1 00:00:01,290 --> 00:00:02,760 Gregg Marutzky: Happy New Year Church. 2 00:00:03,630 --> 00:00:03,900 Happy New Year. 3 00:00:03,930 --> 00:00:05,370 2026. 4 00:00:06,210 --> 00:00:08,340 I don't know where 2025 went. 5 00:00:09,000 --> 00:00:10,470 It sure went fast. 6 00:00:10,500 --> 00:00:13,050 If it, if you're like me, it went too fast. 7 00:00:13,500 --> 00:00:14,250 It is over. 8 00:00:14,400 --> 00:00:16,890 It's great to have Pablo and Nicole back with us. 9 00:00:16,890 --> 00:00:17,580 Amen. 10 00:00:18,360 --> 00:00:20,040 We love you very much. 11 00:00:20,040 --> 00:00:21,150 We're proud of you. 12 00:00:21,150 --> 00:00:22,620 We're inspired by you. 13 00:00:22,620 --> 00:00:24,780 You left a great legacy here. 14 00:00:25,200 --> 00:00:28,290 And, uh, just we hope you come back when you're done. 15 00:00:28,440 --> 00:00:28,620 Amen. 16 00:00:29,640 --> 00:00:31,110 And I've been overseas. 17 00:00:31,110 --> 00:00:32,519 I know what that's like. 18 00:00:32,850 --> 00:00:36,300 It's a different world, gives you perspective, it humbles you. 19 00:00:36,600 --> 00:00:38,280 It's a whole different culture. 20 00:00:38,280 --> 00:00:42,330 And so, uh, we'll be praying for you and we look forward to 21 00:00:42,330 --> 00:00:44,820 hearing more and more good news. 22 00:00:45,420 --> 00:00:52,050 Well, today I like preaching New Year's sermon because I like living 23 00:00:52,110 --> 00:00:54,390 sort of with a stop and a start. 24 00:00:54,390 --> 00:00:54,480 Yes. 25 00:00:55,425 --> 00:00:59,834 Oh, to put some things behind me and then to go forward. 26 00:01:00,135 --> 00:01:01,334 I like to dream. 27 00:01:01,995 --> 00:01:06,495 The title of the lesson today is say, new year. 28 00:01:06,495 --> 00:01:12,495 Same God, but it's also New Year, new Dreams. 29 00:01:12,525 --> 00:01:13,455 Same God. 30 00:01:13,515 --> 00:01:14,115 Amen. 31 00:01:14,745 --> 00:01:16,785 And I think we need to dream as people. 32 00:01:16,785 --> 00:01:19,725 If we don't dream as people, we're gonna be stagnant. 33 00:01:19,725 --> 00:01:24,345 We're gonna let the circumstances of our life affect us too deeply. 34 00:01:25,455 --> 00:01:27,645 You've got to have that vision. 35 00:01:27,645 --> 00:01:32,655 As Hebrews 12 said, Jesus with the joy set before him endured the cross. 36 00:01:32,655 --> 00:01:35,055 You've gotta have joy set before you. 37 00:01:35,445 --> 00:01:37,005 And it can't be just temporary. 38 00:01:37,005 --> 00:01:38,625 It can't be the next vacation. 39 00:01:38,625 --> 00:01:40,065 It can't be the next weekend. 40 00:01:40,065 --> 00:01:44,625 It can't be your team winning because they may not. 41 00:01:45,465 --> 00:01:46,305 They may not. 42 00:01:47,235 --> 00:01:50,625 And so I want us to dream spiritual dreams. 43 00:01:50,625 --> 00:01:52,245 I want us to be able to. 44 00:01:52,905 --> 00:01:57,345 Say goodbye to 2025 and more than just 2025. 45 00:01:57,615 --> 00:02:00,524 I want you to be able to say goodbye to your past. 46 00:02:01,755 --> 00:02:06,195 You can't live in your past coming from a doctor. 47 00:02:06,735 --> 00:02:08,085 Don't look behind. 48 00:02:08,234 --> 00:02:09,913 You're gonna trip going ahead. 49 00:02:10,755 --> 00:02:11,984 Don't look behind. 50 00:02:12,285 --> 00:02:13,680 There's baggage back there. 51 00:02:13,725 --> 00:02:18,615 You need to cut off so you can fly and you can get above 52 00:02:18,615 --> 00:02:20,685 the circumstances of the past. 53 00:02:21,405 --> 00:02:23,745 You've gotta be able to heal from the past. 54 00:02:23,745 --> 00:02:28,275 You've gotta be able to look forward and be focused and have dreams. 55 00:02:28,275 --> 00:02:33,675 I love this poem by Lord Tennis, and I read a bunch of of poems this week. 56 00:02:33,675 --> 00:02:35,265 I wanted to inspire myself. 57 00:02:35,265 --> 00:02:39,405 I wanted to inspire you, and I read a bunch of sad poems. 58 00:02:40,575 --> 00:02:42,525 I read a bunch of garbage. 59 00:02:43,065 --> 00:02:45,375 A lot of people think they're poets out there. 60 00:02:45,495 --> 00:02:48,675 Don't believe much of what you read on the internet. 61 00:02:48,765 --> 00:02:49,275 All right. 62 00:02:49,845 --> 00:02:51,255 I searched and searched. 63 00:02:51,255 --> 00:02:57,435 I asked for the best poems and it took me a lot of time and energy 64 00:02:57,465 --> 00:02:59,415 to find this one, and I like it. 65 00:03:00,465 --> 00:03:01,965 I like it a lot. 66 00:03:03,165 --> 00:03:10,155 All right, Lord Alfred Tenon ring out wild bells to the wild sky. 67 00:03:10,995 --> 00:03:15,420 The flying cloud, the frosty light, the year is dying in the night. 68 00:03:16,170 --> 00:03:18,900 Ring out wild bells and let them die. 69 00:03:19,620 --> 00:03:23,670 Ring out the old ring in the new ring. 70 00:03:23,670 --> 00:03:25,680 Happy bells across the snow. 71 00:03:25,710 --> 00:03:26,820 The year is going. 72 00:03:26,970 --> 00:03:28,110 Let him go. 73 00:03:28,590 --> 00:03:33,990 Ring out the false ring in the true, ring out the grief that SAPs the mind. 74 00:03:34,020 --> 00:03:40,140 For those that here we see no more ring out, the feud of rich and poor. 75 00:03:40,590 --> 00:03:42,750 Ring and redress to all mankind. 76 00:03:43,815 --> 00:03:46,515 Ring out a slowly dying cause. 77 00:03:47,085 --> 00:03:52,305 And ancient forms of party strife ring in the noer modes of life. 78 00:03:52,305 --> 00:03:56,954 With sweeter manners and pure loss ring out the want. 79 00:03:56,954 --> 00:04:02,204 The care, the sin, the faithless coldness of the times wr out. 80 00:04:02,230 --> 00:04:08,715 Wr out my mournful rhymes, but ring the Fuller Menstrual Inn, wring 81 00:04:08,715 --> 00:04:11,295 out false pride in place and blood. 82 00:04:12,330 --> 00:04:19,380 The civic slander and the spite ring in the love of truth and right ring 83 00:04:19,380 --> 00:04:23,760 in common love of good ring out. 84 00:04:23,760 --> 00:04:30,450 Old shapes of foul disease wr out the narrowing lust of gold ring out thousands 85 00:04:30,690 --> 00:04:38,850 wars of old ringing in thousand years of peace ringing in the valid man and free. 86 00:04:39,344 --> 00:04:43,905 The larger heart, the kindler hand wring out the darkness of 87 00:04:43,905 --> 00:04:46,664 the land ring in the Christ. 88 00:04:47,234 --> 00:04:48,914 That is to be. 89 00:04:50,775 --> 00:04:52,365 That's my theme today. 90 00:04:53,145 --> 00:04:58,395 Wr out the old and wr in the new, wr out the bad and wr in the good. 91 00:04:59,325 --> 00:05:04,395 I mean, wr out the past and ring in the future, wr out the 92 00:05:04,395 --> 00:05:08,205 sadness and the sickness and ring in the health and the gladness. 93 00:05:08,205 --> 00:05:08,385 Amen. 94 00:05:09,224 --> 00:05:12,675 I mean, let's let this be a new beginning. 95 00:05:12,705 --> 00:05:18,104 That's why I love school and I'm not gonna go to school anymore. 96 00:05:19,425 --> 00:05:25,215 I think 25 years of graduate school's enough, whatever it was, 12 years 97 00:05:25,215 --> 00:05:28,365 before that, 13, I don't know, whatever. 98 00:05:28,575 --> 00:05:29,235 I'm done. 99 00:05:31,125 --> 00:05:35,354 But what's good about school is I always went semesters. 100 00:05:36,164 --> 00:05:37,844 So I had a, a fall. 101 00:05:38,415 --> 00:05:41,835 And a spring or winter, they'd call out spring, but it was really winter 102 00:05:41,835 --> 00:05:44,205 in the places I lived and then summer. 103 00:05:45,495 --> 00:05:54,045 But I let that semester system be a start and a stop, a time to reflect, a time to 104 00:05:54,045 --> 00:06:01,275 review, a time to repent, a time to even regret, and a time to refresh and renew. 105 00:06:01,950 --> 00:06:03,930 And revive and go forward. 106 00:06:04,230 --> 00:06:04,440 That's right. 107 00:06:05,100 --> 00:06:08,310 And so this week is a good time for us to do that. 108 00:06:08,370 --> 00:06:10,470 Some of us still we're. 109 00:06:10,470 --> 00:06:11,850 We're on vacation. 110 00:06:12,330 --> 00:06:13,860 You haven't had to go back to work. 111 00:06:13,860 --> 00:06:15,360 Tomorrow may be the day. 112 00:06:15,360 --> 00:06:16,980 I'm so sorry. 113 00:06:17,490 --> 00:06:18,120 All right. 114 00:06:18,780 --> 00:06:22,080 I mean, we're taking our grandkids to the airport. 115 00:06:22,080 --> 00:06:25,110 I'm gonna savor today and tomorrow. 116 00:06:25,110 --> 00:06:27,150 Two more days of vacation. 