WEBVTT 00:00:10.839 --> 00:00:14.199 Welcome to Hub City Vineyard. To get connected 00:00:14.199 --> 00:00:17.760 or to give online, please go to hcv .church slash 00:00:17.760 --> 00:00:22.239 connect or hcv .church slash give. If any point 00:00:22.239 --> 00:00:24.679 during this message you feel called to make a 00:00:24.679 --> 00:00:28.800 change in your life, text CHANGEME to 97000. 00:00:29.399 --> 00:00:32.299 Now enjoy the message. To the Advent candles 00:00:32.299 --> 00:00:39.159 and welcome Judy to the stage. Thank you. Good 00:00:39.159 --> 00:00:42.740 morning, everyone. Before we light the second 00:00:42.740 --> 00:00:44.939 candle, let's remember that the first candle 00:00:44.939 --> 00:00:51.479 represents hope. And the second candle for this 00:00:51.479 --> 00:00:59.460 week represents peace. Shalom. Shalom, shalom. 00:01:01.219 --> 00:01:04.099 This peace is a gift from God to you and me, 00:01:04.180 --> 00:01:08.040 from his son, Jesus Christ. Peace that transcends 00:01:08.040 --> 00:01:11.420 all understanding. Peace that reconciles us and 00:01:11.420 --> 00:01:14.959 restores us back to God through Jesus. And if 00:01:14.959 --> 00:01:18.379 any of you have had the week I've had, are experiencing 00:01:18.379 --> 00:01:21.599 the flurry that comes with the holidays. This 00:01:21.599 --> 00:01:26.459 is a very timely message for peace. But we have 00:01:26.459 --> 00:01:30.879 some promises. In John 14, 27, peace I leave 00:01:30.879 --> 00:01:34.299 with you, my peace I give to you. I do not give 00:01:34.299 --> 00:01:37.799 to you as the world gives. Your heart must not 00:01:37.799 --> 00:01:42.040 be troubled or fearful. And in Luke 2, 14, he 00:01:42.040 --> 00:01:44.980 promises us glory to God in the highest and on 00:01:44.980 --> 00:01:48.719 earth peace. to those on whom his favor rests. 00:01:50.219 --> 00:01:53.000 So now let's pray and take this to the altar. 00:01:54.920 --> 00:01:58.939 Holy Father, Abba God, God, I thank you so much 00:01:58.939 --> 00:02:02.060 for the promise of peace that you have given 00:02:02.060 --> 00:02:05.379 us, of Jesus coming and what that has brought 00:02:05.379 --> 00:02:08.879 to restore to us. I pray now that we can all 00:02:08.879 --> 00:02:13.580 lay our burdens, lay the chaos, lay the stressors 00:02:13.580 --> 00:02:17.750 at your feet on the altar. and that the hearts 00:02:17.750 --> 00:02:20.030 and the minds of the people may be able to receive 00:02:20.030 --> 00:02:23.169 all that you have for us. And I pray for your 00:02:23.169 --> 00:02:25.449 servant, Rudy, this morning, God. I pray that 00:02:25.449 --> 00:02:28.150 he will be your mouthpiece and your vessel to 00:02:28.150 --> 00:02:30.849 pour forth from your heart what you have for 00:02:30.849 --> 00:02:34.710 us to receive this morning. Thank you for what 00:02:34.710 --> 00:02:36.930 you have done in the mighty name of our risen 00:02:36.930 --> 00:02:40.770 Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth. Amen. Amen. Thank 00:02:40.770 --> 00:02:47.180 you, Judy. Listen, her name is Judy. Poe. So 00:02:47.180 --> 00:02:52.099 my apologies. Good morning. How are you today? 