WEBVTT 00:00:09.119 --> 00:00:09.599 Wow. 00:00:12.160 --> 00:00:15.279 Okay, in case you were wondering, that was a wow. 00:00:17.440 --> 00:00:19.519 Dallas, thanks for using that gift, buddy. 00:00:19.600 --> 00:00:20.239 That's awesome. 00:00:20.480 --> 00:00:21.120 Wow. 00:00:25.199 --> 00:00:26.640 How cool is that? 00:00:27.359 --> 00:00:32.560 Well, I am totally stoked that some of you wore your colors today representing your favorite teams. 00:00:32.640 --> 00:00:35.520 Let me see if you go right on, right on, right on. 00:00:35.840 --> 00:00:36.479 Dig it. 00:00:36.560 --> 00:00:37.439 I love it. 00:00:37.759 --> 00:00:41.039 I was so so tweaked that it's football season again. 00:00:41.200 --> 00:00:53.119 And uh yesterday I saw just an incredible example of why I love not only football, but I do love the NFL pulling for the Falcons today, but I love college football. 00:00:53.200 --> 00:00:57.200 And yesterday was a great example of why I love college football. 00:00:57.439 --> 00:01:01.759 Because of a decision that was made by a coach. 00:01:02.560 --> 00:01:09.120 This little bitty school, not little, but it's small comparatively to the big programs, Louisiana Monroe. 00:01:09.280 --> 00:01:12.719 The you guys go to Louisiana Monroe? 00:01:12.799 --> 00:01:15.519 That's a the the Warhawks. 00:01:16.640 --> 00:01:18.560 There you go, the Warhawks. 00:01:18.799 --> 00:01:20.480 And they were invited. 00:01:20.640 --> 00:01:27.920 A lot of times you'll see big schools bring in a little school, beat the crud out of them just to warm up their season and then go on. 00:01:28.000 --> 00:01:29.120 We saw this last week. 00:01:29.280 --> 00:01:32.400 Some team got beat like 73 to nothing and that. 00:01:32.480 --> 00:01:33.920 And a lot of schools will do that. 00:01:34.159 --> 00:01:38.000 Well, Arkansas, big razorback Arkansas, great school. 00:01:38.480 --> 00:01:42.079 Love Arkansas, but they they say, you know what, we need a warm-up game. 00:01:42.239 --> 00:01:45.680 So we're gonna bring in Louisiana Monroe to play. 00:01:45.920 --> 00:01:50.079 Well, somebody forgot to tell the Warhawks that they were the warm-up game. 00:01:50.319 --> 00:01:52.879 And they were a 30-point underdog. 00:01:53.280 --> 00:02:01.200 And they came in and just fast forward to the fourth quarter, and the defense for Louisiana Monroe just were just pounding Arkansas all day. 00:02:01.439 --> 00:02:05.680 Knocked out their quarterback, not because he was hurt, just because he got tired of getting hit a lot. 00:02:05.760 --> 00:02:08.319 And it was just one of those where it's like, this is unreal. 00:02:08.479 --> 00:02:10.000 And it comes down to the fourth quarter. 00:02:10.159 --> 00:02:13.199 And I don't remember the exact details, but I know that they're down. 00:02:13.360 --> 00:02:14.639 I know that it's the fourth quarter. 00:02:14.719 --> 00:02:19.599 I know it's less than five minutes to go, and the coach has a decision to make. 00:02:20.000 --> 00:02:20.960 A decision. 00:02:21.199 --> 00:02:23.199 We're close enough to try a field goal. 00:02:23.360 --> 00:02:27.520 That'll put us down, but we can probably get back and we'll see what we can do. 00:02:27.599 --> 00:02:30.000 But it's fourth and eighteen. 00:02:30.400 --> 00:02:32.159 Fourth and eighteen. 00:02:32.560 --> 00:02:34.240 We're in Arkansas. 00:02:34.800 --> 00:02:36.000 And I've got a chance. 00:02:36.080 --> 00:02:37.759 We're on their end of the field. 00:02:37.919 --> 00:02:39.759 I'm going to make a decision. 00:02:40.080 --> 00:02:43.039 We didn't come this far to settle. 00:02:43.360 --> 00:02:44.560 We're going for it. 00:02:44.800 --> 00:02:47.599 And he sends his team on the field and they make the first down. 00:02:47.680 --> 00:02:52.879 And then they get into it and they run the crazy run and they tie the game up and it goes into overtime. 00:02:53.039 --> 00:02:56.000 And the defense steps up and they win. 00:02:56.159 --> 00:02:59.360 They beat Arkansas at Arkansas, a 30-point underdog. 00:02:59.520 --> 00:03:07.599 But I'm just in that moment of that coach on the sideline and seeing his players pour their hearts out and not only cover the spread but have a chance. 00:03:07.680 --> 00:03:08.479 And he's like, you know what? 00:03:08.560 --> 00:03:11.280 I'm going to make the decision to go for it. 00:03:11.439 --> 00:03:14.080 Win or lose, we're going for it. 00:03:14.240 --> 00:03:15.360 What a decision. 