117 00:06:27,150 --> 00:06:27,330 Amen. 118 00:06:28,200 --> 00:06:29,010 All right. 119 00:06:29,445 --> 00:06:30,885 I, I'm cheering for myself. 120 00:06:30,885 --> 00:06:32,234 I know you didn't get into that. 121 00:06:32,445 --> 00:06:32,864 All right. 122 00:06:33,794 --> 00:06:35,205 But then it's back to work. 123 00:06:36,015 --> 00:06:37,065 It's back to work. 124 00:06:37,515 --> 00:06:42,674 But after I leave them at the airport, I'm gonna really focus and I hope 125 00:06:42,674 --> 00:06:45,465 this lesson can help you as well. 126 00:06:45,465 --> 00:06:45,585 Amen. 127 00:06:46,034 --> 00:06:49,395 Americans, we make resolutions. 128 00:06:50,115 --> 00:06:56,450 In fact, it says, studies show that about 60% of Americans 129 00:06:56,450 --> 00:06:57,530 make New Year's resolution. 130 00:06:58,680 --> 00:07:01,350 And what do we make resolutions about? 131 00:07:01,380 --> 00:07:07,470 Well, let me, let me, uh, uh, share with you some statistics of what 132 00:07:07,470 --> 00:07:10,140 those, what we make resolutions about. 133 00:07:10,410 --> 00:07:13,740 We make resolutions to drink less alcohol. 134 00:07:14,760 --> 00:07:15,480 Okay? 135 00:07:15,540 --> 00:07:17,580 And then for some of it's for health reasons. 136 00:07:17,955 --> 00:07:19,695 We don't drink any alcohol. 137 00:07:19,725 --> 00:07:23,745 There's nothing wrong with that, and even for religious regions, we don't. 138 00:07:23,805 --> 00:07:28,905 Now, Paul said Timothy because he had a, a, a bad stomach to drink a little 139 00:07:28,905 --> 00:07:34,065 alcohol, so it's okay to drink a little, but if you don't need it, don't drink it. 140 00:07:34,245 --> 00:07:34,935 All right. 141 00:07:35,415 --> 00:07:39,525 I, I used to drink a little, now I don't drink at all because I 142 00:07:39,525 --> 00:07:43,905 have two professional license and I don't want to ever lose those. 143 00:07:43,905 --> 00:07:44,385 License. 144 00:07:44,385 --> 00:07:46,425 Took, took too much work to get 'em. 145 00:07:46,500 --> 00:07:46,560 Yeah. 146 00:07:47,250 --> 00:07:51,180 And even though I'm a big guy and I think that, you know, I can maybe 147 00:07:51,180 --> 00:07:54,480 handle some, I'm not gonna even test it. 148 00:07:54,930 --> 00:07:56,460 Get a better education. 149 00:07:56,460 --> 00:07:58,650 Well do that if you need to. 150 00:07:58,920 --> 00:07:59,610 All right. 151 00:07:59,670 --> 00:08:01,950 Everybody needs to be a lifelong learner. 152 00:08:02,220 --> 00:08:07,560 I mean, life passes you by the studies show right now that you'll not have 153 00:08:07,560 --> 00:08:09,780 one career your whole lifetime. 154 00:08:09,780 --> 00:08:09,840 Wow. 155 00:08:10,590 --> 00:08:13,800 That now, it used to be you'd have at least two careers. 156 00:08:13,800 --> 00:08:15,090 Now it's four. 157 00:08:15,150 --> 00:08:15,210 Wow. 158 00:08:16,200 --> 00:08:16,830 All right. 159 00:08:16,859 --> 00:08:19,049 So you're gonna have to be a lifelong learner. 160 00:08:19,049 --> 00:08:21,755 You're gonna have to continue to evolve it. 161 00:08:21,760 --> 00:08:26,370 It maybe you're a digital, uh, native and you know all about 162 00:08:26,489 --> 00:08:27,510 the internet and all that. 163 00:08:27,539 --> 00:08:28,380 Well, guess what? 164 00:08:28,380 --> 00:08:30,719 AI's come along and there's a lot more to do. 165 00:08:30,960 --> 00:08:31,289 Learn. 166 00:08:31,289 --> 00:08:34,313 You gotta just keep growing and learning and changing. 167 00:08:34,700 --> 00:08:36,679 You need professional development. 168 00:08:36,860 --> 00:08:39,140 I'm so proud of Steve Stevenson. 169 00:08:39,140 --> 00:08:45,020 He's gonna start grad school this semester to get his master's in theology, 170 00:08:45,710 --> 00:08:49,580 and the four guy's probably gonna have to have me as one of his professors. 171 00:08:49,670 --> 00:08:49,970 Amen. 172 00:08:50,960 --> 00:08:52,370 He better be nice. 173 00:08:52,490 --> 00:08:53,060 All right. 174 00:08:55,125 --> 00:08:56,990 Get a better job, get fit. 175 00:08:57,020 --> 00:08:58,250 Let's all work on that. 176 00:08:58,250 --> 00:08:59,120 Lose weight. 177 00:08:59,550 --> 00:09:02,100 Well, that's been a lifelong journey. 178 00:09:02,400 --> 00:09:04,470 I'm gonna be really skinny in heaven. 179 00:09:04,530 --> 00:09:05,010 Amen. 180 00:09:06,240 --> 00:09:07,650 Manage debt. 181 00:09:07,860 --> 00:09:09,090 Get out from under debt. 182 00:09:09,090 --> 00:09:10,440 That's just a burden. 183 00:09:10,830 --> 00:09:12,510 Manage stress. 184 00:09:12,900 --> 00:09:15,540 Do things every day. 185 00:09:15,930 --> 00:09:18,390 Even this ring in and ring out. 186 00:09:19,230 --> 00:09:20,460 Ring in the good. 187 00:09:22,050 --> 00:09:23,040 Ring out the bad. 188 00:09:23,175 --> 00:09:23,265 Right. 189 00:09:24,645 --> 00:09:26,055 Ring in the new year. 190 00:09:26,775 --> 00:09:28,605 Wring out the old year. 191 00:09:29,055 --> 00:09:31,815 I mean, these breathing exercise, I do 'em all the time. 192 00:09:32,145 --> 00:09:33,165 Do they work? 193 00:09:33,195 --> 00:09:33,945 Sometimes? 194 00:09:33,945 --> 00:09:36,435 Yes, but sometimes it's good enough. 195 00:09:36,795 --> 00:09:37,545 All right. 196 00:09:38,205 --> 00:09:39,375 Manage your strength. 197 00:09:39,375 --> 00:09:40,365 Quit smoking. 198 00:09:40,365 --> 00:09:42,255 Oh, I pray you'd already did that. 199 00:09:42,345 --> 00:09:44,295 All right, so quick vaping. 200 00:09:44,355 --> 00:09:45,255 All right. 201 00:09:45,405 --> 00:09:47,955 Reduce and quit nibbling. 202 00:09:48,525 --> 00:09:50,085 I know what they got out there. 203 00:09:50,085 --> 00:09:50,215 All right. 204 00:09:51,405 --> 00:09:56,655 And I drive down 55, the huge cannabis store. 205 00:09:56,835 --> 00:10:00,105 All right, reduce, reuse, recycle. 206 00:10:00,105 --> 00:10:00,735 Amen. 207 00:10:00,915 --> 00:10:02,985 Californian wrote this, amen. 208 00:10:03,465 --> 00:10:07,515 Save money, take a trip, volunteer. 209 00:10:07,755 --> 00:10:09,795 Get a new car if you need one. 210 00:10:09,795 --> 00:10:11,445 Don't waste your money if you don't. 211 00:10:13,755 --> 00:10:19,905 But the sad thing is after one month, that 60 goes down to 50. 212 00:10:20,895 --> 00:10:27,585 Two months, those that 60 goes down to 40, only 10% of people that make 213 00:10:27,585 --> 00:10:29,415 New Year's resolutions keep 'em. 214 00:10:30,165 --> 00:10:30,225 Wow. 215 00:10:30,525 --> 00:10:31,215 10%. 216 00:10:32,625 --> 00:10:36,435 But my attitude shoot for star. 217 00:10:36,495 --> 00:10:37,755 Hey, you might hit a moon. 218 00:10:39,525 --> 00:10:44,205 I'm gonna try to lose weight if I don't lose a lot, at least I'll lose some. 219 00:10:44,655 --> 00:10:44,865 That's right. 220 00:10:45,585 --> 00:10:47,325 I may not get in great shape. 221 00:10:47,325 --> 00:10:49,400 I might not be able to lift what I did when I was. 222 00:10:50,055 --> 00:10:54,135 In college, but I'll be stronger to live a few more years. 223 00:10:54,135 --> 00:10:54,495 Amen. 224 00:10:54,800 --> 00:10:55,090 Amen. 225 00:10:55,515 --> 00:10:56,895 So do what you can. 226 00:10:57,645 --> 00:10:58,605 Do what you can. 227 00:10:58,605 --> 00:10:59,205 Amen. 228 00:11:00,825 --> 00:11:06,075 I went to school at Aing Christian for my first doctorate for four years. 229 00:11:07,319 --> 00:11:11,370 And right outside the Graduate School of Theology, sometimes in 230 00:11:11,370 --> 00:11:14,490 class you could look out the window and see this, and it's a statue. 231 00:11:14,490 --> 00:11:20,640 Somebody donated a bunch of money and one of the professors of art, the at Abilene 232 00:11:20,640 --> 00:11:24,870 Christian designed this and made it at the bottom of it, there's a F, there's 233 00:11:24,870 --> 00:11:30,270 a baptism where the students get BA can get baptized, but this is Jacob's Ladder. 234 00:11:30,930 --> 00:11:36,000 And as a former civil engineer, I would just go out there and I'd be in awe. 235 00:11:37,095 --> 00:11:42,255 Man, they, how is that still standing with these Texas tornadoes? 236 00:11:43,035 --> 00:11:47,324 I mean, I was just in awe of this 'cause it looks like they're just floating 237 00:11:47,324 --> 00:11:52,425 in space and there is bars in between 'em and steel and reinforcement and 238 00:11:52,425 --> 00:11:54,194 rebar and all that kind of stuff. 239 00:11:54,704 --> 00:11:59,805 But it's so beautiful and we're gonna see the story today about 240 00:11:59,805 --> 00:12:04,635 Jacob's Ladder because wherever there's a portal to heaven. 