1 00:00:11,120 --> 00:00:16,440 Happy Monday. This is the ERC Leftovers. 2 00:00:16,480 --> 00:00:18,840 I'm Pastor Matt and. I'm Emily. 3 00:00:19,360 --> 00:00:24,880 Emily's here. Little pastor and pastor's wife 4 00:00:25,360 --> 00:00:29,280 episode on this Memorial Day. Happy Memorial Day. 5 00:00:30,080 --> 00:00:37,000 I saw a post from 1613, it's Toby Martin's men's conference. 6 00:00:37,280 --> 00:00:39,360 Just a reflection on today and probably others have. 7 00:00:40,560 --> 00:00:43,160 Others have said it maybe in different ways or different 8 00:00:43,160 --> 00:00:45,680 years or or whatever it was, but Monday will be the most 9 00:00:45,680 --> 00:00:48,040 expensive holiday on the calendar. 10 00:00:48,080 --> 00:00:51,000 Every hot dog, every burger, every spin around the lake or 11 00:00:51,000 --> 00:00:54,560 drink with friends and family is a debt purchased by others. 12 00:00:55,160 --> 00:00:57,080 This is not about all who served. 13 00:00:57,600 --> 00:00:59,920 That day comes in the fall. This one is in honor of those 14 00:00:59,920 --> 00:01:02,880 who have paid in life and blood, whose moms never saw them again, 15 00:01:02,880 --> 00:01:05,840 whose dads wept in private, whose wives raised kids alone, 16 00:01:05,840 --> 00:01:07,600 and whose kids only remember them from pictures. 17 00:01:07,600 --> 00:01:10,400 This isn't simply a day off. This is a day to remember that 18 00:01:10,400 --> 00:01:13,320 others paid for every free breath you ever get to take 19 00:01:13,600 --> 00:01:15,920 freedom. Happy Memorial Day. 20 00:01:16,560 --> 00:01:18,160 Wow. I've. 21 00:01:18,360 --> 00:01:21,120 Never thought that deeply about it before. 22 00:01:21,280 --> 00:01:23,880 That's awesome. Yep, most expensive holiday on 23 00:01:23,880 --> 00:01:26,960 the calendar. I thought that was a profound 24 00:01:26,960 --> 00:01:30,120 reflection from 1613 conference, so yeah. 25 00:01:31,080 --> 00:01:33,920 That. Is yeah, happy Memorial Day and 26 00:01:33,920 --> 00:01:37,120 our expression of gratitude for those that have paid the 27 00:01:37,120 --> 00:01:43,040 ultimate price and as we remember and honor and, yeah, 28 00:01:43,280 --> 00:01:48,600 commend them to God's will as we look to, yeah, live lives worthy 29 00:01:48,600 --> 00:01:52,320 of the freedom gifted to us. Kind of what we're talking about 30 00:01:52,320 --> 00:01:53,800 in the sermon yesterday, too. Yeah. 31 00:01:53,800 --> 00:01:56,880 And thank you to everyone who I know diligently prays for our 32 00:01:56,880 --> 00:02:00,480 families who are sending their loved ones also. 33 00:02:00,960 --> 00:02:04,200 That cannot be an easy task, both those who have been sent 34 00:02:04,200 --> 00:02:06,160 and those who are sending. That's that's tough. 35 00:02:06,160 --> 00:02:08,280 It can be tough. Yeah. 36 00:02:08,440 --> 00:02:14,760 So anyway, Memorial Day Leftovers podcast today the wife 37 00:02:14,760 --> 00:02:22,080 is sitting in good to me you were. 38 00:02:22,160 --> 00:02:24,560 I tried so many ways before I was going to introduce myself. 39 00:02:24,920 --> 00:02:28,440 I don't think anyone can live up to Pastor Chris's like classic 40 00:02:28,680 --> 00:02:31,600 Pastor Chris. It sounds dumb to say pastor 41 00:02:31,600 --> 00:02:35,360 wife Emily, so I wasn't going to do that. 42 00:02:35,360 --> 00:02:39,320 I guess I did it now, but you. Revealed that so. 43 00:02:39,680 --> 00:02:43,440 But we were talking there might be the pastor wife life 44 00:02:43,480 --> 00:02:46,160 sometimes is a little behind the scenes so. 45 00:02:46,600 --> 00:02:48,360 It's a little covert. Yeah. 46 00:02:48,360 --> 00:02:51,520 So unless you know me pretty well, it's kind of like, I feel 47 00:02:51,520 --> 00:02:53,640 like it's either extreme. You'll either know me pretty 48 00:02:53,640 --> 00:02:57,560 well or like you might only see me up front sometimes singing or 49 00:02:57,920 --> 00:02:59,880 wrangling the kid row in the front. 50 00:03:00,720 --> 00:03:01,800 Yeah. And even then, it's not 51 00:03:01,800 --> 00:03:05,200 immediately obvious who you are. Right. 52 00:03:05,520 --> 00:03:11,320 So yeah, I'm Matt's wife, Emily, and I have been in the Lutheran 53 00:03:11,320 --> 00:03:14,240 Brother and I was born and raised in Lutheran Brother in 54 00:03:14,440 --> 00:03:18,200 church. So I have had the great fortune 55 00:03:18,200 --> 00:03:22,640 of knowing Jesus my whole life, which I've come around to 56 00:03:22,640 --> 00:03:26,080 knowing that that is a blessing and not, not something to be 57 00:03:26,080 --> 00:03:29,280 kind of ashamed of. Like I don't have a huge 58 00:03:29,280 --> 00:03:32,800 testimony story, but I do actually, I do have a story of 59 00:03:32,800 --> 00:03:36,360 generational, generational blessing because of those who 60 00:03:36,360 --> 00:03:40,840 had gone before me and faithfully instilled in me the 61 00:03:40,840 --> 00:03:45,760 love of Christ. So, and then we've been here for 62 00:03:46,760 --> 00:03:48,480 eight years. That's crazy. 63 00:03:48,880 --> 00:03:52,440 I remember the first time we came here and just the, I like 64 00:03:52,440 --> 00:03:57,360 to call it specific generosity that we have been given by this 65 00:03:57,360 --> 00:03:59,880 church. People came up to me before they 66 00:03:59,880 --> 00:04:03,760 knew me and offered to watch my kids so I could sing with you, 67 00:04:04,200 --> 00:04:06,720 Something we value as a as a couple. 68 00:04:06,720 --> 00:04:11,880 And it was really, really special to have people who are 69 00:04:11,880 --> 00:04:15,960 just so active in blessing others right away as part of our 70 00:04:15,960 --> 00:04:19,040 life. And so now, after having served 71 00:04:19,040 --> 00:04:22,320 for eight years, we are looking forward to taking a little 72 00:04:22,320 --> 00:04:25,920 break. We joyfully carry burdens from 73 00:04:25,920 --> 00:04:29,560 people and blessings from people and we love that life. 74 00:04:30,480 --> 00:04:34,400 But also it's it is a life that kind of doesn't get a break. 75 00:04:34,640 --> 00:04:38,960 And so we are thankful for the leadership in the Synod and the 76 00:04:38,960 --> 00:04:43,120 leadership here at the church that values taking care of those 77 00:04:43,120 --> 00:04:47,480 who are caring for you guys. So we do look forward to the 78 00:04:47,480 --> 00:04:51,320 time with our family to recenter, refocus and honestly 79 00:04:51,320 --> 00:04:55,560 just recharge so we can come back and continue to love on all 80 00:04:55,560 --> 00:04:56,120 of you guys. So. 81 00:04:57,200 --> 00:05:02,000 Yeah, we're getting this is the last week before a time of rest 82 00:05:02,080 --> 00:05:07,320 as a restful sabbatical for me this summer until till kind of 83 00:05:07,320 --> 00:05:10,440 the middle of August. And you're a speech therapist on 84 00:05:10,880 --> 00:05:14,240 teacher schedule, so you're off for the summer as well. 85 00:05:14,240 --> 00:05:17,760 So we'll get. Yeah, a time of rest and 86 00:05:17,760 --> 00:05:21,320 rejuvenation with the kids. We haven't had a dual summer 87 00:05:21,320 --> 00:05:24,160 off. Yeah, that'll be great. 88 00:05:24,160 --> 00:05:26,640 We're taking some time to travel and get away and spend some time 89 00:05:26,840 --> 00:05:30,640 on some water. And yeah, but eight years in, 90 00:05:30,760 --> 00:05:36,760 it's, it's really crazy and cool to think and reflect on where 91 00:05:36,760 --> 00:05:41,360 this church has been brought through through COVID, through, 92 00:05:42,000 --> 00:05:47,000 yeah, ebbs and flows of, of growth and pastoral transition. 93 00:05:47,000 --> 00:05:51,920 And we were in, we had a connections ministry meeting 94 00:05:52,400 --> 00:05:56,920 yesterday and just discussing, yeah, just different strategies 95 00:05:56,920 --> 00:06:00,760 or new or new ways to invite people in the next steps, not 96 00:06:00,760 --> 00:06:04,600 just being friendly faces, but also like inviting them into 97 00:06:04,600 --> 00:06:07,440 deeper relationship with Jesus and, and with the people here. 98 00:06:07,440 --> 00:06:10,160 And that's, that's where connections ministry is, is 99 00:06:10,160 --> 00:06:13,680 focused on. And even just, I was, I was 100 00:06:13,680 --> 00:06:17,320 talking with them, reflecting on where we're not as small of a 101 00:06:17,320 --> 00:06:23,360 town as we live in by church metrics, we're not a small 102 00:06:23,360 --> 00:06:27,400 church anymore. We're, we're over 200 people on 103 00:06:27,400 --> 00:06:31,080 a weekly basis. About half of you are involved 104 00:06:31,080 --> 00:06:34,360 in, in life groups. And that's outside of like 105 00:06:34,360 --> 00:06:36,480 that's life groups led by people here. 106 00:06:36,480 --> 00:06:40,480 That's outside of those of you that get together and have 107 00:06:40,480 --> 00:06:44,200 coffee and Bible study with a neighbor or or go to a Bible 108 00:06:44,200 --> 00:06:46,440 study that's organized by someone else's church with like 109 00:06:46,440 --> 00:06:48,200 that. That's just like our organized 110 00:06:48,200 --> 00:06:50,200 life groups. At least at least half of you in 111 00:06:50,200 --> 00:06:54,240 Sunday morning attendance are involved in those here. 90% of 112 00:06:54,240 --> 00:06:57,680 churches in America are are 200 people or smaller like like on a 113 00:06:57,680 --> 00:07:01,080 given weekend. So even in little De Witt, we're 114 00:07:01,080 --> 00:07:04,920 in the top 10% of population churches. 115 00:07:04,920 --> 00:07:08,200 But it's not just we, we don't want to just fill seats. 116 00:07:08,200 --> 00:07:12,040 We don't want to just have numbers for numbers sake that 117 00:07:12,040 --> 00:07:16,400 life group part of it or that getting into the word daily, 118 00:07:16,720 --> 00:07:19,280 having having Matt bears, having people in your life that are 119 00:07:19,280 --> 00:07:21,000 holding you accountable to the world. 