08.279
 turn to

00:16:08.279 --> 00:16:08.700
 the reading

00:16:08.700 --> 00:16:09.320
 from Luke's

00:16:09.320 --> 00:16:09.800
 gospel that

00:16:09.800 --> 00:16:10.600
 Haraline read

00:16:10.600 --> 00:16:11.060
 to us just

00:16:11.060 --> 00:16:11.340
 now.

00:16:13.519 --> 00:16:14.019
 And the

00:16:14.019 --> 00:16:14.620
 reason we

00:16:14.620 --> 00:16:15.279
 chose this

00:16:15.279 --> 00:16:15.740
 particular

00:16:15.740 --> 00:16:16.080
 passage,

00:16:16.200 --> 00:16:16.340
 and you

00:16:16.340 --> 00:16:16.639
 might be

00:16:16.639 --> 00:16:16.820
 thinking,

00:16:16.960 --> 00:16:17.159
 what on

00:16:17.159 --> 00:16:17.620
 earth has

00:16:17.620 --> 00:16:17.840
 this got

00:16:17.840 --> 00:16:18.100
 to do

00:16:18.100 --> 00:16:18.600
 with joy?

00:16:18.720 --> 00:16:19.139
 Because we've

00:16:19.139 --> 00:16:19.360
 got the

00:16:19.360 --> 00:16:19.820
 story of

00:16:19.820 --> 00:16:20.379
 Jesus who

00:16:20.379 --> 00:16:20.800
 sends out

00:16:20.800 --> 00:16:21.320
 his disciples,

00:16:21.460 --> 00:16:21.800
 they come

00:16:21.800 --> 00:16:22.060
 back,

00:16:22.300 --> 00:16:22.500
 they're

00:16:22.500 --> 00:16:22.720
 saying,

00:16:22.800 --> 00:16:23.060
 isn't this

00:16:23.060 --> 00:16:23.460
 amazing,

00:16:23.620 --> 00:16:23.720
 Lord,

00:16:23.759 --> 00:16:24.200
 that even

00:16:24.200 --> 00:16:24.879
 the demons

00:16:24.879 --> 00:16:25.779
 submit under

00:16:25.779 --> 00:16:26.300
 your name

00:16:26.300 --> 00:16:26.560
 and your

00:16:26.560 --> 00:16:27.019
 authority,

00:16:27.159 --> 00:16:27.500
 isn't this

00:16:27.500 --> 00:16:27.800
 great,

00:16:27.799 --> 00:16:27.959
 we're

00:16:27.959 --> 00:16:28.139
 seeing

00:16:28.139 --> 00:16:28.559
 healings

00:16:28.559 --> 00:16:29.019
 going on,

00:16:29.039 --> 00:16:29.259
 this is

00:16:29.259 --> 00:16:29.579
 absolutely

00:16:29.579 --> 00:16:30.019
 amazing,

00:16:30.259 --> 00:16:30.679
 and then

00:16:30.679 --> 00:16:31.699
 Jesus responds

00:16:31.699 --> 00:16:31.939
 to it,

00:16:31.979 --> 00:16:32.339
 what's that

00:16:32.339 --> 00:16:32.759
 got to do

00:16:32.759 --> 00:16:33.299
 with joy?

00:16:33.899 --> 00:16:34.219
 This is

00:16:34.219 --> 00:16:34.459
 what it's

00:16:34.459 --> 00:16:34.719
 got to

00:16:34.719 --> 00:16:35.019
 do with

00:16:35.019 --> 00:16:35.299
 joy.

00:16:36.139 --> 00:16:36.599
 In the

00:16:36.599 --> 00:16:37.179
 gospels,

00:16:37.539 --> 00:16:38.079
 this is

00:16:38.079 --> 00:16:38.519
 reckoned

00:16:38.519 --> 00:16:38.959
 to be

00:16:38.959 --> 00:16:39.839
 the only

00:16:39.839 --> 00:16:40.620
 incident

00:16:40.620 --> 00:16:41.359
 recorded

00:16:41.359 --> 00:16:43.519
 where we

00:16:43.519 --> 00:16:44.359
 see joy

00:16:44.359 --> 00:16:45.279
 in Jesus.

00:16:46.519 --> 00:16:46.740
 Now,

00:16:46.979 --> 00:16:47.339
 of course,

00:16:47.439 --> 00:16:47.719
 we can

00:16:47.719 --> 00:16:48.459
 point to

00:16:48.459 --> 00:16:49.159
 other places

00:16:49.159 --> 00:16:50.539
 where there's

00:16:50.539 --> 00:16:51.879
 references to

00:16:51.879 --> 00:16:52.719
 it indirectly,

00:16:52.859 --> 00:16:53.299
 for example,

00:16:53.599 --> 00:16:55.240
 in John's

00:16:55.240 --> 00:16:55.620
 gospel,

00:16:56.019 --> 00:16:56.579
 John 15,

00:16:56.580 --> 00:16:57.720
 where Jesus

00:16:57.720 --> 00:16:58.500
 is praying

00:16:58.500 --> 00:16:59.060
 that my

00:16:59.060 --> 00:16:59.680
 joy may

00:16:59.680 --> 00:17:00.300
 be in

00:17:00.300 --> 00:17:00.680
 you.

00:17:01.220 --> 00:17:02.220
 But this

00:17:02.220 --> 00:17:02.480
 is the

00:17:02.480 --> 00:17:03.120
 only actual

00:17:03.120 --> 00:17:04.380
 incident where

00:17:04.380 --> 00:17:05.420
 we see

00:17:05.420 --> 00:17:06.420
 Jesus

00:17:06.420 --> 00:17:07.579
 rejoicing,

00:17:07.880 --> 00:17:08.440
 and it is

00:17:08.440 --> 00:17:08.940
 specifically

00:17:08.940 --> 00:17:09.920
 stated that

00:17:09.920 --> 00:17:10.559
 he was

00:17:10.559 --> 00:17:11.100
 full of

00:17:11.100 --> 00:17:11.460
 joy.