00:03:15.520 --> 00:03:16.479 What a decision. 00:03:16.560 --> 00:03:19.039 That's why I love college football. 00:03:19.199 --> 00:03:23.120 The decisions and the complexity of during the game, the decisions that are made. 00:03:23.280 --> 00:03:26.319 And in life, every one of us has decisions like that. 00:03:26.560 --> 00:03:32.479 There's some people sitting in here today that in life had come to a decision point. 00:03:32.800 --> 00:03:35.439 And chances are you're not going to know who they are. 00:03:35.759 --> 00:03:38.960 But every one of us has big decisions at some point in life. 00:03:39.039 --> 00:03:41.599 There's some that had a decision of going, you know what? 00:03:41.919 --> 00:03:45.759 I'm going to face this addiction enough. 00:03:46.560 --> 00:03:47.199 Enough. 00:03:47.919 --> 00:03:49.039 I'm going to hit it. 00:03:49.199 --> 00:03:54.080 And they make this life-changing decision to start this long journey to get out of it. 00:03:54.159 --> 00:03:58.639 And there's several people, and you may have been sitting on a row with one of them that said, you know what, I made that decision. 00:03:58.800 --> 00:04:01.120 And it's still a daily decision I got to make. 00:04:01.199 --> 00:04:03.680 But it was a great decision to make. 00:04:04.080 --> 00:04:11.759 And then there's decisions that are out there that are not ours, that are made that influence us on a daily basis. 00:04:12.000 --> 00:04:15.280 And we have to decide how to react to their decisions. 00:04:15.520 --> 00:04:24.160 And I'll give you one of the biggest ones that I've seen in our culture in my lifetime in the past 20 or so years, I've noticed that our media made a decision somewhere. 00:04:24.399 --> 00:04:30.240 The media made a decision somewhere that we're no longer going to report news and events. 00:04:30.560 --> 00:04:37.120 What we're going to do is, well, ratings drives everything, and we're going to make money, not just report news, we're going to make money. 00:04:37.199 --> 00:04:39.920 So we're going to create controversy. 00:04:40.240 --> 00:04:41.680 That's what sells. 00:04:41.920 --> 00:04:49.920 And we're not reporting the news anymore, we're creating controversy because we made a decision that ratings were everything, and that's what counts. 00:04:50.160 --> 00:04:58.000 And that affects us the way we hear it, to a point where chances are you're a lot like me, and every now and then you'll catch something about the news, but you just really tune it out. 00:04:58.079 --> 00:04:59.519 And I'm going to do this real quick. 00:04:59.600 --> 00:05:06.480 I didn't plan on this, but how many of you have sat down and watched the 6 o'clock news in the past month? 00:05:06.560 --> 00:05:07.839 How many have done that? 00:05:08.160 --> 00:05:08.480 Okay. 00:05:09.519 --> 00:05:10.800 Less than half. 00:05:11.040 --> 00:05:11.360 Okay? 00:05:11.680 --> 00:05:18.079 How many of you, every night of the week, you watch the national news on some channel every night of the week? 00:05:18.319 --> 00:05:20.959 Okay, probably less than a tenth. 00:05:21.279 --> 00:05:22.079 Why is that? 00:05:22.240 --> 00:05:24.879 And there's nothing wrong, good, bad, or otherwise with that. 00:05:25.040 --> 00:05:27.519 It's just we've decided, you know what? 00:05:28.480 --> 00:05:32.000 They're not reporting, they're creating that controversy. 00:05:32.639 --> 00:05:36.639 I'm gonna pull this together with a concept that we have a decision. 00:05:37.040 --> 00:05:49.839 Last week, this week, and next week, we're talking about our personal decision to see if God really is still in the business of doing and living and working outside the box. 00:05:50.240 --> 00:05:59.680 Because what happens too often is we'll decide, uh get a little bit of this, a little bit of that, and we kind of get enough of God to put in our box and go, okay, that's good, I'm comfortable with that. 00:05:59.920 --> 00:06:03.759 But it always brings me back to a great quote from The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, a C. 00:06:03.839 --> 00:06:03.920 S. 00:06:04.000 --> 00:06:06.319 Lewis book that I love, the Chronicles are Nania. 00:06:06.800 --> 00:06:08.319 I love this one line in the movie. 