WEBVTT 00:00:02.540 --> 00:00:08.060 Let me get settled here. My name is Eric. I'm 00:00:08.060 --> 00:00:10.320 a member of the House Church here. I want to 00:00:10.320 --> 00:00:15.679 thank you guys for coming. Just want to say something 00:00:15.679 --> 00:00:22.359 real quick. I want to run. I want to hide. I 00:00:22.359 --> 00:00:25.000 want to tear down the walls that hold me inside. 00:00:25.780 --> 00:00:29.620 I want to reach out and touch the flame where 00:00:29.620 --> 00:00:34.179 the streets have no name. These lyrics come from 00:00:34.179 --> 00:00:38.020 a song that was quite popular back in 1987, nearly 00:00:38.020 --> 00:00:41.420 40 years ago, that I still remember. There are 00:00:41.420 --> 00:00:43.179 many songs I have learned over the years that 00:00:43.179 --> 00:00:46.179 I can still recite as my brain has perhaps an 00:00:46.179 --> 00:00:48.939 uncanny ability to remember words and rhythms 00:00:48.939 --> 00:00:52.679 that have meaning to me, whether it's rap, rock, 00:00:53.039 --> 00:00:55.899 alternative, pop, or R &B, a playlist of the 00:00:55.899 --> 00:00:59.520 best songs of the 1980s and 90s are on a loop 00:00:59.520 --> 00:01:02.840 in my head. I wish I had this ability with other 00:01:02.840 --> 00:01:04.939 things over the years, like math and people's 00:01:04.939 --> 00:01:11.280 names. But song lyrics, I got them all. I ask 00:01:11.280 --> 00:01:13.180 that the two minutes for one question be centered 00:01:13.180 --> 00:01:16.900 on music, because music offers a great pathway 00:01:16.900 --> 00:01:20.640 towards remembering profound words. If a song 00:01:20.640 --> 00:01:23.219 is catchy and has a neat beat, then potentially 00:01:23.219 --> 00:01:25.859 it could remain in your head forever. Here's 00:01:25.859 --> 00:01:30.329 an example. If you went to high school like me 00:01:30.329 --> 00:01:33.390 in the 80s, that means that you might have watched 00:01:33.390 --> 00:01:36.329 cartoons in the morning on Saturdays during the 00:01:36.329 --> 00:01:41.170 1970s. So if you did that, you might remember 00:01:41.170 --> 00:01:44.870 this one. And by all means, join in if you'd 00:01:44.870 --> 00:01:52.150 like. We the people in order to form a more perfect 00:01:52.150 --> 00:01:57.150 union establish justice and ensure domestic tranquility 00:01:57.150 --> 00:02:02.909 boom boom boom Provide for the common defense 00:02:02.909 --> 00:02:07.430 promote the general welfare and secure the blessings 00:02:07.430 --> 00:02:12.080 of our liberty to ourselves and our posterity 00:02:12.080 --> 00:02:19.120 do ordain and establish this Constitution for 00:02:19.120 --> 00:02:24.460 the United States of America. Schoolhouse Rock, 00:02:24.620 --> 00:02:30.159 thank you very much. The only reason I know that 00:02:30.159 --> 00:02:33.639 is because of that song said to me over and over 00:02:33.639 --> 00:02:37.460 again on a loop since probably 1973. So yes, 00:02:37.460 --> 00:02:41.960 I just dated myself. Beyond the catchiness of 00:02:41.960 --> 00:02:48.539 tunes, many songs resonate with us because of 00:02:48.539 --> 00:02:50.780 the themes they are based upon that fit with 00:02:50.780 --> 00:02:54.020 our general emotions and experiences. In rock 00:02:54.020 --> 00:02:56.719 and roll, with traditionally fast -paced and 00:02:56.719 --> 00:02:59.259 electric sounds, often the themes are centered 00:02:59.259 --> 00:03:03.120 on rebellion and seeking adventure. If you are 00:03:03.120 --> 00:03:05.240 interested, and that fits well with the young, 00:03:05.280 --> 00:03:07.560 and if you're interested in country music, the 00:03:07.560 --> 