00:17:13.059 --> 00:17:13.360
 Now,

00:17:13.380 --> 00:17:13.539
 that's

00:17:13.539 --> 00:17:13.960
 interesting

00:17:13.960 --> 00:17:15.640
 because three

00:17:15.640 --> 00:17:16.460
 times we're

00:17:16.460 --> 00:17:16.860
 told that

00:17:16.860 --> 00:17:17.620
 Jesus wept,

00:17:19.480 --> 00:17:19.860
 and yet

00:17:19.860 --> 00:17:20.579
 only one

00:17:20.579 --> 00:17:21.160
 incident in

00:17:21.160 --> 00:17:21.400
 Matthew,

00:17:21.539 --> 00:17:21.680
 Mark,

00:17:21.680 --> 00:17:21.860
 Luke,

00:17:21.920 --> 00:17:22.299
 and John

00:17:22.299 --> 00:17:23.200
 where we're

00:17:23.200 --> 00:17:24.220
 told specifically

00:17:24.220 --> 00:17:25.220
 and explicitly

00:17:25.220 --> 00:17:26.400
 that Jesus

00:17:26.400 --> 00:17:26.819
 was full

00:17:26.819 --> 00:17:27.259
 of joy

00:17:27.259 --> 00:17:27.839
 and was

00:17:27.839 --> 00:17:28.420
 rejoicing.

00:17:29.339 --> 00:17:30.059
 I don't

00:17:30.059 --> 00:17:30.500
 think that's

00:17:30.500 --> 00:17:31.120
 any accident.

00:17:32.180 --> 00:17:32.960
 There must

00:17:32.960 --> 00:17:33.579
 be a reason

00:17:33.579 --> 00:17:34.480
 why it is

00:17:34.480 --> 00:17:35.400
 singled out.

00:17:35.700 --> 00:17:36.480
 So what

00:17:36.480 --> 00:17:37.000
 might that

00:17:37.000 --> 00:17:37.740
 reason be?

00:17:39.500 --> 00:17:39.880
 Well,

00:17:39.920 --> 00:17:40.240
 think of the

00:17:40.240 --> 00:17:40.660
 context.

00:17:41.500 --> 00:17:41.779
 Jesus'

00:17:41.980 --> 00:17:42.440
 disciples,

00:17:42.559 --> 00:17:42.779
 and there's

00:17:42.779 --> 00:17:43.120
 70,

00:17:43.200 --> 00:17:43.759
 72 of

00:17:43.759 --> 00:17:43.839
 them,

00:17:44.019 --> 00:17:44.839
 come back

00:17:44.839 --> 00:17:45.620
 and are

00:17:45.620 --> 00:17:46.360
 talking about

00:17:46.360 --> 00:17:46.660
 all the

00:17:46.660 --> 00:17:47.420
 amazing things

00:17:47.420 --> 00:17:47.720
 that have

00:17:47.720 --> 00:17:48.460
 been happening.

00:17:48.460 --> 00:17:50.519
 but Jesus

00:17:50.519 --> 00:17:51.180
 says to

00:17:51.180 --> 00:17:51.519
 them,

00:17:53.299 --> 00:17:53.660
 do not

00:17:53.660 --> 00:17:54.519
 rejoice that

00:17:54.519 --> 00:17:55.079
 the spirits

00:17:55.079 --> 00:17:55.920
 submit to

00:17:55.920 --> 00:17:56.180
 you.

00:17:56.440 --> 00:17:56.900
 In other

00:17:56.900 --> 00:17:57.220
 words,

00:17:58.100 --> 00:17:59.160
 don't make

00:17:59.160 --> 00:17:59.660
 your source

00:17:59.660 --> 00:18:00.279
 of joy

00:18:00.279 --> 00:18:01.799
 the practical

00:18:01.799 --> 00:18:02.360
 things that

00:18:02.360 --> 00:18:02.700
 are going

00:18:02.700 --> 00:18:02.980
 on,

00:18:03.059 --> 00:18:03.579
 even if

00:18:03.579 --> 00:18:03.940
 they are

00:18:03.940 --> 00:18:04.420
 amazing.

00:18:06.220 --> 00:18:06.700
 But,

00:18:06.779 --> 00:18:07.160
 he says,

00:18:07.299 --> 00:18:07.779
 rejoice

00:18:07.779 --> 00:18:10.240
 that your

00:18:10.240 --> 00:18:10.799
 names are

00:18:10.799 --> 00:18:11.299
 written in

00:18:11.299 --> 00:18:11.539
 heaven.

00:18:13.360 --> 00:18:14.039
 And then

00:18:14.039 --> 00:18:14.480
 we're told

00:18:14.480 --> 00:18:14.920
 that Jesus,

00:18:15.079 --> 00:18:15.740
 full of joy,

00:18:16.059 --> 00:18:16.380
 and the

00:18:16.380 --> 00:18:16.960
 Holy Spirit

00:18:16.960 --> 00:18:17.180
 said,

00:18:17.180 --> 00:18:17.740
 I praise

00:18:17.740 --> 00:18:17.920
 you,

00:18:18.039 --> 00:18:18.200
 Father,

00:18:18.320 --> 00:18:18.660
 Lord of

00:18:18.660 --> 00:18:19.039
 heaven and

00:18:19.039 --> 00:18:19.279
 earth.

