WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.399 Welcome to Gateway Churches Podcast. 00:00:02.560 --> 00:00:06.959 Wherever you're tuning in from, we hope you're encouraged by today's message. 00:00:09.439 --> 00:00:10.400 Thank you. 00:00:11.279 --> 00:00:17.359 What actually happened was Pastor Robert called me up and said, Greg, do you believe in free speech? 00:00:17.519 --> 00:00:18.800 I said, Of course I do. 00:00:18.960 --> 00:00:19.839 I'm an American. 00:00:20.000 --> 00:00:21.920 He said, good, then come and give one. 00:00:22.239 --> 00:00:24.559 So, not really. 00:00:25.199 --> 00:00:27.039 The opposite is true. 00:00:27.280 --> 00:00:30.079 What a wonderful man of God your pastor is. 00:00:30.239 --> 00:00:32.320 We thank the Lord for Robert. 00:00:35.439 --> 00:00:38.079 And for James and for this church. 00:00:38.159 --> 00:00:46.159 And when we went to ETT Stadium in Harvest America, we had such great support from all y'all right here at Gateway. 00:00:46.320 --> 00:00:48.079 And I want to thank you again for that. 00:00:48.159 --> 00:00:53.840 And we're praying that God will send another spiritual awakening to America. 00:00:54.000 --> 00:00:56.079 I think that's our only hope. 00:00:57.119 --> 00:00:58.719 We really need one. 00:00:59.679 --> 00:01:07.760 And we pray that your own ministry here, your own church, and your students will have their own Jesus revolution. 00:01:07.920 --> 00:01:12.319 I hear that they're renting a big theater and it's going to be exciting. 00:01:12.480 --> 00:01:20.159 So February 24th, I hope you all will go, and I hope that you'll take a non-believer with you to hear the gospel. 00:01:20.319 --> 00:01:29.120 I believe you will have an amazing conversation after this movie is over, and you might even have an opportunity to lead them to the Lord. 00:01:29.359 --> 00:01:29.920 All right. 00:01:30.159 --> 00:01:35.040 So Pastor Robert asked me to come and tell you my story. 00:01:35.280 --> 00:01:36.480 How I came to faith. 00:01:36.640 --> 00:01:38.640 We all have a testimony. 00:01:38.959 --> 00:01:47.200 Some are more dramatic than others, but our testimony is our story of how we came to believe in Jesus Christ. 00:01:47.519 --> 00:01:50.959 And you know, I want to just start with a word of prayer. 00:01:51.120 --> 00:01:51.519 Let's pray. 00:01:51.680 --> 00:02:07.519 Father, now as we talk about your goodness and your mercy and your grace, I pray that this will bring hope and encouragement to everyone that is here, everyone that is watching and listening, wherever they are, so we commit this time to you now. 00:02:07.680 --> 00:02:09.199 In Jesus' name we pray. 00:02:09.520 --> 00:02:10.159 Amen. 00:02:11.120 --> 00:02:14.080 Our life, it's like a movie. 00:02:14.400 --> 00:02:17.199 And of course, we're the star of the film. 00:02:17.840 --> 00:02:21.360 Our life has a beginning, it has a middle, and it has an end. 00:02:21.680 --> 00:02:27.199 It's full of surprises, twists, and turns, storm clouds and darkness. 00:02:27.680 --> 00:02:31.520 And we have questions about this movie that we're in. 00:02:31.759 --> 00:02:33.039 Is it a drama? 00:02:33.360 --> 00:02:34.719 Is it a love story? 00:02:35.120 --> 00:02:36.800 Maybe it's even a comedy. 00:02:37.120 --> 00:02:39.360 Well, I want to tell you my story. 00:02:39.520 --> 00:02:42.800 I've titled this message simply Lost Boy. 00:02:43.039 --> 00:02:47.919 I was a little boy that had the statistical card stacked against me. 00:02:48.159 --> 00:02:53.280 Uh, you might think, oh, well, Greg must have been raised in a Christian home because he's a preacher. 00:02:53.439 --> 00:02:56.560 I was raised in the opposite of a Christian home. 00:02:56.800 --> 00:02:59.439 I was raised in an alcoholic home. 00:02:59.680 --> 00:03:05.759 In fact, uh, my childhood was not anything like the TV shows you would see at that time. 00:03:06.080 --> 00:03:11.759 I taught myself uh a way to escape my surroundings was through art and design. 00:03:11.840 --> 00:03:17.759 So I started doodling and drawing and escaping into my imaginary world. 00:03:18.240 --> 00:03:23.199 My mother was a beautiful woman, a Marilyn Monroe look-alike. 00:03:23.680 --> 00:03:26.879 She loved the attention that would be showered on her. 00:03:27.039 --> 00:03:31.759 She was married and divorced seven times with a lot of boyfriends in between. 00:03:31.919 --> 00:03:42.400 And I spent a lot of time sitting in smoke-filled bars with various men hitting on my mother with their pathetic pickup lines. 00:03:42.639 --> 00:03:45.599 I never knew my biological father. 