241 00:12:06,420 --> 00:12:12,090 Wherever there is a stairway to heaven, that's a sacred space, 242 00:12:13,290 --> 00:12:17,640 and this is in preparation for moving back into our building. 243 00:12:17,640 --> 00:12:21,900 We're gonna sanctify that place to where it's a stairway to heaven. 244 00:12:22,590 --> 00:12:27,720 Now, for all you old rockers, I know that that has some flashbacks for you. 245 00:12:27,780 --> 00:12:28,350 Okay. 246 00:12:28,410 --> 00:12:31,860 Stairway to heaven, but we're talking spiritual this morning. 247 00:12:31,860 --> 00:12:32,340 All right. 248 00:12:32,340 --> 00:12:32,995 There you go. 249 00:12:33,535 --> 00:12:33,835 All right. 250 00:12:35,850 --> 00:12:36,990 Jacob Slatter. 251 00:12:37,345 --> 00:12:38,730 It's a great story. 252 00:12:38,940 --> 00:12:39,960 Let's get into it. 253 00:12:39,990 --> 00:12:43,350 Turn your Bibles over to Genesis 28 if you have 'em with you. 254 00:12:43,650 --> 00:12:47,490 With you either in paper form or electronic. 255 00:12:47,520 --> 00:12:52,170 This is a great story and we're gonna look at, first, we're 256 00:12:52,170 --> 00:12:53,580 gonna look at God's promises. 257 00:12:53,580 --> 00:12:54,210 That's what. 258 00:12:54,600 --> 00:12:55,740 Lifts our eyes. 259 00:12:55,770 --> 00:13:01,050 Lift your eyes above circumstances and life and look to God. 260 00:13:01,230 --> 00:13:05,340 We're gonna look at God's promises because this year you can be in 261 00:13:05,340 --> 00:13:06,810 the right place at the right time. 262 00:13:07,740 --> 00:13:14,220 Haven't you looked at some people who've won the lottery or got the, the 263 00:13:14,730 --> 00:13:17,550 promotion or became the star of the show? 264 00:13:17,730 --> 00:13:19,560 They were in the right place at the right time. 265 00:13:19,605 --> 00:13:24,135 Yeah, I want you to place yourself in the right place at 266 00:13:24,135 --> 00:13:26,295 the right time this year, right? 267 00:13:26,985 --> 00:13:28,965 And then we're gonna look at Jacob's dream. 268 00:13:29,025 --> 00:13:31,035 And we want imitate his dream. 269 00:13:31,035 --> 00:13:36,555 We want to be dreamers, and we wanna be crazy good dreamers, not nightmares. 270 00:13:36,615 --> 00:13:38,115 I want you to get rid of the nightmares. 271 00:13:38,115 --> 00:13:41,025 Ring out the nightmares, or ring in the dreams. 272 00:13:41,055 --> 00:13:41,535 Amen. 273 00:13:42,255 --> 00:13:44,625 Because what goes around comes around. 274 00:13:44,625 --> 00:13:48,495 Jacob had had nightmares because his name meant. 275 00:13:49,470 --> 00:13:50,610 In a good way. 276 00:13:51,209 --> 00:13:53,850 Wrestler in a bad way. 277 00:13:54,000 --> 00:13:55,380 It meant deceiver. 278 00:13:56,459 --> 00:13:57,180 All right? 279 00:13:57,930 --> 00:14:00,540 And he was both, he wrestled with God. 280 00:14:00,540 --> 00:14:02,340 He wanted blessings from God. 281 00:14:02,340 --> 00:14:04,439 That's another story, and we'll preach that one. 282 00:14:04,439 --> 00:14:05,250 At some point. 283 00:14:05,550 --> 00:14:08,069 He was a wrestler, held onto his faith. 284 00:14:08,069 --> 00:14:09,060 He didn't give up. 285 00:14:09,090 --> 00:14:12,750 Wrestlers are the most tenacious, committed people. 286 00:14:12,870 --> 00:14:14,939 It's the hardest sport I've ever done. 287 00:14:15,630 --> 00:14:21,780 I mean it, I mean, I, I'm, I am in awe of wrestlers and most of them, you can 288 00:14:21,780 --> 00:14:23,730 tell they're wrestlers by their ears, 289 00:14:25,860 --> 00:14:26,730 leave it there. 290 00:14:26,970 --> 00:14:27,930 Don't go any further. 291 00:14:28,470 --> 00:14:28,740 All right. 292 00:14:30,240 --> 00:14:36,180 But they're tough people, so it's, it means they're resilient and they know 293 00:14:36,180 --> 00:14:37,860 their goals and they work for 'em. 294 00:14:38,189 --> 00:14:43,620 But also it meant sometimes in Jacob's case, he was a deceiver. 295 00:14:44,339 --> 00:14:48,930 And then we're gonna look at the last part, his resolution to be better. 296 00:14:49,349 --> 00:14:50,969 'cause it can get better and better. 297 00:14:50,969 --> 00:14:52,740 Some of us don't believe that today. 298 00:14:54,240 --> 00:14:59,729 There's some people that have been a part of the OC church for a while, and you're 299 00:14:59,729 --> 00:15:02,310 down, you're worn out, you're tired. 300 00:15:03,345 --> 00:15:06,735 Some of you're even negative, and I'm a good listener. 301 00:15:06,975 --> 00:15:10,635 I listen to it, you know, I'm a, I'm a big boy. 302 00:15:11,415 --> 00:15:12,675 Forehead of flint. 303 00:15:13,575 --> 00:15:20,955 I can listen to good or bad, happy or sad, you know, and I can even process it. 304 00:15:20,955 --> 00:15:27,045 I can let it not draw me down, and I'm determined to help us all to 305 00:15:27,045 --> 00:15:29,175 dream again and believe that it. 306 00:15:29,490 --> 00:15:31,260 Will get better. 307 00:15:31,260 --> 00:15:32,640 That's a theme of my life. 308 00:15:32,640 --> 00:15:34,920 It gets better and better. 309 00:15:35,010 --> 00:15:35,670 Amen. 310 00:15:36,810 --> 00:15:41,040 So look at, uh, yourself today. 311 00:15:41,070 --> 00:15:44,070 It's always good to reflect and to review. 312 00:15:44,400 --> 00:15:45,150 All right? 313 00:15:45,210 --> 00:15:47,130 It's always good to think about things. 314 00:15:47,130 --> 00:15:50,940 And as a Christian, what are our goals gonna be as a church and as a person? 315 00:15:51,510 --> 00:15:53,490 Are they the same as our fellow citizens? 316 00:15:53,490 --> 00:15:54,960 Some of them, yeah. 317 00:15:55,200 --> 00:15:58,200 But then we wanna have some loftier ones want right? 318 00:15:58,545 --> 00:16:01,965 Should I be looking at a different set of values than most people around me? 319 00:16:01,965 --> 00:16:03,135 Yeah, I hope so. 320 00:16:03,405 --> 00:16:07,005 And are the results equal to the importance of other Americans? 321 00:16:07,335 --> 00:16:12,585 I hope our results and how what we want to change make an eternal difference. 322 00:16:12,585 --> 00:16:13,305 All right. 323 00:16:13,605 --> 00:16:16,935 I love this verse in Ecclesiastes seven, in verse 29. 324 00:16:16,935 --> 00:16:22,155 It says this, only have I found the wisest man of the world, Solomon eth. 325 00:16:23,655 --> 00:16:26,775 God made mankind upright. 326 00:16:27,345 --> 00:16:31,875 But men have gone in search of many schemes. 327 00:16:34,245 --> 00:16:40,545 Some of you want to get rich quick, some of you wanna take the shortcut. 328 00:16:42,045 --> 00:16:43,485 You don't want to put in the work. 329 00:16:43,935 --> 00:16:46,935 Want to, don't want to put up, put in the effort. 330 00:16:47,415 --> 00:16:51,255 You know, one very wise philosopher said that. 331 00:16:52,770 --> 00:16:58,110 We are just a bundle of our habits. 332 00:16:58,740 --> 00:17:05,220 William James, an 1800 psychologist and some of his, uh, ideas have been 333 00:17:05,220 --> 00:17:07,440 researched only recently, improvement. 334 00:17:07,440 --> 00:17:07,980 True. 335 00:17:08,460 --> 00:17:12,839 We are a bundle of habits, and I'll take that one step back. 336 00:17:13,230 --> 00:17:15,659 We're a bundle of our choices, right? 337 00:17:16,980 --> 00:17:18,930 What choices we make. 338 00:17:18,930 --> 00:17:18,940 Yes. 339 00:17:20,145 --> 00:17:25,095 Decide our habits and our habits, decide our behaviors and decide our life. 340 00:17:27,255 --> 00:17:32,925 I got a great, uh, poem of prose, I guess you'd call it from Paul Blakely, 341 00:17:32,925 --> 00:17:34,695 one of the brothers up in Santa Clarita. 342 00:17:34,995 --> 00:17:37,215 I'll share it with you maybe in another sermon. 343 00:17:37,545 --> 00:17:42,615 This beautiful, he wrote it to me on January 1st, and uh, he'll 344 00:17:42,615 --> 00:17:45,180 probably publish it, so I don't want to steal his s thunder. 345 00:17:46,080 --> 00:17:50,400 But it was just about the rain 'cause it's been raining for several days. 346 00:17:50,400 --> 00:17:53,730 One, one brother said it's been raining for 24 straight days 347 00:17:53,730 --> 00:17:54,990 here in Southern California. 348 00:17:55,530 --> 00:17:57,270 I thought it quit for a while. 349 00:17:57,270 --> 00:18:00,150 I mean, I guess he's sort of negative. 