00:18:21.640 --> 00:18:22.200
 You see,

00:18:22.259 --> 00:18:22.560
 it's not

00:18:22.560 --> 00:18:22.920
 what we

00:18:22.920 --> 00:18:23.660
 do,

00:18:24.680 --> 00:18:25.360
 even if

00:18:25.360 --> 00:18:26.140
 it's amazing

00:18:26.140 --> 00:18:26.680
 Christian

00:18:26.680 --> 00:18:27.299
 ministry,

00:18:27.680 --> 00:18:28.100
 even if

00:18:28.100 --> 00:18:28.480
 you go

00:18:28.480 --> 00:18:28.880
 off and

00:18:28.880 --> 00:18:29.259
 you pray

00:18:29.259 --> 00:18:29.720
 for people

00:18:29.720 --> 00:18:30.140
 and they

00:18:30.140 --> 00:18:30.820
 are healed,

00:18:31.200 --> 00:18:31.840
 Jesus says

00:18:31.840 --> 00:18:32.340
 that's

00:18:32.340 --> 00:18:32.960
 nothing.

00:18:33.100 --> 00:18:33.380
 Don't

00:18:33.380 --> 00:18:34.000
 rejoice over

00:18:34.000 --> 00:18:34.299
 that.

00:18:35.660 --> 00:18:36.100
 It is

00:18:36.100 --> 00:18:36.820
 nothing by

00:18:36.820 --> 00:18:37.480
 comparison

00:18:37.480 --> 00:18:39.080
 to the

00:18:39.080 --> 00:18:40.980
 fact that

00:18:40.980 --> 00:18:41.420
 your names

00:18:41.420 --> 00:18:41.779
 are written

00:18:41.779 --> 00:18:42.279
 in heaven.

00:18:43.799 --> 00:18:44.460
 In other

00:18:44.460 --> 00:18:44.660
 words,

00:18:44.700 --> 00:18:45.000
 it's your

00:18:45.000 --> 00:18:45.680
 identity.

00:18:46.180 --> 00:18:46.680
 It's who

00:18:46.680 --> 00:18:47.100
 you are

00:18:47.100 --> 00:18:47.779
 in Christ.

00:18:49.420 --> 00:18:49.600
 Now,

00:18:49.640 --> 00:18:49.900
 I've already

00:18:49.900 --> 00:18:50.340
 told you

00:18:50.340 --> 00:18:51.380
 several times,

00:18:51.660 --> 00:18:52.140
 I'll say it

00:18:52.140 --> 00:18:52.580
 again in case

00:18:52.580 --> 00:18:52.799
 you haven't

00:18:52.799 --> 00:18:52.940
 gone,

00:18:53.019 --> 00:18:53.600
 I struggle

00:18:53.600 --> 00:18:54.039
 with joy.

00:18:54.240 --> 00:18:54.460
 There are

00:18:54.460 --> 00:18:54.960
 times when

00:18:54.960 --> 00:18:55.720
 I feel

00:18:55.720 --> 00:18:56.019
 down,

00:18:56.100 --> 00:18:56.279
 I feel

00:18:56.279 --> 00:18:56.539
 low,

00:18:56.620 --> 00:18:56.779
 and I

00:18:56.779 --> 00:18:56.920
 feel,

00:18:57.180 --> 00:18:57.799
 where is

00:18:57.799 --> 00:18:58.120
 this joy?

00:18:58.200 --> 00:18:58.539
 How can

00:18:58.539 --> 00:18:58.779
 I get

00:18:58.779 --> 00:18:58.900
 it?

00:18:59.140 --> 00:18:59.320
 But

00:18:59.320 --> 00:18:59.840
 there's

00:18:59.840 --> 00:19:00.340
 something

00:19:00.340 --> 00:19:01.660
 about

00:19:01.660 --> 00:19:02.120
 Christian

00:19:02.120 --> 00:19:02.640
 identity

00:19:02.640 --> 00:19:02.980
 that I

00:19:02.980 --> 00:19:03.200
 find,

00:19:03.320 --> 00:19:03.820
 even in

00:19:03.820 --> 00:19:04.140
 those

00:19:04.140 --> 00:19:04.799
 hardest

00:19:04.799 --> 00:19:05.560
 moments,

00:19:06.519 --> 00:19:07.120
 I sense

00:19:07.120 --> 00:19:07.560
 it's when

00:19:07.560 --> 00:19:08.160
 I begin

00:19:08.160 --> 00:19:08.759
 to connect

00:19:08.759 --> 00:19:09.180
 with that

00:19:09.180 --> 00:19:09.840
 truth and

00:19:09.840 --> 00:19:10.500
 think about

00:19:10.500 --> 00:19:10.759
 it,

00:19:11.420 --> 00:19:12.620
 that even

00:19:12.620 --> 00:19:13.980
 when life

00:19:13.980 --> 00:19:14.460
 may be at

00:19:14.460 --> 00:19:15.060
 its worst,

00:19:15.059 --> 00:19:15.419
 you know,

00:19:16.619 --> 00:19:17.440
 that doesn't

00:19:17.440 --> 00:19:18.039
 go away.

00:19:18.899 --> 00:19:19.299
 There is

00:19:19.299 --> 00:19:20.279
 always that

00:19:20.279 --> 00:19:21.599
 thing there

00:19:21.599 --> 00:19:22.779
 in our

00:19:22.779 --> 00:19:23.519
 identity

00:19:23.519 --> 00:19:25.359
 as Christians

00:19:25.359 --> 00:19:27.079
 that gives

00:19:27.079 --> 00:19:27.559
 us joy.

00:19:28.720 --> 00:19:29.319
 Back to

00:19:29.319 --> 00:19:29.720
 C.S.