00:03:45.840 --> 00:03:49.599 The reality is I was the result of a one-night stand. 00:03:50.080 --> 00:03:57.199 I could have very easily ended up as an abortion statistic, but thankfully my mom carried me to term. 00:03:57.759 --> 00:04:04.000 And I had to grow up fast because, in many ways, I was like the adult in our relationship. 00:04:04.240 --> 00:04:08.159 Because my mother would drink to excess and pass out every night. 00:04:08.319 --> 00:04:14.719 And she always wanted me to make her something to eat, and uh, and I had to make sure she was okay and safe. 00:04:14.879 --> 00:04:18.879 But I have to tell you, I was so alone in the world. 00:04:19.120 --> 00:04:23.519 My mom, among the seven men that she married, married a man named Oscar Lori. 00:04:24.000 --> 00:04:36.480 He was an attorney, and he lived in New Jersey, and he adopted me and he gave me my name, Lori, which I didn't love as a kid, to be honest, uh, because it is a girl's name after all. 00:04:36.720 --> 00:04:45.680 But he showed me the family crest, uh which dates back to Scotland, and it's of a tree that's been cut down, and then it grows back again. 00:04:45.759 --> 00:04:50.000 So the family motto is Rapulalot, which means it buds afresh. 00:04:50.079 --> 00:04:55.680 And in many ways, that that name that was given to me symbolized the life I was going to live. 00:04:55.839 --> 00:05:12.240 So I grew up, I became a teenager, and like many in the 60s, I was searching and I was told that drugs had the answer, and so I began to explore the world of drugs, trying to find some meaning or purpose in my life. 00:05:12.399 --> 00:05:20.319 Uh I believed the expression, never trust anyone over 30, because my experience was there was no adult word trusting. 00:05:20.480 --> 00:05:22.959 Now I don't trust anyone under 30. 00:05:23.040 --> 00:05:24.160 No, I'm kidding. 00:05:24.399 --> 00:05:37.040 But um, so you know, a whole generation was caught up into drug sex and rock and roll, and we followed these pied pipers, and it really was the blind leading the blind. 00:05:37.199 --> 00:05:41.600 And then one by one, all of these rock icons died before our eyes. 00:05:41.839 --> 00:05:50.560 Jim Morrison, lead singer of the doors, Brian Jones, founding member of the Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, Janice Joplin. 00:05:50.720 --> 00:05:54.160 Ironically, they all died at the age of 27. 00:05:54.399 --> 00:05:59.839 And so this whole hippie dream of mine was starting to turn into a nightmare. 00:06:00.000 --> 00:06:06.639 So one night, some friends of mine and I went down to Laguna Beach and we bought a kilo of marijuana. 00:06:06.879 --> 00:06:09.680 Uh, not to sell, I was not a drug dealer. 00:06:09.839 --> 00:06:11.839 We bought it to smoke ourselves. 00:06:12.000 --> 00:06:13.680 That's how pathetic it was. 00:06:13.839 --> 00:06:27.920 And uh we're in our little vehicle on the Pacific Coast Highway in Southern California, and it was raining and it started to spin out of control, and I thought, this is it, this is I'm going to die. 00:06:28.160 --> 00:06:32.879 And the headline in the newspaper is going to be drug dealers die. 00:06:33.120 --> 00:06:35.360 And people would say it serves them right. 00:06:35.519 --> 00:06:41.199 But uh that was sort of a wake-up call for me because I was thinking, okay, where is the answer? 00:06:41.439 --> 00:06:45.279 The answer is not in this pathetic life that I've chosen. 00:06:45.519 --> 00:06:47.439 So, where is the answer? 00:06:47.759 --> 00:06:56.800 And uh one night uh after we were out there doing drugs together, I took LSD, which has made a big comeback, I've heard. 00:06:57.040 --> 00:07:06.480 And I was having what you call a bad trip, and I was running down the streets thinking I was losing my mind, and I was screaming and yelling. 00:07:06.720 --> 00:07:13.120 And uh that was a night where I realized I've got to get out of this life that I'm living right now. 00:07:13.360 --> 00:07:16.800 So I transferred to this high school in Orange County. 00:07:17.040 --> 00:07:18.959 It was called Harbor High School. 00:07:19.040 --> 00:07:24.639 I had been previously going to another high school where I hung out with all the preppy type kids. 00:07:24.720 --> 00:07:26.399 I even went out for the football team. 00:07:26.560 --> 00:07:28.319 I was rejected, I might add. 00:07:28.560 --> 00:07:34.160 And um, and I the whole drug culture is coming on strong, and I thought, okay, this is what I'm gonna do. 00:07:34.319 --> 00:07:36.240 I'm gonna change my identity. 00:07:36.319 --> 00:07:39.199 And I transferred to this new school campus. 