00:02:53.300 --> 00:02:57.139 I am not the lead pastor, Chris. I'm the assistant 00:02:57.139 --> 00:03:02.280 pastor, Chris. Or as most of you know me, Rudy. 00:03:02.500 --> 00:03:05.080 If this is your first time, man, welcome to the 00:03:05.080 --> 00:03:10.650 family. We're happy to have you. If you're joining 00:03:10.650 --> 00:03:13.710 us online, welcome back. We haven't seen you 00:03:13.710 --> 00:03:15.909 for over a month. It's good to have you in our 00:03:15.909 --> 00:03:18.849 midst. If you would, turn to your neighbor, give 00:03:18.849 --> 00:03:23.770 them a high five, and say peace to you. Turn 00:03:23.770 --> 00:03:25.990 to your other neighbor and say shalom and do 00:03:25.990 --> 00:03:35.550 the same thing. Two real quick announcements. 00:03:36.650 --> 00:03:40.060 You heard these in... One of these announcements, 00:03:41.000 --> 00:03:42.860 we want to give you a six -pack when you leave. 00:03:44.280 --> 00:03:46.680 Everyone who walks out of here will get our Christmas 00:03:46.680 --> 00:03:50.460 cards, six of them, in a pack, a six -pack of 00:03:50.460 --> 00:03:53.379 Christmas cards. Hand these out. Invite. Get 00:03:53.379 --> 00:03:55.439 people here next week, the next week, and in 00:03:55.439 --> 00:03:57.599 for Christmas. These are a great tool for you 00:03:57.599 --> 00:04:00.560 to invite people. Everyone comes to Christmas 00:04:00.560 --> 00:04:04.020 services or Easter services, so get them here 00:04:04.020 --> 00:04:06.860 so they can learn about hope and peace. Okay? 00:04:07.000 --> 00:04:09.930 The other thing. And man, this thing is special 00:04:09.930 --> 00:04:15.150 to me. I love it. Every year, we do a memorial 00:04:15.150 --> 00:04:18.930 tree here at Hub City Vineyard where we ask you 00:04:18.930 --> 00:04:22.589 to bring in an ornament in memory of somebody 00:04:22.589 --> 00:04:26.009 that you have lost. That way, their memory can 00:04:26.009 --> 00:04:29.129 live on with us here inside the building. This 00:04:29.129 --> 00:04:32.069 year, instead of just a Christmas tree, we're 00:04:32.069 --> 00:04:35.420 going to do a living Christmas tree. Which means 00:04:35.420 --> 00:04:37.600 it will be a planted tree at the end of the season. 00:04:37.620 --> 00:04:41.040 We'll go outside and we will plant the tree somewhere 00:04:41.040 --> 00:04:43.759 on the property so that their memory continues 00:04:43.759 --> 00:04:47.620 to stay with us here at Hub City Vineyard. So 00:04:47.620 --> 00:04:53.000 we've seen anywhere from Michelob Ultra can ornaments 00:04:53.000 --> 00:04:58.000 to angels and everything in between. So come 00:04:58.000 --> 00:05:01.240 as you are, as long as it doesn't go against 00:05:01.240 --> 00:05:06.790 Jesus, bring it. Advent. We're in the midst of 00:05:06.790 --> 00:05:10.029 Advent. The definition of Advent is the arrival 00:05:10.029 --> 00:05:13.509 or looking forward to the arrival of a notable 00:05:13.509 --> 00:05:17.870 person or event. As a believer, as a Jesus follower, 00:05:18.230 --> 00:05:21.490 the Advent season is a time to prepare for the 00:05:21.490 --> 00:05:25.370 celebration of Christ's birth. We reflect on 00:05:25.370 --> 00:05:29.990 hope, peace, joy, and love. Focusing on preparing 00:05:29.990 --> 00:05:34.120 ourselves spiritually. understanding our salvation 00:05:34.120 --> 00:05:39.079 through Jesus, and then anticipating the return 00:05:39.079 --> 00:05:43.360 of Jesus in the second coming. Last week, Chris 00:05:43.360 --> 00:05:46.019 lit the first candle and introduced us to hope. 00:05:46.379 --> 00:05:50.100 Hope is the foundation of our