350 00:18:00,150 --> 00:18:02,340 He thinks it's just kept raining the whole time. 351 00:18:02,340 --> 00:18:02,760 I don't know. 352 00:18:02,760 --> 00:18:06,360 I thought it, it quit a few days, but not Paul. 353 00:18:06,840 --> 00:18:07,890 He likes the rain. 354 00:18:07,890 --> 00:18:10,210 He says it's the Lord's rhythm and. 355 00:18:10,635 --> 00:18:15,284 Syncopation of life and nature because it does nourish the earth. 356 00:18:15,284 --> 00:18:21,195 And Isaiah 58, 4 tells us that as the rain and snow come down from heaven, so God's 357 00:18:21,195 --> 00:18:24,975 word goes forth and bears fruit as well. 358 00:18:26,145 --> 00:18:32,925 But what he said about the rain was he decided to use a puddle, 359 00:18:32,925 --> 00:18:35,895 a rain puddle as a metaphor. 360 00:18:36,824 --> 00:18:42,254 And should he step forward into the puddle and beyond, or should he 361 00:18:42,254 --> 00:18:48,225 stay back as he contemplated this new beginning, the new choices, 362 00:18:48,225 --> 00:18:50,205 the new habits for this next year? 363 00:18:50,324 --> 00:18:55,064 He wrote this beautiful prose about whether I should step forward, 364 00:18:55,125 --> 00:18:58,544 should I let my fears hold me back, or should I go for it? 365 00:18:59,534 --> 00:19:03,885 And I know he's a part of a new venture and new, new business, and so that's 366 00:19:03,885 --> 00:19:05,774 probably what he was wrestling with. 367 00:19:06,525 --> 00:19:07,455 But we all do. 368 00:19:08,475 --> 00:19:14,475 We have our fears for the future, the fears for this year, but I wanna encourage 369 00:19:14,475 --> 00:19:19,125 you to listen to God as Proverbs even says the first couple of chapters, 370 00:19:19,365 --> 00:19:22,155 that our ways are not the right ways. 371 00:19:22,875 --> 00:19:28,155 God's ways are better than our ways, and we often go the wrong 372 00:19:28,155 --> 00:19:29,895 direction and learn the hard ways. 373 00:19:29,895 --> 00:19:30,315 So let's. 374 00:19:30,750 --> 00:19:31,260 Dreams. 375 00:19:31,260 --> 00:19:32,669 Some new dreams. 376 00:19:32,850 --> 00:19:34,409 Dreams for God this morning. 377 00:19:34,409 --> 00:19:34,889 Amen. 378 00:19:35,280 --> 00:19:37,020 Genesis 28, verse 10. 379 00:19:37,230 --> 00:19:37,949 Read with me. 380 00:19:39,480 --> 00:19:44,970 Jacob left Beersheba and set out for heroin when he reached a certain place. 381 00:19:44,970 --> 00:19:50,070 He stopped for the night because the sun had set taking one of the stones there. 382 00:19:50,070 --> 00:19:53,370 He put it under his head and lay down to sleep. 383 00:19:53,399 --> 00:19:56,520 I'm glad my pillow is not a stone. 384 00:19:56,639 --> 00:19:57,330 How about you? 385 00:19:57,390 --> 00:20:03,030 Yeah, he had a dream in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth 386 00:20:03,300 --> 00:20:07,920 with its top reaching into heaven, and the angels of God were ascending 387 00:20:07,980 --> 00:20:10,110 and descending Jacob's ladder. 388 00:20:10,830 --> 00:20:12,300 What did this represent? 389 00:20:13,260 --> 00:20:20,040 Jacob's Ladder represents a gate, a place to get to heaven, a portal 390 00:20:20,040 --> 00:20:24,990 to God, a sacred space, and the intersection of the human and the divine. 391 00:20:25,949 --> 00:20:29,730 Kathy's been taking the television away from me lately. 392 00:20:31,139 --> 00:20:36,270 It's sad, it's rough, but uh, you know, there's a lot of football games. 393 00:20:36,270 --> 00:20:40,980 She gave me a day to watch, you know, the football games, but she's 394 00:20:40,980 --> 00:20:42,510 been watching Stranger Things. 395 00:20:42,510 --> 00:20:43,800 She wants to get caught up. 396 00:20:44,070 --> 00:20:44,879 All right. 397 00:20:44,879 --> 00:20:45,389 Yeah. 398 00:20:45,419 --> 00:20:49,590 Some of you are wither on that and you know, since I have to. 399 00:20:50,145 --> 00:20:51,195 Can't watch what I want. 400 00:20:51,195 --> 00:20:55,635 I've been watching with her and you know, that was during COVID and 401 00:20:55,695 --> 00:21:00,014 there's, yeah, it was just sort of the passing of time thing to do and it 402 00:21:00,014 --> 00:21:04,574 was a little scary, A little mystical talking about porthole and stuff. 403 00:21:04,574 --> 00:21:06,165 Porthole to evil. 404 00:21:06,435 --> 00:21:08,205 This is port hose to good. 405 00:21:08,264 --> 00:21:08,834 Alright. 406 00:21:09,584 --> 00:21:12,014 Intersection of the human and the divine. 407 00:21:12,105 --> 00:21:14,475 Not the evil and the human. 408 00:21:15,074 --> 00:21:16,814 It's a stairway to heaven. 409 00:21:16,875 --> 00:21:17,774 And guess what? 410 00:21:18,449 --> 00:21:20,669 This is really God's vision for the church. 411 00:21:20,925 --> 00:21:21,215 Amen. 412 00:21:22,949 --> 00:21:24,990 I mean, this is supposed to be the portal. 413 00:21:25,620 --> 00:21:27,570 This is the sacred space. 414 00:21:28,199 --> 00:21:30,149 Right now it's at the pack. 415 00:21:30,149 --> 00:21:31,649 It's gonna be a 10 good year. 416 00:21:31,830 --> 00:21:37,320 That needs to be the place we go to and we bring our friends to, to get to heaven. 417 00:21:37,350 --> 00:21:38,459 We get to heaven. 418 00:21:38,520 --> 00:21:39,959 We help them get to heaven. 419 00:21:39,959 --> 00:21:40,530 Amen. 420 00:21:40,605 --> 00:21:40,755 Amen. 421 00:21:41,505 --> 00:21:47,355 That's what this stairway to heaven, this vision, this metaphor is all about. 422 00:21:47,355 --> 00:21:48,345 It's awesome. 423 00:21:48,345 --> 00:21:49,575 It's a great picture. 424 00:21:49,575 --> 00:21:50,475 I like it. 425 00:21:50,475 --> 00:21:52,305 I like it a lot. 426 00:21:52,365 --> 00:21:53,025 All right. 427 00:21:53,565 --> 00:21:55,665 I don't know why I'm on that this morning. 428 00:21:56,385 --> 00:21:58,575 Genesis 28, verse 13. 429 00:21:58,965 --> 00:21:59,835 There're above it. 430 00:21:59,865 --> 00:22:03,075 It stood, stood the Lord at the top of the ladder. 431 00:22:03,345 --> 00:22:07,065 He said, I'm the Lord, the God of and the of your Father, 432 00:22:07,065 --> 00:22:09,345 Abraham, and the God of Isaac. 433 00:22:10,080 --> 00:22:14,010 I will give you and your descendants, the land on which you are lying. 434 00:22:15,570 --> 00:22:18,690 Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will 435 00:22:18,690 --> 00:22:22,980 spread out to the west and to the east, to the north, and to the south. 436 00:22:23,340 --> 00:22:29,070 All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring, 437 00:22:29,070 --> 00:22:30,810 your children, your descendants. 438 00:22:31,200 --> 00:22:33,630 I am with you and will watch over you. 439 00:22:33,630 --> 00:22:34,740 What a great promise. 440 00:22:35,070 --> 00:22:38,520 Wherever you go, I will bring you back to this land. 441 00:22:38,820 --> 00:22:45,210 Me, I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you. 442 00:22:45,210 --> 00:22:45,330 Amen. 443 00:22:46,230 --> 00:22:47,790 That's God's faithfulness. 444 00:22:48,179 --> 00:22:50,250 God fulfills his promises. 445 00:22:50,580 --> 00:22:54,179 If you've had doubts about God, if you've been shaken in your faith, 446 00:22:54,179 --> 00:22:58,189 if you've been discouraged this last year, put it behind you, wr it out. 447 00:22:58,844 --> 00:23:02,024 And ring in God's faithfulness, ring in God's place. 448 00:23:02,145 --> 00:23:03,645 Renew your prayer life. 449 00:23:03,705 --> 00:23:06,135 Renew your hope and the goodness. 450 00:23:06,135 --> 00:23:08,925 And the greatness of God and the power of God. 451 00:23:09,135 --> 00:23:15,014 Because look at these promises he gave to Jacob this Mor that night, and 452 00:23:15,465 --> 00:23:16,935 where did, when did he give it to him? 453 00:23:17,354 --> 00:23:22,215 When did Mary and Joseph get God's direction in their dreams? 454 00:23:23,054 --> 00:23:24,465 You need to get good night's. 455 00:23:24,465 --> 00:23:27,135 Sleeps all right. 456 00:23:29,070 --> 00:23:32,460 Too often I take Tylenol PM to get to sleep. 457 00:23:32,460 --> 00:23:36,570 I'm, I'm going off of it 'cause I want to have some spiritual dreams. 458 00:23:36,570 --> 00:23:40,020 I don't just want to die at night and then be revived in the morning. 459 00:23:40,620 --> 00:23:40,980 Right? 460 00:23:41,400 --> 00:23:43,590 I want to dream some spiritual dreams. 461 00:23:43,590 --> 00:23:44,100 All right? 462 00:23:44,730 --> 00:23:46,315 And see now that I planted that seed. 463 00:23:47,355 --> 00:23:48,015 Do you think? 464 00:23:48,285 --> 00:23:48,945 Do you think Dr. 465 00:23:48,945 --> 00:23:49,605 Greg's right? 