00:07:39.439 --> 00:07:43.519 And some of my druggie, low-life friends said to me, Greg, be careful. 00:07:43.600 --> 00:07:46.319 There's a lot of Jesus freaks on this campus. 00:07:46.480 --> 00:07:48.160 I said, Don't worry about that. 00:07:48.319 --> 00:07:52.720 The last thing you'll ever see is Greg Lori becoming a Jesus freak. 00:07:53.040 --> 00:07:54.720 Famous last words. 00:07:55.600 --> 00:07:58.000 But these Christians fascinated me. 00:07:58.160 --> 00:08:03.279 They would walk around actually carrying Bibles in public, and I thought, why would anyone do that? 00:08:03.519 --> 00:08:08.800 They would get together on the front lawn of the high school at lunchtime and sing songs about God. 00:08:08.959 --> 00:08:10.879 I thought they were delusional. 00:08:11.120 --> 00:08:21.360 But then I met this girl, and uh she was talking with a friend of mine, and I was waiting for a break in the conversation because I found this girl really attractive. 00:08:21.519 --> 00:08:25.759 And it's not that she was beautiful, she was a cute girl, I would say, okay? 00:08:25.839 --> 00:08:29.040 But but there was something else about this girl that drew me to her. 00:08:29.199 --> 00:08:38.000 And as I'm waiting for a break in the conversation, she's got her notebook and she's got textbooks for class, and then I noticed she had another book. 00:08:38.240 --> 00:08:45.440 Oh no, it's one of those books with a black cover and the gold pages, and I thought, she's a Jesus freak. 00:08:45.679 --> 00:08:49.200 What a waste of a perfectly cute girl. 00:08:51.360 --> 00:08:55.039 But then uh lunchtime came and I thought, where is that girl? 00:08:55.200 --> 00:09:00.159 And I went looking for her on the campus, and there she was sitting in a circle of Christians. 00:09:00.320 --> 00:09:11.360 They were singing their songs about Jesus, and I sat down close enough where I could eavesdrop on their conversation, but not so close that my friends would think I was joining up with them. 00:09:11.600 --> 00:09:16.320 And I looked at them, and as they were singing songs of that, look at these pathetic people. 00:09:16.480 --> 00:09:19.440 Look at the stupid smile on their face. 00:09:19.919 --> 00:09:21.200 This is so sad. 00:09:21.600 --> 00:09:25.440 And then a thought occurred to me, what if it's all real? 00:09:25.919 --> 00:09:28.320 What if they really have a relationship with God? 00:09:28.480 --> 00:09:29.679 I quickly dismissed it. 00:09:29.759 --> 00:09:30.480 Here's why. 00:09:30.639 --> 00:09:33.519 I was so cynical because of my upbringing. 00:09:33.679 --> 00:09:36.080 I'd been disappointed so much in life. 00:09:36.240 --> 00:09:42.879 I thought this can't be true that you just believe in some God up in heaven and your life begins to change. 00:09:43.039 --> 00:09:45.200 But as I watched him, it fascinated me. 00:09:45.360 --> 00:09:48.960 Then this guy stood up to speak and he looked like Jesus. 00:09:49.120 --> 00:09:55.120 And ironically, in the film, he's played by the guy who plays Jesus and the chosen. 00:09:55.360 --> 00:09:56.799 That's Jonathan Roomy. 00:09:56.879 --> 00:10:00.639 But the real life man who stood up was named Lonnie Frisbee. 00:10:00.720 --> 00:10:05.440 I don't remember what he said for the most part, but there was one statement that resonated with me. 00:10:05.600 --> 00:10:09.360 He said, Jesus said, You're either for me or against me. 00:10:09.519 --> 00:10:12.480 I looked around at the Christians, I thought, well, I'm not one of them. 00:10:12.720 --> 00:10:14.960 Does that mean I'm against Jesus? 00:10:15.200 --> 00:10:16.879 Though I don't want to be against Jesus. 00:10:17.039 --> 00:10:23.519 I always believed Jesus was out there somewhere, but uh to know him in a personal way. 00:10:23.679 --> 00:10:28.159 And he said, if you want to ask Christ to come into your life, get up and walk forward right now. 00:10:28.240 --> 00:10:33.039 And some kids got up and walked forward, and I thought, there's no way I could ever do that. 00:10:33.600 --> 00:10:40.559 Next thing I knew, I was up there with the other kids, and that was the day I accepted Jesus Christ into my life. 00:10:40.639 --> 00:10:44.799 It was 1970, the greatest day of my life. 00:10:48.559 --> 00:10:56.480 My prayer was interrupted by the ringing of the bell for the next class, and we had planned that weekend to go out front of the mountains and do drugs. 00:10:56.559 --> 00:10:58.720 I didn't plan on becoming a Christian. 00:10:58.960 --> 00:11:00.480 Nobody followed up on me. 00:11:00.559 --> 00:11:04.639 Nobody came up and said, Hey, Greg, now that you're a Christian, start reading the Bible. 