120 00:07:21,200 --> 00:07:26,640 The word holding you accountable to right Christian living and do 121 00:07:26,640 --> 00:07:28,280 it doing that together. Yeah, right. 122 00:07:28,280 --> 00:07:32,560 Christian living is is messy and ugly at at times. 123 00:07:32,760 --> 00:07:35,000 It's a struggle. We talked about that yesterday 124 00:07:35,000 --> 00:07:37,200 in the message. Jesus promised struggle, 125 00:07:37,200 --> 00:07:39,600 promised suffering. Paul promised suffering in the 126 00:07:39,600 --> 00:07:45,160 way that that he did that that would be a part of walking in 127 00:07:45,160 --> 00:07:49,520 this in this Christian walk after Jesus, but just been 128 00:07:49,520 --> 00:07:53,240 really encouraged in in the growth that we've had both in 129 00:07:53,240 --> 00:07:55,920 number, but also I think in in depth. 130 00:07:56,360 --> 00:08:00,760 There have been lives changed and families restored and and 131 00:08:00,760 --> 00:08:05,880 lives brought to know Jesus and and lives brought to grow in 132 00:08:06,040 --> 00:08:10,320 Jesus through the people that you you talked about that there 133 00:08:10,320 --> 00:08:13,920 already was, even when we got here, an established foundation 134 00:08:14,080 --> 00:08:17,320 of specific generosity. And you say that in ways that 135 00:08:17,640 --> 00:08:20,680 it's it's not just how can I help like people, people saw a 136 00:08:20,680 --> 00:08:25,200 need and asked specifically, can I get can I watch your kids so 137 00:08:25,200 --> 00:08:29,960 you can sing on worship team? Yeah, I I value that. 138 00:08:29,960 --> 00:08:33,039 Like this church was different in that they didn't say can't, 139 00:08:33,039 --> 00:08:35,159 not that they're canned words, but they kind of are a little 140 00:08:35,159 --> 00:08:38,360 bit. When you hear someone say, oh, 141 00:08:38,360 --> 00:08:42,760 I'll be praying about that, or oh, how can I pray for you? 142 00:08:42,760 --> 00:08:48,480 And not that that's not helpful, but you have people here who 143 00:08:48,480 --> 00:08:54,000 seem to have a knack for taking the next real life step. 144 00:08:54,200 --> 00:08:57,520 It's not how can I pray for you? It's like, when can I drop off 145 00:08:57,520 --> 00:09:01,200 the meal? When can I come and put help put 146 00:09:01,200 --> 00:09:03,520 your kids to bed? How can they? 147 00:09:03,520 --> 00:09:05,280 Didn't really give you an option to refuse. 148 00:09:05,280 --> 00:09:08,120 Here's my phone number for when your kids are sick. 149 00:09:08,120 --> 00:09:12,680 I honestly that time when so when the twins were in the NICU 150 00:09:12,760 --> 00:09:17,000 basically and I still didn't have much time, free time to get 151 00:09:17,000 --> 00:09:20,400 to know anyone in this church. There were women who gave me 152 00:09:20,400 --> 00:09:23,360 their phone numbers. And I specifically remember a 153 00:09:23,360 --> 00:09:25,280 phone number given to me. And I'm going to apologize 154 00:09:25,280 --> 00:09:27,720 because I don't even know for sure which phone number it was 155 00:09:27,720 --> 00:09:30,720 because that time my life was honestly a blur. 156 00:09:31,360 --> 00:09:33,920 But I do remember it made an impression on me when someone 157 00:09:33,920 --> 00:09:35,760 handed me. And any mom out there would know 158 00:09:35,760 --> 00:09:38,280 this too, when someone hands you a phone number and says, I know 159 00:09:38,280 --> 00:09:40,680 you've got a lot of help and a lot of phone numbers. 160 00:09:40,760 --> 00:09:43,120 This one is for when your kids are sick. 161 00:09:43,640 --> 00:09:48,280 Call me. So just another example of the 162 00:09:48,280 --> 00:09:53,600 many specific, specifically generous people that have walked 163 00:09:53,600 --> 00:09:55,960 into our lives as we've served here. 164 00:09:56,240 --> 00:10:00,360 And there are many, there are so many new of you since we since 165 00:10:00,360 --> 00:10:03,600 we first started, when I think back on it. 166 00:10:03,680 --> 00:10:07,080 So, and we've been here 8 years when we first moved here. 167 00:10:07,240 --> 00:10:13,000 And I remember June, so June 30th, 2018, it was, it was like 168 00:10:13,000 --> 00:10:17,040 100 and 1° here that day. And we pull up, we pull up to 169 00:10:17,040 --> 00:10:19,760 the house on Pleasant Hill and there's already people waiting. 170 00:10:19,760 --> 00:10:22,400 There's already 20-30 people waiting to unload the truck, but 171 00:10:22,400 --> 00:10:24,960 it's 100 and 1° and. It's just, it was so. 172 00:10:25,200 --> 00:10:30,960 Hot it was so hot, but there are and and what was crazier, you 173 00:10:30,960 --> 00:10:33,640 had never seen this house like that's like a whole. 174 00:10:33,640 --> 00:10:37,720 Nother story we probably don't have time for, but it was a 175 00:10:37,720 --> 00:10:40,800 whirlwind to get this house. I had not been to do it ever, 176 00:10:40,800 --> 00:10:42,720 no. But you had only seen like Skype 177 00:10:42,720 --> 00:10:44,360 video walkthroughs of this house. 178 00:10:44,360 --> 00:10:47,920 I had basically I had seen it. I had said this is this is the 179 00:10:47,920 --> 00:10:49,600 place they were. I remember when we were looking 180 00:10:49,600 --> 00:10:53,720 for a house here, I think there were like literally 7 houses on 181 00:10:53,720 --> 00:10:57,000 the market like into it. Yeah, I mean, I remember the 182 00:10:57,000 --> 00:10:58,760 phone call. I was like in Farm and Fleet 183 00:10:58,760 --> 00:11:02,280 with my mom or something, and you called and you're like, I 184 00:11:02,280 --> 00:11:08,480 think we need to buy this house. I was like like can you send a 185 00:11:08,480 --> 00:11:12,840 picture? Yeah, so, but anyway, on that, 186 00:11:12,840 --> 00:11:15,600 so on that moving day, like you're, you're walking into the 187 00:11:15,600 --> 00:11:17,720 kitchen and people are people are bringing you boxes. 188 00:11:17,720 --> 00:11:19,760 Where do you want this to go? And you're and you're just like, 189 00:11:19,840 --> 00:11:22,120 I need to go look at the kitchen for like I remember. 190 00:11:22,120 --> 00:11:23,160 I really haven't seen the kitchen. 191 00:11:24,040 --> 00:11:28,560 I do remember that I was like, give me 5 minutes to walk in the 192 00:11:28,560 --> 00:11:31,040 door and figure out what this is. 193 00:11:32,640 --> 00:11:35,560 But that was also fine because people took that in stride. 194 00:11:36,160 --> 00:11:38,400 I know Pam was there. She was one of the first ones in 195 00:11:38,400 --> 00:11:42,760 the line and she took Ellie, who was four or five months old at 196 00:11:42,760 --> 00:11:45,080 the time, and her job was literally. 197 00:11:45,120 --> 00:11:46,440 Ellie was like 6 weeks old, yeah. 198 00:11:46,880 --> 00:11:50,240 And it was again 100°. So like she took Ellie though 199 00:11:50,240 --> 00:11:54,080 and held her and rocked her and in the sweltering hot, I'm sure. 200 00:11:54,080 --> 00:11:56,760 But she just every once in a while I'd come back in there. 201 00:11:56,760 --> 00:11:59,120 We I think the the rocking chair must have been one of the first 202 00:11:59,120 --> 00:12:02,040 things we unloaded so that there was something for someone to sit 203 00:12:02,040 --> 00:12:05,200 on with with Ellie. And Pam rocked that. 204 00:12:05,200 --> 00:12:06,920 She literally that was like her job. 205 00:12:07,240 --> 00:12:09,360 It was it was great. But she did. 206 00:12:09,400 --> 00:12:13,560 Yeah, she did that. Yeah, so that was, and just so 207 00:12:13,560 --> 00:12:16,360 just thinking about that, not only all of that, but just how 208 00:12:16,680 --> 00:12:21,800 crazy like Ellie was newborn Ellie was six weeks old, Clara 209 00:12:21,800 --> 00:12:24,320 was a year and a half and Oliver had just turned 3. 210 00:12:25,000 --> 00:12:28,600 We're moving to Iowa away from grandparents. 211 00:12:28,600 --> 00:12:32,680 At that time, we lived like a mile from your parents. 212 00:12:32,960 --> 00:12:35,800 My parents were an hour and a half away in Rochester, like not 213 00:12:36,280 --> 00:12:40,200 not far, but and all of your extended aunts, uncles, 214 00:12:40,320 --> 00:12:42,560 grandparents still in the Eau Claire area. 215 00:12:42,560 --> 00:12:46,240 So like we moved away from any biological family that we had 216 00:12:46,240 --> 00:12:50,280 about four hours South in crazy time. 217 00:12:50,280 --> 00:12:53,640 We had three under 3. Pretty soon we would have 5 218 00:12:53,640 --> 00:12:56,560 under 5 here. And. 219 00:12:56,560 --> 00:12:59,840 Yeah, but, and just thinking about the village that rallied 220 00:13:00,200 --> 00:13:03,000 around that, that was a crazy time in our life. 221 00:13:03,000 --> 00:13:04,760 I was still finishing my master's degree. 222 00:13:05,120 --> 00:13:08,800 We had five under 5. The twins were in the NICU for 223 00:13:10,160 --> 00:13:12,880 11 with 13 weeks, I think it was all told. 224 00:13:13,960 --> 00:13:17,640 Yeah. So just that was A, and that 225 00:13:17,640 --> 00:13:23,240 was, we had twins in the NICU. They came home like we, we had 226 00:13:23,240 --> 00:13:25,880 lived here for like 18 months, I think so within our first year 227 00:13:25,880 --> 00:13:29,200 and a half of being here and then and that, so that was 228 00:13:29,200 --> 00:13:34,120 December of 2019. COVID hits full force like 3-4 229 00:13:34,120 --> 00:13:36,840 months after that. Our first 2-3 years here were 230 00:13:36,840 --> 00:13:39,840 just like, and I know that was the Ki time for everyone really, 231 00:13:39,840 --> 00:13:44,560 but we having 505 still being relatively new at, at a church, 232 00:13:44,560 --> 00:13:46,680 like we're still under 2 years here. 233 00:13:48,920 --> 00:13:50,640 Yeah. The, the love and support and 234 00:13:50,640 --> 00:13:54,080 encouragement that we felt not only in that crazy stressful 235 00:13:54,080 --> 00:13:56,800 time of our lives, there was a crazy stressful time for 236 00:13:56,800 --> 00:14:00,360 everybody's lives in there. And then the five years since 237 00:14:00,360 --> 00:14:03,320 then, like Ellie just turned 8 and she's kind of our, she's 238 00:14:03,320 --> 00:14:05,960 kind of our anchor. But like her age is how long 239 00:14:05,960 --> 00:14:07,200 we've been here. Basically. 