faith, and it is 00:05:50.100 --> 00:05:54.060 actually found in the hope of Jesus. It's our 00:05:54.060 --> 00:05:58.079 understanding that the light of Christ will overcome 00:05:58.079 --> 00:06:02.750 darkness. Ladies and gentlemen, the world gives 00:06:02.750 --> 00:06:06.870 us peace. And while the enemy intends to steal 00:06:06.870 --> 00:06:11.870 and kill and destroy, Jesus is the Prince of 00:06:11.870 --> 00:06:16.829 Peace. As Judy read, the second candle represents 00:06:16.829 --> 00:06:22.189 that exactly. Peace. Inner peace. A peace that 00:06:22.189 --> 00:06:25.790 comes from God. That actually is present in the 00:06:25.790 --> 00:06:28.970 resurrection and the reconciliation between God 00:06:28.970 --> 00:06:32.199 and humanity. And that all happened, through 00:06:32.199 --> 00:06:34.740 the sacrifice that Christ made on the cross. 00:06:35.480 --> 00:06:39.459 And it also means peace with others. We are called 00:06:39.459 --> 00:06:42.639 to set aside our differences, to be peacemakers, 00:06:42.759 --> 00:06:47.420 and to live in unity. This candle is sometimes 00:06:47.420 --> 00:06:51.000 referred to as the Bethlehem candle, reminding 00:06:51.000 --> 00:06:53.579 people of the journey to Bethlehem and the birth 00:06:53.579 --> 00:06:56.680 of Jesus. And that's where we will go today. 00:06:57.500 --> 00:07:06.339 So, unlike Many of you. Scrooges. Ball humbugs. 00:07:06.560 --> 00:07:13.480 I love Christmas music. So I sing a favorite 00:07:13.480 --> 00:07:22.360 Christmas carol. Grandma got run over by a reindeer. 00:07:25.680 --> 00:07:29.629 No, that's not the one that I want to sing. But 00:07:29.629 --> 00:07:33.110 that one was my favorite as a kid. This one is 00:07:33.110 --> 00:07:38.350 more of a hymn, and I love it. Oh, little town 00:07:38.350 --> 00:07:45.870 of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie. Above 00:07:45.870 --> 00:07:52.069 thy deep and dreamless sleep, the silent stars 00:07:52.069 --> 00:08:00.680 go by. Listen, Brett. I will be on the stage 00:08:00.680 --> 00:08:08.060 soon. Somewhere hidden in the back with no microphone. 00:08:10.860 --> 00:08:14.560 The vision for our Christmas series this year 00:08:14.560 --> 00:08:19.680 comes from the next line. Yet in the dark streets 00:08:19.680 --> 00:08:27.040 shineth the everlasting light. The series poster. 00:08:27.800 --> 00:08:32.059 The decor, the lights behind me come from this 00:08:32.059 --> 00:08:39.259 line. Jesus is the everlasting light. But it's 00:08:39.259 --> 00:08:44.240 the next line, maybe my favorite line in all 00:08:44.240 --> 00:08:48.259 of the Christmas songs that sums up the entire 00:08:48.259 --> 00:08:55.070 life of Jesus. The hopes and fears of... All 00:08:55.070 --> 00:09:09.590 the years are met in thee tonight. Clap as soon 00:09:09.590 --> 00:09:11.250 as you can to get me off the stage and stop me 00:09:11.250 --> 00:09:17.070 from singing. No encores today. If you want an 00:09:17.070 --> 00:09:22.570 encore, come to third service. Christmas is best 00:09:22.570 --> 00:09:28.620 known. as a festive time of joy and hope. But 00:09:28.620 --> 00:09:33.120 for many, the season brings anxiety, fear, and 00:09:33.120 --> 00:09:37.440 loneliness. The good news is that through Jesus, 00:09:37.440 --> 00:09:41.639 our hopes and fears are met with unconditional 00:09:41.639 --> 00:09:46.799 love and forgiveness if we'll just open our hearts 00:09:46.799 --> 00:09:50.879 to hear the good news. Whatever you're going 00:09:50.879 --> 00:09:53.860 through, whether it's a time of hope, or a time 00:09:53.860 --> 00:09:59.159 of fear, or both, Jesus will meet you right there 00:09:59.159 --> 00:10:06.159 if you just call his name. John 1, verses 9 and 00:10:06.159 --> 00:10:10.360 10. The true light, which gives peace, sorry, 00:10:10.440 --> 00:10:13.059 light to everyone, was coming into the world. 