00:11:04.720 --> 00:11:05.919 I was just on my own. 00:11:06.159 --> 00:11:16.240 So I went off into the hills and I had a little bag of marijuana and a pipe, and I was filling it, and that same voice that spoke to me just hours before spoke to me again. 00:11:16.480 --> 00:11:19.600 It was the voice of God, and he said, You don't need that anymore. 00:11:19.919 --> 00:11:22.159 I said, Okay, God, I'll make you a deal. 00:11:22.320 --> 00:11:28.240 I don't know anything about you, but if you're real, you're gonna have to make yourself real to me. 00:11:28.639 --> 00:11:29.919 And he did. 00:11:30.480 --> 00:11:36.480 So now I'm a Christian, and I'm not really comfortable hanging around the Christians that much. 00:11:36.639 --> 00:11:40.639 And I don't know if I should hang around with my old low-life, druggie friends. 00:11:40.799 --> 00:11:46.799 But one day I decided to go over to their house and see what they were up to because they hadn't seen me for a while. 00:11:46.960 --> 00:11:53.039 And as I'm walking toward them, some guy that I didn't know yells out, Brother, Brother Greg. 00:11:53.360 --> 00:11:58.240 I'm thinking, you're not my brother, unless you're a brother from a different mother. 00:11:58.720 --> 00:12:02.000 And the way my mom lived, that was a possibility. 00:12:02.799 --> 00:12:06.720 He says, Brother Greg, and he's like really big and loud, and yeah, what? 00:12:06.879 --> 00:12:09.759 He says, Bro, I got you a Bible. 00:12:09.919 --> 00:12:17.360 And he pulls out this beat-up, very used Bible with popsicle sticks glued together in the shape of a cross. 00:12:17.600 --> 00:12:19.919 Bro, he says, it's the word of God. 00:12:20.080 --> 00:12:21.200 Start reading it. 00:12:21.360 --> 00:12:23.120 And I'm like, okay, whatever. 00:12:23.200 --> 00:12:25.840 And I took it from him, just hoping he would go away. 00:12:26.080 --> 00:12:28.320 And I shoved it in the pocket of my coat. 00:12:28.399 --> 00:12:29.519 It was too big to even fit. 00:12:29.600 --> 00:12:30.639 I ripped the pocket. 00:12:30.799 --> 00:12:42.320 And I went over to my friend's house where I'd done drugs so many times at lunchtime in high school, and I took my Bible and I hid it in the planter in front in the bushes. 00:12:42.480 --> 00:12:43.600 And I walked inside. 00:12:43.759 --> 00:12:45.759 All my friends said, Lori, where have you been? 00:12:45.919 --> 00:12:46.799 I said, nowhere. 00:12:46.960 --> 00:12:47.919 What have you been up to? 00:12:48.080 --> 00:12:49.120 I said, nothing. 00:12:49.360 --> 00:12:51.039 Oh wow, we got some good weed. 00:12:51.200 --> 00:12:51.919 You want to smoke it? 00:12:52.080 --> 00:12:53.039 I said, no. 00:12:53.279 --> 00:12:55.279 Come on, Lori, what's wrong with you? 00:12:55.679 --> 00:12:57.120 Nothing's wrong with me. 00:12:57.279 --> 00:13:06.159 All of a sudden the front door opens, and there stands the mother of my friend who owned that house, holding my Bible. 00:13:06.559 --> 00:13:09.279 And she says, Who does this belong to? 00:13:09.600 --> 00:13:11.279 I thought, what is the deal with this woman? 00:13:11.440 --> 00:13:15.120 She has kids doing drugs in her house and she's alarmed by a Bible. 00:13:15.279 --> 00:13:16.960 Who does this belong to? 00:13:17.679 --> 00:13:20.799 Every eye in the room goes to the Bible and they go to me. 00:13:20.879 --> 00:13:22.399 They knew there was a connection. 00:13:22.639 --> 00:13:24.320 I said, It's mine. 00:13:24.639 --> 00:13:25.600 Lori, what is that? 00:13:25.679 --> 00:13:26.480 It's a Bible. 00:13:27.039 --> 00:13:27.679 What is it? 00:13:27.840 --> 00:13:28.559 A Bible. 00:13:28.799 --> 00:13:29.440 A Bible? 00:13:29.600 --> 00:13:30.799 Yeah, it's a Bible. 00:13:31.039 --> 00:13:33.840 And then one of my friends said, Oh, praise Jesus. 00:13:34.000 --> 00:13:35.679 Are you a Christian now, Greg? 00:13:36.000 --> 00:13:37.279 Are you gonna follow Jesus? 00:13:37.440 --> 00:13:39.840 They said, No, I'm gonna hit you in the mouth. 00:13:40.799 --> 00:13:43.279 I hadn't read 1 Corinthians 13 yet. 00:13:44.320 --> 00:13:45.919 This is all new to me. 00:13:46.159 --> 00:13:47.840 And they started mocking me. 00:13:48.000 --> 00:13:48.720 So guess what? 00:13:48.799 --> 00:13:51.679 I realized I need some new friends. 00:13:52.559 --> 00:13:55.759 So this guy out of nowhere, his name is Mark. 00:13:56.080 --> 00:13:57.120 Never met him before. 00:13:57.519 --> 00:13:58.639 Walks up, hi Mark. 00:13:58.720 --> 00:13:59.759 Yeah, hi, okay. 00:14:00.000 --> 00:14:04.399 I saw that you went forward and accepted Christ the other day at the Bible study. 