240 00:14:07,200 --> 00:14:12,440 The twins are turning 7 this fall, which sounds crazy that 241 00:14:12,440 --> 00:14:16,160 it's been that long that we're that far removed from that. 242 00:14:17,000 --> 00:14:20,560 But there's been, yeah, there's been so much growth and change, 243 00:14:20,560 --> 00:14:23,520 encouragement from people pouring into, pouring into this 244 00:14:23,520 --> 00:14:26,600 building. The those of you that have come 245 00:14:26,920 --> 00:14:33,080 in the past year and a half, two years, to see what the sanctuary 246 00:14:33,080 --> 00:14:36,720 has, how it looks now versus even how it looked like 3 years 247 00:14:36,720 --> 00:14:39,640 ago is way to how it looked three years ago is how it looked 248 00:14:39,800 --> 00:14:44,240 30 years ago. And to, to see that that change 249 00:14:44,240 --> 00:14:47,640 and how that the building has been shaped by, by those of you 250 00:14:47,840 --> 00:14:51,480 skilled in those ways to pour into needs and modifications and 251 00:14:51,480 --> 00:14:55,480 renovations for the space, the parking lot expanding. 252 00:14:55,480 --> 00:15:01,040 And even just the outpouring of energy and encouragement in, in 253 00:15:01,040 --> 00:15:05,160 events and engagement in the community that that you all are 254 00:15:05,160 --> 00:15:08,240 able to, to see and feel and, and be a part of. 255 00:15:09,320 --> 00:15:11,400 Yeah, it's inspiring. You guys are inspiring, 256 00:15:11,400 --> 00:15:14,000 actually. It's that verse like, let's not 257 00:15:14,000 --> 00:15:15,600 grow weary in doing good. Let's. 258 00:15:15,640 --> 00:15:16,800 Not grow weary of doing. Good. 259 00:15:16,800 --> 00:15:21,320 Yeah, just you guys have embodied that honestly long 260 00:15:21,320 --> 00:15:25,440 before we came and it continues and I think it's contagious. 261 00:15:25,480 --> 00:15:31,560 So thankful for for everyone who continues to do that and doesn't 262 00:15:31,560 --> 00:15:36,280 grow weary in doing the good necessary for the growth of this 263 00:15:36,480 --> 00:15:41,160 of this church so that people can continue to come and hear 264 00:15:41,520 --> 00:15:47,760 the main thing that Jesus loves them so much and that they have 265 00:15:47,760 --> 00:15:53,200 a place for, for healing and comfort and growth and 266 00:15:53,200 --> 00:15:54,400 community. So. 267 00:15:54,560 --> 00:15:56,480 Yeah. So huge thanks to those of you 268 00:15:56,480 --> 00:16:00,120 that have been here for a long time laying that foundation, but 269 00:16:00,120 --> 00:16:03,760 also those of you that are relatively new in the past 2-3, 270 00:16:04,080 --> 00:16:07,840 four years coming in and and catching the fire. 271 00:16:08,000 --> 00:16:12,840 Like seeing, seeing that feeling that energy or that compassion 272 00:16:12,840 --> 00:16:16,680 or that power of the Holy Spirit here moving in people and being 273 00:16:16,680 --> 00:16:19,120 like, hey, this is this is it. This is the church. 274 00:16:19,120 --> 00:16:20,200 This is what I want to be a part of. 275 00:16:20,200 --> 00:16:23,760 This is how I'm going to be a part of a Christian walk and and 276 00:16:23,760 --> 00:16:25,200 Christian living. It's yeah. 277 00:16:25,440 --> 00:16:29,840 It's become a really amazing community for us place that we 278 00:16:29,880 --> 00:16:33,160 that we call home. 8 years in and grateful for a little time 279 00:16:33,160 --> 00:16:36,520 off this summer. We're not just taking a step, 280 00:16:36,760 --> 00:16:40,400 I'm taking a step back from, from formal ministry. 281 00:16:40,400 --> 00:16:43,360 There's definitely aspects of life that are, that are just 282 00:16:43,360 --> 00:16:45,800 life. It's not like, it's not like 283 00:16:45,800 --> 00:16:48,960 we're not going to be here to, to hang out or, or do life with 284 00:16:48,960 --> 00:16:50,920 things. We're going to try to not do 285 00:16:50,920 --> 00:16:55,520 like any funerals or weddings this summer, like actual formal, 286 00:16:56,000 --> 00:16:58,080 formal things. But like, yeah, if there's 287 00:16:58,080 --> 00:17:00,800 stuff, if there's stuff going on in your life or you just want to 288 00:17:01,400 --> 00:17:05,359 hang out or go to the pool or go golfing, bring the kids to the 289 00:17:05,359 --> 00:17:06,920 park. Or is it like we're we're here, 290 00:17:06,920 --> 00:17:09,720 we're not averse from seeing church people. 291 00:17:09,720 --> 00:17:13,119 That's not what that's not what this summer of rest is. 292 00:17:13,560 --> 00:17:17,640 It's just kind of, yeah, trying to remove the the weightier. 293 00:17:17,640 --> 00:17:21,400 It's on the responsibility of the responsibilities of ministry 294 00:17:21,400 --> 00:17:23,599 is more of what this sabbatical break is about. 295 00:17:23,599 --> 00:17:28,000 So yeah, grateful for that. That starts June 1st, preaching 296 00:17:28,000 --> 00:17:32,200 next week on the second week of This is Living Philippians 297 00:17:32,200 --> 00:17:37,200 Chapter 2. And then, yeah, we'll get on up 298 00:17:37,200 --> 00:17:39,080 to Wisconsin and spend a week on the river. 299 00:17:39,280 --> 00:17:45,840 So yeah, Anyway, so yeah, Emily Pastor's wife is here for the 300 00:17:45,840 --> 00:17:47,680 episode today. And. 301 00:17:48,120 --> 00:17:51,480 Can I just say, in response to everyone giving so much, let me 302 00:17:51,480 --> 00:17:54,880 gift you with Adulting with Emily this time. 303 00:17:56,160 --> 00:17:57,880 We usually do adulting with Pastor Matt. 304 00:17:57,880 --> 00:18:01,760 Since Pastor Matt's wife is here, we're going to hear what 305 00:18:01,760 --> 00:18:04,400 adulting in the life of Emily looks like. 306 00:18:04,480 --> 00:18:06,720 OK, you might have heard a tone when he said that. 307 00:18:07,760 --> 00:18:09,920 Here's why. For those of you who know me 308 00:18:09,920 --> 00:18:13,680 well, the adulting. OK, I know I'm not the only one 309 00:18:13,680 --> 00:18:16,880 so here we go. Adulting is hard and it's 310 00:18:16,880 --> 00:18:19,960 boring. OK, adulting is hard and boring 311 00:18:21,280 --> 00:18:25,720 for a lot of people. So for those of you who identify 312 00:18:25,720 --> 00:18:31,360 with that, we thought it would be fun to look at a couple of 313 00:18:31,640 --> 00:18:37,720 reels that we've seen that have some encouragement, I think for 314 00:18:38,120 --> 00:18:43,040 those of you who feel the same. So here's the first one. 315 00:18:44,800 --> 00:18:48,960 It's called motivation. I motivate myself and what 316 00:18:48,960 --> 00:18:51,800 better way to motivate myself than a treat? 317 00:18:51,920 --> 00:18:54,000 That's probably why y'all never get nothing done around your 318 00:18:54,000 --> 00:18:55,600 house or anywhere else because you don't have enough 319 00:18:55,600 --> 00:18:57,280 motivation. The only motivation you're 320 00:18:57,280 --> 00:19:00,960 giving yourself is to have a clean house is to organize the 321 00:19:00,960 --> 00:19:02,960 pan. No, no, I'm sorry, that's not 322 00:19:02,960 --> 00:19:04,480 enough motivation for me. I need a treat. 323 00:19:05,400 --> 00:19:10,000 I need a treat. I have never identified with 324 00:19:10,000 --> 00:19:14,200 something so strongly, and you know what? 325 00:19:14,240 --> 00:19:18,240 I will be as bold to say I agree that I think you guys all 326 00:19:18,240 --> 00:19:20,200 probably didn't get enough stuff done because you didn't have 327 00:19:20,200 --> 00:19:24,760 enough motivation. You need a treat adulting with 328 00:19:24,760 --> 00:19:30,120 Emily, I'm not saying you have to buy. 329 00:19:30,160 --> 00:19:32,400 I think she talks about like you could go get the purse or 330 00:19:32,400 --> 00:19:34,400 whatever. No, I mean, doesn't have to be 331 00:19:35,320 --> 00:19:37,960 buying something. You can come up with your own 332 00:19:37,960 --> 00:19:43,600 treat, but like, come on. And I know that's how you and I 333 00:19:43,600 --> 00:19:44,800 are different. It is how we're. 334 00:19:44,800 --> 00:19:46,920 Different How? Enjoy. 335 00:19:48,000 --> 00:19:51,440 Let's see, that's what's. Creating order out of chaos. 336 00:19:52,000 --> 00:19:56,680 No, see, that's it's not even that I I enjoy, I don't enjoy 337 00:19:56,680 --> 00:20:00,280 creating order. I enjoy things being orderly. 338 00:20:00,280 --> 00:20:05,080 OK, same thing. No, it's not the I don't, I 339 00:20:05,120 --> 00:20:09,720 don't wake up in the morning. Jones in to go wash a sink full 340 00:20:09,720 --> 00:20:13,440 of dishes like that's that's not where the joy, the joy is in the 341 00:20:13,440 --> 00:20:17,280 finished the finished product of order is enough motivation for 342 00:20:17,280 --> 00:20:18,400 me. Well, maybe that's where we're 343 00:20:18,400 --> 00:20:20,800 different. Because like I just don't get 344 00:20:20,800 --> 00:20:27,840 any sort of high or enjoyment from seeing order I guess maybe. 345 00:20:27,840 --> 00:20:32,160 You just crave chaos. I crave it. 346 00:20:32,440 --> 00:20:34,800 That's what it sounds like. I want the treat. 347 00:20:37,800 --> 00:20:40,640 And what treat is there for washing dishes? 