00:06:08.480 --> 00:06:16.399 It's my favorite line where where Aslan, the God figure, the lion, is coming up, and one of the characters goes, Well, is he is he safe? 00:06:16.720 --> 00:06:18.000 Is he safe? 00:06:18.639 --> 00:06:24.720 And the the comment back, well, of course he's not safe, but he is good. 00:06:25.680 --> 00:06:27.600 And that is God. 00:06:28.079 --> 00:06:31.839 He is not safe, but he is ultimately good. 00:06:32.000 --> 00:06:37.519 And if you and I will make a decision to say, okay, God, I don't need safe. 00:06:37.680 --> 00:06:38.639 I want good. 00:06:38.800 --> 00:06:39.759 I want your good. 00:06:39.839 --> 00:06:45.839 I want a good that invades my world and changes everything that's not good to be what is good. 00:06:46.079 --> 00:06:53.759 See, we don't come, and this is what I love about his hands, this is one of my favorite places on the planet to be because it's this setting where look around you. 00:06:53.839 --> 00:06:55.199 You can look everywhere around you. 00:06:55.279 --> 00:06:57.839 There is not one perfect person here. 00:06:58.240 --> 00:06:59.120 Not one. 00:06:59.759 --> 00:07:00.399 None. 00:07:00.800 --> 00:07:04.319 Chances are you're sitting on a row with somebody very dysfunctional. 00:07:04.560 --> 00:07:06.480 There's a really good chance. 00:07:07.759 --> 00:07:11.360 And we're not ashamed of that because we're in process. 00:07:11.600 --> 00:07:13.439 We're in process of going, you know what? 00:07:13.600 --> 00:07:15.519 I'm not perfect, and I know that. 00:07:15.680 --> 00:07:25.839 And here's the deal, though, I am actually opening up my life and I'm seeking God and the truth so that He can create and make me who He meant for me to be. 00:07:26.160 --> 00:07:30.319 And we, wherever we start, are in that process. 00:07:30.480 --> 00:07:43.439 And in that process is where we want to start today and say, okay, what decisions do I have to make to see God work in my life outside the box in that dangerous but good way. 00:07:44.160 --> 00:07:49.839 Because if you and I really get to the point where we're like, okay, I want to make that decision. 00:07:50.079 --> 00:07:55.199 I I've maybe you've made that decision where you say, okay, God, I believe you are who you are. 00:07:55.439 --> 00:07:57.680 You're not a God, you're the God. 00:07:58.399 --> 00:08:00.399 God, I believe that I'm not perfect. 00:08:00.560 --> 00:08:02.240 We don't come perfect to you. 00:08:02.480 --> 00:08:11.199 I believe we come wrecked and sinners and screwed up, and Jesus really died, did die on a cross to pay for that so I could know you. 00:08:11.439 --> 00:08:19.279 And maybe you've come to that point, but maybe it's time where we say, I want to decide to see God outside my box, even the box that I know him in. 00:08:19.439 --> 00:08:25.600 I want to see him in a whole new way, in a radical way that he can change everything with me, to me, and through me. 00:08:25.839 --> 00:08:28.720 If we're gonna do that, we have some fundamental decisions to make. 00:08:28.800 --> 00:08:32.799 And it there's a really cool story in the book of judges of all places. 00:08:33.039 --> 00:08:42.000 Judges about a woman who God decided to use in a way that she says, you know what, God, I'm tired of seeing Israel falter and fail. 00:08:42.159 --> 00:08:44.639 I want to see you move outside the box. 00:08:44.879 --> 00:08:46.320 Her name is Deborah. 00:08:46.559 --> 00:08:48.639 I was just introduced to Deborah a few months ago. 00:08:48.720 --> 00:08:51.440 I'd read it before, but never to the detail that I saw it. 00:08:51.600 --> 00:08:54.559 And she is involved in some key decisions. 00:08:54.799 --> 00:09:01.840 Now, the book of Judges, it's towards the front, could very easily more accurately be called the book of leaders. 00:09:02.080 --> 00:09:05.120 And she was an unbelievable leader. 00:09:05.440 --> 00:09:16.559 And one of the first decisions we have to make, if you want to follow along with me, in chapter four, in verse one, it gives a quick background and kind of the setting for where we are. 00:09:16.799 --> 00:09:20.879 And that is what Israel, there's a representation of who we are is. 00:09:21.679 --> 00:09:23.360 And I love the names in here. 00:09:23.440 --> 00:09:29.600 If I mispronounce them and you know that I've mispronounced them, you're way too far beyond where I need to be. 00:09:29.840 --> 00:09:34.639 So in verse one, after Ehud, I love that name. 00:09:34.720 --> 00:09:37.600 I'm thinking if I have another child, I'm naming him Ehud. 00:09:38.799 --> 00:09:45.120 