WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.959 So if you have a Bible, I want to share one verse with you this morning that it'd be the one to take all week long. 00:00:05.040 --> 00:00:06.559 It's in the book of Ephesians. 00:00:06.799 --> 00:00:21.920 Before we get there, you can open to Ephesians 2, but I want to share a Christmas story because as we look at who am I, Justin did an amazing job these last three weeks of talking about I am new and what God makes new. 00:00:22.239 --> 00:00:24.399 It's not just polishing up an old version. 00:00:24.480 --> 00:00:26.719 He did a beautiful job of spelling that out. 00:00:26.879 --> 00:00:32.479 He talked about that we are powerful and that what that means of tapping into God's power, we are heirs. 00:00:32.560 --> 00:00:34.479 We are related to the God of the universe. 00:00:34.560 --> 00:00:36.880 And I love the way he unfolded those. 00:00:37.039 --> 00:00:44.079 Some of his illustrations were incredible, talking about the junk room and just what that looks like, that we try to hide that, but God is in all of it. 00:00:44.479 --> 00:00:47.520 The guy on the airplane with him, just, dude, who are you? 00:00:47.600 --> 00:00:49.200 And him trying to explain that. 00:00:49.359 --> 00:00:52.560 And if you missed any of those three, I encourage you to go back and listen to them. 00:00:52.640 --> 00:00:53.920 They were phenomenal. 00:00:54.079 --> 00:00:54.960 They were phenomenal. 00:00:55.119 --> 00:00:59.439 And in that same reign, I literally was praying, okay, God, who am I? 00:00:59.920 --> 00:01:08.400 Because the way I came to know God personally and literally start that relationship with him was because it wasn't a religious experience. 00:01:08.560 --> 00:01:12.560 It wasn't being around religion or being around Christians. 00:01:12.719 --> 00:01:14.640 It was introduced to God Himself. 00:01:14.719 --> 00:01:20.799 And the best way I can describe this is that we've been putting together the pieces of a puzzle so much as who we are. 00:01:21.040 --> 00:01:31.359 And this morning I want to put kind of a last piece on that, but I want us to draw the understanding that it's very different than the religious part of who we are. 00:01:31.519 --> 00:01:40.959 And if I could spell it this way, is that there's times where I'll look at this amazing book and I'll see these incredible people of faith, and I'll just go, man, that is unbelievable. 00:01:41.120 --> 00:01:42.159 That's amazing. 00:01:42.480 --> 00:01:44.000 I am not that. 00:01:44.640 --> 00:01:46.400 And it's a little bit depressing. 00:01:46.640 --> 00:01:52.719 And then I look at some of God's truth and I'm like, I believe that, but I don't always do that. 00:01:52.959 --> 00:01:54.640 And it's a little bit discouraging. 00:01:54.799 --> 00:02:03.359 But what God longs us to do is for move, being around it and evaluating to being with him and letting him be with us. 00:02:03.680 --> 00:02:04.879 It's a piece of the puzzle. 00:02:04.959 --> 00:02:07.920 And we're going to look at four pieces of what that looks like this morning. 00:02:08.000 --> 00:02:15.759 And but if I could explain it this way for Christmas, for Christmas each year, we would have our Christmas Day. 00:02:15.919 --> 00:02:19.680 And then we had some neighbors across the street that was a blended family. 00:02:19.840 --> 00:02:21.759 It was a Jewish Catholic family. 00:02:21.919 --> 00:02:24.479 And I just, that alone made me smile. 00:02:24.639 --> 00:02:26.560 Just that, where do you go to church? 00:02:26.639 --> 00:02:31.919 You know, and it's and they would, we would have Christmas dinner with them, and we would always exchange gifts. 00:02:32.000 --> 00:02:35.199 It was just a little something because we were kids and we loved gifts. 00:02:35.280 --> 00:02:40.879 And I'll never forget, I was around nine years old, and I opened the gift, and it was a puzzle. 00:02:41.120 --> 00:02:47.120 Now, I wasn't a huge puzzle person, but I liked puzzles, and it was this picture of a football picture. 00:02:47.280 --> 00:02:49.680 And I'm like, okay, football puzzle, all right. 00:02:49.919 --> 00:02:53.360 And as we got it out that night, I'm like, can't wait, let's put it together. 00:02:53.439 --> 00:02:54.319 And several jump around. 