348 00:20:42,600 --> 00:20:46,760 Nothing. More more dishes to use with 349 00:20:46,760 --> 00:20:51,240 food like this is this. Or I use my favorite coffee 350 00:20:51,240 --> 00:20:55,080 Creamer in my coffee and now I have a treat after I do the 351 00:20:55,120 --> 00:20:59,160 dishes. Or I find the stashed macrons in 352 00:20:59,160 --> 00:21:02,120 the fridge. No, my goodness, you just, you 353 00:21:02,120 --> 00:21:02,920 just need one. Yep. 354 00:21:04,200 --> 00:21:05,640 Yeah. And that and I feel like that 355 00:21:05,640 --> 00:21:09,840 video, yeah, stemmed out of the the Andy Dwyer character of, 356 00:21:10,160 --> 00:21:14,240 yeah, answering a tech exam question and treat, please, 357 00:21:14,240 --> 00:21:16,720 Yeah. Yeah, if you've seen that 358 00:21:16,720 --> 00:21:20,640 episode, he's preparing to give. He's preparing to respond to 359 00:21:20,640 --> 00:21:25,200 questions for his exam, his one college exam that he has. 360 00:21:25,200 --> 00:21:30,400 And so his wife April is trying to help him by offering him a 361 00:21:30,400 --> 00:21:33,640 treat for every time. He answers the question. 362 00:21:34,840 --> 00:21:37,640 And it's like 1 Cheeto. Inner hand that he just. 363 00:21:37,920 --> 00:21:40,440 Eats out but also I would totally do that for a Cheeto. 364 00:21:40,440 --> 00:21:43,000 You would. That's why it's too real. 365 00:21:44,680 --> 00:21:46,440 Yeah. Oh my goodness. 366 00:21:46,440 --> 00:21:51,280 So yes, adulting with Emily. Just need the right motivation. 367 00:21:51,360 --> 00:21:53,120 Just need need a treat. So true. 368 00:21:53,480 --> 00:21:58,320 OK, so then there's the second one, not so much the adulting, 369 00:21:58,640 --> 00:22:04,200 but this one is more about just relationships and women 370 00:22:04,400 --> 00:22:06,400 specifically. There's this. 371 00:22:06,600 --> 00:22:09,720 OK, so there's this trend, I think of reels, if you've ever 372 00:22:09,720 --> 00:22:13,640 seen any of them, where it's like when your man is around, 373 00:22:14,480 --> 00:22:18,120 women all the sudden default to this more dependent kind of 374 00:22:18,840 --> 00:22:21,840 being. And however, when the man isn't 375 00:22:21,840 --> 00:22:25,200 around, like we can do anything, we will get anything done. 376 00:22:27,160 --> 00:22:32,200 Not that it's not like we're trying to be helpless, but at 377 00:22:32,200 --> 00:22:33,600 the same. Time just some, but if the man's 378 00:22:33,600 --> 00:22:38,040 there, you will be helpless. Maybe we just assume our 379 00:22:38,040 --> 00:22:40,920 Princess role when the man I don't know. 380 00:22:41,320 --> 00:22:45,760 But anyway, this so this real just to preface it, it's to it's 381 00:22:45,760 --> 00:22:49,520 a man and his I'm assuming wife or partner walking through the 382 00:22:49,520 --> 00:22:51,680 airport. So I'll just preface it with 383 00:22:51,680 --> 00:22:54,640 that and. It's here are their mindset 384 00:22:54,680 --> 00:22:55,600 versus her. Mindset. 385 00:22:55,600 --> 00:22:58,000 It is their inner thoughts as they walk through the airport. 386 00:22:58,680 --> 00:23:03,320 OK, here you go. There goes 2 exits to the left. 387 00:23:03,320 --> 00:23:04,960 My nearest exit is still in front of me. 388 00:23:05,080 --> 00:23:07,400 My guy looks kind of suspicious. Make sure he doesn't get too 389 00:23:07,400 --> 00:23:18,520 close to her she doesn't have. A care in the world. 390 00:23:19,720 --> 00:23:26,480 That one was also too accurate because because I mean, yes, I 391 00:23:26,480 --> 00:23:30,000 sing on Sundays, but it truly is an outpouring of my regular 392 00:23:30,000 --> 00:23:33,000 daily life. It's just always a song. 393 00:23:33,000 --> 00:23:38,800 Don't even need to be words. Yes, I am really bad at 394 00:23:38,800 --> 00:23:42,120 remembering words. Also you don't care, but I don't 395 00:23:42,120 --> 00:23:45,240 care. No I don't, I don't and this is 396 00:23:45,240 --> 00:23:47,480 fully accurate because as soon as like. 397 00:23:47,560 --> 00:23:51,520 And I've travelled often in my life on my own to foreign 398 00:23:51,520 --> 00:23:54,280 countries and been perfectly capable. 399 00:23:54,440 --> 00:23:57,800 But if you were walking next to me I would not even know where 400 00:23:57,800 --> 00:24:04,480 we're going in the terminal cuz I just feel like I don't have 401 00:24:04,480 --> 00:24:08,200 to. Yeah, feels. 402 00:24:08,240 --> 00:24:10,960 Feels so true. Off the heels of our Maidenness 403 00:24:10,960 --> 00:24:13,520 Image series, too. Another, another way, yet 404 00:24:13,520 --> 00:24:16,840 another way to add to the board of how men and women are 405 00:24:16,840 --> 00:24:21,360 different. And I know many of you are out 406 00:24:21,360 --> 00:24:23,600 there like that, very strong women who would rather, you 407 00:24:23,600 --> 00:24:27,320 know, when the man's around, let him do his thing, right, just 408 00:24:30,480 --> 00:24:31,960 anyway. Hopefully I'm not alone in that, 409 00:24:32,160 --> 00:24:35,000 I guess. Yeah. 410 00:24:35,360 --> 00:24:41,040 But anyway, there you go. Couple other fun just reaction 411 00:24:41,280 --> 00:24:44,320 what's so what's funny. We didn't even go through all of 412 00:24:44,320 --> 00:24:47,680 them necessarily. But I am not on Instagram. 413 00:24:47,720 --> 00:24:52,480 I don't use Instagram. Some like I, I try to limit my 414 00:24:52,480 --> 00:24:54,160 social media in general. I'm not on Tiktok. 415 00:24:54,520 --> 00:24:58,440 I am on Facebook 'cause that's where like I communicate mostly 416 00:24:58,440 --> 00:25:01,600 with people and do most church things that might not be the 417 00:25:01,600 --> 00:25:04,360 best returned or I didn't get like. 418 00:25:04,520 --> 00:25:06,600 You're kind of an old man. When I am social. 419 00:25:06,680 --> 00:25:10,040 Media comes to social media. And that's just that's where I 420 00:25:10,040 --> 00:25:12,280 am and I kind of just live in it. 421 00:25:12,280 --> 00:25:14,200 It's probably not the worst place to. 422 00:25:14,240 --> 00:25:18,760 Be sometimes. Anyway, so you though are mostly 423 00:25:18,760 --> 00:25:23,000 on Instagram and so everyone and I don't even have like Instagram 424 00:25:23,000 --> 00:25:25,880 notifications on like that's how I have Instagram. 425 00:25:25,880 --> 00:25:29,480 I don't even have a well. I I actually don't either out 426 00:25:29,520 --> 00:25:30,840 of. I think I have a tik. 427 00:25:30,840 --> 00:25:33,720 T.O.K for myself. I do not have the app installed 428 00:25:33,880 --> 00:25:36,040 on my phone. So again, if you send anything 429 00:25:36,040 --> 00:25:39,120 to me on TikTok, I yeah, I really don't see those either. 430 00:25:40,240 --> 00:25:44,000 But anyway, so on Instagram, every once in a while, you just 431 00:25:44,000 --> 00:25:46,760 like, give me another, like I sent you a bunch of reels and, 432 00:25:46,760 --> 00:25:48,760 and the honestly, this is like over a month's time. 433 00:25:48,760 --> 00:25:51,040 Like I can look back in my messages on Instagram. 434 00:25:51,080 --> 00:25:54,240 And a lot of the time we'll just sit down on the date night in on 435 00:25:54,240 --> 00:26:01,080 an evening and just you want to see me watch the real that that 436 00:26:01,080 --> 00:26:03,040 you thought were funny, that you want to see me react. 437 00:26:03,040 --> 00:26:04,800 It's a good mix, actually. A lot of them are funny. 438 00:26:04,800 --> 00:26:07,880 I would say they're like 75% funny, like relationship ones 439 00:26:07,880 --> 00:26:10,680 like we did or the adulting ones that I know he'll be like, Yep, 440 00:26:10,680 --> 00:26:13,720 that's you. Yeah, try and be a better adult 441 00:26:13,720 --> 00:26:18,120 I believe or but the other also some of them are ministry 442 00:26:18,120 --> 00:26:23,040 related like worship team or I don't know fun ideas for 443 00:26:23,440 --> 00:26:26,000 different ministry things. So anyway. 444 00:26:26,680 --> 00:26:29,080 I I saw one this morning and we're not going to we're not 445 00:26:29,080 --> 00:26:30,480 going to play it because it's not really audio. 446 00:26:30,480 --> 00:26:32,080 It's just, it's just words on the real. 447 00:26:32,080 --> 00:26:36,440 But as much as, yeah, as much as we talked about the Maidenas 448 00:26:36,440 --> 00:26:39,560 image, guys and girls difference, we also have the 449 00:26:39,560 --> 00:26:43,400 the, the four FS at church, faith, family, fitness and 450 00:26:43,400 --> 00:26:45,280 finances. And I thought this was a funny 451 00:26:45,960 --> 00:26:48,640 sort of fitness reflection. If you're, if you're feeling 452 00:26:48,640 --> 00:26:52,320 depressed, go for a run. Your physical health will be way 453 00:26:52,320 --> 00:26:54,480 worse than your mental health. So you'll feel way, way better 454 00:26:54,480 --> 00:26:59,280 about that. Some of you that's not true for 455 00:26:59,360 --> 00:27:01,400 Yeah, for me that's true. For me that's true. 456 00:27:01,600 --> 00:27:06,400 Keep the spiral going. Well, I suck at that too. 457 00:27:06,400 --> 00:27:07,040 Perfect. OK. 458 00:27:08,600 --> 00:27:11,240 You're right, that may not help. That may not be. 459 00:27:11,240 --> 00:27:14,560 The best thing? Oh man, yeah. 460 00:27:14,800 --> 00:27:17,880 So anyway, I thought that was funny, but. 461 00:27:18,840 --> 00:27:23,080 I also came across a reel that I thought would be funny to share 462 00:27:24,040 --> 00:27:27,760 on the heels of you mentioned because we have the the one more 463 00:27:27,760 --> 00:27:32,600 Sunday coming up and you said. One more Sunday, June 7th. 464 00:27:32,600 --> 00:27:34,800 There's a big announcement coming this Sunday, May 31st, 465 00:27:34,920 --> 00:27:37,200 but then one more Sunday on June 7th that we kind of talked about 466 00:27:37,200 --> 00:27:40,040 yesterday, how that's a safe Sunday. 467 00:27:40,040 --> 00:27:41,800 Like the gospel's going to be clear. 468 00:27:41,840 --> 00:27:43,040 It's not going to be. Weird. 469 00:27:43,040 --> 00:27:44,680 We're not going to be super. Weird. 