466 00:23:49,935 --> 00:23:50,685 Will that happen? 467 00:23:51,015 --> 00:23:52,305 Check me out. 468 00:23:52,305 --> 00:23:53,055 All right. 469 00:23:53,115 --> 00:23:54,495 I believe God's faithful. 470 00:23:54,495 --> 00:23:57,915 I believe sometime you're gonna get a dream from God. 471 00:23:57,945 --> 00:23:58,665 All right. 472 00:23:59,415 --> 00:24:02,145 What were these promises he gave to his people? 473 00:24:02,535 --> 00:24:05,265 A place for us, it's 10 Goodyear. 474 00:24:06,345 --> 00:24:08,235 I don't know about you, but I'm pretty excited about it. 475 00:24:09,750 --> 00:24:12,960 I mean, we've had all these committees going and people have been 476 00:24:12,960 --> 00:24:14,970 working hard and dreaming dreams. 477 00:24:15,210 --> 00:24:17,910 You know, Rusty's gonna get his barbecue finally. 478 00:24:18,060 --> 00:24:18,690 All right? 479 00:24:18,690 --> 00:24:21,720 I mean, we're gonna have a coffee shop, we're gonna have a tent with 480 00:24:21,720 --> 00:24:23,430 a coffee house and a coffee shop. 481 00:24:23,550 --> 00:24:26,640 We're gonna get all these artists coming in there and playing. 482 00:24:26,640 --> 00:24:30,120 We're gonna have all this, these singles, we're gonna have food there, Pablo. 483 00:24:30,120 --> 00:24:34,620 We're gonna have some good food there, you know, a a little bit anyway, all right. 484 00:24:36,225 --> 00:24:38,235 We've, God's promised us a place. 485 00:24:38,235 --> 00:24:41,295 He's promised us to be a nation and a people. 486 00:24:42,255 --> 00:24:46,455 Ron sent me something this morning about one of the, the ancient, 487 00:24:46,455 --> 00:24:51,885 uh, spiritualist, one of the old writers of spiritual formation. 488 00:24:52,005 --> 00:24:55,515 He wrote something and, and, and I'm not sharing it with you 'cause 489 00:24:55,545 --> 00:25:00,405 it was sort of negative, you know, it was about how he, this, this 490 00:25:00,405 --> 00:25:03,495 Catholic month loved the church. 491 00:25:04,815 --> 00:25:13,755 And hated the church and every, every rhythm was he loved and he hated. 492 00:25:15,135 --> 00:25:18,795 I'm like, I'm not sure I want to be in that church. 493 00:25:19,845 --> 00:25:21,405 But then I thought about my life. 494 00:25:21,435 --> 00:25:25,395 There's times when I've just loved the miracles, loved the church, 495 00:25:25,395 --> 00:25:30,765 loved the victories, and there was other times, oh, what is going on? 496 00:25:30,765 --> 00:25:31,275 God. 497 00:25:32,344 --> 00:25:32,635 Yeah. 498 00:25:33,840 --> 00:25:36,060 And so guys, it's okay to be conflicted. 499 00:25:36,060 --> 00:25:39,540 It's, it's okay to, to not be in a perfect church 'cause you know 500 00:25:39,540 --> 00:25:41,219 there are no perfect churches. 501 00:25:42,030 --> 00:25:42,090 Yeah. 502 00:25:42,120 --> 00:25:43,260 And go out there and look. 503 00:25:43,260 --> 00:25:44,639 You won't find it. 504 00:25:44,969 --> 00:25:46,409 Well, I'm gonna look Okay. 505 00:25:46,409 --> 00:25:46,860 Go. 506 00:25:49,500 --> 00:25:50,310 You got free will. 507 00:25:50,310 --> 00:25:51,209 God gave it to you. 508 00:25:51,209 --> 00:25:51,750 That's right. 509 00:25:52,409 --> 00:25:54,780 We don't have bars around this church. 510 00:25:55,230 --> 00:25:58,409 You don't even know where we're gonna meet unless you listen. 511 00:25:59,215 --> 00:25:59,554 You know. 512 00:26:03,794 --> 00:26:04,935 But we are a people. 513 00:26:06,195 --> 00:26:07,095 We are God's people. 514 00:26:07,095 --> 00:26:08,145 We're disciples. 515 00:26:08,595 --> 00:26:10,304 Jesus is the Lord of our life. 516 00:26:10,754 --> 00:26:12,284 And that's not ever changing. 517 00:26:12,284 --> 00:26:13,335 And I love that. 518 00:26:13,335 --> 00:26:15,405 I love, I love the church so much. 519 00:26:15,405 --> 00:26:16,695 I'm not going anywhere. 520 00:26:18,375 --> 00:26:20,085 God promises protection. 521 00:26:20,085 --> 00:26:24,074 Why to His people don't wander from his people. 522 00:26:24,074 --> 00:26:28,365 'cause then you may be outside God's protection and God 523 00:26:28,365 --> 00:26:30,675 also promises his present. 524 00:26:31,380 --> 00:26:32,340 With his people. 525 00:26:32,850 --> 00:26:36,480 These are great promises and they all start with P and that took 526 00:26:36,480 --> 00:26:38,190 me a long time to come up with. 527 00:26:38,190 --> 00:26:39,810 I appreciate it. 528 00:26:39,810 --> 00:26:40,320 Please. 529 00:26:41,040 --> 00:26:46,680 Genesis 28, verse 16, when Jacob awoke from his sleepy thought, surely 530 00:26:47,370 --> 00:26:52,770 the Lord's in this place, and I was not aware of it, he was afraid and 531 00:26:52,770 --> 00:26:54,720 said, how awesome is this place? 532 00:26:54,810 --> 00:26:58,200 'cause all of a sudden his sin hit him, all his deceptiveness. 533 00:26:58,710 --> 00:27:00,150 And all his garbage. 534 00:27:00,810 --> 00:27:02,730 This is none other than the house of God. 535 00:27:02,730 --> 00:27:04,050 This is the gate of heaven. 536 00:27:04,050 --> 00:27:05,700 We've gotta mark this place. 537 00:27:05,790 --> 00:27:08,520 People need to come here so they can get to heaven. 538 00:27:08,520 --> 00:27:10,140 He felt early. 539 00:27:10,140 --> 00:27:14,490 The next morning, Jacob took the stone he had placed under his head and he set 540 00:27:14,490 --> 00:27:16,350 up a pillar and he poured oil on it. 541 00:27:16,530 --> 00:27:18,960 On top of it, he, he gave an offering. 542 00:27:19,380 --> 00:27:25,410 He called that place Bethel, which means house of El, house of God. 543 00:27:26,264 --> 00:27:32,534 Though the city used to be called laws, you know, Jesus promised you and me, 544 00:27:32,564 --> 00:27:38,445 wherever two or three are gathered, two or three sincere Christians, 545 00:27:38,925 --> 00:27:44,145 just takes a few of us for God to be there for it to become sacred space. 546 00:27:45,554 --> 00:27:49,125 We try to have sacred space around the dinner table at night. 547 00:27:50,594 --> 00:27:52,449 We always make everybody come around. 548 00:27:53,910 --> 00:27:58,350 Little Kenzie will come in our room, Papa, you're late for dinner. 549 00:27:58,650 --> 00:27:59,580 Come to dinner. 550 00:27:59,940 --> 00:28:03,030 She loves to tell Papa what to do. 551 00:28:03,600 --> 00:28:06,030 You know, little kids get told what to do all the time, man. 552 00:28:06,030 --> 00:28:08,130 They're gonna take advantage of it when they can. 553 00:28:08,730 --> 00:28:11,280 And I say, yes, ma'am, I'm on my way. 554 00:28:12,060 --> 00:28:16,050 And I go, 'cause we can't pray until everybody gets there and we hold hands. 555 00:28:16,560 --> 00:28:20,159 And before I had to, had to entice her to hold my hand. 556 00:28:20,220 --> 00:28:23,790 Now I put my hand out, just slaps her hand into it. 557 00:28:24,870 --> 00:28:25,665 Oh, I love it. 558 00:28:26,850 --> 00:28:31,980 That's gonna be my memories, you know, holding hands with my little 559 00:28:31,980 --> 00:28:38,340 granddaughter and we pray and we take turns praying it becomes sacred space. 560 00:28:38,715 --> 00:28:44,475 Good sacred space guys, Jacob wanted to mark that place. 561 00:28:45,284 --> 00:28:46,875 He wanted to put down a marker. 562 00:28:46,965 --> 00:28:48,195 He wanted a boundary. 563 00:28:48,225 --> 00:28:55,304 He wanted a stake because he made a resolution, a vow, a commitment to God. 564 00:28:55,334 --> 00:29:00,165 And so he's gonna lead us now in what are our vows? 565 00:29:00,375 --> 00:29:02,595 What should they be for this next year? 566 00:29:03,210 --> 00:29:03,870 To God. 567 00:29:04,170 --> 00:29:04,680 All right, 568 00:29:06,780 --> 00:29:13,080 so when I slap my hand, my phone is gonna call the hospital that I'm in danger and 569 00:29:13,080 --> 00:29:15,360 I have an emergency, so I gotta stop that, 570 00:29:17,580 --> 00:29:20,400 but it also gives me a chance to see what my time is. 571 00:29:21,300 --> 00:29:21,840 All right. 572 00:29:21,840 --> 00:29:22,830 Got five minutes. 573 00:29:26,970 --> 00:29:28,170 I have to shut that off. 574 00:29:28,170 --> 00:29:33,810 'cause it, it goes to my daughter and then she'll call verse 20. 575 00:29:34,440 --> 00:29:35,940 Did Jacob made a vow? 576 00:29:35,970 --> 00:29:38,250 Here's our New Year's resolutions folks. 577 00:29:38,610 --> 00:29:42,960 If God will be with me and we'll watch over me on this journey. 