00:14:04.720 --> 00:14:05.200 Yeah. 00:14:05.519 --> 00:14:07.519 Okay, I want you to come to church with me. 00:14:07.679 --> 00:14:08.240 No, thank you. 00:14:08.320 --> 00:14:09.919 No, I want you to come to church with me. 00:14:10.080 --> 00:14:11.519 No, that's no, that's cool. 00:14:11.600 --> 00:14:12.320 I don't want to. 00:14:12.639 --> 00:14:14.000 No, you're coming to church with me. 00:14:14.080 --> 00:14:14.720 What's your address? 00:14:14.799 --> 00:14:16.399 No, I don't want to go to church with you. 00:14:16.720 --> 00:14:17.360 Where do you live? 00:14:17.519 --> 00:14:20.240 Next thing I know, he's picking me up on my house. 00:14:20.480 --> 00:14:22.639 We all need a friend like Mark. 00:14:23.039 --> 00:14:24.480 And he got me to church. 00:14:24.559 --> 00:14:34.879 And I walked to this church called Calvary Chapel that was in the middle of the Jesus movement, and I walked smack dab into the middle of a spiritual awakening. 00:14:35.120 --> 00:14:36.879 And I had a front row seat. 00:14:37.120 --> 00:14:42.639 We saw contemporary Christian music, which was so beautifully done by your worship team a few moments ago. 00:14:42.799 --> 00:14:44.320 It was born back then. 00:14:44.559 --> 00:14:46.159 That's when it started. 00:14:48.000 --> 00:14:52.639 It was a whole new world to me, and suddenly I couldn't get enough. 00:14:52.879 --> 00:14:55.200 I wanted to hear more, I wanted to learn more. 00:14:55.360 --> 00:14:56.240 I wanted to grow more. 00:14:56.320 --> 00:15:03.840 I was going to every Bible study opportunity, and I was out on the street sharing my faith, and I didn't know anything yet. 00:15:04.080 --> 00:15:08.480 I remember someone gave me a copy of a little book called The Four Spiritual Laws. 00:15:08.639 --> 00:15:09.600 Anyone remember that? 00:15:09.840 --> 00:15:12.080 Published by Campus Crusade for Christ. 00:15:12.240 --> 00:15:14.559 So I heard the pastor say, go share your faith. 00:15:14.720 --> 00:15:16.000 I thought, well, okay. 00:15:16.240 --> 00:15:23.279 So I went out on the beach and I saw this middle-aged woman about the age of my mom, and I thought, well, maybe I'll talk to her. 00:15:23.360 --> 00:15:24.240 She'll be nice to me. 00:15:24.320 --> 00:15:25.360 I was really nervous. 00:15:25.519 --> 00:15:26.960 My voice was shaking. 00:15:27.120 --> 00:15:31.919 And I said, Hi, can I talk to you a little bit about God and stuff? 00:15:32.159 --> 00:15:33.279 She's like, okay. 00:15:33.519 --> 00:15:39.039 So I sat down and I was so new at this, I had to read the booklet because I hadn't memorized it. 00:15:39.200 --> 00:15:44.559 Uh, The Four Spiritual Laws, Copyright 1964, Campus Crusade for Christ. 00:15:45.120 --> 00:15:48.080 Law one, God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life. 00:15:48.159 --> 00:15:50.799 And I'm reading through this and I'm thinking, what am I doing? 00:15:51.039 --> 00:15:52.960 This, she's not gonna respond to this. 00:15:53.039 --> 00:15:54.320 Why am I even doing this? 00:15:54.480 --> 00:15:57.600 And I'd look up periodically at her and she's just looking at me. 00:15:57.679 --> 00:16:04.320 And I got to the end of the booklet, I was relieved to finally be done, so at least I could say I witnessed to someone, okay? 00:16:04.559 --> 00:16:12.159 I get to the end of the booklet and there's a question there, which is, is there any good reason why you should not accept Jesus Christ right now? 00:16:12.480 --> 00:16:16.559 So I asked her, Is there any good reason why you should not accept Jesus Christ right now? 00:16:16.720 --> 00:16:18.480 She said, No, no. 00:16:18.799 --> 00:16:20.399 Um wait. 00:16:20.799 --> 00:16:23.919 Does that mean you want to accept Jesus Christ right now? 00:16:24.080 --> 00:16:25.279 She said, Yes. 00:16:25.840 --> 00:16:27.120 Fantastic. 00:16:28.000 --> 00:16:30.480 Let's bow our heads for a word of prayer. 00:16:30.559 --> 00:16:32.240 I saw the pastor do that. 00:16:32.480 --> 00:16:33.840 And she closes her eyes. 00:16:33.919 --> 00:16:36.480 I'm frantically searching this book for a prayer. 00:16:36.720 --> 00:16:38.159 I finally found one. 00:16:38.399 --> 00:16:40.879 I let her in and she prays this prayer. 00:16:41.120 --> 00:16:44.480 She opens her eyes and she said, Something just happened to me. 00:16:44.559 --> 00:16:47.840 I said, Yeah, something just happened to me as well. 00:16:48.559 --> 00:16:52.240 And uh I realized that God could use someone like me. 00:16:52.720 --> 00:17:00.720 You know, your pastor is in a brand new series right now, Divinely Human, talking about how God uses flawed people. 00:17:00.879 --> 00:17:05.440 Listen, God is not looking for ability, he's looking for availability. 