470 00:27:44,680 --> 00:27:46,640 We're not going to be super, we're going to be like normal 471 00:27:46,640 --> 00:27:48,240 amount of weird. We're not going to be, really. 472 00:27:48,320 --> 00:27:52,840 Weird. So this so this reel I thought 473 00:27:52,840 --> 00:27:56,040 was pretty funny. And also apsa to all of you who 474 00:27:56,040 --> 00:27:58,720 have been attending for a while, let's just OK, just let's be 475 00:27:59,200 --> 00:28:01,680 regular weird. OK, here you go. 476 00:28:02,200 --> 00:28:05,600 I'm bringing a visit to the church this week so everybody 477 00:28:05,600 --> 00:28:10,400 don't be weird. Visit at the judge this week so 478 00:28:10,480 --> 00:28:15,040 everybody don't be weird. Political things. 479 00:28:15,080 --> 00:28:17,520 Shut your mouth. Bigfoot is cane. 480 00:28:17,680 --> 00:28:20,080 Shut your mouth. We got to walk to Missouri. 481 00:28:20,120 --> 00:28:22,520 Shut your mouth. Collab theory. 482 00:28:22,520 --> 00:28:25,040 Shut your mouth. On my mission. 483 00:28:25,040 --> 00:28:27,360 Shut your mouth. We did an exorcism. 484 00:28:27,480 --> 00:28:29,800 Shut your mouth. I had dinner with a ghost. 485 00:28:29,880 --> 00:28:32,000 Shut your mouth. I gave a blessing to a goat. 486 00:28:32,320 --> 00:28:34,720 Shut your mouth. Hey, all of the wards from the 487 00:28:34,720 --> 00:28:38,040 West to the South, Everybody, everybody shut your mouth. 488 00:28:40,200 --> 00:28:46,920 Just talk about Jesus. Oh baby, shut your mouth. 489 00:28:50,840 --> 00:28:53,520 That's that's what it is. Just just talk about Jesus. 490 00:28:53,520 --> 00:28:56,240 Just just. OK. 491 00:28:58,280 --> 00:28:59,880 I don't even know what some of those things she was talking 492 00:28:59,880 --> 00:29:01,920 about. I don't either, but now I kind 493 00:29:01,920 --> 00:29:04,000 of want to. I kind of want to Google some of 494 00:29:04,000 --> 00:29:05,920 it. Big Bigfoot as cane? 495 00:29:06,080 --> 00:29:07,960 What? OK, I don't know. 496 00:29:09,200 --> 00:29:14,800 I've got some Googling to do. Yeah, So that I felt like that. 497 00:29:14,800 --> 00:29:16,040 You were right. You showed that to me. 498 00:29:16,040 --> 00:29:20,160 And that did embody the attitude of One More Sunday. 499 00:29:20,160 --> 00:29:21,640 We're not going to. We're just going to be like, 500 00:29:21,640 --> 00:29:24,680 Jesus weird. Not, Yeah, Extra crazy weird. 501 00:29:25,120 --> 00:29:25,800 Yeah. That's fine. 502 00:29:25,960 --> 00:29:27,240 Yep, we'll be. We'll be fine. 503 00:29:28,120 --> 00:29:35,400 One more Sunday coming up on June 7th yeah are we to church 504 00:29:35,400 --> 00:29:39,720 things now we're we're past our lengthy icebreaker and 505 00:29:40,600 --> 00:29:42,120 conversational part of the show. OK, I. 506 00:29:42,360 --> 00:29:43,800 I think so. I think so. 507 00:29:44,040 --> 00:29:47,520 And yeah, I think, I think we're ready. 508 00:29:47,520 --> 00:29:48,680 I think they're ready for us to move on. 509 00:29:50,400 --> 00:29:52,400 I'm ready for us to move on. It's. 510 00:29:52,440 --> 00:29:55,000 Fun to have you here so yeah, it is fun to meet you. 511 00:29:55,360 --> 00:29:59,320 We are, we started to new series, short four week series 512 00:29:59,320 --> 00:30:03,320 on Philippians this week. There's 4 chapters in 513 00:30:03,320 --> 00:30:04,920 Philippians. We're going to take a little 514 00:30:04,920 --> 00:30:07,480 snippet from each chapter for each of the four weeks. 515 00:30:08,280 --> 00:30:11,360 I said it in church yesterday, but encourage you, it's a short 516 00:30:11,360 --> 00:30:13,720 letter. You could take in all of 517 00:30:13,720 --> 00:30:17,760 Philippians, all four chapters for the next 4 weeks. 518 00:30:17,760 --> 00:30:21,360 You could read it every day and there's and I think it takes 519 00:30:21,360 --> 00:30:25,960 like 13 minutes for an average, the average pace of reading, or 520 00:30:25,960 --> 00:30:27,840 at least that's how long it takes me to listen to it. 521 00:30:27,840 --> 00:30:30,680 I think on on dwell. So something you could probably 522 00:30:30,680 --> 00:30:32,840 read even faster than that than someone actually speaking to 523 00:30:32,840 --> 00:30:34,480 you. But that's where we're going to 524 00:30:34,480 --> 00:30:37,400 be in Philippians. The series is called this is 525 00:30:37,400 --> 00:30:40,480 living. And this first week we focused 526 00:30:40,480 --> 00:30:44,800 on verses 21 through 30 of chapter 1 of Philippians. 527 00:30:44,800 --> 00:30:48,120 And I kind of fixated on the phrase live your life in a 528 00:30:48,120 --> 00:30:51,520 manner worthy of the gospel of Jesus Christ. 529 00:30:52,360 --> 00:30:56,480 And it kind of even they are Paul's words. 530 00:30:56,480 --> 00:30:58,560 And that is true, but it kind of stemmed out of some of the 531 00:30:58,560 --> 00:31:01,240 conversations I feel like you and me have been had having 532 00:31:01,680 --> 00:31:07,440 recently 2 of people living. Are you are you living like 533 00:31:07,440 --> 00:31:09,760 you're saved? Are you living just. 534 00:31:10,400 --> 00:31:12,400 Oh yeah. Like living, remembering what 535 00:31:12,400 --> 00:31:17,120 actually happened. For you, yeah, yeah, because the 536 00:31:17,120 --> 00:31:19,400 older I, the older I get and I guess that just makes sense. 537 00:31:19,400 --> 00:31:24,040 I'd I'd meet more people, but the older I get, I I encounter 538 00:31:24,040 --> 00:31:30,600 or maybe realize some some people like Christians around 539 00:31:30,600 --> 00:31:31,680 me. I'm not even necessarily talking 540 00:31:31,680 --> 00:31:33,480 about it. This church, just like I've been 541 00:31:33,480 --> 00:31:34,480 at a bunch of different churches. 542 00:31:34,720 --> 00:31:39,680 The Christians I've seen and had in my life, some, some of them I 543 00:31:39,680 --> 00:31:44,040 feel like are not living in a way that is, that is living like 544 00:31:44,040 --> 00:31:47,600 you've been saved from from something like you're not 545 00:31:47,800 --> 00:31:52,040 reveling in the outpouring of God's love for you. 546 00:31:52,040 --> 00:31:56,840 You're not living a life in in response, like even even in the 547 00:31:56,840 --> 00:32:01,200 way you might if someone saves your life on the street or is it 548 00:32:01,200 --> 00:32:05,280 like like it's took a bullet from you And it's it's and I 549 00:32:05,280 --> 00:32:07,720 think I think that's a universal Christian struggle really to 550 00:32:07,720 --> 00:32:12,040 like live in the to fully embrace and live in the way that 551 00:32:12,040 --> 00:32:15,680 you like. You realize how your life has 552 00:32:15,680 --> 00:32:18,240 been saved, how someone has stepped in for. 553 00:32:18,280 --> 00:32:20,800 You that's an interesting comparison because I feel like 554 00:32:20,800 --> 00:32:23,360 if that were to happen to me, someone took a bullet for me 555 00:32:23,360 --> 00:32:27,960 literally and like and then later on they asked something of 556 00:32:27,960 --> 00:32:33,400 me, I would have no problem being like, yes, what else, yes, 557 00:32:33,400 --> 00:32:38,240 what else, yes, what else? And somehow, when I know full 558 00:32:38,240 --> 00:32:42,560 well the things the Lord asks of me, I just forget. 559 00:32:42,840 --> 00:32:48,080 I just, it's not on my mind and then I don't or whatever. 560 00:32:48,600 --> 00:32:51,640 It's easy to forget somehow. And maybe I don't know. 561 00:32:51,880 --> 00:32:54,440 And that analogy can get a little a little murky because 562 00:32:54,440 --> 00:32:57,360 God isn't asking us to do those things to keep it. 563 00:32:57,360 --> 00:33:00,400 But it's it's in a way that is if that person came to you and 564 00:33:00,400 --> 00:33:03,800 is like honoring, are you? Are you honoring the life that 565 00:33:03,800 --> 00:33:07,320 was given to you? Are are you are you making 566 00:33:07,320 --> 00:33:12,400 something of the life gifted to you living in response, I talked 567 00:33:12,400 --> 00:33:16,480 about honoring the if we're Princess and princesses, if we 568 00:33:16,480 --> 00:33:19,760 are sons and daughters of the king, are we living a life in a 569 00:33:19,760 --> 00:33:23,800 way that that protects the reputation of the crown or or or 570 00:33:23,800 --> 00:33:27,360 even brings glory to the reputation of the ground 571 00:33:27,360 --> 00:33:32,280 pointing to we don't want to be we don't want to be kids that 572 00:33:32,280 --> 00:33:35,360 that sons and daughters of of the king that are that are 573 00:33:35,360 --> 00:33:40,040 besmirching. Wow, that that how's that guy 574 00:33:40,040 --> 00:33:44,000 parenting them? We don't want to be kids of God 575 00:33:44,360 --> 00:33:46,560 that are like, wow, what is what is he doing? 576 00:33:46,560 --> 00:33:49,760 We would like to be people that I I want that I want that 577 00:33:49,760 --> 00:33:53,360 relationship with that heavenly father that that these people 578 00:33:53,360 --> 00:33:55,560 have that my friends have that my family have. 579 00:33:55,840 --> 00:33:58,720 We should we should live in such a way that we're we're pointing 580 00:33:58,720 --> 00:34:02,400 to the father relationship with God the father being something 581 00:34:02,400 --> 00:34:07,000 that is that is desirable, that is enticing, that is at the 582 00:34:07,000 --> 00:34:10,560 center of our of our life, that is life giving. 583 00:34:10,560 --> 00:34:14,920 So before we get to the end, because that is kind of the end 584 00:34:14,960 --> 00:34:18,080 of chapter 1, just want to set up a couple more context things 585 00:34:18,080 --> 00:34:20,199 as we dive a little deeper on the leftovers. 586 00:34:20,199 --> 00:34:23,719 That's kind of the kind of the point to get into some things. 587 00:34:23,719 --> 00:34:27,199 There wasn't space for on Sunday for the message. 