578 00:29:43,110 --> 00:29:44,010 What was he doing? 579 00:29:44,220 --> 00:29:45,450 Going to find a wife. 580 00:29:46,590 --> 00:29:47,280 It's okay. 581 00:29:48,060 --> 00:29:48,390 That's right. 582 00:29:48,450 --> 00:29:50,220 You wanna find a wife this next year? 583 00:29:50,220 --> 00:29:51,390 You wanna find a husband? 584 00:29:51,420 --> 00:29:53,400 Do it All right. 585 00:29:53,475 --> 00:29:53,625 Come on. 586 00:29:54,344 --> 00:29:54,975 I mean, 587 00:29:57,645 --> 00:30:00,855 I found mine and then I converted her. 588 00:30:01,485 --> 00:30:02,115 All right. 589 00:30:02,415 --> 00:30:06,764 I probably wouldn't have one because I'm not the most desirable guy. 590 00:30:07,995 --> 00:30:13,784 I'm not, thou I wasn't then, but I, I got her when she was young 591 00:30:13,784 --> 00:30:15,344 and not as smart as she is now. 592 00:30:17,040 --> 00:30:18,524 My God, 593 00:30:21,605 --> 00:30:23,070 I shouldn't tell you my secrets. 594 00:30:23,760 --> 00:30:27,870 Then Jacob made a vow saying, if God will be with me and watch over me on this 595 00:30:27,870 --> 00:30:32,760 journey, I, I am taking and will give me food to eat, clothes to wear so that 596 00:30:32,760 --> 00:30:35,220 I return safely to my father's house. 597 00:30:35,639 --> 00:30:41,670 Then the Lord will be my God, and this stone that I set up will be as a pillar. 598 00:30:42,135 --> 00:30:45,524 Will be God's house and all that you give me. 599 00:30:45,524 --> 00:30:47,415 I will give you a 10th. 600 00:30:47,594 --> 00:30:50,774 That's a pretty good guide and a pretty good template for our New 601 00:30:50,774 --> 00:30:52,935 Year's resolutions rather than sisters. 602 00:30:53,054 --> 00:30:58,155 He says three things he's gonna do because God gave him this dream and 603 00:30:58,155 --> 00:31:03,705 this vision and this, this, this portal. 604 00:31:04,425 --> 00:31:05,805 This stairway to heaven. 605 00:31:06,405 --> 00:31:08,415 First, he renewed lordship. 606 00:31:08,475 --> 00:31:11,325 He tells us we need to renew our lordship. 607 00:31:11,325 --> 00:31:12,375 That Jesus is Lord. 608 00:31:13,365 --> 00:31:15,315 The Lord will be my God. 609 00:31:16,035 --> 00:31:17,385 The Lord will be my God. 610 00:31:17,385 --> 00:31:18,195 Say it with me. 611 00:31:18,525 --> 00:31:20,145 The Lord will be my God. 612 00:31:20,145 --> 00:31:21,045 You need to say it. 613 00:31:21,045 --> 00:31:21,645 Say it with me. 614 00:31:21,885 --> 00:31:23,595 The Lord will be my God. 615 00:31:23,745 --> 00:31:26,565 Three times the Lord will be my God. 616 00:31:27,705 --> 00:31:33,255 That should be all that matters for 2026, that Jesus is the Lord of my life. 617 00:31:33,315 --> 00:31:33,465 Amen. 618 00:31:34,365 --> 00:31:40,845 The second, and I'm gonna worship him, I'm gonna give him my life because he is Lord. 619 00:31:41,235 --> 00:31:44,235 He's gonna be Lord over and master of my my house. 620 00:31:44,235 --> 00:31:45,975 And so he says, I will be a pillar. 621 00:31:47,445 --> 00:31:52,425 For the house of my God, this, this, this stone's gonna represent who I am. 622 00:31:52,425 --> 00:31:54,795 I'm gonna be a pillar in the house of God. 623 00:31:55,335 --> 00:31:57,135 I'm gonna be one of the strong brothers. 624 00:31:57,135 --> 00:31:58,905 I'm gonna be one of the strong sisters. 625 00:31:59,145 --> 00:32:02,715 I'm not gonna be one of these weak, struggling, inconsistent, 626 00:32:02,745 --> 00:32:05,565 unfaithful, sinful people. 627 00:32:05,565 --> 00:32:07,275 I'm gonna finally be. 628 00:32:08,054 --> 00:32:14,685 A righteous man, a holy woman, a good Christian, a true disciple, I'm going 629 00:32:14,685 --> 00:32:17,115 to be a pillar in the house of God. 630 00:32:17,290 --> 00:32:17,580 Amen. 631 00:32:17,835 --> 00:32:18,375 Amen. 632 00:32:19,095 --> 00:32:20,504 You gotta make that decision. 633 00:32:20,804 --> 00:32:22,125 You gotta make that decision. 634 00:32:22,995 --> 00:32:26,925 Kathy and I are married because our campus ministers said, you 635 00:32:26,925 --> 00:32:29,445 know, Kathy, Craig's a leader. 636 00:32:30,465 --> 00:32:32,385 You know, I know he doesn't want to go into the ministry, 637 00:32:32,385 --> 00:32:33,615 but he's still a leader. 638 00:32:34,500 --> 00:32:38,970 He leads two Bible talks and he's got a, got two majors. 639 00:32:39,090 --> 00:32:40,320 He's a leader. 640 00:32:40,830 --> 00:32:43,200 You know, I know you're new to the campus ministry. 641 00:32:43,200 --> 00:32:47,370 I know you transferred from Texas, but I, I know Greg loves you and, and you 642 00:32:47,370 --> 00:32:53,055 guys are dating, but I just want to encourage you, so you guys, stayat com. 643 00:32:53,985 --> 00:32:55,605 Uh, compatible. 644 00:32:55,605 --> 00:32:56,355 Compatible. 645 00:32:56,385 --> 00:32:56,835 There you go. 646 00:32:56,835 --> 00:32:57,315 Thank you. 647 00:32:57,705 --> 00:32:59,235 Help me church, help me. 648 00:32:59,475 --> 00:33:00,435 All right. 649 00:33:00,495 --> 00:33:01,155 Alright. 650 00:33:01,185 --> 00:33:02,055 I got stuck there. 651 00:33:02,055 --> 00:33:03,315 Brain irregularity. 652 00:33:03,315 --> 00:33:04,935 That's what happens when you get old. 653 00:33:04,995 --> 00:33:05,504 All right. 654 00:33:06,800 --> 00:33:07,060 All right. 655 00:33:09,555 --> 00:33:12,284 He said, Kathy, you need to try to become a Bible talk leader. 656 00:33:13,815 --> 00:33:15,524 Well, she said, okay. 657 00:33:16,305 --> 00:33:18,165 She became a Bible talk leader. 658 00:33:18,524 --> 00:33:20,445 Then years later, we went into ministry. 659 00:33:20,835 --> 00:33:22,590 I'm so glad she made that decision. 660 00:33:23,505 --> 00:33:27,975 'cause I do believe that marriage is unity and you gotta be on the same page. 661 00:33:27,975 --> 00:33:29,715 You gotta be compatible. 662 00:33:30,045 --> 00:33:31,905 It's such a hard word to remember, isn't it? 663 00:33:32,835 --> 00:33:33,225 Right? 664 00:33:33,435 --> 00:33:37,905 You gotta be unified, spiritually, socially, sexually, and you don't 665 00:33:37,905 --> 00:33:41,595 need to live with someone to know if you're compatible, sexually kiss 'em. 666 00:33:42,945 --> 00:33:45,825 If you like it and they like it, you're compatible. 667 00:33:45,885 --> 00:33:47,175 All right? 668 00:33:47,415 --> 00:33:49,815 You get those feelings. 669 00:33:49,905 --> 00:33:50,415 All right. 670 00:33:52,200 --> 00:33:58,350 We've gotten off subject back to our resolutions, a pillar 671 00:33:58,920 --> 00:34:01,980 in the House of God commitment. 672 00:34:02,130 --> 00:34:02,820 The last one 673 00:34:06,240 --> 00:34:07,410 brother, stop laughing 674 00:34:12,195 --> 00:34:14,935 and he also committed to sacrifice for God. 675 00:34:15,300 --> 00:34:15,989 That's right. 676 00:34:17,310 --> 00:34:22,800 I look back over 45 years of being in the church and I can see the 677 00:34:22,800 --> 00:34:28,110 times when the church soared and I, I know the times the church sank. 678 00:34:29,400 --> 00:34:34,020 I know when we were doing what was bringing God's blessings to us, 679 00:34:34,020 --> 00:34:39,505 and I know when God disciplined us, and all I can tell you is. 680 00:34:40,440 --> 00:34:44,550 It wasn't, we had great organization, we had great ideas. 681 00:34:44,550 --> 00:34:46,230 We, we had the formula. 682 00:34:46,800 --> 00:34:48,929 It's when we were faithful and sacrificial. 683 00:34:48,929 --> 00:34:49,889 God blessed us. 684 00:34:49,895 --> 00:34:51,000 That's right. 685 00:34:51,000 --> 00:34:51,210 That's right. 686 00:34:51,810 --> 00:34:56,340 I knew when we hired a campus minister from Florida up in the Antelope 687 00:34:56,340 --> 00:35:02,610 Valley, Brian Kelly and his girlfriend Jessica, I knew they were gonna come 688 00:35:02,610 --> 00:35:05,820 and they're gonna be very fruitful and help us rebuild our campus ministry. 689 00:35:05,820 --> 00:35:05,910 Yes. 690 00:35:07,270 --> 00:35:10,065 Amir and Jewel built amazing campus ministry and then 691 00:35:10,065 --> 00:35:11,235 they moved to Turning Point. 692 00:35:11,235 --> 00:35:16,125 Now they're the region leaders there, and they took some of the kids with 'em, and 693 00:35:16,125 --> 00:35:18,285 the others became singles and got married. 694 00:35:18,285 --> 00:35:21,615 So we didn't have a campus ministry anymore, so Brian and Jessica had 695 00:35:21,615 --> 00:35:22,880 to come and we had to rebuild it. 696 00:35:23,730 --> 00:35:26,669 And I told the elders, let's hire these kids. 697 00:35:28,080 --> 00:35:29,580 And Brian was so open. 698 00:35:29,580 --> 00:35:32,189 He is like, you know, I, I've gone to counseling. 