After Ehud died, the Israelites once again did evil in the eyes of the Lord. 00:09:45.440 --> 00:09:47.200 Basically, evil in the eyes of the Lord. 00:09:47.279 --> 00:10:02.159 So they straight away, they started literally saying, you know what, we're comfortable with God, but you know what, there's some other gods, and you know what, we're gonna follow these other gods too, and everything's okay, and everything's evil, everything's okay, everything's good and evil, there's no right, there's no wrong, and they just drifted away. 00:10:02.399 --> 00:10:04.480 And that was evil in the eyes of God. 00:10:04.720 --> 00:10:06.480 And then skip down to verse 3. 00:10:06.559 --> 00:10:11.519 So here's what happens they're just totally left to themselves. 00:10:11.759 --> 00:10:26.879 Because he had, and and they're left to be in captivity, because he had 900 iron chariots and had cruelly oppressed the Israelites for 20 years, they cried out to the Lord for help. 00:10:27.279 --> 00:10:36.000 Now, I don't know what causes you to cry out to God, but every one of us have a decision to make. 00:10:36.320 --> 00:10:41.759 God, am I gonna sit and am I going to define what is good, bad, otherwise in life? 00:10:42.000 --> 00:10:46.960 Or am I gonna start getting honest with myself and say, God, I don't know. 00:10:47.919 --> 00:10:55.759 I don't know the best for this life, I don't know what's best for my life, I don't know, but I know where I am is not where I want to be. 00:10:56.320 --> 00:11:00.480 And then we face the reality that there's a lot of odds against us. 00:11:00.639 --> 00:11:03.840 In these guys' case, it was 900 iron chariots. 00:11:04.000 --> 00:11:12.000 If you want to put it in modern terms, these guys had 900 stealth fighters, and we got bows and arrows, and that's just really not gonna work. 00:11:12.320 --> 00:11:13.759 So they are oppressed. 00:11:14.000 --> 00:11:15.039 So they make a decision. 00:11:15.120 --> 00:11:15.600 You know what? 00:11:15.679 --> 00:11:21.440 We're to the point where I need to see the dangerous good God move. 00:11:21.759 --> 00:11:23.200 I need to see it. 00:11:23.440 --> 00:11:28.559 And that decision is to say, I'm gonna decide to commit to God. 00:11:28.879 --> 00:11:30.559 I'm gonna commit to God. 00:11:30.799 --> 00:11:34.399 But we've got to understand a couple simple foundational pieces. 00:11:34.639 --> 00:11:41.120 In Matthew chapter 22, verses 37 and 39, it's a very foundational piece. 00:11:41.200 --> 00:11:42.320 What does it mean to commit to God? 00:11:42.480 --> 00:11:48.000 Well, love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and love your neighbors yourself. 00:11:48.159 --> 00:11:49.039 That's the foundation. 00:11:49.200 --> 00:11:50.480 Jesus wrapped it up. 00:11:50.720 --> 00:11:55.840 See, because in our world, Jesus also said, Hey, in this world, they hate me. 00:11:56.480 --> 00:11:57.840 They hate me. 00:11:58.080 --> 00:12:01.120 And they're gonna hate you when you make that decision. 00:12:01.440 --> 00:12:02.639 Be ready for it. 00:12:02.879 --> 00:12:06.000 What they're gonna say is they're gonna, well, you you're you're terrible. 00:12:06.159 --> 00:12:06.720 We hate you. 00:12:06.799 --> 00:12:07.679 And he's like, you know what? 00:12:07.759 --> 00:12:08.960 All I've done is love. 00:12:09.200 --> 00:12:10.240 All I've done is love. 00:12:10.320 --> 00:12:14.000 And and in our society, we'll say, well, well, you define love your way, I'll define it my way. 00:12:14.159 --> 00:12:15.840 No, no, I don't define love at all. 00:12:16.000 --> 00:12:17.679 I let God define love. 00:12:18.000 --> 00:12:25.519 And if we will gently, respectfully, lovingly say, hey, I trust this book because it's God's word. 00:12:25.679 --> 00:12:28.480 I'm gonna trust him over me and what I feel and think. 00:12:28.639 --> 00:12:33.360 I'm completely, I've decided to commit to God, not what I am. 00:12:33.759 --> 00:12:38.960 Realize that when we do that, it's gonna be met with opposition. 00:12:39.360 --> 00:12:44.000 I was at my grandmother's funeral, my grandmother's funeral. 00:12:44.240 --> 00:12:45.600 And my uncle at the time. 00:12:45.759 --> 00:12:48.320 I'll call him Dale, because that was his name. 00:12:48.480 --> 00:12:53.679 And Dale, Dale said, Hey, can I talk to you? 00:12:53.840 --> 00:12:55.919 And this has been a few years ago. 00:12:56.159 --> 00:12:56.960 I said, sure. 00:12:57.120 --> 00:12:58.159 He says, Can we go for a walk? 00:12:58.240 --> 00:13:05.039 I'm like, yes, we're at kind of the, I guess what's known as the wake, where we're there, the funeral's the next day, and there's a lot of food and family. 