588 00:34:27,199 --> 00:34:29,920 If you want to hear the message in its entirety, it's just one 589 00:34:29,920 --> 00:34:33,360 episode back in the ERC Sunday's podcast feed here. 590 00:34:33,360 --> 00:34:37,040 You can go listen to that but a couple things from the beginning 591 00:34:37,679 --> 00:34:41,440 of chapter 1 of Philippians again, Paul is penning this from 592 00:34:41,440 --> 00:34:43,679 prison. He is quite literally 593 00:34:43,679 --> 00:34:49,880 imprisoned. Verse three he reflects on he he 594 00:34:49,880 --> 00:34:54,080 loved this church in Philippi. He says I thank my God upon 595 00:34:54,080 --> 00:34:56,760 every remembrance of you always in every prayer of mine, making 596 00:34:56,760 --> 00:35:00,320 requests for you all with joy for your fellowship in the 597 00:35:00,320 --> 00:35:03,000 Gospel from the first day until now, being confident, this very 598 00:35:03,000 --> 00:35:05,640 thing that he who has begun a good work and you will complete 599 00:35:05,640 --> 00:35:08,480 it until the day of Jesus Christ. 600 00:35:08,480 --> 00:35:11,560 He's he's thankful for the relationship, the fellowship 601 00:35:11,760 --> 00:35:15,560 that he's had with them, the faith that they possess and and 602 00:35:15,560 --> 00:35:22,280 they live out and it's yeah, it's just a really powerful and 603 00:35:22,280 --> 00:35:24,240 cool thing. I think to see the the 604 00:35:24,240 --> 00:35:27,440 relationship that he had with these people and this the rest 605 00:35:27,440 --> 00:35:32,120 of this letter is is encouraging them on spurring them on in 606 00:35:32,120 --> 00:35:35,160 those things that he's seen and experienced them praying for the 607 00:35:35,160 --> 00:35:40,240 Philippians and doing so with all joy building them up 608 00:35:40,240 --> 00:35:43,720 grateful for their fellowship in the gospel encouraging them. 609 00:35:43,720 --> 00:35:47,240 He who has begun a good work and you will complete it until the 610 00:35:47,240 --> 00:35:51,920 day of Jesus Christ. He then goes on in verse 7 and 8 611 00:35:52,480 --> 00:35:55,800 of chapter one in Philippians, just as it is right for me to 612 00:35:55,800 --> 00:35:58,640 think this all of you, because I have you in my heart and as much 613 00:35:58,640 --> 00:36:01,840 as both in my chains and in the defense and confirmation of the 614 00:36:01,840 --> 00:36:05,760 gospel, you are all partakers with me of grace for God is my 615 00:36:05,760 --> 00:36:07,520 witness. How greatly I long for you all 616 00:36:07,800 --> 00:36:11,080 with the affection of Jesus Christ. 617 00:36:11,200 --> 00:36:13,840 And this kind of reveals his heart. 618 00:36:13,840 --> 00:36:16,680 The profound impact that he's had, the gratitude, the 619 00:36:16,680 --> 00:36:20,440 gratefulness that he has for how this church has been built up, 620 00:36:20,840 --> 00:36:24,720 how it has grown, how these people have remained faithful to 621 00:36:24,720 --> 00:36:27,800 the message that he has preached and taught to them. 622 00:36:28,640 --> 00:36:31,720 He goes on to share a prayer with them, verse 9. 623 00:36:31,800 --> 00:36:34,960 And this I pray that your love may abound still more and more 624 00:36:34,960 --> 00:36:37,120 in knowledge and all discernment, that you may 625 00:36:37,120 --> 00:36:39,800 approve the things that are excellent, that you may be 626 00:36:39,800 --> 00:36:42,640 sincere and without offence till the day of Christ being filled 627 00:36:42,640 --> 00:36:45,800 with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ to the 628 00:36:45,800 --> 00:36:49,960 glory and praise of God. It's a beautiful prayer. 629 00:36:50,040 --> 00:36:54,080 It's a beautiful expression that you may be sincere and without 630 00:36:54,080 --> 00:36:56,920 offence till the day of Christ being filled with the fruits of 631 00:36:56,920 --> 00:36:59,400 righteousness to the glory and praise of God. 632 00:36:59,400 --> 00:37:03,720 It's still all about the reputation of the crown, Our 633 00:37:03,720 --> 00:37:08,760 reflection that the fruits that Lovejoy, peace, patience, those 634 00:37:08,760 --> 00:37:12,160 aren't things that we get. They are reflections of a life 635 00:37:12,680 --> 00:37:14,360 lived. I talked about yesterday in the 636 00:37:14,600 --> 00:37:16,400 passage. One of the cross references was 637 00:37:17,080 --> 00:37:20,720 Colossians 3. To put on as God's chosen, holy 638 00:37:20,720 --> 00:37:23,840 and beloved Lovejoy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, 639 00:37:25,360 --> 00:37:29,480 gentleness, compassion bearing with one another that that verb 640 00:37:29,520 --> 00:37:32,640 in Colossians 3 to put on literally means to to clothe 641 00:37:32,640 --> 00:37:34,960 yourself. We talked about it last Thursday 642 00:37:34,960 --> 00:37:38,560 at the food for thought Bible study at did you did you leave 643 00:37:38,560 --> 00:37:40,680 your compassion at home? This I'm thinking of compassion 644 00:37:40,680 --> 00:37:43,800 as a jacket like did you did you put it on with you this morning 645 00:37:43,800 --> 00:37:47,520 when you went out so that you were ready to encounter the the 646 00:37:47,520 --> 00:37:51,720 trials of the day that you were ready to your hearts were ready 647 00:37:51,720 --> 00:37:55,040 to break for what breaks God's and you're ready to love people 648 00:37:55,040 --> 00:37:59,360 like like he would. So yeah, that was that was some 649 00:37:59,600 --> 00:38:03,960 of the background from yesterday's Paul's relationship 650 00:38:03,960 --> 00:38:06,800 with the church where that had come from. 651 00:38:08,240 --> 00:38:10,240 Then he goes on to reflect. We're going to jump up to verse 652 00:38:10,240 --> 00:38:15,200 19. He reflects on his present 653 00:38:15,760 --> 00:38:19,320 circumstance. Not sure how long he's going to 654 00:38:19,320 --> 00:38:20,520 be in prison. If he's going to get out of 655 00:38:20,520 --> 00:38:23,360 prison, what will be there for him afterwards? 656 00:38:23,360 --> 00:38:26,640 Verse 19 For I know that this will turn out for my deliverance 657 00:38:26,640 --> 00:38:29,040 through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus 658 00:38:29,040 --> 00:38:32,880 Christ, according to my earnest expectation and hope that in 659 00:38:32,880 --> 00:38:36,720 nothing I shall be ashamed. But with all boldness as always, 660 00:38:36,720 --> 00:38:40,680 so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by 661 00:38:40,680 --> 00:38:45,440 life or by death. This I think is a beautiful 662 00:38:45,440 --> 00:38:48,720 conclusion. He is so assured. 663 00:38:48,720 --> 00:38:51,600 And remember, this is Paul who used to be Saul, who used to be 664 00:38:51,600 --> 00:38:56,160 persecuting Christians. Jesus has resurrected and worked 665 00:38:56,160 --> 00:39:01,520 in him such a redemption. He does not identify with that 666 00:39:01,520 --> 00:39:06,040 former self. He only identifies with the from 667 00:39:06,040 --> 00:39:09,880 the day I met Jesus, my life has been turned around and I've 668 00:39:09,880 --> 00:39:14,160 lived in such a way to bring glory to Christ at that. 669 00:39:14,240 --> 00:39:17,920 In nothing shall I be ashamed, but with all boldness. 670 00:39:17,920 --> 00:39:20,600 So now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by 671 00:39:20,600 --> 00:39:23,720 life or death. He could be gone tomorrow and he 672 00:39:23,720 --> 00:39:27,960 still feels fully confident of how his life since he 673 00:39:27,960 --> 00:39:30,400 encountered Jesus has been lived out. 674 00:39:30,880 --> 00:39:33,640 That Christ is magnified. It's awesome. 675 00:39:34,120 --> 00:39:36,720 It's awesome. And that was also kind of the 676 00:39:36,720 --> 00:39:39,960 impetus for me of, of this message yesterday. 677 00:39:39,960 --> 00:39:43,800 Life lived in a manner worthy of the gospel of Jesus Christ 678 00:39:45,760 --> 00:39:48,160 throughout my study this week I was I was kind of thinking about 679 00:39:48,160 --> 00:39:50,880 how how we would go and introduce how would you go 680 00:39:50,880 --> 00:39:55,440 introduce yourself to someone today you you wouldn't you 681 00:39:55,440 --> 00:40:00,840 wouldn't say hey here. Hi, I'm Emily and I used to deal 682 00:40:00,840 --> 00:40:04,080 with this and have this and be this way at no you you 683 00:40:04,080 --> 00:40:08,120 introduced yourself how you are now right like you describe you 684 00:40:08,120 --> 00:40:11,480 describe. I'm, I'm, I'm Emily. 685 00:40:11,520 --> 00:40:14,960 I have 5 kids. I've been a pastor's wife here 686 00:40:14,960 --> 00:40:18,080 in DeWitt for we've my husband's been a pastor here for the past 687 00:40:18,080 --> 00:40:19,920 eight years. I'm a speech therapist. 688 00:40:19,920 --> 00:40:23,080 Like you don't, you don't introduce yourself to someone 689 00:40:23,080 --> 00:40:27,160 today and say, hey, I'm Emily. I was in high school show choir 690 00:40:27,320 --> 00:40:32,160 and I used to play soccer and I had a dog named Jack. 691 00:40:32,320 --> 00:40:36,040 Like those are, those are all, those are all things from your 692 00:40:36,040 --> 00:40:37,040 past. Those are accurate. 693 00:40:37,960 --> 00:40:40,120 Right. But but they don't. 694 00:40:40,480 --> 00:40:45,360 And now that they don't matter. But none of those things are who 695 00:40:45,360 --> 00:40:46,960 you are right now. Yeah, right. 696 00:40:47,760 --> 00:40:50,920 So I was also kind of thinking about that just as as 697 00:40:50,920 --> 00:40:58,360 Christians, as followers, are we are we holding on to who we used 698 00:40:58,360 --> 00:41:02,200 to be? Are we, are we still living our 699 00:41:02,200 --> 00:41:03,600 lives? Are there areas of our lives 700 00:41:03,600 --> 00:41:08,960 that we're still living as who we were before Christ, and maybe 701 00:41:08,960 --> 00:41:12,840 even identifying that way when all that really matters or 702 00:41:12,840 --> 00:41:17,560 should truly matter in the life of a believer is in Christ 703 00:41:17,840 --> 00:41:19,360 today? From this day forward? 