00:10:13.440 --> 00:10:16.220 He was in the world, and the world was made through 00:10:16.220 --> 00:10:21.740 him, yet the world did not know him. Let us pray. 00:10:23.690 --> 00:10:28.929 Come Holy Spirit. God, I come to you today full 00:10:28.929 --> 00:10:34.389 of thankfulness that I have been given words 00:10:34.389 --> 00:10:39.490 and authority to speak light and peace to the 00:10:39.490 --> 00:10:43.210 people around me. And I also thank you that you 00:10:43.210 --> 00:10:45.309 have given that same authority to each and every 00:10:45.309 --> 00:10:48.830 person sitting in these seats that they, this 00:10:48.830 --> 00:10:52.899 week, can spread peace and love. And be the light 00:10:52.899 --> 00:10:56.860 in the world around them. When the world offers 00:10:56.860 --> 00:11:00.019 us no peace, God, we come to you for our peace. 00:11:00.460 --> 00:11:03.740 I ask that you open our hearts, open our minds 00:11:03.740 --> 00:11:07.879 to truly hear, feel, and absorb the peace of 00:11:07.879 --> 00:11:11.179 Jesus. Because it's in his name we pray. Amen. 00:11:13.480 --> 00:11:18.679 Let's get started with point one. The world offers 00:11:18.679 --> 00:11:25.720 no peace. You will not find peace anywhere in 00:11:25.720 --> 00:11:31.159 the world. Here's a couple headlines that I found 00:11:31.159 --> 00:11:35.759 this week online. Investors in Central American 00:11:35.759 --> 00:11:41.960 nation discover massive fraud. Widespread business 00:11:41.960 --> 00:11:47.039 failures expected across England and Wales. Horrific 00:11:47.039 --> 00:11:53.169 hailstorm kills 17 in Ohio. Unruly student behavior 00:11:53.169 --> 00:11:57.190 leads to riots at University of Virginia. Attack 00:11:57.190 --> 00:12:04.070 on professors. Crazy, huh? These headlines are 00:12:04.070 --> 00:12:10.610 from 1825. Let's fast forward 100 years. Let 00:12:10.610 --> 00:12:13.490 me give you two little fun tidbits that happened 00:12:13.490 --> 00:12:19.769 in 1925. Ready? In Italy, fascist leader Benito 00:12:19.769 --> 00:12:23.279 Mussolini. dissolved Parliament, and declared 00:12:23.279 --> 00:12:29.639 himself dictator. Also that same year, Adolf 00:12:29.639 --> 00:12:33.200 Hitler released his memoir and political manifesto, 00:12:33.200 --> 00:12:37.080 Mein Kampf, which would later be associated with 00:12:37.080 --> 00:12:42.440 his Nazi Party's rise to power. Folks, the world 00:12:42.440 --> 00:12:45.480 is no different now than it was 100 years ago, 00:12:45.620 --> 00:12:51.129 200 years ago. The world is dire. It's full of 00:12:51.129 --> 00:12:55.889 strife, conflict, and chaos. You know this scripture, 00:12:56.070 --> 00:13:04.950 John 10 .10. The thief comes only to steal. Folks, 00:13:05.009 --> 00:13:08.350 this didn't start in the 1800s. And listen, it's 00:13:08.350 --> 00:13:11.730 not worse than 2025. Can't tell you how many 00:13:11.730 --> 