00:13:05.200 --> 00:13:08.639 I'm having a actually just really loving getting to see my relatives. 00:13:08.720 --> 00:13:11.120 They're all from Montana and we're this little small town up there. 00:13:11.360 --> 00:13:12.480 My uncle, we start walking. 00:13:12.559 --> 00:13:13.679 I said, How are you guys doing? 00:13:13.759 --> 00:13:14.639 It's so great to see you. 00:13:14.720 --> 00:13:15.519 And he goes, Yeah. 00:13:15.679 --> 00:13:17.759 He says, Why do you hate us? 00:13:19.600 --> 00:13:20.240 What? 00:13:21.039 --> 00:13:22.240 What do I what? 00:13:22.559 --> 00:13:24.399 He goes, Why do you hate us? 00:13:24.720 --> 00:13:28.720 I'm like, I said, Uncle Dale, I am so sorry. 00:13:29.360 --> 00:13:31.759 Why do you think I hate you? 00:13:32.159 --> 00:13:33.279 I don't hate you. 00:13:33.440 --> 00:13:34.639 I love you guys. 00:13:34.879 --> 00:13:36.720 And he goes, No, no, no, I guess not. 00:13:36.799 --> 00:13:40.960 Why do you hate uh me, but why do you hate us? 00:13:41.679 --> 00:13:45.039 I'm like, Dale, I'm sorry, I'm not following you here. 00:13:45.519 --> 00:13:46.240 Help me out. 00:13:46.320 --> 00:13:49.840 He goes, why do Protestants hate Mormons? 00:13:50.960 --> 00:13:51.600 Wow. 00:13:53.360 --> 00:13:53.679 Okay. 00:13:55.759 --> 00:13:58.559 So that is the core. 00:13:58.720 --> 00:13:59.919 Why do you hate us? 00:14:00.080 --> 00:14:04.720 And I said, Dale, I I don't hate anybody at all. 00:14:04.879 --> 00:14:10.399 And he just started in this litany of, well, we believe this and this and this, we believe only this, and we believe that. 00:14:10.480 --> 00:14:11.440 And he just goes off in this litany. 00:14:11.600 --> 00:14:15.840 I said, Dale, Dale, I'm not, I'm not your debater. 00:14:16.799 --> 00:14:17.759 I love you. 00:14:18.320 --> 00:14:21.360 And and I love my whole family. 00:14:21.679 --> 00:14:26.399 And I know God is very simple and clear, or I wouldn't be able to figure it out. 00:14:26.639 --> 00:14:29.039 I said, Dale, I believe the Bible. 00:14:29.360 --> 00:14:30.799 We believe that too, but we only believe this. 00:14:31.600 --> 00:14:32.000 It just went off. 00:14:32.240 --> 00:14:34.080 I'm like, okay, okay, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. 00:14:34.399 --> 00:14:35.360 Stop arguing. 00:14:35.600 --> 00:14:36.960 That's not my part. 00:14:37.279 --> 00:14:38.240 Here's my deal. 00:14:38.399 --> 00:14:40.159 I'm committed to this. 00:14:40.639 --> 00:14:42.080 I know it's true. 00:14:42.399 --> 00:14:45.440 I don't know it all, but I know it's true. 00:14:45.759 --> 00:14:51.759 And I know enough to know that God said, This is my word, and it's applicable for everything, and this is what I trust. 00:14:51.919 --> 00:14:52.720 You can applaud that. 00:14:52.799 --> 00:14:54.000 That's awesome. 00:14:58.240 --> 00:15:01.519 And he said, Yeah, but, and then he goes into another litany. 00:15:01.600 --> 00:15:04.960 And I said, Dale, I'm I'm not gonna argue with you. 00:15:05.200 --> 00:15:06.480 That's not my part. 00:15:06.639 --> 00:15:08.080 I said, Here's what I know. 00:15:08.320 --> 00:15:21.919 I know that if you will stand with this word and you'll say, God, show me your truth, and you ask questions and you seek his answers in this book, he says very clearly in Matthew, if you seek, you will find. 00:15:22.080 --> 00:15:24.000 If you ask, it will be answered. 00:15:24.080 --> 00:15:25.919 And if you knock, I will open the door. 00:15:26.080 --> 00:15:27.519 That's what he promises. 00:15:27.919 --> 00:15:36.720 And what we have to realize as believers, ours is not the job to convict people or convince people. 00:15:37.039 --> 00:15:38.080 That is not our job. 00:15:38.240 --> 00:15:43.600 And if I want to see God move in this amazing way, I have to step back and go, that's not my part. 00:15:43.759 --> 00:15:44.399 My part? 00:15:44.639 --> 00:15:47.519 Love God with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength. 