00:02:54.400 --> 00:03:02.879 We're all kind of piling in and got the edges done, and we started putting pieces, and we're looking at the picture and the pieces, and we realized, and I said, Well, something's wrong here. 00:03:03.120 --> 00:03:04.319 And then they fessed up. 00:03:04.400 --> 00:03:27.439 They're like, Well, you know, we just kind of set a limit on it, and we wanted to get you something cool for the couple dollars that we got to spend, so we bought you a puzzle, but uh it was kind of in the clearance area, and uh it said irregular on it, and uh, we just kind of took that sticker off and we discovered very quickly the irregular part was that the picture was not the puzzle. 00:03:30.400 --> 00:03:37.919 So it was like, yeah, and I don't know how you are if you do puzzles, but I'm always like, okay, that part, okay, well, that that goes there. 00:03:38.080 --> 00:03:39.120 I had none of that. 00:03:39.280 --> 00:03:40.960 And it's just like, how are we gonna do this? 00:03:41.039 --> 00:03:43.680 And we muddled through it and we laughed, and it was a struggle. 00:03:43.840 --> 00:03:48.639 But the puzzle was really, really cool, but it was different than what we saw. 00:03:48.879 --> 00:04:08.240 And and that difference is the difference between being around God and being around Jesus and around Christians and knowing him personally and intimately and seeing what he made me to be and seeing what he has for me and what he wants to do personally with me. 00:04:08.319 --> 00:04:15.680 And this morning, that piece of the puzzle I'm just really praying will come through that we'll see this is what it means to be with Jesus. 00:04:15.840 --> 00:04:26.000 To do that, I want us to look at Ephesians chapter 2, because it basically tells us the different pieces to discovering who we are from his point of view. 00:04:26.160 --> 00:04:29.680 So I'm gonna break it down, but let's just read it Ephesians 2.10. 00:04:30.000 --> 00:04:40.800 For we are God's handiwork created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. 00:04:41.360 --> 00:04:43.040 That is who God is. 00:04:43.199 --> 00:04:44.399 That's who I am. 00:04:44.639 --> 00:04:51.600 I am first, the first piece of this I want us to see is that I am, you are, individually and collectively. 00:04:51.759 --> 00:04:54.079 We are God's handiwork. 00:04:54.720 --> 00:04:58.639 And when it's God's handiwork, I'm talking about very intimately unique. 00:04:58.800 --> 00:05:00.800 It's not some cookie-cutter piece. 00:05:00.959 --> 00:05:02.560 I mean, look around. 00:05:02.800 --> 00:05:04.959 There's nobody that looks like you. 00:05:05.199 --> 00:05:12.079 And if you take the experience and the gifting and the abilities and the life, there is no other you. 00:05:12.160 --> 00:05:13.920 There never has been, there never will be. 00:05:14.079 --> 00:05:26.000 And God's handiwork is saying, I've crafted you this way, in a very unique way that has never existed before and never will again, and you are uniquely my handiwork. 00:05:26.240 --> 00:05:30.720 If you want to know about the creator, look at his creation. 00:05:30.959 --> 00:05:32.959 I mean, look at how unique God is. 00:05:33.120 --> 00:05:37.920 Now, I want to do it this way, just as an example leading into something I experienced this week. 00:05:38.240 --> 00:05:41.759 Left hand is I love sunrises. 00:05:42.240 --> 00:05:44.560 Right hand is I love sunsets. 00:05:44.959 --> 00:05:45.839 Which one are you? 00:05:46.000 --> 00:05:48.639 One, two, three, are you a sunrise or sunset? 00:05:48.879 --> 00:05:50.720 Okay, lots of sunsets. 00:05:50.959 --> 00:05:51.600 All right. 00:05:51.759 --> 00:05:54.079 Uh sunrise, I totally respect you. 00:05:54.160 --> 00:05:57.600 I think you're mentally deranged, but I respect that. 00:05:58.480 --> 00:06:05.120 I'm driving this past week, and my daughter, who is 12, she's got a little bit of my wife in her. 00:06:05.199 --> 00:06:06.879 My wife is very animated. 00:06:07.279 --> 00:06:14.480 And when I drive, she can be listening, looking at a text and go, oh, and she I'm like, well, it's it's bad to drive with her. 00:06:14.639 --> 00:06:17.120 And my daughter has got a little bit of that in her. 00:06:17.279 --> 00:06:22.319 And as we're driving, I'm taking her to, I think, dance or uh youth group or something. 00:06:22.399 --> 00:06:26.240 And I know she just went, whoa! And I'm like, what? 00:06:26.480 --> 00:06:29.120 And I literally take my foot off the gas, and I'm like, Whoa, what? 00:06:29.439 --> 00:06:32.319 And she goes, Look at the sky. 00:06:34.480 --> 00:06:36.720 And I and I looked up. 00:06:37.120 --> 00:06:43.600 It was one of the most colorful, panoramic views of amazing. 00:06:43.680 --> 00:06:50.240 I mean, there was blue and red and orange and white and hues between all of those colors that could not be duplicated. 00:06:50.399 --> 00:06:54.000 I'm like, wow, you're right. 