00:19:29.799 --> 00:19:30.019
 Lewis'

00:19:30.299 --> 00:19:31.019
 yearning,

00:19:31.099 --> 00:19:31.440
 that sense

00:19:31.440 --> 00:19:31.899
 of longing,

00:19:31.980 --> 00:19:32.519
 no matter what

00:19:32.519 --> 00:19:33.679
 circumstances might

00:19:33.679 --> 00:19:34.019
 be like,

00:19:34.079 --> 00:19:34.519
 no matter how

00:19:34.519 --> 00:19:35.059
 we might be

00:19:35.059 --> 00:19:36.159
 feeling emotionally,

00:19:37.279 --> 00:19:37.980
 when we come

00:19:37.980 --> 00:19:38.559
 back to that

00:19:38.559 --> 00:19:39.000
 truth,

00:19:39.579 --> 00:19:40.319
 that our names

00:19:40.319 --> 00:19:40.859
 are written in

00:19:40.859 --> 00:19:41.059
 heaven,

00:19:41.059 --> 00:19:42.179
 that God

00:19:42.179 --> 00:19:42.700
 loves us,

00:19:42.740 --> 00:19:43.139
 that you are

00:19:43.139 --> 00:19:43.859
 a child of

00:19:43.859 --> 00:19:44.200
 God,

00:19:44.679 --> 00:19:45.019
 it is

00:19:45.019 --> 00:19:45.700
 something that

00:19:45.700 --> 00:19:46.419
 nothing can

00:19:46.419 --> 00:19:46.779
 take that

00:19:46.779 --> 00:19:47.099
 away,

00:19:47.339 --> 00:19:47.639
 nothing.

00:19:50.759 --> 00:19:51.980
 One final

00:19:51.980 --> 00:19:52.500
 story.

00:19:53.919 --> 00:19:54.759
 It's a true

00:19:54.759 --> 00:19:55.159
 story.

00:19:57.359 --> 00:19:58.200
 In the late

00:19:58.200 --> 00:19:59.279
 1930s,

00:19:59.599 --> 00:20:00.119
 a man called

00:20:00.119 --> 00:20:01.139
 John Blandford

00:20:01.139 --> 00:20:02.839
 walked into

00:20:02.839 --> 00:20:03.419
 a library

00:20:03.419 --> 00:20:04.659
 in New York.

00:20:05.240 --> 00:20:05.879
 He was going

00:20:05.879 --> 00:20:06.359
 through the

00:20:06.359 --> 00:20:07.220
 books on

00:20:07.220 --> 00:20:07.839
 the shelves,

00:20:07.980 --> 00:20:08.359
 pulling them

00:20:08.359 --> 00:20:08.659
 out and

00:20:08.659 --> 00:20:09.299
 browsing through

00:20:09.299 --> 00:20:09.480
 them,

00:20:09.539 --> 00:20:10.099
 when he

00:20:10.099 --> 00:20:11.279
 noticed in

00:20:11.279 --> 00:20:12.000
 one particular

00:20:12.000 --> 00:20:12.359
 book on

00:20:12.359 --> 00:20:12.740
 the fly

00:20:12.740 --> 00:20:13.079
 leaf,

00:20:13.459 --> 00:20:14.279
 there was

00:20:14.279 --> 00:20:16.099
 a signature.

00:20:18.319 --> 00:20:19.039
 Somebody had

00:20:19.039 --> 00:20:19.799
 written her

00:20:19.799 --> 00:20:20.179
 name.

00:20:21.039 --> 00:20:21.399
 The woman

00:20:21.399 --> 00:20:21.859
 was called

00:20:21.859 --> 00:20:22.279
 Hollis

00:20:22.279 --> 00:20:22.819
 Maynell.

00:20:23.779 --> 00:20:24.139
 And not

00:20:24.139 --> 00:20:24.599
 only did it

00:20:24.599 --> 00:20:24.959
 have her

00:20:24.959 --> 00:20:25.219
 name,

00:20:25.299 --> 00:20:25.959
 it had her

00:20:25.959 --> 00:20:26.439
 address.

00:20:27.039 --> 00:20:27.219
 Well, he

00:20:27.219 --> 00:20:27.639
 borrowed the

00:20:27.639 --> 00:20:28.679
 book and he

00:20:28.679 --> 00:20:29.119
 kept looking

00:20:29.119 --> 00:20:29.919
 at this and

00:20:29.919 --> 00:20:31.359
 his curiosity

00:20:31.359 --> 00:20:31.839
 got the

00:20:31.839 --> 00:20:32.319
 better of

00:20:32.319 --> 00:20:32.439
 him.

00:20:32.639 --> 00:20:33.059
 He eventually

00:20:33.059 --> 00:20:33.819
 wrote to

00:20:33.819 --> 00:20:34.199
 Hollis

00:20:34.199 --> 00:20:34.879
 Maynell at

00:20:34.879 --> 00:20:35.379
 the address.

00:20:36.199 --> 00:20:36.480
 A few

00:20:36.480 --> 00:20:37.119
 weeks passed

00:20:37.119 --> 00:20:37.339
 and he

00:20:37.339 --> 00:20:37.579
 had a

00:20:37.579 --> 00:20:38.000
 reply.

00:20:39.079 --> 00:20:39.279
 To cut

00:20:39.279 --> 00:20:39.480
 a long

00:20:39.480 --> 00:20:40.079
 story short,

00:20:40.099 --> 00:20:40.659
 this led

00:20:40.659 --> 00:20:40.959
 to a

00:20:40.959 --> 00:20:41.339
 friendship.