00:17:05.759 --> 00:17:06.400 Right? 00:17:10.160 --> 00:17:14.400 God does not call the qualified, he qualifies the call. 00:17:14.640 --> 00:17:18.240 All you need to do is say, Lord, here I am, send me. 00:17:18.559 --> 00:17:22.559 I had so little to offer the Lord, but I said, okay, God, here I am. 00:17:22.720 --> 00:17:26.960 A 17-year-old kid uh with a really great head of hair, by the way. 00:17:27.279 --> 00:17:31.599 I had the greatest surfer hair you've ever seen, parted on the side, blonde. 00:17:31.759 --> 00:17:33.839 I'd whip my hair all the time. 00:17:35.039 --> 00:17:36.079 Perfect wave. 00:17:36.160 --> 00:17:38.640 Now the wave is gone, and all I have left is beach. 00:17:38.720 --> 00:17:39.759 It's really sad. 00:17:41.279 --> 00:17:45.759 But I'll get it in the hair after, I'm sure of it, counting on that. 00:17:47.599 --> 00:17:50.160 So I'm just going to church. 00:17:50.319 --> 00:17:51.839 I'm growing as a Christian. 00:17:52.079 --> 00:17:58.880 And one day I go down to where the baptisms were held, which was Pirates Cove, is what it's called at Newport Beach. 00:17:59.119 --> 00:18:03.279 Kind of this natural, natural rocky amphitheater, and that's featured in the film. 00:18:03.359 --> 00:18:05.039 And we filmed a lot of it there. 00:18:05.279 --> 00:18:11.839 And I was late for the baptism, and there were some Christians just sitting around singing some songs together. 00:18:12.000 --> 00:18:13.759 There was no really one really leading. 00:18:13.839 --> 00:18:34.480 So I sat down with them and I'm singing with them, and and uh, and I just thought of something I read that morning in the Bible, and I said, Hey, I had a verse I wanted to share, and and they're all looking at me, and I share my verse, and while I'm talking, a couple of girls joined us, and then one of them leaned over to me and said, one of the other Christians said, These girls want to be baptized, pastor. 00:18:34.559 --> 00:18:36.000 Can you baptize them? 00:18:37.359 --> 00:18:40.559 I'm not a pastor, no, will you baptize them? 00:18:41.759 --> 00:18:44.319 And the Lord spoke to my heart and said, Do it. 00:18:45.440 --> 00:18:53.599 Uh well, are we not to go into all the world and preach the gospel, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit? 00:18:55.680 --> 00:18:59.200 So I said, Okay, well, I I could baptize you. 00:18:59.279 --> 00:18:59.599 Come on. 00:18:59.680 --> 00:19:05.680 And next thing I know, I'm walking now with 30 people behind me, and I'm thinking, how did I get myself into this? 00:19:06.559 --> 00:19:12.799 We get down to the beach, and I said, Okay, I'll baptize you now, but I'd never watched the technique of baptism. 00:19:13.039 --> 00:19:14.559 Like, what do you do? 00:19:14.799 --> 00:19:28.079 So I blundered my way through it, and it was beautiful, and and I was done, and I walked up on the beach, and a little crowd had gathered up there on the rocks, and clear as day, God's spirit spoke to me and said, Preach the gospel. 00:19:28.640 --> 00:19:30.160 Uh, I'm not a preacher. 00:19:30.400 --> 00:19:32.480 Next thing I know, I'm talking to these people. 00:19:32.640 --> 00:19:36.880 Hey, you might be wondering what's going on down here and why these people are being baptized. 00:19:36.960 --> 00:19:41.279 And it's almost like I stepped outside of myself and said, What are you doing? 00:19:41.599 --> 00:19:44.079 What do you think you're Billy Graham now? 00:19:44.559 --> 00:19:53.759 You can't preach to a bunch of people, and meanwhile, I'm saying, if you want to accept Christ, get up and walk down right now, and I'll baptize you. 00:19:53.839 --> 00:19:55.440 And I'm this is insane. 00:19:55.599 --> 00:20:03.519 People came down and I baptized them, and that was the day where I got a taste of what was coming later in my life. 00:20:03.920 --> 00:20:16.240 Well, I started teaching at little Bible studies, and I met my wife, Kathy, and uh she had two sisters, and there they sat while I was speaking, and I noticed her. 00:20:16.319 --> 00:20:25.680 And I'm not suggesting I was scoping out chicks while I preached, okay, but there was a light on Kathy because her sister was holding a flashlight over. 00:20:25.920 --> 00:20:26.880 No, not really. 00:20:28.000 --> 00:20:32.799 So afterwards, I said, Why don't we go out and get some coffee together? 00:20:32.960 --> 00:20:33.599 And we did. 00:20:34.079 --> 00:20:38.400 Then the next time we were at the Bible study, I said again, let's go out and get dessert, and we did. 00:20:38.480 --> 00:20:44.640 And then a third time I said, Let's go out and get some coffee and dessert, and she said, Shall I call my sisters? 