00:13:13.590 times people are like, oh, it's worse now than 00:13:13.590 --> 00:13:18.750 ever. No, it is not. The chaos started when Adam 00:13:18.750 --> 00:13:23.340 and Eve got hungry. And decided to eat the forbidden 00:13:23.340 --> 00:13:26.960 fruit, basically handing over dominion of the 00:13:26.960 --> 00:13:35.799 world to Satan. Of course, that lasted, I don't 00:13:35.799 --> 00:13:41.919 know, one whole generation until we see Cain 00:13:41.919 --> 00:13:47.620 and Abel. If you think things are bad in 2025, 00:13:49.070 --> 00:13:51.409 Let me put the word strife into context for you. 00:13:52.669 --> 00:13:57.409 The third person on earth killed the fourth person 00:13:57.409 --> 00:14:03.330 on earth. One man single -handedly took out 25 00:14:03.330 --> 00:14:08.909 % of the world's population. If you lived then, 00:14:08.929 --> 00:14:12.149 you had like a one in three chance to be killed 00:14:12.149 --> 00:14:17.940 by king. But what was going on? That was internal 00:14:17.940 --> 00:14:21.740 conflict rooted in, sorry, that was external 00:14:21.740 --> 00:14:25.259 conflict rooted in internal, I keep saying it 00:14:25.259 --> 00:14:35.399 backwards. Let me pause. Somebody wants me to 00:14:35.399 --> 00:14:41.120 turn my microphone off. One more time. External 00:14:41.120 --> 00:14:46.320 chaos rooted in internal conflict. That was going 00:14:46.320 --> 00:14:48.480 on in the mind of this young man when he killed 00:14:48.480 --> 00:14:55.139 his brother. External conflict started an internal 00:14:55.139 --> 00:15:00.000 chaos. Then, of course, if you read through the 00:15:00.000 --> 00:15:02.980 Old Testament, we see these cycles over and over 00:15:02.980 --> 00:15:05.960 again where we fall away from God, and he has 00:15:05.960 --> 00:15:10.200 to call us back. Part of that is because of what 00:15:10.200 --> 00:15:13.600 we read in 2 Corinthians 4, starting in verse 00:15:13.600 --> 00:15:16.720 3. If the good news we preach is hidden behind 00:15:16.720 --> 00:15:20.659 a veil, it is hidden only from people who are 00:15:20.659 --> 00:15:24.000 perishing. Satan, who is the God of this world, 00:15:24.179 --> 00:15:27.100 has blinded the minds of those who don't believe. 00:15:27.779 --> 00:15:29.960 They are unable to see the glorious light of 00:15:29.960 --> 00:15:32.659 the good news. They don't understand this message 00:15:32.659 --> 00:15:36.259 about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness 00:15:36.259 --> 00:15:48.990 of God. peace, just chaos. Which leads us to 00:15:48.990 --> 00:15:56.250 our next point. True peace comes from God. The 00:15:56.250 --> 00:15:58.309 only peace that you're ever really going to know 00:15:58.309 --> 00:16:04.529 comes from your maker, God. While Satan has given 00:16:04.529 --> 00:16:08.070 dominion over the world, absolute authority is 00:16:08.070 --> 00:16:12.950 God's. When Satan encourages our sinful nature, 00:16:13.610 --> 00:16:17.409 As he repeatedly tries to deceive us, understand 00:16:17.409 --> 00:16:21.889 that his power is limited. Remember, when it 00:16:21.889 --> 00:16:25.629 came to Job, he couldn't do just anything he 00:16:25.629 --> 00:16:34.870 wanted without God's say -so. John 16, 33. I 00:16:34.870 --> 00:16:36.990 have told you these things so that in me you 00:16:36.990 --> 00:16:40.230 may have peace. In this world you will have trouble, 00:16:40.350 --> 00:16:46.179 but take heart. I have overcome the world. God's 00:16:46.179 --> 00:16:51.799 peace is a feeling inside, an inner feeling of 00:16:51.799 --> 00:16:56.000 tranquility and stillness, even in the face of 00:16:56.000 --> 00:16:59.700 difficulty. How many of you know that the difficulties 00:16:59.700 --> 00:17:04.519 don't go away? The obstacles are still there. 