00:20:41.779 --> 00:20:41.859
 They

00:20:41.859 --> 00:20:43.699
 became pen

00:20:43.699 --> 00:20:44.379
 pals and

00:20:44.379 --> 00:20:44.759
 they wrote

00:20:44.759 --> 00:20:45.099
 to one

00:20:45.099 --> 00:20:45.379
 another.

00:20:46.659 --> 00:20:47.039
 Eventually,

00:20:47.199 --> 00:20:47.539
 the Second

00:20:47.539 --> 00:20:48.000
 World War

00:20:48.000 --> 00:20:48.579
 broke out

00:20:48.579 --> 00:20:48.899
 and he

00:20:48.899 --> 00:20:49.339
 was called

00:20:49.339 --> 00:20:49.679
 up to

00:20:49.679 --> 00:20:49.959
 go and

00:20:49.959 --> 00:20:50.439
 fight in

00:20:50.439 --> 00:20:50.679
 Europe.

00:20:52.299 --> 00:20:52.759
 During

00:20:52.759 --> 00:20:53.399
 that time,

00:20:53.519 --> 00:20:53.819
 as a

00:20:53.819 --> 00:20:54.119
 soldier,

00:20:55.480 --> 00:20:56.199
 he continued

00:20:56.199 --> 00:20:56.899
 to write,

00:20:57.059 --> 00:20:57.599
 to exchange

00:20:57.599 --> 00:20:58.639
 letters with

00:20:58.639 --> 00:20:59.019
 Hollis

00:20:59.019 --> 00:20:59.379
 Maynell.

00:20:59.519 --> 00:21:00.039
 He

00:21:00.039 --> 00:21:01.319
 realised

00:21:01.319 --> 00:21:02.359
 over the

00:21:02.359 --> 00:21:02.779
 months,

00:21:03.639 --> 00:21:04.019
 he was

00:21:04.019 --> 00:21:04.539
 becoming

00:21:04.539 --> 00:21:05.439
 more and

00:21:05.439 --> 00:21:06.159
 more attracted

00:21:06.159 --> 00:21:06.699
 to this

00:21:06.699 --> 00:21:07.139
 woman that

00:21:07.139 --> 00:21:07.379
 he had

00:21:07.380 --> 00:21:07.660
 never

00:21:07.660 --> 00:21:08.920
 seen but

00:21:08.920 --> 00:21:09.720
 only read

00:21:09.720 --> 00:21:10.480
 her letters.

00:21:12.100 --> 00:21:12.800
 He asked

00:21:12.800 --> 00:21:13.300
 for her

00:21:13.300 --> 00:21:14.160
 to send

00:21:14.160 --> 00:21:14.440
 him a

00:21:14.440 --> 00:21:15.320
 photo but

00:21:15.320 --> 00:21:16.080
 she refused

00:21:16.080 --> 00:21:18.280
 three times.

00:21:20.820 --> 00:21:21.460
 Eventually,

00:21:21.840 --> 00:21:22.360
 John Blanford

00:21:22.360 --> 00:21:23.120
 was on

00:21:23.120 --> 00:21:24.020
 leave one

00:21:24.020 --> 00:21:25.420
 Christmas and

00:21:25.420 --> 00:21:26.140
 so he wrote

00:21:26.140 --> 00:21:27.160
 to Hollis and

00:21:27.160 --> 00:21:27.420
 said,

00:21:28.220 --> 00:21:28.880
 is there any

00:21:28.880 --> 00:21:29.980
 possibility that

00:21:29.980 --> 00:21:31.200
 we could meet

00:21:31.200 --> 00:21:31.520
 up?

00:21:32.220 --> 00:21:32.820
 She wrote

00:21:32.819 --> 00:21:33.259
 back and

00:21:33.259 --> 00:21:33.700
 agreed.

00:21:35.119 --> 00:21:36.059
 And she

00:21:36.059 --> 00:21:37.099
 arranged,

00:21:37.220 --> 00:21:37.579
 she agreed

00:21:37.579 --> 00:21:38.019
 to meet

00:21:38.019 --> 00:21:38.480
 at Grand

00:21:38.480 --> 00:21:39.379
 Central Station

00:21:39.379 --> 00:21:40.059
 in New

00:21:40.059 --> 00:21:40.399
 York.

00:21:41.879 --> 00:21:42.679
 He asked

00:21:42.679 --> 00:21:42.899
 her,

00:21:43.279 --> 00:21:43.679
 how will

00:21:43.679 --> 00:21:44.240
 we recognise

00:21:44.240 --> 00:21:44.879
 one another?

00:21:45.079 --> 00:21:45.500
 He said,

00:21:45.559 --> 00:21:46.539
 I will be

00:21:46.539 --> 00:21:47.039
 wearing my

00:21:47.039 --> 00:21:47.359
 soldier's

00:21:47.359 --> 00:21:47.939
 uniform and

00:21:47.939 --> 00:21:48.299
 I'll be

00:21:48.299 --> 00:21:48.839
 holding a

00:21:48.839 --> 00:21:49.220
 copy of

00:21:49.220 --> 00:21:49.639
 that book

00:21:49.639 --> 00:21:49.939
 and I'll

00:21:49.939 --> 00:21:50.439
 hold it

00:21:50.439 --> 00:21:51.179
 in the

00:21:51.179 --> 00:21:51.379
 air.

00:21:51.439 --> 00:21:51.779
 But how

00:21:51.779 --> 00:21:52.299
 will I

00:21:52.299 --> 00:21:52.659
 recognise

00:21:52.659 --> 00:21:53.079
 you?