00:20:44.799 --> 00:20:48.400 I said, No, just you. 00:20:48.880 --> 00:21:00.160 So we fell in love and we broke up three times, and then we got married, and we just celebrated 49 years of marriage just a couple of days ago. 00:21:01.440 --> 00:21:07.680 So, wait, go back to the other picture, go back to the first photo. 00:21:07.839 --> 00:21:10.160 So, look at this tuxedo I'm wearing. 00:21:10.240 --> 00:21:14.000 What was what was I thinking? 00:21:14.559 --> 00:21:16.400 Now go to the next picture. 00:21:16.720 --> 00:21:20.160 Kathy looks the same 49 years later. 00:21:20.240 --> 00:21:21.119 What happened to her? 00:21:21.200 --> 00:21:22.319 And look at me. 00:21:22.720 --> 00:21:23.680 Wow, sad. 00:21:24.000 --> 00:21:24.960 But anyway. 00:21:26.720 --> 00:21:34.720 So I bring, I went on to start our church, and we're getting ready to celebrate 50 years together as a ministry. 00:21:34.799 --> 00:21:36.799 So we're so thankful to God. 00:21:37.440 --> 00:21:47.039 And you know, I would not have chosen the life that I ended up living, but I think we can take our life and use it as a tool. 00:21:47.279 --> 00:21:56.559 Our pain can be turned to gain, our setbacks can be turned into a setup, and our tests can become a testimony. 00:21:56.799 --> 00:21:59.759 And what you have gone through in life is not just meant to destroy. 00:22:00.400 --> 00:22:02.160 You, but to develop you. 00:22:02.559 --> 00:22:07.200 Because I know there's someone listening to me right now that says it's not fair what happened to me in life. 00:22:07.359 --> 00:22:09.680 It's not fair that my parents divorced. 00:22:09.839 --> 00:22:13.200 It's just not right that I had to live this childhood that I had. 00:22:13.279 --> 00:22:23.200 I'm sorry these things have happened to you, but I want you to know that God can take all of the pain of your life and He can bring good despite it if you'll commit it to Him. 00:22:23.359 --> 00:22:24.000 You see. 00:22:29.119 --> 00:22:39.279 The statistics suggest that because they came from an alcoholic home and a home of divorce, that I should be an alcoholic and I should be married and divorced multiple times. 00:22:39.440 --> 00:22:49.599 And as I said, 49 years together, because Jesus Christ can break any kind of sinful pattern in your family before you. 00:23:00.880 --> 00:23:03.599 Behold, everything becomes fresh and new. 00:23:03.920 --> 00:23:07.359 I love the way things look right after it rains, don't you? 00:23:07.599 --> 00:23:12.240 Even the people that don't wash their cars get their cars washed. 00:23:13.039 --> 00:23:15.519 And you might even see a rainbow, right? 00:23:16.000 --> 00:23:21.680 And God can change everything, He can change the trajectory of your life. 00:23:21.839 --> 00:23:25.920 So I'd have just a few thoughts for you before I'm done here. 00:23:26.160 --> 00:23:27.759 And I didn't say how many thoughts. 00:23:27.839 --> 00:23:29.519 This could be an hour and a half of thoughts. 00:23:29.680 --> 00:23:30.400 Not really. 00:23:31.200 --> 00:23:37.279 But number one, I want to say this to you: whatever you're going through in life, remember, it's going to be okay. 00:23:37.440 --> 00:23:38.640 Now let me explain. 00:23:38.880 --> 00:23:41.359 I'm not suggesting that life is easy. 00:23:41.680 --> 00:23:47.359 But what I am suggesting is if you're a believer, God is in control of your life. 00:23:47.519 --> 00:23:49.759 As Christians, we don't believe in accidents. 00:23:49.920 --> 00:23:51.759 We believe in providence. 00:23:52.160 --> 00:23:54.160 We believe the Lord is guiding our steps. 00:23:54.240 --> 00:23:54.960 And listen to this. 00:23:55.119 --> 00:23:58.960 God says, I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord. 00:23:59.279 --> 00:24:03.279 Thoughts of peace and not of evil to give you a future and a hope. 00:24:03.519 --> 00:24:11.920 Now, if that verse simply said, God speaking, I know the single thought I had about you for one moment, says the Lord, I'd be happy. 00:24:12.079 --> 00:24:17.759 To think that God Almighty, the creator of the universe, had a thought about me, but that's not what the verse says. 00:24:18.000 --> 00:24:22.720 God says, I know the thoughts that I think toward you. 00:24:22.960 --> 00:24:25.519 It's continuous thoughts. 00:24:26.240 --> 00:24:28.960 But wait, what kind of thoughts are these? 00:24:29.119 --> 00:24:30.400 Are they bad thoughts? 