00:15:47.679 --> 00:15:48.480 That's my job. 00:15:48.559 --> 00:15:49.279 That's what I do. 00:15:49.440 --> 00:15:55.360 And as I seek and love Him, then I love my neighbors as He loves me and loves them. 00:15:55.519 --> 00:15:56.799 He's gonna love them through me. 00:15:56.960 --> 00:15:57.440 I love this. 00:15:57.519 --> 00:16:01.519 He says, because if I love God with all, then how do I have anything left to love my neighbors? 00:16:01.679 --> 00:16:06.720 Unless loving them is part of loving God and loving them the way He sets it up. 00:16:06.960 --> 00:16:10.159 And people will go, well, you your love is your love is hate. 00:16:10.240 --> 00:16:11.519 You don't love because you hate. 00:16:11.600 --> 00:16:13.919 And I'm like, no, I love the way God says to love. 00:16:14.000 --> 00:16:14.960 Well, that's your definition. 00:16:15.039 --> 00:16:16.879 I'm like, no, that's God's definition. 00:16:16.960 --> 00:16:18.559 And I'm not here to argue I'm here to love. 00:16:18.879 --> 00:16:19.279 What do I do? 00:16:19.360 --> 00:16:22.879 And it becomes this reality that it's something more. 00:16:23.120 --> 00:16:25.039 Our first decision is to commit to God. 00:16:25.120 --> 00:16:27.600 Our second is to commit to one another. 00:16:27.919 --> 00:16:29.120 Commit to one another. 00:16:29.279 --> 00:16:34.320 Look at this wonderful part in chapter four of Judges. 00:16:34.639 --> 00:16:35.840 And here's what's happened. 00:16:35.919 --> 00:16:38.879 Deborah says, hey, God has shown me what's going to happen. 00:16:39.039 --> 00:16:40.320 You're going to lead the armies. 00:16:40.399 --> 00:16:42.320 I'm going to draw the 900 chariots. 00:16:42.399 --> 00:16:47.759 God's going to do something crazy with water and clouds, and it's going to be amazing, and you're going to take them out. 00:16:47.840 --> 00:16:48.960 So she calls Barak. 00:16:49.279 --> 00:16:52.799 Barak is the head of it all, and he goes, No. 00:16:53.200 --> 00:16:54.399 She goes, What do you mean, no? 00:16:54.480 --> 00:16:55.360 Here's the way it's going to work. 00:16:55.600 --> 00:16:59.279 He goes, No, I'm not going to do that unless you go with me. 00:17:00.000 --> 00:17:02.960 And see, here's the real key. 00:17:03.519 --> 00:17:06.799 The decision we have to make is to commit to one another. 00:17:07.119 --> 00:17:08.720 Commit to one another in the process. 00:17:08.799 --> 00:17:11.519 Look at verses 8 through 10. 00:17:11.759 --> 00:17:20.640 And if you're a studier of the verse, of the word, I want to encourage you, underline the word with every place that appears in these next three verses. 00:17:20.960 --> 00:17:25.359 Barak said to her, If you go with me, I will go. 00:17:25.519 --> 00:17:28.880 But if you do not go with me, I won't go. 00:17:29.200 --> 00:17:32.880 Deborah says, Very well, I will go with you. 00:17:33.119 --> 00:17:41.200 But because of the way you are going about this, the honor will not be yours, for the Lord will hand Sisera over to a woman. 00:17:41.440 --> 00:17:49.599 So the Deborah went with Barak to Kedesh, where he summoned Zebelon and Naphtili. 00:17:50.240 --> 00:17:54.640 Ten thousand men followed him, and Deborah also went with them. 00:17:55.279 --> 00:18:00.319 If we want to see God move in this dangerous out-of-the-box way, we have to do it together. 00:18:00.480 --> 00:18:02.880 We have to commit to one another. 00:18:03.119 --> 00:18:14.640 Now I want to take this concept of with, and I want to put it through the grid of the decisions that we talked about at the beginning, except for the college football part, that's just for fun. 00:18:15.039 --> 00:18:19.759 And see how God would have us do with one another. 00:18:20.799 --> 00:18:30.720 I've learned this in my age, and I think it's where the gray hair has come from, that I do not react to news very often. 00:18:31.039 --> 00:18:37.200 I take it in and I put it through the filter of truth and love and God, what's really happening? 00:18:37.359 --> 00:18:38.559 What are the facts? 00:18:38.880 --> 00:18:42.559 And then I respond to whatever that is. 00:18:42.880 --> 00:18:47.440 And as I thought through this, I thought, you know what, committing to one another, Lord, what does that look like? 00:18:47.599 --> 00:18:50.240 Because if we take the news, here's where our societies come. 00:18:50.400 --> 00:18:58.960 I'm going to take a bunch of sound bites, I'm going to decide what's right and wrong, demand a verdict for whatever it is based on a few sound bites with none of the facts. 