00:17:05.759 --> 00:17:11.220 We can have peace in God. I want to read you 00:17:12.109 --> 00:17:14.329 One of my favorite verses, my mom's favorite 00:17:14.329 --> 00:17:16.990 psalm, the 23rd Psalm. It's not going to be on 00:17:16.990 --> 00:17:19.910 the screen. Just close your eyes and listen to 00:17:19.910 --> 00:17:24.369 the words. The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not 00:17:24.369 --> 00:17:27.910 want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. 00:17:28.390 --> 00:17:32.529 He leads me beside still waters. He restores 00:17:32.529 --> 00:17:36.289 my soul. He leads me in the paths of his righteousness 00:17:36.289 --> 00:17:43.029 for his name's sake. Folks, he doesn't. suggest 00:17:43.029 --> 00:17:48.630 we lie down in green pastures. He makes us lie 00:17:48.630 --> 00:17:55.769 down. He makes the waters still. Allow him this 00:17:55.769 --> 00:18:01.210 morning to restore your soul. So all through 00:18:01.210 --> 00:18:03.670 the Old Testament, we just see these cycles over 00:18:03.670 --> 00:18:06.609 and over again of the Israelites falling away 00:18:06.609 --> 00:18:12.329 from and then coming back to God. In fact, they 00:18:12.329 --> 00:18:14.549 lived in 400 years of slavery and oppression. 00:18:14.829 --> 00:18:19.069 Can you imagine living with a leader, with a 00:18:19.069 --> 00:18:22.730 ruler that was oppressing you for 400 years? 00:18:25.009 --> 00:18:28.670 Some of you can't make it through four years 00:18:28.670 --> 00:18:35.849 with a president you don't like. If God can deliver 00:18:35.849 --> 00:18:39.109 the Israelites from 400 years of oppression, 00:18:40.170 --> 00:18:44.789 Can you trust him to deliver you? Can you trust 00:18:44.789 --> 00:18:52.009 him to restore your soul? The sad thing is, even 00:18:52.009 --> 00:18:54.789 after they entered the promised land, the Israelites 00:18:54.789 --> 00:19:00.910 knew chaos. They created conflict. They couldn't 00:19:00.910 --> 00:19:05.970 keep the 613 Levitical laws. They couldn't even 00:19:05.970 --> 00:19:10.630 keep the 10 commandments. And you guys laugh 00:19:10.630 --> 00:19:14.210 because most of us can't even keep the one commandment, 00:19:14.210 --> 00:19:18.289 the most important commandment to love your neighbor. 00:19:22.210 --> 00:19:27.269 Which leads us to our third point. Jesus restores 00:19:27.269 --> 00:19:33.390 our peace. Our peace can only be restored by 00:19:33.390 --> 00:19:38.539 Jesus. Now, I've been reading through this book. 00:19:38.680 --> 00:19:41.460 I highly suggest if you want to find peace and 00:19:41.460 --> 00:19:43.740 joy in your life, read through Leviticus this 00:19:43.740 --> 00:19:54.380 holiday season. Leviticus 16. It's the law. Like 00:19:54.380 --> 00:19:57.079 literally, these are the 613 laws, Leviticus. 