00:03:11.000 themes are often centered on patriotism, relationships, 00:03:11.419 --> 00:03:13.879 and having good times with your friends. If you 00:03:13.879 --> 00:03:16.400 like rap music, the themes focus on the hardness 00:03:16.400 --> 00:03:19.719 of life, the challenges people of urban areas 00:03:19.719 --> 00:03:22.680 face on a daily basis. And if you like pop, that's 00:03:22.680 --> 00:03:26.759 just fun all around. Music is not the only pathway, 00:03:26.819 --> 00:03:30.090 however, to remembering words. those that many 00:03:30.090 --> 00:03:32.330 of us will be able to recall again years later. 00:03:32.810 --> 00:03:35.409 Movies have a great ability to etch into our 00:03:35.409 --> 00:03:39.030 consciousness phrases and sayings that indelibly 00:03:39.030 --> 00:03:41.849 will remain in our memories. Here's another opportunity 00:03:41.849 --> 00:03:43.689 for you guys to participate in today's sermon. 00:03:44.189 --> 00:03:47.050 I will say the line from the movie and then you 00:03:47.050 --> 00:03:51.229 say the movie. Life is like a box of chocolates. 00:03:51.430 --> 00:03:55.689 You never know what you're gonna get. You're 00:03:55.689 --> 00:04:01.520 gonna need a bigger boat. Thank you. One last 00:04:01.520 --> 00:04:04.599 example regarding the significance of words and 00:04:04.599 --> 00:04:06.680 another genre in which it hails are the great 00:04:06.680 --> 00:04:09.159 speeches made throughout history that have shaped 00:04:09.159 --> 00:04:12.120 our society. Abraham Lincoln's Four Score and 00:04:12.120 --> 00:04:14.659 Seven Years Ago, Martin Luther King's I Have 00:04:14.659 --> 00:04:17.740 a Dream, Neil Armstrong's One Small Step for 00:04:17.740 --> 00:04:21.060 Man, One Giant Leap for Mankind, and Alan Iverson's 00:04:21.060 --> 00:04:24.540 We Talkin' About Practice? If you don't know 00:04:24.540 --> 00:04:28.100 Alan Iverson's rant, about practice, it is epic. 00:04:28.279 --> 00:04:32.660 Please look it up. Thank you for joining us today, 00:04:32.660 --> 00:04:35.300 and thank you for allowing me to have an opportunity 00:04:35.300 --> 00:04:38.860 to speak before you. Today's focus is on the 00:04:38.860 --> 00:04:42.699 power of words. For the last two months, we have 00:04:42.699 --> 00:04:45.019 heard sermons focusing on the book of Matthew, 00:04:45.579 --> 00:04:47.319 which is the first gospel of the New Testament. 00:04:48.040 --> 00:04:50.959 Matthew, also known as Levi, was a tax collector 00:04:50.959 --> 00:04:54.050 in the city of Carpanum. Task collectors in those 00:04:54.050 --> 00:04:56.569 times were often despised because many had garnered 00:04:56.569 --> 00:04:59.209 reputations as traitors to their people for collecting 00:04:59.209 --> 00:05:01.829 money for the hated Roman Empire But also seen 00:05:01.829 --> 00:05:04.189 as hopeless sinners for extorting money for their 00:05:04.189 --> 00:05:07.569 own personal gain Matthew and his behaviors are 00:05:07.569 --> 00:05:10.310 redeemed by Jesus in chapter 9 verses 9 verse 00:05:10.310 --> 00:05:12.990 9 after Jesus and his disciples had just come 00:05:12.990 --> 00:05:15.529 from healing a paralyzed man I would like to 00:05:15.529 --> 00:05:18.029 read to you the moment when Matthew meets Jesus 00:05:18.029 --> 00:05:20.639 and often when we read From the Bible here at 00:05:20.639 --> 00:05:23.860 the church, we invite you to stand if you are 00:05:23.860 --> 00:05:31.660 able and willing. As Jesus went on from here, 00:05:32.519 --> 00:05:34.300 as Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named 00:05:34.300 --> 00:05:36.660 Matthew sitting at the tax collector's booth. 