699 00:35:32,189 --> 00:35:34,649 I've had some struggles, I've had this, I've had that. 700 00:35:35,339 --> 00:35:39,240 I told Brian later, don't lead with your weaknesses. 701 00:35:40,140 --> 00:35:45,240 Lead with your strengths, but, but the only strength I needed to know 702 00:35:46,080 --> 00:35:49,830 was, here's a kid had never met me except on the phone and on Zoom. 703 00:35:50,655 --> 00:35:55,485 Move during COVID across the nation to a church, to people he didn't 704 00:35:55,485 --> 00:35:58,215 know, talked his girlfriend into it. 705 00:35:58,575 --> 00:36:06,345 This is a sacrificial, faithful guy who puts the Lord first, and those are the 706 00:36:06,345 --> 00:36:10,755 kind of Christians we want in the church, and that's the kind of Christians he made. 707 00:36:10,875 --> 00:36:15,255 And I don't, I think in the three years he was there, I think a 708 00:36:15,255 --> 00:36:17,265 couple people left the church. 709 00:36:18,300 --> 00:36:22,230 But tens and twenties and thirties became Christians and stay faithful. 710 00:36:22,500 --> 00:36:22,620 Amen. 711 00:36:23,220 --> 00:36:25,290 This is what God blessed commitment. 712 00:36:25,500 --> 00:36:29,280 I will author a 10th a percentage of everything I have. 713 00:36:29,550 --> 00:36:36,810 These are the simple, this is the simple template for our New Year's resolutions. 714 00:36:36,810 --> 00:36:38,490 So what are the morals of this story? 715 00:36:39,300 --> 00:36:41,580 Jesus is our stairway to heaven. 716 00:36:41,610 --> 00:36:42,480 Can I get Amen? 717 00:36:42,480 --> 00:36:42,630 Amen. 718 00:36:43,890 --> 00:36:46,590 God shows us the way if we dream. 719 00:36:47,160 --> 00:36:48,060 Amen. 720 00:36:48,195 --> 00:36:48,485 Amen. 721 00:36:49,110 --> 00:36:51,720 Jacob's Ladder is climbed by what faith? 722 00:36:53,865 --> 00:36:59,445 God renews his promise to bless all nations at all times in everything we do. 723 00:36:59,745 --> 00:37:01,305 That's throughout the scriptures. 724 00:37:01,305 --> 00:37:03,915 That's the promise of God, the faithfulness of God. 725 00:37:04,065 --> 00:37:06,975 The church is the Bethel or the house of God. 726 00:37:07,215 --> 00:37:08,655 That's what we are, folks. 727 00:37:08,655 --> 00:37:13,035 That's what we've, we, we, we may not have been perfect at that in the past, 728 00:37:13,035 --> 00:37:15,045 but that's what we are going forward. 729 00:37:15,045 --> 00:37:15,885 Amen. 730 00:37:15,890 --> 00:37:16,100 Amen. 731 00:37:16,215 --> 00:37:19,095 And God's faithfulness is revealed in dreams. 732 00:37:19,095 --> 00:37:20,985 This is the morals of the stories. 733 00:37:21,255 --> 00:37:22,060 So what are our. 734 00:37:22,420 --> 00:37:27,160 Resolution's gonna be, I want you to recommit yourself to dream. 735 00:37:28,210 --> 00:37:29,650 Recommit yourself to dream. 736 00:37:29,650 --> 00:37:34,030 You know, when I remember my dreams, it's not when I first go to sleep. 737 00:37:34,450 --> 00:37:41,170 It's after I wake up about two or three, and then I lay there for 738 00:37:41,170 --> 00:37:42,490 a while and I go back to sleep. 739 00:37:42,490 --> 00:37:46,510 And then from about three or four in the morning until six, 740 00:37:46,900 --> 00:37:48,610 those are the dreams I remember. 741 00:37:49,830 --> 00:37:53,880 And then about six, I'll wake up and I'll, I'll lay in bed, even though Proverbs 742 00:37:53,880 --> 00:37:58,200 says, to get out of bed and don't turn like a door on its hinges, get out of bed. 743 00:37:59,310 --> 00:38:00,299 I quit doing that. 744 00:38:00,480 --> 00:38:03,630 I did that all through college, jumped up, got going. 745 00:38:04,320 --> 00:38:11,490 Now I lay there and meditate and pray, and I doze off and God's 746 00:38:11,490 --> 00:38:15,420 dreams come to me as well as all the things I need to do for God. 747 00:38:15,509 --> 00:38:16,930 Yeah, you know. 748 00:38:17,280 --> 00:38:21,060 Yeah, he gives me some responsibilities as I dream, but those are the 749 00:38:21,060 --> 00:38:22,800 ones I remember and I love it. 750 00:38:23,550 --> 00:38:27,030 God is in this place, recommit to church. 751 00:38:28,770 --> 00:38:31,350 I've talked to a lot of you and you've told me, Greg. 752 00:38:31,350 --> 00:38:32,580 Yeah, I was thinking about quitting. 753 00:38:33,570 --> 00:38:35,370 I've been checking out some other churches. 754 00:38:35,370 --> 00:38:38,550 Think about going some other places, but I'm gonna hang in there. 755 00:38:38,550 --> 00:38:39,270 I'm gonna stay. 756 00:38:40,680 --> 00:38:42,210 Please all of you stay. 757 00:38:42,210 --> 00:38:42,360 Amen. 758 00:38:44,400 --> 00:38:47,819 You know, I knew a little bit of what I was getting into when 759 00:38:47,819 --> 00:38:54,299 Kathy and I came down here, but I've got a few new revelations. 760 00:38:54,600 --> 00:38:54,870 Alright. 761 00:38:55,980 --> 00:38:56,940 And that's okay. 762 00:38:57,810 --> 00:38:58,920 It's okay. 763 00:38:59,295 --> 00:39:00,884 There's no perfect churches. 764 00:39:01,455 --> 00:39:02,835 Let's just be in it together. 765 00:39:02,835 --> 00:39:03,435 Amen. 766 00:39:03,855 --> 00:39:06,555 Recommit to be a pillar in God's house. 767 00:39:06,555 --> 00:39:09,435 And then thirdly, recommit to sacrifice. 768 00:39:09,435 --> 00:39:11,895 Sacrifice for this Orange County cleanup. 769 00:39:11,895 --> 00:39:13,095 It's such a good thing. 770 00:39:13,095 --> 00:39:15,674 I was driving up the 73 this morning. 771 00:39:15,674 --> 00:39:20,745 I saw so much trash and I thought I'll fill up one bag at least 772 00:39:20,745 --> 00:39:23,205 with that when it stops raining. 773 00:39:23,205 --> 00:39:23,295 Right? 774 00:39:25,440 --> 00:39:28,049 And, and then I drove down 4 0 5 the other day. 775 00:39:28,049 --> 00:39:30,360 I wrote about this in my letter to you guys. 776 00:39:30,509 --> 00:39:32,610 I saw so much more trash. 777 00:39:33,360 --> 00:39:37,620 I, I, it, it's unimaginable for me to that so many people throw 778 00:39:37,620 --> 00:39:39,420 trash outta their car, but they do. 779 00:39:39,990 --> 00:39:41,910 I've even seen it as I've driven. 780 00:39:42,870 --> 00:39:44,850 But I want us to take responsibility. 781 00:39:44,850 --> 00:39:50,130 I want us to be good people and I want us to team up together to do something good. 782 00:39:50,790 --> 00:39:54,090 For our city and I think God will bless us for that. 783 00:39:54,090 --> 00:39:56,310 And we're gonna raise some money for the church. 784 00:39:56,670 --> 00:39:56,760 Yes. 785 00:39:56,820 --> 00:40:01,350 Finally, I'm gonna close with a little bit of spiritual leadership. 786 00:40:01,350 --> 00:40:04,590 Review, reflect, regret, and revise. 787 00:40:05,550 --> 00:40:11,310 Some of the people that have left and even thought about leaving have told 788 00:40:11,310 --> 00:40:17,250 me over and over, Greg, why don't the leaders admit what we did wrong and 789 00:40:17,280 --> 00:40:18,665 tell us what we're gonna do different. 790 00:40:19,440 --> 00:40:27,120 And, and I've been telling them, I've been doing that for about 20 years, since 2004. 791 00:40:27,180 --> 00:40:28,080 I've been doing that. 792 00:40:28,200 --> 00:40:28,770 Amen. 793 00:40:29,370 --> 00:40:35,670 I mean, I went back to Denver three times on apology tours and said 794 00:40:35,670 --> 00:40:39,060 what I had done wrong as the leader and what I'm gonna do different. 795 00:40:39,720 --> 00:40:43,950 And I've been back to Dallas and I've done that and I went, 796 00:40:43,950 --> 00:40:45,810 came back to LA and I did that. 797 00:40:46,740 --> 00:40:47,310 But. 798 00:40:47,895 --> 00:40:55,395 Either people didn't hear it or didn't need it then, so I'm gonna say it again. 799 00:40:55,515 --> 00:40:56,265 All right. 800 00:40:56,775 --> 00:41:00,075 A little bit more abbreviated this morning, because I do believe 801 00:41:00,075 --> 00:41:01,875 this is what Thomas Merton said. 802 00:41:02,205 --> 00:41:06,195 We make ourselves real by telling the truth. 803 00:41:06,225 --> 00:41:09,045 Okay, so lessons learned. 804 00:41:09,075 --> 00:41:10,065 What are some lessons learned? 805 00:41:10,065 --> 00:41:11,325 I'm gonna hit these quickly. 806 00:41:11,775 --> 00:41:12,435 All right. 