00:06:54.480 --> 00:07:04.399 And the God that created that spectacular, unique view is the one that created you. 00:07:05.360 --> 00:07:13.199 And he created it just as unique and just as amazing and just as intimate and different as every sunset. 00:07:13.360 --> 00:07:16.079 Similarities, yes, but differences every time. 00:07:16.319 --> 00:07:17.759 There's nothing like it. 00:07:18.079 --> 00:07:24.480 And it's the same God made you with all your experiences, all your past, good and bad. 00:07:24.639 --> 00:07:41.839 And he says, Hey, when you come to be with me, when you accept my love and my forgiveness, and you accept me and invite me to be in your life, what I'm gonna do is I'm gonna take everything experiential, good and bad, mistakes and triumphs, and I'm gonna work it for your good. 00:07:41.920 --> 00:07:44.399 And I'm gonna show you who I made you to be. 00:07:45.040 --> 00:07:46.959 That's his craftsmanship. 00:07:47.199 --> 00:07:48.720 And he's he's amazingly fun. 00:07:48.800 --> 00:07:50.240 I'll give you one of my favorite examples. 00:07:50.319 --> 00:07:56.800 I was in my backyard and and I'm going to the shed to get the lawnmower and get going, and and there's these two squirrels. 00:07:57.040 --> 00:07:59.519 And they have you ever seen squirrels chase each other? 00:07:59.680 --> 00:08:03.199 They're just like up the tree and around the tree and down the parks flying everywhere. 00:08:03.360 --> 00:08:05.439 Then they got in the yard, and then it's like WrestleMania. 00:08:05.680 --> 00:08:09.680 They're like flipping over each other, and then both of them just kind of fell off the flip and went, ha. 00:08:11.839 --> 00:08:13.759 And the other one's like, You gonna go? 00:08:13.839 --> 00:08:14.480 I'm gonna go. 00:08:14.720 --> 00:08:21.040 And then they shot at another tree, and the other one chasing, they're going up the tree and off the tree and down the fence, and I'm just like, that is hysterical. 00:08:21.199 --> 00:08:30.399 And then finally, they both, after about five minutes of this, and I'm sitting here, just standing there watching them, and I'm laughing, going, God, you made that. 00:08:31.199 --> 00:08:32.639 That's hysterical. 00:08:32.720 --> 00:08:33.919 What is going on in their minds? 00:08:34.000 --> 00:08:38.080 Like, hey, we got some nuts, mom's not around, you're it. 00:08:38.480 --> 00:08:47.759 And they just started, they started doing this, and I'm just thinking, that that is just a glimpse of how cool and fun God is. 00:08:47.840 --> 00:08:50.559 And I'm just like, God, that that was awesome. 00:08:50.799 --> 00:08:54.000 And that's his handiwork, that is God's handiwork. 00:08:54.159 --> 00:08:55.600 Well, look at how this fits together. 00:08:55.679 --> 00:08:59.440 There's another piece, so God makes us unique and special, and then look at the next part. 00:08:59.519 --> 00:09:12.240 It says, in Christ Jesus, in Christ Jesus, I'm not gonna experience the with Christ until I'm in Christ, until I make that fundamental decision. 00:09:12.399 --> 00:09:16.240 When we use the term here, going all in with Christ. 00:09:16.559 --> 00:09:22.080 It's realizing, no, God, I'm not just knowing about you, I want to know you, and I'm all in. 00:09:22.240 --> 00:09:24.879 And Jesus gave us an ordinance called baptism. 00:09:24.960 --> 00:09:26.720 And if you come here for a while, you'll see this. 00:09:26.799 --> 00:09:27.759 We do it on a regular basis. 00:09:27.840 --> 00:09:29.840 People going, I'm all in. 00:09:30.080 --> 00:09:30.720 I'm all in. 00:09:30.799 --> 00:09:32.240 I believe God is who he said he was. 00:09:32.320 --> 00:09:35.759 I believe I am his handiwork, and I believe he has a purpose for me. 00:09:35.840 --> 00:09:36.639 I'm all in. 00:09:36.799 --> 00:09:45.919 And it's literally this beautiful visual called baptism where we die to ourselves and we raise, and we're like, I'm now new, what Jason Justin talked about a couple weeks ago. 00:09:46.000 --> 00:09:47.120 I'm new in Christ. 00:09:47.279 --> 00:09:49.840 I'm not what I was, I'm a new creation. 00:09:49.919 --> 00:09:52.080 And that peace of being in Christ. 00:09:52.240 --> 00:09:59.840 In Jeremiah 17, it's one of the most beautiful word pictures of what it means to be in Christ and that decision in our mind. 00:09:59.919 --> 00:10:08.080 He puts it this way: But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, and get the second word, whose confidence is in him. 00:10:08.480 --> 00:10:15.279 They will be like a tree planted by the waters that sends out its roots into or by the stream. 