00:24:30.640 --> 00:24:33.759 I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord. 00:24:33.920 --> 00:24:40.000 Thoughts of peace and not of evil to give you a future and a hope. 00:24:40.319 --> 00:24:48.400 And I think it's so important for us to reach out and let people know that there is a God in heaven who loves them. 00:24:48.559 --> 00:24:51.680 Whatever you're going through, it's going to be okay. 00:24:51.920 --> 00:24:53.680 God will get you through it. 00:24:53.920 --> 00:24:56.720 Number two, and I would say this to a younger Greg. 00:24:56.880 --> 00:25:02.720 If an older Craig could speak to a younger Greg, and by the way, I'm 70 years old now. 00:25:02.960 --> 00:25:05.839 So I'm up, did you have to react that way? 00:25:06.960 --> 00:25:11.599 People come up to you and say, Wow, you look pretty good for 70. 00:25:11.759 --> 00:25:12.880 Okay, whatever. 00:25:13.039 --> 00:25:15.279 Um, I'm a lot older than your pastor. 00:25:15.359 --> 00:25:16.960 He's still a young man, by the way. 00:25:17.200 --> 00:25:24.720 But if a younger or an older Greg could speak to a younger Greg, I would give myself a little advice. 00:25:24.960 --> 00:25:28.400 Number one, I would say, Greg, take care of your hair. 00:25:28.640 --> 00:25:31.039 You know, just enjoy it while you have it. 00:25:31.920 --> 00:25:41.200 I would say to a younger Greg, Greg, you know Star Wars figures, when they came out the first time, buy a bunch of them and keep them in original packaging. 00:25:42.319 --> 00:25:45.599 Have you heard of that video game called The Legend of Zelda? 00:25:45.839 --> 00:25:53.359 I heard that an original version of that in its packaging, it came in, just sold on eBay for$500,000. 00:25:53.839 --> 00:25:58.319 I'd say, Greg, buy a bunch of those Legend of Zelda games and hang on to them. 00:25:58.559 --> 00:26:07.119 Now I'd say, Greg, make sure that you take care of your skin because you're gonna take a lot of trips to the dermatologist in the years ahead. 00:26:07.200 --> 00:26:14.400 But seriously, I would say to a young Greg and to any young person, put God first in your life. 00:26:14.640 --> 00:26:16.559 You'll never regret doing that. 00:26:16.880 --> 00:26:17.759 Put God first. 00:26:17.920 --> 00:26:24.799 Here's what Jesus says seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you. 00:26:24.960 --> 00:26:37.279 Listen, don't put money first, don't put career first, don't put politics first, don't put ministry first, put Christ first. 00:26:37.599 --> 00:26:40.400 Put him at the forefront of your life. 00:26:43.039 --> 00:26:44.799 You'll never regret that. 00:26:45.039 --> 00:26:50.400 Because there's a lot of things we can focus on in life, and before we know it, our life can be over. 00:26:50.640 --> 00:26:53.759 And all those things we've acquired will be left behind. 00:26:53.920 --> 00:26:58.160 One day everything that you own will be put into a hospital drawer. 00:26:58.640 --> 00:27:02.480 The only legacy that matters is the legacy of your faith. 00:27:02.880 --> 00:27:04.880 So make sure you put Christ first. 00:27:05.039 --> 00:27:11.440 You know, God appeared to a young Solomon who had ascended to the throne after his father David had died. 00:27:11.599 --> 00:27:14.799 And God came to him and said, I'll give you whatever you want. 00:27:14.960 --> 00:27:16.319 Tell me what it is. 00:27:16.559 --> 00:27:19.440 Can you imagine if God appeared to you in a dream and said that? 00:27:19.680 --> 00:27:21.279 Ask for whatever you want. 00:27:21.440 --> 00:27:24.160 Okay, Lord, let's talk about that lottery. 00:27:24.400 --> 00:27:28.160 I mean, really, what would you ask for if God would give you anything you want? 00:27:28.480 --> 00:27:32.960 Solomon said, Well, Lord, I need wisdom to rule your people. 00:27:33.200 --> 00:27:42.799 God said, Because you ask for wisdom and not for riches and not for glory and not for honor, I'm going to give you the wisdom you prayed for, and I'm going to give you all these things as well. 00:27:43.039 --> 00:27:48.079 Seek first the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added unto you. 00:27:48.240 --> 00:27:57.759 Number two, what I would say to a younger man, to any young person, or for that matter, any person, I would say, stop worrying and start praying. 00:27:58.400 --> 00:28:02.400 There's so many things that cause anxiety in our world today. 00:28:02.640 --> 00:28:12.559 Just turn on the news, just go to a news website, and now we carry these phones around and they're buzzing constantly with more bad news. 00:28:12.720 --> 00:28:23.839 And it can really stress you out and cause you to worry that you have your personal problems, you have your family problems, you have your health problems and other things that you deal with every day. 00:28:23.920 --> 00:28:28.240