704 00:41:20,200 --> 00:41:25,440 Do you believe that His power over sin, death, and the grave 705 00:41:25,440 --> 00:41:28,600 is is enough to redeem and restore all those other things 706 00:41:28,600 --> 00:41:31,000 again? Not that they don't matter, but 707 00:41:31,000 --> 00:41:34,360 they are not what define you anymore. 708 00:41:34,960 --> 00:41:38,040 I've heard it talked about as, as we talked about, like you 709 00:41:38,160 --> 00:41:42,920 changing lives and, and trying to make transformation basically 710 00:41:42,920 --> 00:41:47,160 like Jesus doesn't leave you where you were and he's always 711 00:41:47,160 --> 00:41:54,520 trying to bring you more good. You know, it's kind of like when 712 00:41:54,520 --> 00:41:58,800 you're trying to do be better at something in your life, like 713 00:41:58,800 --> 00:42:01,040 going to the gym or eating better. 714 00:42:01,200 --> 00:42:07,400 I've heard that it works or one strategy for that is to talk as 715 00:42:07,400 --> 00:42:12,160 if it is true of you. I go to the gym now, you know, 716 00:42:12,880 --> 00:42:18,600 yes or I I actually eat healthy. I eat salad for lunch. 717 00:42:18,720 --> 00:42:22,520 You know, whatever you got to say to take on that identity, 718 00:42:22,880 --> 00:42:26,400 then you're more likely to like you're telling your brain that 719 00:42:26,400 --> 00:42:29,400 that is who you are. And I think it's the same for 720 00:42:29,520 --> 00:42:34,360 our Christian walk sometimes where even even someone who's 721 00:42:34,360 --> 00:42:37,400 walked their whole life like I have, it's the same. 722 00:42:37,400 --> 00:42:40,640 It's sometimes there's something that comes up and I'm like, oh, 723 00:42:40,640 --> 00:42:45,720 I did it again, you know, instead of saying, oh, but God 724 00:42:45,800 --> 00:42:51,360 is bringing me out of this rather than, and it's a small 725 00:42:51,360 --> 00:42:54,000 minute difference sometimes rather than, oh, I'm still 726 00:42:54,000 --> 00:42:58,920 fighting this. No, God is bringing me out of 727 00:42:58,920 --> 00:43:03,320 this or I am with the Lord in in getting out. 728 00:43:03,720 --> 00:43:08,240 Even that phrasing and telling yourself the the alternate 729 00:43:08,240 --> 00:43:11,000 identity of like, no, I'm actually covered with Christ and 730 00:43:11,000 --> 00:43:16,080 actually he's with me getting me out versus I'm still stuck down 731 00:43:16,080 --> 00:43:21,040 here and hoping God gets here sometime. 732 00:43:21,040 --> 00:43:23,320 Like no, he already has. He's already there. 733 00:43:23,400 --> 00:43:27,080 You're getting out, you know. Yeah, or even just that aversion 734 00:43:27,080 --> 00:43:30,960 to this. This isn't me anymore. 735 00:43:30,960 --> 00:43:33,880 Like if you, if you do get sucked back into maybe those old 736 00:43:33,880 --> 00:43:37,120 things, it should, it should feel maybe uncomfortable and 737 00:43:37,120 --> 00:43:40,480 weird of like, oh, this isn't, this isn't who I am in Christ. 738 00:43:40,480 --> 00:43:42,720 This isn't who Christ has declared me to be. 739 00:43:42,720 --> 00:43:44,360 I'm not going to, I'm not going to call him out. 740 00:43:44,360 --> 00:43:52,520 But I was interacting with a a dad yesterday and he seemed and 741 00:43:53,040 --> 00:43:57,840 yeah, he seemed frustrated by having a lack of patience 742 00:43:58,160 --> 00:44:01,680 yesterday. But I also it hasn't because 743 00:44:01,680 --> 00:44:02,920 we're giving them the run around. 744 00:44:03,080 --> 00:44:06,600 But like I could, I could just tell the tension and I'm like, 745 00:44:06,880 --> 00:44:13,360 even like this isn't who I am. Like this isn't since Christ is 746 00:44:13,360 --> 00:44:16,600 in me. This feels wrong for for me to 747 00:44:16,600 --> 00:44:20,280 be impatient. Like this is not the way I'm 748 00:44:20,280 --> 00:44:22,080 supposed to feel about and he wasn't. 749 00:44:22,080 --> 00:44:24,240 So it wasn't just like frustrated at his kids that he 750 00:44:24,320 --> 00:44:25,920 he was actually like wrestling with. 751 00:44:26,200 --> 00:44:30,200 I don't want to be impatient with my children because that's 752 00:44:30,200 --> 00:44:33,920 not how I'm called to act. Like he he had this, a version 753 00:44:33,920 --> 00:44:37,920 of this is how I would have would have been before, before 754 00:44:37,920 --> 00:44:40,800 Christ, and I maybe even would have embraced that attitude. 755 00:44:40,800 --> 00:44:42,000 And just like this is what it is. 756 00:44:42,000 --> 00:44:45,400 My kids are frustrating. I but since Christ, it's like, 757 00:44:45,400 --> 00:44:49,480 no, this is I I need to choose joy in my children. 758 00:44:49,480 --> 00:44:52,280 I need to choose patience for my children. 759 00:44:53,800 --> 00:44:56,840 And and you know, you don't have to even say that on your own 760 00:44:56,840 --> 00:45:04,200 power to you can you can God I because of you, I am patient. 761 00:45:04,320 --> 00:45:10,960 I can be because of you, I will wait 5 seconds before this comes 762 00:45:10,960 --> 00:45:14,200 out of my mouth, you know, or help me to. 763 00:45:14,760 --> 00:45:16,800 And even just that. I think we talked a little bit 764 00:45:16,800 --> 00:45:18,040 about that at our life group too. 765 00:45:18,040 --> 00:45:21,520 Or it was like sometimes even just the five seconds of 766 00:45:21,920 --> 00:45:25,880 acknowledging that you're not just bringing God into it. 767 00:45:26,320 --> 00:45:32,080 That is the foundation of living a life worthy of of the call. 768 00:45:32,080 --> 00:45:36,000 Like you can't do it alone. We talked about being worthy, 769 00:45:36,000 --> 00:45:40,960 but like the worthiness again does not come from you finagling 770 00:45:40,960 --> 00:45:44,960 away for your life to be worthy. It's acknowledging the one who 771 00:45:44,960 --> 00:45:49,880 saved your life so that he can continue to bring out the life 772 00:45:49,880 --> 00:45:53,080 that's best for you. Yeah, and that's exactly where 773 00:45:53,640 --> 00:45:57,360 Paul is, verse 21. For me to live is Christ and to 774 00:45:57,360 --> 00:46:00,400 die is gain. If I'm going to live, I'm going 775 00:46:00,400 --> 00:46:02,200 to do it for the glory of Christ. 776 00:46:02,200 --> 00:46:06,200 He tells the church in Philippi. If I if I remain and continue 777 00:46:06,200 --> 00:46:10,720 with you, it's for your progress and joy of the faith that you're 778 00:46:10,720 --> 00:46:13,240 rejoicing for me made me more amundant in Jesus Christ by my 779 00:46:13,240 --> 00:46:17,000 coming to you again, if I'm going to be here, there's work 780 00:46:17,080 --> 00:46:20,120 to be done there. There's there's a throne to be 781 00:46:20,120 --> 00:46:21,520 glorified. There's a there's a there's a 782 00:46:21,520 --> 00:46:26,400 reputation to uphold and glory to bring to the crown of of 783 00:46:26,440 --> 00:46:30,640 Jesus Christ in this if I'm going to live, if I die, it's 784 00:46:30,720 --> 00:46:32,840 it's also going to be a gain 11 for me. 785 00:46:33,040 --> 00:46:35,560 I'm an immediately going to be in glory with Jesus. 786 00:46:35,720 --> 00:46:37,760 So he doesn't fear death. He doesn't fear this 787 00:46:37,760 --> 00:46:40,760 imprisonment and and threat of death that could come from his 788 00:46:40,760 --> 00:46:45,920 present circumstances. Secondly, if he dies for the 789 00:46:45,920 --> 00:46:49,320 cause, like he would literally be executed for proclaiming 790 00:46:49,720 --> 00:46:54,960 Christ, which would also glorify Jesus like that, that would also 791 00:46:55,160 --> 00:46:57,640 bring glory. If that was something that the 792 00:46:57,640 --> 00:47:01,680 world was so averse to that they hated him for, he would he. 793 00:47:01,960 --> 00:47:05,960 But he's not fearful of that in proclaiming, and he's not going 794 00:47:05,960 --> 00:47:07,040 to back down. He's not ashamed. 795 00:47:07,040 --> 00:47:08,080 He said all these words. Yeah. 796 00:47:08,720 --> 00:47:11,120 I was thinking of it's, it's a lyric. 797 00:47:11,200 --> 00:47:14,800 I can't remember. I don't want to mess it up 798 00:47:14,800 --> 00:47:16,520 because these are actually really big. 799 00:47:16,640 --> 00:47:20,160 You would know it's either DC Talk or Jars of Clay. 800 00:47:20,360 --> 00:47:24,320 Oh boy. But one of the lyrics is I have 801 00:47:24,320 --> 00:47:28,320 No Fear of drowning. I have No Fear of drowning. 802 00:47:28,320 --> 00:47:32,640 It's the breathing that's taking all this work. 803 00:47:33,400 --> 00:47:34,880 You know, sounds like jars of clay. 804 00:47:34,880 --> 00:47:35,880 I. Think it is. 805 00:47:35,880 --> 00:47:38,400 I listen to Jars of Clay on repeat during college 'cause it 806 00:47:38,400 --> 00:47:40,880 was like mellow enough that I wouldn't pay attention. 807 00:47:40,880 --> 00:47:42,240 But. It is jars of clay. 808 00:47:42,240 --> 00:47:43,640 It's their song work, yes. OK. 809 00:47:44,160 --> 00:47:47,600 And and that lyric has always stuck with me because it's true. 810 00:47:47,800 --> 00:47:50,200 It's true like. I actually the living is the 811 00:47:50,200 --> 00:47:52,200 hard part. The living is the hard part. 812 00:47:52,200 --> 00:47:56,200 It's I have No Fear of the drowning, which sounds so 813 00:47:56,200 --> 00:47:58,920 morbid. I don't want that for Yeah, I 814 00:47:58,920 --> 00:48:00,440 know. Maybe got that out. 815 00:48:02,880 --> 00:48:04,720 OK. So that's one I won't bring up 816 00:48:04,720 --> 00:48:11,440 on plus one Sunday. +11. More, I'm sorry, One more 817 00:48:11,520 --> 00:48:13,520 Sunday. One more Sunday. 