00:10:15.519 --> 00:10:18.159 It does not fear when heat comes. 00:10:18.879 --> 00:10:21.200 Its leaves are always green. 00:10:21.440 --> 00:10:27.120 It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to produce or bear fruit. 00:10:27.440 --> 00:10:30.080 That's what happens when we're in Christ. 00:10:30.240 --> 00:10:34.000 When we're around Christ, different story. 00:10:34.320 --> 00:10:54.559 And if I can draw these parallels to be around God, to be around this, there's this mental sense that happens where we compare ourselves to maybe where we think we should be, or we're not as bad as others, where we start to question every circumstance in our life and where that fits in. 00:10:54.799 --> 00:11:11.919 Where we worry about perceptions of others on us or our perception of what's going on, and we depend a whole lot on feelings and what we feel in a moment and moment to moment, we try to get these feelings fixes so that we can feel better about us. 00:11:12.159 --> 00:11:14.879 That's being around, near. 00:11:15.360 --> 00:11:20.799 But those who are in Christ, who are with Jesus, they are new, they are mighty, they are heirs. 00:11:20.960 --> 00:11:24.320 We don't care what others might think. 00:11:25.039 --> 00:11:27.919 His truth trumps any feelings. 00:11:28.080 --> 00:11:31.519 We know his truths, and those truths really do set us free. 00:11:31.759 --> 00:11:36.000 Circumstances reveal who God is. 00:11:36.720 --> 00:11:43.279 And then finally, we rely on his presence, not our feelings or circumstances. 00:11:43.600 --> 00:11:47.519 We literally, in those moments, can go, God, what do you want to do here? 00:11:47.919 --> 00:11:49.600 It's it's a complete difference. 00:11:49.759 --> 00:11:51.919 That's the difference between being in Christ. 00:11:52.080 --> 00:12:02.080 Now, I want to be very honest for a second, in the sense that I, and maybe it's an after 25 thing, but I want to be at that point where I am in Christ. 00:12:02.240 --> 00:12:04.399 And the disciples put it this way. 00:12:04.639 --> 00:12:17.679 Jesus is talking to the disciples in John chapter 14, he puts it this way: the spirit of truth, the world cannot accept him because it neither sees him nor knows him, but you know him. 00:12:18.080 --> 00:12:21.759 And he lives with you and will be in you. 00:12:22.240 --> 00:12:29.120 In other words, what God is saying very simply is you Jesus has said, You've been around me, and now you know God. 00:12:29.360 --> 00:12:35.679 And not only am I with you, but the spirit, my spirit that raised Christ in the day is going to be in you. 00:12:35.919 --> 00:12:37.440 That's the difference. 00:12:38.080 --> 00:12:47.360 And one of the most one of my favorites is in John 15, where he gives us another visual about branches, and he says, Jesus says this, I am the vine, you are the branches. 00:12:47.519 --> 00:12:51.519 If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit. 00:12:51.600 --> 00:12:54.720 From apart from me you can do nothing. 00:12:55.279 --> 00:13:00.320 If you do not remain in me, you are like branches that are thrown away and withers. 00:13:00.960 --> 00:13:03.759 Such branches are picked up and thrown into the fire and burned. 00:13:03.919 --> 00:13:12.080 If you remain in me and my word remains in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 00:13:12.399 --> 00:13:20.000 For this is my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. 00:13:20.320 --> 00:13:24.480 This this connectedness, a branch can't survive off of a tree. 00:13:24.639 --> 00:13:26.000 It's got to be grafted in. 00:13:26.080 --> 00:13:27.440 And Jesus is going, That's me. 00:13:27.519 --> 00:13:30.240 Now, years ago I would say, Well, God, obviously I can do something. 00:13:30.399 --> 00:13:32.240 You say I can do nothing, I can do something. 00:13:32.399 --> 00:13:38.159 I mean, I wake up, I can get through life, I can go do stuff, and God just kind of let me see. 00:13:38.320 --> 00:13:39.600 Ken, are you accomplishing? 00:13:39.759 --> 00:13:41.200 Are you doing that which lasts? 00:13:41.360 --> 00:13:44.720 Or are you just on the treadmill of life? 00:13:45.279 --> 00:13:48.720 And I realized, man, I spent some years on that treadmill. 00:13:48.799 --> 00:13:51.440 You don't have to raise your hands, but how many of you have ever felt that? 00:13:51.600 --> 00:14:11.200 Well, I wake up and I get ready and I go to work and I make some money and I get a paycheck so I can buy and pay for a car and a house and some food so that I can sleep and get up and get in a car and go to work and I can get this, and it's just this I'm on this treadmill. 