00:21:54.119 --> 00:21:54.579
 Hollis

00:21:54.579 --> 00:21:55.139
 wrote back

00:21:55.139 --> 00:21:55.539
 and said,

00:21:55.679 --> 00:21:56.119
 I will be

00:21:56.119 --> 00:21:56.879
 wearing a

00:21:56.879 --> 00:21:58.019
 red rose.

00:21:59.319 --> 00:21:59.740
 Now,

00:21:59.859 --> 00:22:00.379
 rather than

00:22:00.379 --> 00:22:01.059
 me try and

00:22:01.059 --> 00:22:01.379
 tell the

00:22:01.379 --> 00:22:01.740
 story,

00:22:01.740 --> 00:22:02.799
 let me

00:22:02.799 --> 00:22:03.059
 give it

00:22:03.059 --> 00:22:03.460
 to you

00:22:03.460 --> 00:22:03.920
 in the

00:22:03.920 --> 00:22:04.680
 words of

00:22:04.680 --> 00:22:05.000
 the man

00:22:05.000 --> 00:22:05.440
 himself.

00:22:07.519 --> 00:22:08.039
 Finally,

00:22:08.180 --> 00:22:08.599
 the day

00:22:08.599 --> 00:22:09.019
 came.

00:22:10.940 --> 00:22:11.779
 I walk

00:22:11.779 --> 00:22:12.299
 into Grand

00:22:12.299 --> 00:22:13.200
 Central Station.

00:22:13.380 --> 00:22:13.740
 There are

00:22:13.740 --> 00:22:14.579
 hundreds of

00:22:14.579 --> 00:22:15.220
 people milling

00:22:15.220 --> 00:22:15.579
 around.

00:22:16.359 --> 00:22:17.200
 I'm searching

00:22:17.200 --> 00:22:17.620
 for this

00:22:17.620 --> 00:22:18.039
 woman who

00:22:18.039 --> 00:22:18.620
 has captured

00:22:18.620 --> 00:22:19.359
 my heart

00:22:19.359 --> 00:22:20.380
 and suddenly

00:22:20.380 --> 00:22:21.120
 out of the

00:22:21.120 --> 00:22:21.920
 crowd steps

00:22:21.920 --> 00:22:22.359
 a young

00:22:22.359 --> 00:22:22.680
 woman.

00:22:23.859 --> 00:22:24.339
 She has

00:22:24.339 --> 00:22:25.099
 long fair

00:22:25.099 --> 00:22:25.620
 hair and

00:22:25.620 --> 00:22:26.039
 is dressed

00:22:26.039 --> 00:22:26.640
 in green.

00:22:27.180 --> 00:22:27.759
 It seemed

00:22:27.759 --> 00:22:28.200
 as if

00:22:28.200 --> 00:22:29.200
 springtime

00:22:29.200 --> 00:22:30.000
 was bursting

00:22:30.000 --> 00:22:30.480
 out of

00:22:30.480 --> 00:22:30.660
 her.

00:22:30.660 --> 00:22:31.320
 I was

00:22:31.320 --> 00:22:32.279
 captivated,

00:22:32.440 --> 00:22:33.600
 so captivated

00:22:33.600 --> 00:22:34.880
 I omitted

00:22:34.880 --> 00:22:35.600
 to notice

00:22:35.600 --> 00:22:36.259
 that she

00:22:36.259 --> 00:22:36.820
 was not

00:22:36.820 --> 00:22:37.500
 wearing a

00:22:37.500 --> 00:22:37.860
 rose.

00:22:39.640 --> 00:22:40.580
 She smiled

00:22:40.580 --> 00:22:40.980
 at me.

00:22:41.740 --> 00:22:42.360
 She jiggled

00:22:42.360 --> 00:22:42.860
 her hips

00:22:42.860 --> 00:22:43.400
 and as she

00:22:43.400 --> 00:22:44.180
 walked by

00:22:44.180 --> 00:22:44.779
 she looked

00:22:44.779 --> 00:22:45.220
 back and

00:22:45.220 --> 00:22:45.420
 said,

00:22:45.519 --> 00:22:45.900
 go in my

00:22:45.900 --> 00:22:46.140
 way,

00:22:46.220 --> 00:22:46.480
 soldier.

00:22:49.080 --> 00:22:49.720
 I was

00:22:49.720 --> 00:22:50.300
 about to

00:22:50.300 --> 00:22:50.900
 follow her

00:22:50.900 --> 00:22:52.960
 but suddenly

00:22:52.960 --> 00:22:53.680
 out of the

00:22:53.680 --> 00:22:54.140
 corner of

00:22:54.140 --> 00:22:54.660
 my eye

00:22:54.660 --> 00:22:55.360
 I saw

00:22:55.360 --> 00:22:56.279
 the woman

00:22:56.279 --> 00:22:56.880
 wearing

00:22:56.880 --> 00:22:57.580
 the rose.

00:22:57.579 --> 00:22:59.460
 she was

00:22:59.460 --> 00:22:59.799
 older,

00:23:00.299 --> 00:23:01.599
 much older

00:23:01.599 --> 00:23:02.119
 than I

00:23:02.119 --> 00:23:02.659
 had thought

00:23:02.659 --> 00:23:03.099
 she would

00:23:03.099 --> 00:23:03.419
 be.

00:23:04.460 --> 00:23:04.960
 She had

00:23:04.960 --> 00:23:05.319
 a little

00:23:05.319 --> 00:23:06.119
 knitted hat

00:23:06.119 --> 00:23:06.539
 on to

00:23:06.539 --> 00:23:06.939
 keep out

00:23:06.939 --> 00:23:07.439
 the cold

00:23:07.439 --> 00:23:07.759
 and a

00:23:07.759 --> 00:23:08.419
 long brown

00:23:08.419 --> 00:23:08.960
 overcoat

00:23:08.960 --> 00:23:09.699
 that made

00:23:09.699 --> 00:23:10.240
 its way

00:23:10.240 --> 00:23:10.899
 down to

00:23:10.899 --> 00:23:11.339
 sensible

00:23:11.339 --> 00:23:12.379
 flat brown

00:23:12.379 --> 00:23:12.960
 shoes.