00:05:37.459 --> 00:05:39.899 Follow me, he told him, and Matthew got up and 00:05:39.899 --> 00:05:42.339 followed him. While Jesus was having dinner at 00:05:42.339 --> 00:05:44.819 Matthew's house, many tax collectors and sinners 00:05:44.819 --> 00:05:47.660 came and ate with him and his disciples. When 00:05:47.660 --> 00:05:49.680 the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, 00:05:50.279 --> 00:05:52.319 why does your teacher eat with tax collectors 00:05:52.319 --> 00:05:55.620 and sinners? On hearing this, Jesus said, it 00:05:55.620 --> 00:05:58.019 is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the 00:05:58.019 --> 00:06:01.620 sick. But go and learn what this means. I desire 00:06:01.620 --> 00:06:05.040 mercy, not sacrifice, for I have not come to 00:06:05.040 --> 00:06:08.139 call the righteous, but sinners. You may be seated. 00:06:12.600 --> 00:06:15.699 Most of us will never stand on a podium in front 00:06:15.699 --> 00:06:18.750 of 100 ,000 people. or deliver a classic line 00:06:18.750 --> 00:06:21.430 in a movie, or write a song to be remembered 00:06:21.430 --> 00:06:25.689 by millions. But all of us has had and will have 00:06:25.689 --> 00:06:28.750 an opportunity to have our words impact someone 00:06:28.750 --> 00:06:32.790 close to us, for the good and for the not so. 00:06:34.009 --> 00:06:36.610 The ability to speak, to use words, perhaps is 00:06:36.610 --> 00:06:39.290 the greatest of all skills. And why are words 00:06:39.290 --> 00:06:42.209 so important, so powerful? Because they remain 00:06:42.209 --> 00:06:46.000 forever. Our minds, our bodies, even the memories 00:06:46.000 --> 00:06:49.040 of it all will all fade to dust, but perhaps 00:06:49.040 --> 00:06:52.860 not our words. Words have created societies. 00:06:53.459 --> 00:06:56.040 Words have become mottos to follow. Words have 00:06:56.040 --> 00:06:58.220 inspired the people of the world to act in one 00:06:58.220 --> 00:07:01.959 way or another for the good and for the not so. 00:07:02.959 --> 00:07:05.759 Proof of this is easy to witness. All we have 00:07:05.759 --> 00:07:07.980 to do is tell someone we love them and then look 00:07:07.980 --> 00:07:10.160 at their face and see the joy we've created, 00:07:10.620 --> 00:07:13.480 no matter how minute the expression. And the 00:07:13.480 --> 00:07:16.500 opposite of joy, which is pain, can also be witnessed 00:07:16.500 --> 00:07:18.980 equally when we say something close to us hating 00:07:18.980 --> 00:07:24.339 them. Again, for the good, for the not so. What 00:07:24.339 --> 00:07:26.600 matters often when determining the words to use 00:07:26.600 --> 00:07:28.819 in any given situation, that is before we open 00:07:28.819 --> 00:07:33.000 our mouths, is who we are prior to. What I'm 00:07:33.000 --> 00:07:35.500 saying is, what is it that has taken place in 00:07:35.500 --> 00:07:38.379 our lives to cause us to believe what we believe 00:07:38.379 --> 00:07:42.079 and know what we know that causes us to say? 00:07:42.220 --> 00:07:47.680 what we say. In Matthew chapter 12, verses 33 00:07:47.680 --> 00:07:50.959 through 37, we see Jesus admonishing those who 00:07:50.959 --> 00:07:54.139 would use their words to harm others. It goes, 00:07:54.879 --> 00:07:57.120 make a tree good and its fruit will be good. 00:07:57.600 --> 00:08:00.420 Make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad for 00:08:00.420 --> 00:08:03.500 a tree is recognized by its fruit. You brood 00:08:03.500 --> 00:08:06.660 of vipers. How can you who are evil say anything 00:08:06.660 --> 00:08:09.819 good for the mouth speaks what the heart is full 