00:14:11.360 --> 00:14:12.799 I don't want to be on the treadmill. 00:14:12.879 --> 00:14:16.240 I want to do something that is significant, something meaningful. 00:14:16.480 --> 00:14:19.679 And what Christ offers is that for every one of us. 00:14:19.919 --> 00:14:24.080 He's saying not only that, but then I was thinking and praying through this. 00:14:24.240 --> 00:14:31.440 God does not speak to me audibly, but when I ask, thoughts come to my mind, clarity comes that I didn't see before. 00:14:31.679 --> 00:14:34.879 I'm like, God, I I can't do anything without you, really. 00:14:34.960 --> 00:14:38.960 And and he showed me very clearly, he's like, Ken, what do you do involuntarily? 00:14:39.759 --> 00:14:41.759 Can you can you make your heart beat? 00:14:41.919 --> 00:14:42.799 Can you do that? 00:14:43.039 --> 00:14:45.120 Because I can stop it right now and let you try. 00:14:45.279 --> 00:14:46.240 I can do that. 00:14:46.399 --> 00:14:48.000 If you want, you want a shot at that? 00:14:48.080 --> 00:14:49.120 I can do that. 00:14:49.600 --> 00:14:50.799 Ken, you breathe. 00:14:50.960 --> 00:14:51.519 You breathe. 00:14:51.679 --> 00:14:53.360 One, do you make your lungs do that? 00:14:53.519 --> 00:14:55.440 Go ahead, try to stop breathing. 00:14:55.600 --> 00:14:58.320 And you can do that for a minute, then your body's just like, what are you doing? 00:15:00.559 --> 00:15:03.279 And then uh you you breathe, you take this for granted. 00:15:03.360 --> 00:15:06.000 You know, I could take away breathable oxygen right now. 00:15:06.080 --> 00:15:07.279 Do you do you want to give that a shot? 00:15:07.360 --> 00:15:08.720 You want to try to create that? 00:15:08.879 --> 00:15:13.440 Because you can, you can capture what I have, put it in a tank, and you'll last an hour, maybe. 00:15:13.679 --> 00:15:15.120 But see, I give you that grace. 00:15:15.200 --> 00:15:16.320 I do that for you. 00:15:16.480 --> 00:15:26.399 And not only that, but I want to have that sense that what I'm doing has meaning, that is beyond me, that it has sustenance, and that it's there. 00:15:26.559 --> 00:15:27.440 Here's my problem. 00:15:27.600 --> 00:15:30.799 And if I I can I want to paint this one picture for you, go back and watch this. 00:15:30.879 --> 00:15:34.000 I don't recommend movies a ton, but this is one of my favorites. 00:15:34.159 --> 00:15:45.759 One of the most theologically brilliant, clarifying ways that I can interact and remain in Christ, is in a movie, and it's towards the end. 00:15:45.840 --> 00:15:49.519 It's one of the most theologically accurate movies I've ever seen. 00:15:49.600 --> 00:15:51.279 It's called Finding Nemo. 00:15:51.919 --> 00:16:21.759 And there's this one scene where Dorian, if you've seen the movie, I don't want to ruin the ending for you, but there's this one character, Dorian, she's this bluefish that has a memory issue, and there's Marlon who's trying to accomplish finding his son Nemo, and she's helping him along, and then she finally gets excited because he's like, You got a horrible memory, and she's down about that, and then finally she remembers something. 00:16:22.000 --> 00:16:23.360 And oh my gosh. 00:16:23.519 --> 00:16:26.799 And she remembers this, and Marlon's like, great, now we've got to find it. 00:16:26.960 --> 00:16:28.240 We've got to do this and this and this and this. 00:16:28.320 --> 00:16:29.919 And she's like, Okay, let's go, let's go, let's go. 00:16:30.000 --> 00:16:32.000 And so, well, we got to do this and this, okay, okay, okay. 00:16:32.159 --> 00:16:34.159 She's like, Oh, something about jellyfish, let's go. 00:16:34.399 --> 00:16:35.840 And and that is me. 00:16:36.000 --> 00:16:37.120 That is so me. 00:16:37.440 --> 00:16:40.639 It's like I can read God's truth and go, okay, okay, something about Jesus. 00:16:40.720 --> 00:16:41.120 Let's go. 00:16:41.200 --> 00:16:44.960 You know, just and God is like, I want, I want to do this with you. 00:16:45.200 --> 00:16:51.120 And I want to show you my truth in such a way that it's going to get you where you cannot get on your own. 00:16:51.360 --> 00:16:53.120 But you got to do it with me. 00:16:53.360 --> 00:16:56.639 And not just be around it, but you got to let me be in you. 00:16:56.799 --> 00:17:00.240 Not only in you, but abide in me moment by moment. 00:17:01.440 --> 00:17:06.559 And I want to get to that place where I'm like, okay, Lord, I know I'm your handiwork. 00:17:06.640 --> 00:17:07.839 You have gifted me for something. 00:17:07.920 --> 00:17:08.880 That's a great peace. 