00:23:13.759 --> 00:23:14.339
 She wore

00:23:14.339 --> 00:23:14.879
 little round

00:23:14.879 --> 00:23:15.919
 glasses and

00:23:15.919 --> 00:23:16.539
 carried a

00:23:16.539 --> 00:23:17.179
 silver tipped

00:23:17.179 --> 00:23:17.619
 cane.

00:23:18.619 --> 00:23:19.879
 I desperately

00:23:19.879 --> 00:23:20.679
 wanted to

00:23:20.679 --> 00:23:21.379
 go after

00:23:21.379 --> 00:23:21.819
 the young

00:23:21.819 --> 00:23:22.319
 woman in

00:23:22.319 --> 00:23:22.919
 green but

00:23:22.920 --> 00:23:23.320
 then I

00:23:23.320 --> 00:23:23.740
 thought,

00:23:24.400 --> 00:23:24.660
 no,

00:23:25.800 --> 00:23:26.300
 no,

00:23:26.500 --> 00:23:27.160
 this lady

00:23:27.160 --> 00:23:28.220
 has sustained

00:23:28.220 --> 00:23:28.800
 me through

00:23:28.800 --> 00:23:29.380
 the long

00:23:29.380 --> 00:23:30.620
 months of

00:23:30.620 --> 00:23:31.100
 the war.

00:23:32.019 --> 00:23:32.920
 This won't

00:23:32.920 --> 00:23:33.720
 be romance

00:23:33.720 --> 00:23:35.220
 but it

00:23:35.220 --> 00:23:35.779
 might be

00:23:35.779 --> 00:23:36.120
 something

00:23:36.120 --> 00:23:36.560
 deeper.

00:23:38.039 --> 00:23:38.720
 I did

00:23:38.720 --> 00:23:39.259
 not hesitate.

00:23:40.320 --> 00:23:40.940
 I walked

00:23:40.940 --> 00:23:41.440
 up to the

00:23:41.440 --> 00:23:41.860
 woman with

00:23:41.860 --> 00:23:42.300
 the rose

00:23:42.300 --> 00:23:42.900
 and said,

00:23:43.160 --> 00:23:43.539
 my name

00:23:43.539 --> 00:23:43.920
 is John

00:23:43.920 --> 00:23:44.440
 Blanford,

00:23:44.600 --> 00:23:45.039
 you must

00:23:45.039 --> 00:23:45.660
 be Hollis

00:23:45.660 --> 00:23:46.120
 Manel,

00:23:47.420 --> 00:23:47.820
 could I

00:23:47.820 --> 00:23:48.180
 take you

00:23:48.180 --> 00:23:48.539
 to dinner?

00:23:50.759 --> 00:23:51.600
 The elderly

00:23:51.600 --> 00:23:52.539
 lady half

00:23:52.539 --> 00:23:53.139
 smiled,

00:23:53.339 --> 00:23:54.279
 half scowled.

00:23:55.339 --> 00:23:56.079
 Young man,

00:23:56.159 --> 00:23:56.460
 she said,

00:23:56.500 --> 00:23:57.200
 I have no

00:23:57.200 --> 00:23:57.799
 idea what

00:23:57.799 --> 00:23:58.200
 all this

00:23:58.200 --> 00:23:58.700
 is about

00:23:58.700 --> 00:24:00.119
 but the

00:24:00.119 --> 00:24:00.639
 young woman

00:24:00.639 --> 00:24:01.220
 in green

00:24:01.220 --> 00:24:01.779
 who just

00:24:01.779 --> 00:24:02.440
 went by

00:24:02.440 --> 00:24:03.099
 begged me

00:24:03.099 --> 00:24:03.440
 to wear

00:24:03.440 --> 00:24:04.059
 this rose.

00:24:08.019 --> 00:24:08.819
 And she

00:24:08.819 --> 00:24:10.879
 said that

00:24:10.879 --> 00:24:11.319
 if you

00:24:11.319 --> 00:24:11.740
 were to

00:24:11.740 --> 00:24:12.680
 invite me

00:24:12.680 --> 00:24:13.240
 to dinner

00:24:13.240 --> 00:24:14.899
 she will

00:24:14.899 --> 00:24:15.500
 be waiting

00:24:15.500 --> 00:24:16.180
 for you

00:24:16.180 --> 00:24:16.599
 in the

00:24:16.599 --> 00:24:17.359
 big restaurant

00:24:17.359 --> 00:24:18.440
 across the

00:24:18.440 --> 00:24:18.720
 road.

00:24:19.960 --> 00:24:20.480
 Apparently,

00:24:20.680 --> 00:24:21.119
 young man,

00:24:21.879 --> 00:24:22.339
 it was

00:24:22.339 --> 00:24:23.179
 some kind

00:24:23.179 --> 00:24:23.859
 of test.

00:24:26.359 --> 00:24:27.299
 True story.

00:24:29.179 --> 00:24:29.699
 Now,

00:24:29.799 --> 00:24:30.179
 she may

00:24:30.179 --> 00:24:30.459
 have been

00:24:30.459 --> 00:24:31.000
 good looking

00:24:31.000 --> 00:24:33.039
 but boy

00:24:33.039 --> 00:24:33.339
 was she

00:24:33.339 --> 00:24:33.639
 clever.