00:08:09.819 --> 00:08:12.870 of. A good man brings good things out of the 00:08:12.870 --> 00:08:16.110 good stored up in him, and an evil man brings 00:08:16.110 --> 00:08:18.329 evil things out of the evil stored up in him. 00:08:18.949 --> 00:08:21.610 But I tell you that everyone will have to give 00:08:21.610 --> 00:08:24.029 account on the day of judgment for every empty 00:08:24.029 --> 00:08:26.509 word they have spoken, for by your words you 00:08:26.509 --> 00:08:29.410 will be acquitted, and by your words you will 00:08:29.410 --> 00:08:33.769 be condemned. None of us can help where we were 00:08:33.769 --> 00:08:37.259 born or who we were born to. None of us can help 00:08:37.259 --> 00:08:39.980 the beauty we are given, the height we are bestowed, 00:08:40.320 --> 00:08:42.639 the intellect we are granted, or the skin tone 00:08:42.639 --> 00:08:45.639 we are provided. Our first few years are shaped 00:08:45.639 --> 00:08:48.159 by the society that surrounds us and is view 00:08:48.159 --> 00:08:51.679 of us by our given attributes. Here's an example. 00:08:52.720 --> 00:08:55.159 Throughout the history of the world, left -handed 00:08:55.159 --> 00:08:58.179 people have had tremendous disadvantages. Any 00:08:58.179 --> 00:09:02.259 lefties in the house? Left -handedness was once 00:09:02.259 --> 00:09:05.279 considered evil or at least unfortunate. and 00:09:05.279 --> 00:09:07.580 those with dominance on their left considered 00:09:07.580 --> 00:09:11.580 unintelligent, weak, and malicious. Many over 00:09:11.580 --> 00:09:13.519 the millennia have been forced to either use 00:09:13.519 --> 00:09:16.700 their right hands in every situation or experience 00:09:16.700 --> 00:09:19.679 difficulty with everyday tasks such as writing 00:09:19.679 --> 00:09:22.840 on school desks or holding simple household items 00:09:22.840 --> 00:09:27.240 like computer mouses, scissors, knives, and power 00:09:27.240 --> 00:09:30.960 tools. This society's view of lefties, which 00:09:30.960 --> 00:09:33.480 they have not brought upon themselves. And I 00:09:33.480 --> 00:09:38.139 say they because I am right handed. The difficulties 00:09:38.139 --> 00:09:40.600 we endure or the easiness we experience based 00:09:40.600 --> 00:09:43.860 purely on our God given attributes relating to 00:09:43.860 --> 00:09:46.379 whatever societal preferences exists can cause 00:09:46.379 --> 00:09:49.279 us to believe what we believe that in turn cause 00:09:49.279 --> 00:09:53.220 us to say what we say. Some of us are born into 00:09:53.220 --> 00:09:56.360 families that are poor or wealthy, Democrat or 00:09:56.360 --> 00:09:59.639 Republican, professional or blue collar, educated 00:09:59.639 --> 00:10:03.669 or non. black, white, Latino, or Asian, rural 00:10:03.669 --> 00:10:07.490 or urban. Be not disheartened with any of those, 00:10:07.990 --> 00:10:10.490 however, by any failings or negative emotions 00:10:10.490 --> 00:10:13.429 based upon how you started in this world. Your 00:10:13.429 --> 00:10:16.230 pain is not your fault. It was given to you. 00:10:17.110 --> 00:10:20.789 However, what we fill ourselves with after those 00:10:20.789 --> 00:10:23.409 younger years and after those societal bruises 00:10:23.409 --> 00:10:27.309 and decorations is by choice. and how we use 00:10:27.309 --> 00:10:29.570 our findings might determine what God's view 00:10:29.570 --> 00:10:34.210 of our lives will be. So, what is it that we 00:10:34.210 --> 00:10:37.330 fill ourselves with? Who is it that we read? 00:10:38.370 --> 00:10:41.610 Who is it that we listen to and follow? And what 00:10:41.610 --> 00:10:44.350 actions do