00:17:08.960 --> 00:17:16.240 And I and I know that I've invited you, not only in you, but I'm dependent on you for eternal life and life of significance. 00:17:16.720 --> 00:17:17.519 So why? 00:17:17.680 --> 00:17:18.559 Who am I? 00:17:18.720 --> 00:17:20.400 Well, the next one is very good. 00:17:20.720 --> 00:17:23.200 Four good works. 00:17:23.759 --> 00:17:25.279 Four good works. 00:17:26.319 --> 00:17:27.759 What does that look like? 00:17:28.480 --> 00:17:35.920 Uh let me let me spell it out this way very clearly that I want you to think this week, what is gonna be your greatest challenge this week? 00:17:36.240 --> 00:17:37.440 Is it a test? 00:17:37.839 --> 00:17:38.960 Is it a relationship? 00:17:39.119 --> 00:17:41.039 Is it a financial issue? 00:17:41.599 --> 00:17:45.359 God is saying, I want to be good in that. 00:17:46.240 --> 00:17:50.400 Do you do you remember the game show, Who Wants to be a Millionaire? 00:17:50.480 --> 00:17:51.599 Do you remember that one? 00:17:52.240 --> 00:17:54.960 Got to answer the questions, and you get four choices. 00:17:55.200 --> 00:17:57.920 What happened when they did not know any of them? 00:17:58.079 --> 00:17:59.200 Oh man, I don't know this. 00:17:59.279 --> 00:18:02.480 I'm going to a lifeline. 00:18:02.559 --> 00:18:05.759 And one of them was, you said it, phone a friend. 00:18:06.000 --> 00:18:07.279 I got a friend who knows this. 00:18:07.359 --> 00:18:08.480 I'm gonna phone a friend. 00:18:08.720 --> 00:18:11.920 Hey, I'm on the show and there's a question and I don't know it. 00:18:12.000 --> 00:18:13.200 And do you know the answer to this? 00:18:13.279 --> 00:18:14.960 And they're like, dude, I'm pretty sure it's this. 00:18:15.119 --> 00:18:15.759 Okay, great. 00:18:15.920 --> 00:18:18.160 Ah, you get to move on, great. 00:18:18.480 --> 00:18:22.240 Did you know that that God literally has a phone number? 00:18:22.480 --> 00:18:32.559 And he's like, uh when you when you get this week, when you're at that point where you're like, I'm frustrated, overwhelmed, I don't know what to do, call me. 00:18:33.039 --> 00:18:39.839 And I and I know it says this because it's in Jeremiah 33, 3, and it starts out like this call to me. 00:18:40.079 --> 00:18:41.200 And I love this. 00:18:41.359 --> 00:18:48.720 And he says, I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things that you do not know. 00:18:49.200 --> 00:18:50.160 You don't know them. 00:18:51.359 --> 00:18:52.160 Help. 00:18:52.480 --> 00:18:53.519 God help. 00:18:53.759 --> 00:19:02.000 And I'm telling you, you pray it right now, this morning, if you're with God and you've invited Christ in and you go, God, I really don't know what to do about this. 00:19:02.240 --> 00:19:02.960 Will you help? 00:19:03.119 --> 00:19:07.119 Will you show me something I don't know in this category? 00:19:07.359 --> 00:19:09.599 Will you show me an option, perspective, whatever? 00:19:09.680 --> 00:19:13.680 I don't know what it's gonna be, but I'm telling you, this is how real Jesus is. 00:19:14.079 --> 00:19:16.880 I'll give you mine from a couple weeks ago. 00:19:17.200 --> 00:19:19.599 Now, I I'm gonna ask it this way. 00:19:19.759 --> 00:19:21.599 How many of you men here are married? 00:19:21.680 --> 00:19:23.119 Raise your hand if you're married, man. 00:19:23.279 --> 00:19:23.839 All right. 00:19:24.720 --> 00:19:30.160 One of the most frustrating, overwhelming days of every year is anniversary. 00:19:31.440 --> 00:19:33.599 Our anniversary is coming up. 00:19:33.759 --> 00:19:38.400 I don't know why they call it our anniversary, because all the pressure is on us. 00:19:39.759 --> 00:19:41.039 They can't lose. 00:19:41.200 --> 00:19:42.559 It feels like a prize fight. 00:19:42.640 --> 00:19:51.599 In this corner, the husband with a record of 9 and 14 will attempt yet another anniversary. 00:19:51.839 --> 00:20:01.359 Because we got to get the place right, we got to get the card right, we gotta get everything right, and in this corner, the wife undefeated in anniversary life. 00:20:01.920 --> 00:20:06.559 Because she is the sole judge of this encounter. 00:20:07.599 --> 00:20:09.759 And it's just it's overwhelming. 00:20:09.839 --> 00:20:14.960 And I got to that point, I was talking to a couple buddies on a radio show, and I'm like, guys, it's like, what do you do? 00:20:15.039 --> 00:20:18.880 And I said, Well, I had this idea, and and they said, Where'd you get that idea? 00:20:18.960 --> 00:20:20.799 And I said, I prayed. 