818 00:48:13,520 --> 00:48:16,160 I will not talk about drowning. OK, Deal. 819 00:48:17,880 --> 00:48:23,160 But it's the same concept. I I don't fear the death, I 820 00:48:23,160 --> 00:48:25,880 don't fear the end. I don't fear that stuff. 821 00:48:25,880 --> 00:48:28,800 But it's the breathing that is taking all this work. 822 00:48:28,800 --> 00:48:31,800 And I know there are lots out there that feel that too. 823 00:48:31,800 --> 00:48:35,400 It is exhausting. It is exhausting. 824 00:48:35,440 --> 00:48:38,880 And I'm not just saying that as we approach a sabbatical. 825 00:48:38,880 --> 00:48:42,120 It's it's kind of as I started, as we started talking about this 826 00:48:42,160 --> 00:48:46,160 church too, like you are, you are continuing to do good and 827 00:48:46,160 --> 00:48:48,240 trying not to grow weary and doing that. 828 00:48:48,240 --> 00:48:50,080 And there's really only one way to do that. 829 00:48:50,080 --> 00:48:56,280 And it is when you stop relying on the Lord's strength, then it 830 00:48:56,280 --> 00:49:00,560 becomes even more tiresome and exhausting and not filled with 831 00:49:00,560 --> 00:49:05,040 joy like the letter in in Philippians describes. 832 00:49:05,880 --> 00:49:07,960 Yeah, and that's also part of it. 833 00:49:07,960 --> 00:49:13,160 Verse 27, Paul goes on to kind of the, yeah, the main thrust of 834 00:49:13,160 --> 00:49:14,800 the message that I was talking about yesterday. 835 00:49:14,800 --> 00:49:17,640 Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that 836 00:49:17,640 --> 00:49:21,400 whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your 837 00:49:21,400 --> 00:49:23,760 affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit with one mind, 838 00:49:23,760 --> 00:49:27,800 striving together for the faith of the gospel he's telling. 839 00:49:27,880 --> 00:49:31,120 And all these things you're not doing for me. 840 00:49:31,880 --> 00:49:35,080 It's, it's not for my sake whether I'm here or whether I'm 841 00:49:35,280 --> 00:49:37,400 gone. You're not doing this to be 842 00:49:37,400 --> 00:49:40,440 accountable to me. I've given you an example, but 843 00:49:40,440 --> 00:49:44,480 it is it is for the glory of Christ that you're acting in 844 00:49:44,480 --> 00:49:45,520 such a way. You're not going to have to 845 00:49:45,520 --> 00:49:47,520 answer to me. You're going to have to answer 846 00:49:47,520 --> 00:49:50,720 to God for how you for how you responded to the love that he 847 00:49:50,720 --> 00:49:53,840 expressed to you. So do it in one spirit. 848 00:49:53,960 --> 00:49:57,800 Do it with one mind, striving together in unity for the faith 849 00:49:57,800 --> 00:50:01,000 of the gospel. And that's not that. 850 00:50:01,320 --> 00:50:05,480 Again, now I don't feel like I'm barreling into sabbatical just 851 00:50:05,480 --> 00:50:08,920 like desperately gasping for breath. 852 00:50:09,280 --> 00:50:12,600 And I'm also not saying that sabbatical is a test of like, 853 00:50:12,680 --> 00:50:15,800 hey, can y'all keep it together while I'm gone? 854 00:50:15,840 --> 00:50:19,880 That's not, that's, that's not. And I, and I really don't have 855 00:50:19,880 --> 00:50:20,880 any fear of that. I don't. 856 00:50:21,040 --> 00:50:23,800 Chris and Kristen are still here, elders and and really the 857 00:50:23,800 --> 00:50:27,200 rest of you like this. This place is not turning on 858 00:50:27,440 --> 00:50:30,960 singularly and solely because of me and my work. 859 00:50:31,640 --> 00:50:34,680 Y'all have caught a vision and and a fire here. 860 00:50:34,680 --> 00:50:37,360 These these people are going to be well cared for. 861 00:50:37,360 --> 00:50:40,480 We do have a village shoulder to shoulder. 862 00:50:40,480 --> 00:50:43,920 Iron sharpens iron mentality. Some of y'all need to lean into 863 00:50:43,920 --> 00:50:46,560 that a little bit more than than you currently are and 864 00:50:46,560 --> 00:50:51,040 acknowledge that there are people here willing to pour into 865 00:50:51,040 --> 00:50:55,120 you, willing to hold you accountable to these things that 866 00:50:55,120 --> 00:50:57,960 are above, whether whether present or absent. 867 00:50:59,280 --> 00:51:03,440 So anyway, I, I'm barely in a sabbatical confident in this, 868 00:51:03,440 --> 00:51:06,400 But that's also, that's also how I'm leaving it with you. 869 00:51:07,080 --> 00:51:09,960 I don't, I don't need you to keep this place together while 870 00:51:09,960 --> 00:51:11,640 I'm gone. For, for my sake. 871 00:51:12,000 --> 00:51:15,280 It's it's for God's, it's for the sake of the, the work that's 872 00:51:15,280 --> 00:51:17,560 still to be done in this community. 873 00:51:17,760 --> 00:51:19,600 I don't need you to hold it together so that I have a place 874 00:51:19,600 --> 00:51:23,600 to come back to. I, I want the, the, the message 875 00:51:23,600 --> 00:51:26,000 in the work needs to continue to go forth because there's still 876 00:51:26,240 --> 00:51:27,640 souls into it that need to be saved. 877 00:51:27,640 --> 00:51:31,360 Yeah. Yeah, I was looking at, I mean, 878 00:51:32,200 --> 00:51:33,960 you're not Paul obviously, but like. 879 00:51:34,040 --> 00:51:36,360 If you were I have no illusions that I am Paul. 880 00:51:36,360 --> 00:51:39,760 But if you were to write 1 of Paul's letters to this church, I 881 00:51:39,760 --> 00:51:43,160 do think it would, it would be very similar to like Philippians 882 00:51:43,160 --> 00:51:45,920 in that like, and This is why I love Philippians too, because 883 00:51:45,920 --> 00:51:47,960 this is one of the most uplifting and encouraging. 884 00:51:48,600 --> 00:51:54,800 Like he loved the Church of Philippi and we love this church 885 00:51:54,880 --> 00:51:58,040 because of because exactly like he says at the beginning, I 886 00:51:58,040 --> 00:52:04,400 think that would be kind of our our prayer for people. 887 00:52:04,400 --> 00:52:08,400 Not not because we think it's going to go poorly when we 888 00:52:08,400 --> 00:52:10,720 leave. It's truly because we just 889 00:52:10,720 --> 00:52:16,000 continue with you to yearn for you all with the affection of 890 00:52:16,000 --> 00:52:17,680 Jesus. This is, I mean, straight out of 891 00:52:17,680 --> 00:52:21,280 Philippians 1/8. And it is my our prayer that 892 00:52:21,280 --> 00:52:23,880 your love may abound more and more with the knowledge and 893 00:52:23,880 --> 00:52:27,080 discernment so you can approve what is excellent and be pure 894 00:52:27,080 --> 00:52:28,640 and blameless for the day of Christ. 895 00:52:29,160 --> 00:52:32,400 I mean, that's it. Yeah. 896 00:52:32,400 --> 00:52:36,200 And not, and just a yearning as any, as any fellow believer 897 00:52:36,200 --> 00:52:39,960 would yearn for a brother and sister to just hang on, you 898 00:52:39,960 --> 00:52:42,600 know, hang on till the end, not the end of sabbatical. 899 00:52:42,760 --> 00:52:47,920 Hang on till we get to continue life together in glory. 900 00:52:48,160 --> 00:52:51,360 That that is the goal. Let's make it. 901 00:52:51,360 --> 00:52:54,520 Let's make it as crowded as it is on a Sunday here. 902 00:52:55,120 --> 00:52:58,640 Let's continue to make it just as crowded when we all get to be 903 00:52:58,640 --> 00:53:01,800 together in glory before in the throne room. 904 00:53:02,040 --> 00:53:06,840 Yeah, no, I think that's a great, a great wrap up to that. 905 00:53:06,840 --> 00:53:10,840 I want to share my sort of, yeah, send off commissioning 906 00:53:10,840 --> 00:53:12,280 like that with your thoughts too. 907 00:53:12,440 --> 00:53:15,440 I read it yesterday, but Colossians 312 through 17. 908 00:53:16,280 --> 00:53:18,960 Paul's words put on them as God's chosen one's holy and 909 00:53:18,960 --> 00:53:22,680 beloved compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness and 910 00:53:22,680 --> 00:53:24,840 patience bearing with one another. 911 00:53:24,840 --> 00:53:27,200 And if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each 912 00:53:27,200 --> 00:53:30,640 other, As the Lord has forgiven you, so you must also forgive. 913 00:53:30,640 --> 00:53:34,120 And above all these, put on love, which binds everything 914 00:53:34,120 --> 00:53:36,880 together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule 915 00:53:36,880 --> 00:53:39,760 in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body, and 916 00:53:39,760 --> 00:53:42,480 be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in 917 00:53:42,480 --> 00:53:44,880 you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all 918 00:53:44,880 --> 00:53:47,840 wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs with 919 00:53:47,840 --> 00:53:49,360 thankfulness in your hearts to God. 920 00:53:50,000 --> 00:53:52,320 And whatever you do in Word or deed, do everything in the name 921 00:53:52,320 --> 00:53:56,000 of the Lord Jesus Christ, giving thanks to God the Father through 922 00:53:56,000 --> 00:53:57,680 him. Amen. 923 00:53:57,680 --> 00:54:01,200 Amen. So that's our prayer and our our 924 00:54:01,200 --> 00:54:03,440 wishes for you. We're so grateful to be a part 925 00:54:03,760 --> 00:54:06,640 of this community with you all. I'm going to leave you with one 926 00:54:06,640 --> 00:54:10,480 more thing. Mere Mortal Monday, boiling down 927 00:54:10,480 --> 00:54:17,520 the message to just one succinct take away from Philippians 127. 928 00:54:17,520 --> 00:54:20,040 Let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ. 929 00:54:21,080 --> 00:54:22,920 My take away would be from this message. 930 00:54:23,680 --> 00:54:26,720 The gospel is not just something we believe with our minds, it's 931 00:54:26,720 --> 00:54:29,000 something we live with our lives. 932 00:54:32,160 --> 00:54:34,880 That's what we got. Have a blessed week, Church, see 933 00:54:34,880 --> 00:54:35,200 you Sunday.