we exhibit regularly for the known 00:10:44.350 --> 00:10:46.870 adage, actions speak louder than words, gives 00:10:46.870 --> 00:10:51.110 the best evidence of what we truly believe. Though 00:10:51.110 --> 00:10:55.210 we may have begun with challenges, we have all 00:10:55.210 --> 00:10:58.289 heard, all of us, enough great words filled with 00:10:58.289 --> 00:11:01.470 integrity, compassion, joy, and love to enable 00:11:01.470 --> 00:11:04.370 us to be the best versions of ourselves and allow 00:11:04.370 --> 00:11:07.029 a great light to shine for all of those around 00:11:07.029 --> 00:11:10.750 us to follow. We must have a care with the words 00:11:10.750 --> 00:11:14.009 we use because we are listening and we are watching. 00:11:15.429 --> 00:11:18.350 When I was in college, I was sitting with a group 00:11:18.350 --> 00:11:21.620 of friends. at Augustana College, and we were 00:11:21.620 --> 00:11:24.179 down in the basement, and we were just having 00:11:24.179 --> 00:11:26.299 a great time talking about whatever college people 00:11:26.299 --> 00:11:30.200 talk about. Suddenly, one of the members of my 00:11:30.200 --> 00:11:33.799 group started speaking very loudly, and he was 00:11:33.799 --> 00:11:37.840 angry with us. And the thing he said is, why 00:11:37.840 --> 00:11:41.580 do we curse so much? And I didn't realize it 00:11:41.580 --> 00:11:45.679 until he said it that we were all using as much 00:11:45.679 --> 00:11:49.000 profanity as we possibly could. His name was 00:11:49.000 --> 00:11:52.039 Charles, and he asked us why we did so, and then 00:11:52.039 --> 00:11:54.440 he began to repeat the words that we were using. 00:11:55.720 --> 00:11:57.600 At that moment, I noticed all the other people 00:11:57.600 --> 00:12:00.059 in the room, those who were not a part of our 00:12:00.059 --> 00:12:02.799 group watching us and perhaps silently admonishing 00:12:02.799 --> 00:12:06.080 us as well. I felt shame creep into my heart 00:12:06.080 --> 00:12:08.440 because I also wondered at that moment why I 00:12:08.440 --> 00:12:11.259 used so much profanity. Was it because I was 00:12:11.259 --> 00:12:13.200 young? Was it because these were the words I 00:12:13.200 --> 00:12:16.080 heard and believed to be commonplace? At that 00:12:16.080 --> 00:12:18.259 moment, I made a conscious effort to limit harsh 00:12:18.259 --> 00:12:20.620 words in my vocabulary, but knowing there would 00:12:20.620 --> 00:12:22.559 be other fun or difficult moments coming for 00:12:22.559 --> 00:12:24.940 me when my emotions would run high and my words 00:12:24.940 --> 00:12:28.500 would be necessary. So I gave myself a little 00:12:28.500 --> 00:12:31.019 bit of grace, but I decided to replace some of 00:12:31.019 --> 00:12:34.240 the harsh words with things less harsh. So if 00:12:34.240 --> 00:12:36.700 you know me pretty well, you might have heard 00:12:36.700 --> 00:12:41.100 a diddly squat, Jiminy Christmas, or dag natted. 00:12:42.779 --> 00:12:45.039 Once I got over the silliness of those phrases, 00:12:45.240 --> 00:12:47.759 They became easier to repeat and very natural. 