00:18:59.200 --> 00:19:02.240 And that's the way our society functions now. 00:19:02.480 --> 00:19:10.319 Several weeks ago, the hot topic, the crazy topic in our world was the Chick-fil-A statement. 00:19:10.559 --> 00:19:16.319 The statement of Chick-fil-A, and there was this great divide that just happened. 00:19:16.720 --> 00:19:20.400 And I sat back and I watched, I went, what is that? 00:19:20.880 --> 00:19:24.400 And some of you may even think, you know what, I was on this side or the other. 00:19:24.480 --> 00:19:25.599 And that's not my point. 00:19:25.680 --> 00:19:37.519 The point is, how do we, if I want to see God move in an outside the box way and experience God moving, it's not to take a side, it's to say, okay, God, am I committed to you completely? 00:19:37.599 --> 00:19:39.920 And am I committed to others? 00:19:40.240 --> 00:19:42.880 So I sat there and I went, Lord, help me see this. 00:19:42.960 --> 00:19:53.039 And I'm gathering this information in, and the radio comes on, it's Sport Chick-fil-A day, and it's the gay sit-in day, and then it's just all this stuff swirling around, and I saw a lot of stuff. 00:19:53.279 --> 00:19:54.960 And I saw a lot of good. 00:19:55.039 --> 00:20:00.880 And at the same time, I saw a lot of, Lord, what would you have, what would you do in this? 00:20:01.039 --> 00:20:04.720 And I love the way that uh our lead pastor Steve talks about it. 00:20:04.880 --> 00:20:05.680 He says, you know what? 00:20:05.759 --> 00:20:08.880 Uh his hands is where would Jesus go to church if he were there? 00:20:08.960 --> 00:20:12.079 Well, that's the type of church we want to have, and and I love that. 00:20:12.240 --> 00:20:14.640 So I sat there with that in my mind. 00:20:14.880 --> 00:20:15.680 What would I do? 00:20:15.839 --> 00:20:24.880 And I watched cars line up around the block, and I and I saw believers stand up and go, you know what, the guy, we're to support the family too, and we want to support the family. 00:20:24.960 --> 00:20:27.039 And I'm like, well, there's nothing wrong with supporting the family. 00:20:27.119 --> 00:20:28.799 That's that seems pretty good. 00:20:28.960 --> 00:20:30.079 Support the family. 00:20:30.319 --> 00:20:37.759 And then you see these protesters, and they the media takes this and blows it all out and starts going, and they never really look at everything. 00:20:37.839 --> 00:20:40.799 They don't report, they're creating the controversy, and boy, they did. 00:20:41.039 --> 00:20:43.200 Let me share a couple facts with you. 00:20:44.160 --> 00:20:49.759 There was an interview done through the Baptist press with Dan Cathy. 00:20:49.839 --> 00:20:52.319 I've actually met Dan Cathy on a couple occasions. 00:20:52.559 --> 00:20:57.200 I don't know him very well, but I the guy seems like he's got a great heart. 00:20:57.440 --> 00:21:04.400 And in this interview in the Baptist press, which is not USA today, there's not a lot of people reading this. 00:21:04.640 --> 00:21:06.559 And it was done in June. 00:21:07.920 --> 00:21:09.519 And it was several weeks. 00:21:09.759 --> 00:21:11.680 And he's asked about Chick-fil-A. 00:21:11.920 --> 00:21:12.400 What do you know? 00:21:12.480 --> 00:21:15.279 The president of Chick-fil-A being interviewed about Chick-fil-A. 00:21:16.000 --> 00:21:20.720 And as they interviewed them, they said, Hey, you guys support the Windshape Center up at Barrie College? 00:21:20.799 --> 00:21:21.599 Yes, we do. 00:21:21.839 --> 00:21:23.839 Well, don't they have some marriage conferences there? 00:21:24.000 --> 00:21:24.640 Yes, they do. 00:21:24.720 --> 00:21:28.000 We believe in supporting and encouraging marriage and the family. 00:21:28.160 --> 00:21:28.720 Really? 00:21:28.960 --> 00:21:32.000 Well, what do you think about the controversy of people saying that that may not be? 00:21:32.160 --> 00:21:33.920 Is well, you know, we're guilty as charged. 00:21:34.000 --> 00:21:35.920 Let me read the actual statement. 00:21:36.960 --> 00:21:40.079 He's asked about the Windshape and these marriage conferences there. 00:21:40.400 --> 00:21:43.599 He says, some have opposed the company's supported traditional family. 00:21:43.680 --> 00:21:48.160 He says, Well, guilty is charged, said Kathy when asked about the company's position. 00:21:48.559 --> 00:21:54.559 We are very much supportive of the family, the biblical definition of the family unit. 00:21:54.720 --> 00:21:57.680 We are a family owned business, a family led business. 