00:20:21.119 --> 00:20:24.079 I'm like, God, I have an anniversary coming up. 00:20:24.160 --> 00:20:27.359 It's a big one, it's a 20th anniversary, and the kids are in school, and they're like, What do I do? 00:20:27.440 --> 00:20:27.759 What do I do? 00:20:27.839 --> 00:20:28.240 What do I do? 00:20:28.319 --> 00:20:29.279 What do I do? 00:20:29.519 --> 00:20:32.000 And I literally prayed. 00:20:32.240 --> 00:20:37.200 God, and I said, God, will you tell me something I don't know about this? 00:20:37.440 --> 00:20:39.279 Will you show me some options? 00:20:39.519 --> 00:20:43.039 Because you know my wife and you know us and you know our circumstances. 00:20:43.200 --> 00:20:43.839 Help. 00:20:44.079 --> 00:20:49.680 Here's what came to my mind that was not there before, and it was a great idea. 00:20:50.480 --> 00:20:52.960 I'm like, Lord, that's awesome. 00:20:54.559 --> 00:20:57.119 Here's what came to my mind and started flooding Ken first. 00:20:58.319 --> 00:20:58.880 What do you do? 00:20:58.960 --> 00:21:12.400 You got 20 years, go back, go back to the first, first place you met, go back to the first place you kissed her, go back to the first place you lived, go back to the first place you ate, go back and just flood all these firsts. 00:21:12.480 --> 00:21:14.640 I'm like, that's awesome. 00:21:15.039 --> 00:21:15.599 First. 00:21:16.000 --> 00:21:17.279 So I plan out this day. 00:21:17.359 --> 00:21:23.519 Now, here's how cool God is, because in the midst of it, He shows up again, and I can call and go, what do I do now? 00:21:23.680 --> 00:21:27.039 Now, I I don't encourage you to do this because people will look at you weird. 00:21:27.200 --> 00:21:28.880 And but but pray. 00:21:29.039 --> 00:21:31.839 And and literally, so it's the day I'm actually excited about it. 00:21:31.920 --> 00:21:33.519 I get up and Heather's not moving. 00:21:33.599 --> 00:21:34.240 I'm like, you know what? 00:21:34.319 --> 00:21:35.200 It's her day to sleep in. 00:21:35.279 --> 00:21:35.839 That's awesome. 00:21:36.000 --> 00:21:36.960 Kind of get the kids going. 00:21:37.039 --> 00:21:38.640 I'm like, right on, this is gonna be great. 00:21:38.720 --> 00:21:40.720 First, I got them all mapped out on the map. 00:21:40.799 --> 00:21:41.920 We're gonna go all over these places. 00:21:42.079 --> 00:21:43.200 This is gonna be awesome. 00:21:43.359 --> 00:21:45.200 And so I get the kids ready, I get them off. 00:21:45.279 --> 00:21:50.079 I come in, I'm like, hey, um I'm gonna get the kids off to school, I'll be back about half. 00:21:50.319 --> 00:21:51.599 She goes, Oh, okay, okay. 00:21:51.920 --> 00:21:56.240 Barely even woke up, and I'm like, okay, not excited about the anniversary, but she didn't have to be. 00:21:56.319 --> 00:21:57.440 I get to be, there we go. 00:21:57.519 --> 00:21:59.759 So I get them off school, I come back in, and I'm ready. 00:22:00.319 --> 00:22:03.759 For this God-ordained day of greatness. 00:22:04.720 --> 00:22:07.200 And I come in, I'm like, hey, how's it going? 00:22:07.359 --> 00:22:10.000 She goes, I got a migraine. 00:22:12.160 --> 00:22:14.799 Jesus, I don't remember you telling me about that part. 00:22:17.039 --> 00:22:21.279 And I literally, I'm I'm sitting there in my mind going, What do I do with that? 00:22:21.519 --> 00:22:22.799 This is reality. 00:22:23.039 --> 00:22:25.839 This is the and and I said, Why don't you just rest? 00:22:26.079 --> 00:22:29.359 She goes, Okay, I took something for it, and she's got a prescription thing. 00:22:29.440 --> 00:22:31.200 She did, and she goes, I'm just gonna rest. 00:22:31.359 --> 00:22:36.720 I waited an hour and I thought, you know what, she's gonna, we'll do it another day or whatever. 00:22:36.880 --> 00:22:38.000 She needs to rest. 00:22:38.160 --> 00:22:39.119 So I let her sleep. 00:22:39.279 --> 00:22:41.279 I change into my yard clothes. 00:22:41.359 --> 00:22:42.400 I'm like, be productive. 00:22:42.480 --> 00:22:43.599 I need to get the yard done. 00:22:43.680 --> 00:22:49.839 So I change into my yard clothes and I go out to the shed, I get out the mower and the trimmer, and I get out of the rake, I get everything out. 00:22:49.920 --> 00:22:53.359 And I literally I turn around to start, and she's on the porch. 00:22:53.519 --> 00:22:58.000 This is an hour and 20 minutes later, and she goes, Hey, what are you doing? 00:22:58.160 --> 00:23:02.960 I'm like, um uh I was gonna do the yard. 00:23:03.119 --> 00:23:05.279 She goes, Well, I'm I'm feeling better. 00:23:05.519 --> 00:23:07.920 Do you want to go do something? 00:23:08.559 --> 00:23:10.319 I'm like, Yes. 00:23:12.240 --> 00:23:16.880 So I put everything back in the shed and I go change out of my clothes, and now I'm looking at my clock. 