00:12:48.399 --> 00:12:50.360 After a number of years of effort, most people 00:12:50.360 --> 00:12:52.440 that know me believe I have never uttered an 00:12:52.440 --> 00:12:55.700 expletive. I've actually had people apologize 00:12:55.700 --> 00:12:58.080 to me when they use harsh words. Trust me when 00:12:58.080 --> 00:13:00.279 I say from time to time, I've dropped the four 00:13:00.279 --> 00:13:04.019 letter one here or there. So I am not perfect 00:13:04.019 --> 00:13:05.980 by any stretch of the imagination and I don't 00:13:05.980 --> 00:13:08.740 imagine anyone else here trying to be one as 00:13:08.740 --> 00:13:11.539 well or be perfect. I'm simply trying to be the 00:13:11.539 --> 00:13:14.879 best person I can be in honor of you. and in 00:13:14.879 --> 00:13:18.100 honor of my friend Charles. Of course, I am not 00:13:18.100 --> 00:13:19.899 simply talking about profanity with the power 00:13:19.899 --> 00:13:23.840 of words. Those words are powerful. I'm speaking 00:13:23.840 --> 00:13:26.019 about anything we say that will cause others 00:13:26.019 --> 00:13:29.320 to consider us and they themselves afterwards. 00:13:32.220 --> 00:13:36.879 What words are we using that we lead with, that 00:13:36.879 --> 00:13:39.879 are revealing of who we are? Do we speak with 00:13:39.879 --> 00:13:43.110 love as an element of our chosen souls? And are 00:13:43.110 --> 00:13:45.409 there other elements present when we speak, like 00:13:45.409 --> 00:13:50.389 kindness, humility, hopefulness, peace, contentedness? 00:13:52.789 --> 00:13:55.649 Saying good things and doing good things, things 00:13:55.649 --> 00:13:58.129 that will assist you and those around you to 00:13:58.129 --> 00:14:00.210 become greater versions of ourselves takes great 00:14:00.210 --> 00:14:03.590 practice, patience, careful thoughts, and more 00:14:03.590 --> 00:14:06.350 practice. Saying and doing things that could 00:14:06.350 --> 00:14:09.269 harm often only takes an impulse and an instant. 00:14:10.619 --> 00:14:12.580 Sometimes it's not the negative words we use 00:14:12.580 --> 00:14:15.360 towards others that harm society. Many of us, 00:14:15.399 --> 00:14:17.259 when out in public, we say the wonderful phrases 00:14:17.259 --> 00:14:20.200 like, thank you, please, yes ma 'am, no sir. 00:14:21.220 --> 00:14:24.100 On the outside, we are delightful. But on the 00:14:24.100 --> 00:14:28.639 inside, often it is the words we tell ourselves 00:14:28.639 --> 00:14:31.580 that do the most damage to the world. When we 00:14:31.580 --> 00:14:33.779 loathe ourselves, when we repeat over and over 00:14:33.779 --> 00:14:36.480 again our failures and regrets and fears, we 00:14:36.480 --> 00:14:39.139 set ourselves up. to be the purveyors of misery 00:14:39.139 --> 00:14:41.080 in the world because little comes out of us that 00:14:41.080 --> 00:14:45.000 is positive. The same impact can be made when 00:14:45.000 --> 00:14:47.500 we think too highly of ourselves and overtly 00:14:47.500 --> 00:14:49.840 praise our successes or simple attributes like 00:14:49.840 --> 00:14:53.039 beauty or strength because we can erode the learned 00:14:53.039 --> 00:14:56.320 proficiencies of empathy and understanding. When 00:14:56.320 --> 00:14:58.059 speaking to ourselves, it is important to have 00:14:58.059 --> 00:15:00.360 care with our words even more so because this 00:15:00.360 --> 00:15:02.779 is how we prepare our souls to engage with humanity. 00:15:03.759 --> 00:15:06.929 Forgive yourself, love yourself. and have patience 00:15:06.929 --> 00:15:11.149 with yourself. So I want to ask you to consider 00:15:11.149 --> 00:15:14.289 a moment, a moment in silence and in thought. 00:15:15.769 --> 00:15:18.590 My question is, what are you known for saying? 00:15:19.929 --> 00:15:22.110 Is there a catchphrase or two that your kids 00:15:22.110 --> 00:15:25.169 can repeat? You know the old standbys like, because 00:15:25.169 --> 00:15:27.990 I said so, practice makes perfect or back in 00:15:27.990 --> 00:15:32.590 my day. Or what would people who know you say 00:15:32.590 --> 00:15:35.700 about you? What words would they use to describe 00:15:35.700 --> 00:15:38.559 how you make them feel when you speak to them? 00:15:39.620 --> 00:15:42.960 Or lastly, if you had to get on our podium and 00:15:42.960 --> 00:15:45.460 talk about yourself in front of 100 ,000 people, 00:15:46.179 --> 00:15:48.460 what words would you use to describe yourself? 