00:21:57.759 --> 00:21:59.279 We are married to our first wives. 00:21:59.359 --> 00:22:01.119 We give God, thanks for that. 00:22:01.279 --> 00:22:03.279 We operate as a family business. 00:22:03.440 --> 00:22:06.079 Our restaurants are typically led by families. 00:22:06.400 --> 00:22:07.519 Some are single. 00:22:07.680 --> 00:22:10.880 And then listen to this crazy, hateful statement. 00:22:11.200 --> 00:22:15.039 We want to do anything we possibly can to strengthen the family. 00:22:15.759 --> 00:22:19.759 We are very much committed to that, Kathy emphasized. 00:22:19.920 --> 00:22:22.000 We intend to stay the course. 00:22:22.240 --> 00:22:24.000 That's his statement. 00:22:24.400 --> 00:22:31.359 Now, my heart went out thinking, wow, that's what's wrong with supporting the family? 00:22:31.759 --> 00:22:36.720 And as I prayed and thought through that, I thought, Lord, what does this mean to love my neighbor as myself? 00:22:36.960 --> 00:22:40.640 Well, I live in a neighborhood very diverse. 00:22:40.960 --> 00:22:46.079 Over 14 countries and cultures live in the little 70-home neighborhood I live in. 00:22:46.319 --> 00:22:48.079 We have gay neighbors. 00:22:48.960 --> 00:22:50.000 That's my real neighbors. 00:22:50.240 --> 00:22:52.240 I thought, Lord, what how did they take this? 00:22:52.480 --> 00:23:01.359 And then when I saw the response of some of those in the gay and lesbian community, I thought, Lord, why did this hit them so painfully? 00:23:02.160 --> 00:23:03.039 One of two things. 00:23:03.200 --> 00:23:10.319 Either the the press did not report what was actually said, or they created the controversy, okay, I can see that, or maybe it was that. 00:23:10.480 --> 00:23:12.799 And my heart went twofold. 00:23:12.960 --> 00:23:19.599 One, I want to support the guys who support the family, but at the second, my desire was to go to Chick-fil-A on a Friday. 00:23:19.839 --> 00:23:20.799 And I did. 00:23:21.279 --> 00:23:32.160 And there were not any gay and lesbians protesting at the Chick-fil-A that is by my house, but I wanted to go in and I wanted to sit down and wanted to go, I'm sorry. 00:23:32.880 --> 00:23:38.640 For whatever it brought up this hurt and pain to you. 00:23:39.359 --> 00:23:41.279 Can I just say I'm sorry? 00:23:41.759 --> 00:23:45.039 Because there's something there that's painful. 00:23:45.759 --> 00:23:49.119 And I wanted to ask them a simple question. 00:23:50.079 --> 00:23:53.119 I don't want to offend you, so help me. 00:23:53.519 --> 00:23:55.279 I do love my wife. 00:23:55.519 --> 00:23:57.200 I do love my kids. 00:23:57.519 --> 00:23:59.519 I do see the strength of our family. 00:23:59.599 --> 00:24:05.359 And I do see those who have had that experience of being broken from a family and wanting that. 00:24:06.000 --> 00:24:11.759 But how can I share that in a way that does not strike up this pain for you? 00:24:12.160 --> 00:24:14.079 I'm not going to change my commitments. 00:24:14.240 --> 00:24:22.240 I'm not going to change how God lays on my love, but I want, tell me how I can how I can share that in a way that's not offensive to you. 00:24:22.480 --> 00:24:30.000 See, because it's not about developing policy, it's about people and loving individuals. 00:24:30.160 --> 00:24:34.960 And I thought, Lord, how can I do that in a way that encourages these? 00:24:35.200 --> 00:24:37.039 Because I want to be that one. 00:24:37.279 --> 00:24:38.799 See, it's about with. 00:24:39.440 --> 00:24:42.079 And my job is not to convict or convince. 00:24:42.240 --> 00:24:43.680 My job is to love. 00:24:43.920 --> 00:24:45.200 Because here's what I know. 00:24:45.440 --> 00:24:56.720 I know that if I will walk alongside someone who is hurting for whatever reason, and I will show them the healer, that God really does heal. 00:24:56.960 --> 00:25:04.559 And he really does reveal in my life, in your life, in everybody's life, anything that is hurting us, period. 00:25:04.799 --> 00:25:06.960 But I'm going to let God do that with you. 00:25:07.200 --> 00:25:08.640 And I'm going to let God do that with me. 00:25:08.720 --> 00:25:11.519 If we'll hold it with an open hand, I love this. 00:25:12.079 --> 00:25:16.640 When I first became a Christian, I sat under a gentleman, and I love the way he'd put it. 00:25:16.720 --> 00:25:19.440 He says, so many people are hung up on, like, well, you know what? 00:25:19.599 --> 00:25:25.839