00:24:35.619 --> 00:24:35.919
 You see,

00:24:36.000 --> 00:24:36.319
 she was

00:24:36.319 --> 00:24:37.019
 bright enough

00:24:37.019 --> 00:24:37.639
 to know

00:24:37.639 --> 00:24:38.519
 that though

00:24:38.519 --> 00:24:39.079
 she might

00:24:39.079 --> 00:24:39.339
 have been

00:24:39.339 --> 00:24:40.199
 very physically

00:24:40.199 --> 00:24:40.720
 attractive,

00:24:40.899 --> 00:24:41.259
 the time

00:24:41.259 --> 00:24:41.819
 would come

00:24:41.819 --> 00:24:42.779
 when looks

00:24:42.779 --> 00:24:43.379
 will pass.

00:24:45.279 --> 00:24:46.079
 She knew

00:24:46.079 --> 00:24:46.379
 and she

00:24:46.379 --> 00:24:46.819
 understood

00:24:46.819 --> 00:24:47.199
 that there

00:24:47.199 --> 00:24:47.679
 is something

00:24:47.679 --> 00:24:48.439
 far deeper,

00:24:49.299 --> 00:24:49.939
 far more

00:24:49.939 --> 00:24:50.740
 profound about

00:24:50.740 --> 00:24:51.799
 human relationships

00:24:51.799 --> 00:24:52.400
 than the

00:24:52.400 --> 00:24:52.740
 way that

00:24:52.740 --> 00:24:53.259
 we look.

00:24:54.559 --> 00:24:55.420
 She knew

00:24:55.420 --> 00:24:56.779
 that and

00:24:56.779 --> 00:24:57.339
 she prized

00:24:57.339 --> 00:24:57.559
 it.

00:25:04.700 --> 00:25:05.579
 When Jesus

00:25:05.579 --> 00:25:06.039
 says,

00:25:06.700 --> 00:25:07.039
 rejoice

00:25:07.039 --> 00:25:07.940
 because your

00:25:07.940 --> 00:25:08.660
 names are

00:25:08.660 --> 00:25:09.240
 written in

00:25:09.240 --> 00:25:09.539
 heaven,

00:25:10.880 --> 00:25:11.720
 he's talking

00:25:11.720 --> 00:25:12.279
 about a

00:25:12.279 --> 00:25:12.859
 relationship.

00:25:13.579 --> 00:25:14.359
 He's talking

00:25:14.359 --> 00:25:14.759
 about a

00:25:14.759 --> 00:25:15.339
 relationship

00:25:15.339 --> 00:25:15.940
 with one

00:25:15.940 --> 00:25:16.240
 that we

00:25:16.240 --> 00:25:16.940
 cannot see

00:25:16.940 --> 00:25:17.700
 now.

00:25:17.700 --> 00:25:20.259
 He's

00:25:20.259 --> 00:25:20.779
 talking about

00:25:20.779 --> 00:25:21.460
 a relationship

00:25:21.460 --> 00:25:22.059
 that is the

00:25:22.059 --> 00:25:22.740
 most important

00:25:22.740 --> 00:25:23.380
 relationship

00:25:23.380 --> 00:25:23.980
 that anybody

00:25:23.980 --> 00:25:24.500
 can ever

00:25:24.500 --> 00:25:25.080
 talk about

00:25:25.080 --> 00:25:25.500
 and ever

00:25:25.500 --> 00:25:25.880
 have.

00:25:27.360 --> 00:25:28.019
 He's talking

00:25:28.019 --> 00:25:28.400
 about a

00:25:28.400 --> 00:25:28.880
 relationship

00:25:28.880 --> 00:25:29.480
 that throughout

00:25:29.480 --> 00:25:29.940
 the course

00:25:29.940 --> 00:25:30.440
 of our lives

00:25:30.440 --> 00:25:30.980
 we will never

00:25:30.980 --> 00:25:31.759
 ever actually

00:25:31.759 --> 00:25:32.400
 see what

00:25:32.400 --> 00:25:32.779
 that other

00:25:32.779 --> 00:25:33.420
 party in

00:25:33.420 --> 00:25:34.100
 that relationship

00:25:34.100 --> 00:25:34.819
 looks like.

00:25:37.220 --> 00:25:37.740
 Why?

00:25:38.519 --> 00:25:39.220
 Because that

00:25:39.220 --> 00:25:39.860
 relationship,

00:25:40.900 --> 00:25:41.400
 and remember

00:25:41.400 --> 00:25:41.980
 it's the most

00:25:41.980 --> 00:25:42.799
 important one,

00:25:43.900 --> 00:25:44.420
 is hidden.

00:25:45.360 --> 00:25:46.140
 Hidden away

00:25:46.140 --> 00:25:46.700
 and out of

00:25:46.700 --> 00:25:47.019
 sight.

00:25:47.700 --> 00:25:51.740
 it's

00:25:51.740 --> 00:25:52.220
 precisely

00:25:52.220 --> 00:25:52.819
 because of

00:25:52.819 --> 00:25:53.080
 that,

00:25:54.660 --> 00:25:55.080
 that by

00:25:55.080 --> 00:25:55.620
 faith,

00:25:56.940 --> 00:25:57.900
 when we

00:25:57.900 --> 00:25:58.680
 just touch

00:25:58.680 --> 00:25:59.059
 on it,

00:26:00.059 --> 00:26:00.900
 just for a

00:26:00.900 --> 00:26:01.160
 moment,

00:26:02.279 --> 00:26:03.860
 we can

00:26:03.860 --> 00:26:04.420
 find joy

00:26:04.420 --> 00:26:05.200
 like nothing,

00:26:05.819 --> 00:26:06.680
 nothing else.