00:15:50.460 --> 00:16:34.789 I want to give you that moment. I hope that was 00:16:34.789 --> 00:16:37.889 a good exercise for some of you, if not all of 00:16:37.889 --> 00:16:41.570 you. And I hope that what you believe about you, 00:16:42.350 --> 00:16:45.250 that what you would say about you is something 00:16:45.250 --> 00:16:54.190 you would love for the rest of us to know. Anybody 00:16:54.190 --> 00:16:58.769 ever had PES? You knew there was going to be 00:16:58.769 --> 00:17:02.610 a Star Wars reference, right? So this, If you 00:17:02.610 --> 00:17:09.349 can see, this is Yoda. So of course, many of 00:17:09.349 --> 00:17:12.029 you know I'm a big Star Wars fan. And one of 00:17:12.029 --> 00:17:13.970 the famous quotes from the series of movies, 00:17:14.089 --> 00:17:16.509 TV shows, and books comes from cute and lovable 00:17:16.509 --> 00:17:19.970 Yoda. In the second movie, The Empire Strikes 00:17:19.970 --> 00:17:22.589 Back, Yoda is training Luke to become a full 00:17:22.589 --> 00:17:26.269 -fledged Jedi. Yoda wants him to use the force 00:17:26.269 --> 00:17:29.190 to lift his X -wing, one of the ships, out of 00:17:29.190 --> 00:17:30.849 the waters of Dagobah, where they're training. 00:17:31.130 --> 00:17:33.809 And Luke says half -heartedly, all right, I'll 00:17:33.809 --> 00:17:37.349 give it a try. Yoda immediately admonishes him 00:17:37.349 --> 00:17:40.809 and responds to Luke's lackluster, presumed lackluster 00:17:40.809 --> 00:17:46.250 effort with, no, try not. Do or do not, there 00:17:46.250 --> 00:17:51.150 is no try. What Yoda is asking of Luke is to 00:17:51.150 --> 00:17:54.009 set forth in accomplishing what is most important 00:17:54.009 --> 00:17:58.200 to him. What I ask of ourselves today, is to 00:17:58.200 --> 00:18:00.599 set forth in accomplishing what we want to be 00:18:00.599 --> 00:18:03.460 known for in the terms of the words that we use 00:18:03.460 --> 00:18:07.859 that represent our actions and our beliefs. And 00:18:07.859 --> 00:18:10.160 to understand that what we fill ourselves with 00:18:10.160 --> 00:18:13.660 on a regular basis will shape how we see ourselves, 00:18:14.240 --> 00:18:17.799 how we see society, and how ultimately how God 00:18:17.799 --> 00:18:19.980 will respond back to us when our opportunity 00:18:19.980 --> 00:18:23.980 comes. For your consideration, I will leave you 00:18:23.980 --> 00:18:27.539 with two Bible verses. The first comes from 2nd 00:18:27.539 --> 00:18:31.140 Corinthians chapter 10 verse 7. And they said 00:18:31.140 --> 00:18:34.680 to him, if you will be good to this people and 00:18:34.680 --> 00:18:37.839 please them and speak good words to them, then 00:18:37.839 --> 00:18:41.619 they will be your servants forever. Secondly, 00:18:42.400 --> 00:18:47.019 Ephesians chapter 4 verse 29. Let no corrupting 00:18:47.019 --> 00:18:49.920 talk come out of your mouths, but only such as 00:18:49.920 --> 00:18:53.200 is good for building up as it fits the occasion. 00:18:53.369 --> 00:18:57.690 that it may give grace to those who hear. Thank 00:18:57.690 --> 00:19:01.230 you for lending your ear to me today and I hope 00:19:01.230 --> 00:19:04.109 that my words have given you some thought and 00:19:04.109 --> 00:19:06.849 perhaps a bit of resolve to allow your own words 00:19:06.849 --> 00:19:11.789 to let your own light shine. Thank you.