00:23:16.960 --> 00:23:18.799 I'm like, okay, we got half the time now. 00:23:18.880 --> 00:23:20.480 And and she goes, What did you have in mind? 00:23:20.559 --> 00:23:26.400 I said, I just got a couple cool ideas, and we stopped at the first place with this church where we met in the fellowship hall, and something's going on. 00:23:26.720 --> 00:23:29.200 And so I tell her, I'm like, hey, it's kind of a day of first. 00:23:29.359 --> 00:23:31.119 I said, I wanted to come to the first place we met. 00:23:31.200 --> 00:23:32.319 And she goes, Oh, that's kind of cool. 00:23:32.480 --> 00:23:34.640 And she goes, Oh, looks like they're doing something here. 00:23:34.799 --> 00:23:35.279 Let's just leave. 00:23:35.359 --> 00:23:37.440 And I'm like, but I want to get a picture. 00:23:37.519 --> 00:23:39.839 It's kind of selfie, and let's just go real quick. 00:23:39.920 --> 00:23:41.599 And we walk in, and people are like, Why are you here? 00:23:41.759 --> 00:23:42.960 She goes, I'm so embarrassed. 00:23:43.039 --> 00:23:44.000 I'm so embarrassed. 00:23:44.079 --> 00:23:46.160 And I said, Hang on. 00:23:46.240 --> 00:23:46.960 I said, you know what? 00:23:47.039 --> 00:23:48.799 Just I we'll get a quick picture. 00:23:48.880 --> 00:23:52.240 And the people that were looking at us, I said, Hey, will you do me a favor real quick? 00:23:52.400 --> 00:23:53.440 This is my wife's. 00:23:53.519 --> 00:23:59.279 We we got married 20 years ago today, and this is the spot where we first met. 00:23:59.680 --> 00:24:01.119 Would you take a picture for us real quick? 00:24:01.200 --> 00:24:02.799 And they're like, Oh my gosh, that's so sweet. 00:24:02.880 --> 00:24:03.839 Yes, I'll take a picture. 00:24:06.079 --> 00:24:14.960 Everywhere we went, then we went to the next place, the first place we lived, and there's a girl walking out of the little duplex townhouse that we lived in, and she's kind of looking at us, I'm like, hey, my name's Ken. 00:24:15.119 --> 00:24:16.720 We we got married 20 years ago today. 00:24:16.799 --> 00:24:18.240 Is there any way you could take a picture with that? 00:24:18.400 --> 00:24:19.440 We lived here. 00:24:19.920 --> 00:24:20.960 Our first place we lived. 00:24:21.039 --> 00:24:22.880 She goes, Oh my gosh, that's the greatest thing ever. 00:24:23.039 --> 00:24:23.839 So we got a picture. 00:24:23.920 --> 00:24:27.680 And then we said, I said, you remember the restaurant we when we first got married? 00:24:27.839 --> 00:24:29.279 We went to this restaurant every week. 00:24:29.359 --> 00:24:31.279 And she goes, Yes, I said, let's go there. 00:24:31.440 --> 00:24:32.880 And it was closed. 00:24:33.039 --> 00:24:36.000 And uh, yeah. 00:24:37.440 --> 00:24:40.480 And I'm literally going, God, Jesus, you didn't tell me that one either. 00:24:40.559 --> 00:24:44.160 Um, let's keep going here, and we kept going, and and that night I thought, you know what? 00:24:44.319 --> 00:24:45.920 This is life, this is real life. 00:24:46.000 --> 00:24:47.440 And so we get to the end of that. 00:24:47.519 --> 00:24:48.960 I'm like, okay, Lord, here's the deal. 00:24:49.119 --> 00:24:50.079 Um, dinner. 00:24:50.400 --> 00:24:51.519 I'm so looking forward to dinner. 00:24:51.599 --> 00:24:52.079 This is gonna be great. 00:24:52.160 --> 00:24:54.079 She goes, hey, I gotta go drop up some clothes. 00:24:54.160 --> 00:24:58.480 You go drop off Kennedy at the youth group, and then we'll get together and I'll call you and we'll get together. 00:24:58.559 --> 00:24:59.119 I'm like, awesome. 00:24:59.200 --> 00:25:00.240 So I drop off Kennedy. 00:25:00.319 --> 00:25:03.119 I'm like, hey, there's the big inflatable, it's a big inflatable night. 00:25:03.200 --> 00:25:03.839 Go run and have fun. 00:25:03.920 --> 00:25:05.920 Oh, the obstacle course, you love that, go do that. 00:25:06.000 --> 00:25:06.319 Cool. 00:25:06.480 --> 00:25:14.480 I turn around, I take three steps, and I hear, ah, and it wasn't a good scream, like, whoo, I'm having fun. 00:25:14.640 --> 00:25:24.640 Uh I turn around and there's my daughter going, I broke my arm, and she's and her arm is I'm like, of course you did. 00:25:26.400 --> 00:25:28.720 Let's let's go take care of that. 00:25:30.480 --> 00:25:35.039 And I take her, we're in the emergency room at children's, and Heather's like, okay, where are you? 00:25:35.119 --> 00:25:36.559 And I'm like, I'm at the hospital. 00:25:36.799 --> 00:25:37.759 She's like, Why are you there? 00:25:37.839 --> 00:25:39.680 I'm like, Kennedy broke her arm, did not get my text. 00:25:39.839 --> 00:25:41.839