807 00:41:12,525 --> 00:41:16,215 I regret the lack of grace and freedom in the church. 808 00:41:16,590 --> 00:41:20,160 We were a little lopsided on discipleship commitment or repentance. 809 00:41:20,250 --> 00:41:20,610 Death. 810 00:41:20,610 --> 00:41:23,160 Self needed to be more gracious. 811 00:41:23,550 --> 00:41:24,300 I trust you. 812 00:41:24,450 --> 00:41:25,710 Make your own decisions. 813 00:41:25,740 --> 00:41:26,760 You'll do the right thing. 814 00:41:26,760 --> 00:41:29,550 You may learn the hard way the first time, but you'll come around. 815 00:41:30,000 --> 00:41:30,360 All right. 816 00:41:30,720 --> 00:41:33,180 I regret lack of grace and freedom. 817 00:41:33,480 --> 00:41:35,100 I'm the grace preacher now. 818 00:41:35,160 --> 00:41:35,820 Amen. 819 00:41:36,600 --> 00:41:41,400 I apologize and I am sorry for the command and control leadership. 820 00:41:42,240 --> 00:41:44,160 I mean, that's what I learned in football. 821 00:41:44,685 --> 00:41:48,645 I mean, command and control, strong leadership. 822 00:41:49,185 --> 00:41:52,755 But now I hope I'm a gentle, soft leader. 823 00:41:53,835 --> 00:41:58,005 I, I was told at the beginning of ministry, you gotta be steel and velvet. 824 00:41:58,065 --> 00:41:59,985 And so that's what I've always tried to be. 825 00:42:00,015 --> 00:42:01,725 I'm not as much steel anymore. 826 00:42:01,725 --> 00:42:03,315 I let the Holy Spirit do that. 827 00:42:03,315 --> 00:42:04,185 Let him do that. 828 00:42:04,845 --> 00:42:08,355 All right, now I'm just more of a big teddy bear. 829 00:42:08,895 --> 00:42:09,045 All right. 830 00:42:09,045 --> 00:42:09,195 Come on. 831 00:42:10,785 --> 00:42:14,504 But this, I still preach the word and it's still all right. 832 00:42:15,345 --> 00:42:17,384 I acknowledge the pain 833 00:42:19,754 --> 00:42:21,645 and I didn't know how to word this exactly. 834 00:42:21,645 --> 00:42:22,995 Caused by the control. 835 00:42:24,044 --> 00:42:26,595 You take away people's autonomy and free will. 836 00:42:26,595 --> 00:42:27,435 It damages them. 837 00:42:28,365 --> 00:42:34,815 I've learned enough in therapy that you don't do things in a healthy right way. 838 00:42:34,875 --> 00:42:39,075 It can damage people, and some people are really fragile, right? 839 00:42:39,315 --> 00:42:42,135 Yeah, and I acknowledge that pain. 840 00:42:42,885 --> 00:42:46,545 I recognize the damage of us claiming to be the only ones. 841 00:42:47,685 --> 00:42:50,745 We're just trying to, we're the only, we're not the only ones. 842 00:42:50,745 --> 00:42:52,605 We're just trying to do what we know is true. 843 00:42:53,445 --> 00:42:53,895 Right, right. 844 00:42:54,615 --> 00:43:01,725 I confess sins of pride, performance, competition, just things that hurt 845 00:43:01,725 --> 00:43:03,555 people and were the wrong motivation. 846 00:43:03,585 --> 00:43:05,805 I commit to listening. 847 00:43:06,225 --> 00:43:07,995 To empathy and to patience. 848 00:43:07,995 --> 00:43:09,285 Now, will I be perfect? 849 00:43:09,285 --> 00:43:10,904 No, but neither are you. 850 00:43:11,654 --> 00:43:12,194 All right. 851 00:43:12,194 --> 00:43:14,714 So let's treat each other fairly. 852 00:43:14,984 --> 00:43:15,674 All right? 853 00:43:16,484 --> 00:43:21,435 I renew my commitment to Jesus's Lord and I trust you. 854 00:43:21,435 --> 00:43:24,944 Church, with your free will and your choice. 855 00:43:26,325 --> 00:43:30,314 I'm not gonna try to control anybody, and neither is our leadership. 856 00:43:31,125 --> 00:43:33,194 So what are some lessons that we're gonna live? 857 00:43:34,035 --> 00:43:36,405 I rejoice that we did live. 858 00:43:36,555 --> 00:43:38,745 I rejoice with the thousands of baptisms. 859 00:43:38,775 --> 00:43:41,085 Don't throw out the baby with the bath water. 860 00:43:41,535 --> 00:43:43,095 It wasn't all bad. 861 00:43:43,755 --> 00:43:49,095 I saw miracles after miracles after I saw God move, I saw so much. 862 00:43:49,095 --> 00:43:49,605 Good. 863 00:43:49,695 --> 00:43:51,015 Keep perspective. 864 00:43:51,045 --> 00:43:52,935 Don't have extreme thinking. 865 00:43:53,295 --> 00:43:55,065 You know, don't, don't go there. 866 00:43:55,605 --> 00:43:58,725 I reflect on God working to disciples. 867 00:43:59,865 --> 00:44:02,265 I mean, even when we were wrong, he worked. 868 00:44:02,325 --> 00:44:03,944 Yeah, he worked. 869 00:44:03,944 --> 00:44:04,634 He disciplined. 870 00:44:04,634 --> 00:44:05,895 We had our desert time. 871 00:44:05,895 --> 00:44:08,145 We had our wandering in the wilderness. 872 00:44:08,384 --> 00:44:08,955 All right. 873 00:44:09,225 --> 00:44:11,475 Don't ever leave God out of the picture. 874 00:44:11,984 --> 00:44:14,504 I stand in awe of the miracles I've witnessed. 875 00:44:14,504 --> 00:44:17,370 I refuse to give up on the church because it's my family. 876 00:44:18,120 --> 00:44:24,180 My eternal family, I accept responsibility to correct, create a healthy ministry. 877 00:44:24,450 --> 00:44:25,589 Why are all these I? 878 00:44:25,650 --> 00:44:27,660 'cause I can only speak for myself. 879 00:44:27,660 --> 00:44:29,940 I'll let the other leaders speak for themselves. 880 00:44:30,330 --> 00:44:32,160 I admit immaturity. 881 00:44:32,520 --> 00:44:36,060 I mean, I was leading big churches, a thousand member churches at 28. 882 00:44:39,000 --> 00:44:43,170 You know, let's take advantage of our elders and older people now. 883 00:44:43,230 --> 00:44:43,680 Amen. 884 00:44:43,680 --> 00:44:45,029 But we didn't have any older people. 885 00:44:45,029 --> 00:44:46,470 The oldest people back then were. 886 00:44:46,950 --> 00:44:48,569 Late thirties and early forties. 887 00:44:49,799 --> 00:44:54,330 I admit the immaturity, the isolation, and the ignorance, the inbreeding. 888 00:44:54,330 --> 00:44:59,279 You could say, I appreciate the sincerity and the sacrifice 889 00:44:59,279 --> 00:45:05,129 though for years, and I hope for humility, spirituality, and unity. 890 00:45:05,399 --> 00:45:05,850 Amen. 891 00:45:06,265 --> 00:45:06,555 Amen. 892 00:45:07,049 --> 00:45:10,950 So what covenants do we have as a church? 893 00:45:11,670 --> 00:45:14,790 People are always saying, we need to share what we really believe. 894 00:45:14,790 --> 00:45:16,560 Well, here's what we really believe. 895 00:45:17,549 --> 00:45:19,815 We believe the Bible is God's sacred word of truth. 896 00:45:20,190 --> 00:45:20,280 Right. 897 00:45:21,000 --> 00:45:22,920 We don't make up our own truth around here. 898 00:45:22,920 --> 00:45:24,000 We follow the Bible. 899 00:45:24,300 --> 00:45:26,970 We believe that God is the Father, the Son, and the Holy 900 00:45:26,970 --> 00:45:28,710 Spirit, the creator of all of us. 901 00:45:28,950 --> 00:45:32,880 We believe God created humans in his own image. 902 00:45:33,300 --> 00:45:34,590 We're in the image of God. 903 00:45:34,590 --> 00:45:39,930 We all have value and we're eternal souls that God has breathed his spirit into 904 00:45:40,320 --> 00:45:42,750 and he created male and female, right? 905 00:45:43,620 --> 00:45:48,420 God, we believe that humans are good and they're not good. 906 00:45:48,750 --> 00:45:53,100 Yes, we, we were made in paradise Perfect. 907 00:45:53,190 --> 00:45:54,720 And we had a choice though. 908 00:45:54,720 --> 00:45:56,400 And we sin and we're falling. 909 00:45:56,820 --> 00:45:58,950 And so we're both, and we struggle with that. 910 00:45:58,950 --> 00:46:02,640 And we'll struggle with it our whole human life. 911 00:46:02,730 --> 00:46:03,360 All right? 912 00:46:03,420 --> 00:46:05,730 So we sin and we need salvation. 913 00:46:06,120 --> 00:46:10,470 I, we believe salvation is by faith in Jesus Christ. 914 00:46:10,470 --> 00:46:11,490 He was God. 915 00:46:11,490 --> 00:46:12,960 He came, he died for us. 916 00:46:12,990 --> 00:46:15,240 The only God that I know of that died. 917 00:46:15,795 --> 00:46:17,265 And sacrifice himself. 918 00:46:17,265 --> 00:46:19,545 We believe the church is God's people. 919 00:46:19,845 --> 00:46:23,325 We believe Christians are to live like Jesus, and we believe 920 00:46:23,325 --> 00:46:28,965 disciples make disciples, but not of themselves through the Holy Spirit. 921 00:46:29,025 --> 00:46:29,475 Amen. 922 00:46:30,285 --> 00:46:38,085 So ring out the bad ring in the new ring out the old ring in 2026. 923 00:46:38,085 --> 00:46:39,765 God bless you, church. 924 00:46:39,765 --> 00:46:40,275 Amen.