00:19:57.339 --> 00:20:01.380 In chapter 16, this is what we read. It sounds 00:20:01.380 --> 00:20:07.069 fun. Just wait. Then he, Aaron, is to take the 00:20:07.069 --> 00:20:09.529 two goats and present them before the Lord at 00:20:09.529 --> 00:20:12.130 the entrance to the tent of meeting, the tabernacle, 00:20:12.250 --> 00:20:16.289 the temple. He is to cast lots for the two goats. 00:20:16.809 --> 00:20:20.609 Basically, flip a coin, see which one gets which 00:20:20.609 --> 00:20:24.349 one. One lot for the Lord and the other for the 00:20:24.349 --> 00:20:28.309 scapegoat. Aaron shall bring the goat whose lot 00:20:28.309 --> 00:20:30.650 falls to the Lord and sacrifice it for a sin 00:20:30.650 --> 00:20:35.579 offering. But the goat chosen by lot. As the 00:20:35.579 --> 00:20:38.819 scapegoat will be presented alive before the 00:20:38.819 --> 00:20:44.779 Lord, used to make atonement for your sins by 00:20:44.779 --> 00:20:49.500 sending into the wilderness as a scapegoat. Now, 00:20:49.619 --> 00:20:52.960 fun little tidbit, this is literally where we 00:20:52.960 --> 00:20:57.579 get the word scapegoat. The goal of the goat 00:20:57.579 --> 00:21:04.400 was to symbolically carry All of your sins into 00:21:04.400 --> 00:21:09.240 the wilderness. Now, the scapegoat is unfairly 00:21:09.240 --> 00:21:14.180 blamed for the sin of others. This deflected 00:21:14.180 --> 00:21:20.259 your blame, my blame, onto something else. Scapegoat. 00:21:21.539 --> 00:21:24.920 Now, let's fast forward to a little more fun 00:21:24.920 --> 00:21:27.640 story. The court proceedings at the end of Jesus' 00:21:27.720 --> 00:21:31.339 life. You guys have heard this, you know it, 00:21:31.359 --> 00:21:33.980 you hear it every year. Mark 15, starting in 00:21:33.980 --> 00:21:37.400 verse 6 and 7. Now it was the custom at the festival 00:21:37.400 --> 00:21:39.960 to release a prisoner whom the people requested. 00:21:40.539 --> 00:21:43.140 A man called Barnabas was in prison with the 00:21:43.140 --> 00:21:45.839 insurrectionists who had committed murder in 00:21:45.839 --> 00:21:48.759 the uprising. Of course, you all know this story. 00:21:48.900 --> 00:21:52.359 You all know that Pilate... was supposed to let 00:21:52.359 --> 00:21:54.940 the crowd, intended to let the crowd choose between 00:21:54.940 --> 00:21:57.559 Jesus and Pilate to keep his hands clean. And 00:21:57.559 --> 00:22:05.200 what did the crowd say? Free Barabbas! Free Barabbas! 00:22:05.819 --> 00:22:10.279 They chanted over and over again. Of course, 00:22:10.299 --> 00:22:13.200 what did Pilate do? Let's look down in verse 00:22:13.200 --> 00:22:17.619 15. Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released 00:22:17.619 --> 00:22:21.480 Barabbas to them. He had Jesus flogged. and handed 00:22:21.480 --> 00:22:26.599 him over to be crucified. Barabbas is set free 00:22:26.599 --> 00:22:32.640 as our scapegoat. Many times when I read this 00:22:32.640 --> 00:22:35.740 story, I find myself looking down on this treacherous 00:22:35.740 --> 00:22:41.380 man, Barabbas. In all actuality, he is just a 00:22:41.380 --> 00:22:48.180 scapegoat for all of my sins. And, dare I say, 00:22:48.279 --> 00:22:55.390 all of your sins. John 10 .10. The thief comes 00:22:55.390 --> 00:22:58.990 only to steal and kill and destroy, but this 00:22:58.990 --> 00:23:02.190 is why I encourage you over and over again to 00:23:02.190 --> 00:23:04.490 not just read parts of the Bible, not just read 00:23:04.490 --> 00:23:07.589 parts of verses, read the whole verse. Because 00:23:07.589 --> 00:23:11.430 the best part of this verse is that Jesus, Jesus 00:23:11.430 --> 00:23:15.829 has come so that you may have life. How much 00:23:15.829 --> 00:23:21.529 life? All of it. Life to the full. Jesus. returns 00:23:21.529 --> 00:23:28.009 our peace back to us. Jesus has your back. Let's 00:23:28.009 --> 00:23:31.630 go back to the 23rd Psalm. Close your eyes again 00:23:31.630 --> 00:23:35.410 if you want. Think about laying next to that 00:23:35.410 --> 00:23:40.630 still streaming brook. Yea, though I walk through 00:23:40.630 --> 00:23:44.529 the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear 00:23:44.529 --> 00:23:47.950 no evil, because you are with me. Your rod and 00:23:47.950 --> 00:23:51.819 thy staff, they comfort me. You, Jesus, prepare 00:23:51.819 --> 00:23:53.700 a table for me in the presence of my enemies. 00:23:53.980 --> 00:23:57.720 You anoint my head with oil. My cup runneth over. 00:23:58.880 --> 00:24:01.619 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all 00:24:01.619 --> 00:24:05.460 the days of my life. And I will dwell in the 00:24:05.460 --> 00:24:12.599 house of the Lord forever. Yes, you will oftentimes 00:24:12.599 --> 00:24:15.700 in your life walk through the shadow of death. 00:24:17.720 --> 00:24:23.559 But it's just a shadow. It's not death. It's 00:24:23.559 --> 00:24:28.799 not hell. It's just the shadow of death. What 00:24:28.799 --> 00:24:33.140 do you need to cast a shadow? You need an obstacle 00:24:33.140 --> 00:24:41.339 and a light source. Our source of light has a 00:24:41.339 --> 00:24:49.059 name. And his name is Jesus. Listen. The world 00:24:49.059 --> 00:24:51.960 is chaos, and that chaos casts a huge shadow. 00:24:52.160 --> 00:24:55.319 And if you're walking in that shadow, just keep 00:24:55.319 --> 00:24:59.299 walking. Because on the other side of that chaos, 00:24:59.380 --> 00:25:01.960 on the other side of that obstacle, is the light. 00:25:03.359 --> 00:25:06.940 Reach out to him. He's there for you. It is in 00:25:06.940 --> 00:25:12.019 that light that we know peace, that we know comfort. 00:25:12.839 --> 00:25:17.799 Jesus restores our peace, goodness, and mercy. 00:25:18.660 --> 00:25:24.619 are ours. His law is love and his gospel is peace. 00:25:25.940 --> 00:25:31.859 Sorry, I'm not going to sing that one. The only 00:25:31.859 --> 00:25:35.579 true peace we have is all due to Jesus. It was 00:25:35.579 --> 00:25:40.859 paid in full. Our peace is restored through Jesus. 00:25:44.200 --> 00:25:47.430 Of course, You say, Rudy, I understand Jesus 00:25:47.430 --> 00:25:50.950 gives us peace, but how do I walk in that? How 00:25:50.950 --> 00:25:53.950 do I make that a reality in my life with the 00:25:53.950 --> 00:25:57.769 chaos in the world? How do I balance the chaos 00:25:57.769 --> 00:26:02.950 of the world that I live in with the Prince of 00:26:02.950 --> 00:26:06.849 Peace who lives in my heart? Now, if you read 00:26:06.849 --> 00:26:08.690 my email, did anyone read the email on Thursday? 00:26:09.509 --> 00:26:11.349 It said it was from Chris, but it was really 00:26:11.349 --> 00:26:15.670 from Rudy. If you knew, you know. Please, if 00:26:15.670 --> 00:26:20.049 you see my son, do not call him out. He told 00:26:20.049 --> 00:26:22.750 me I needed to say that it was only for illustrative 00:26:22.750 --> 00:26:28.150 purposes. If you know, you know. But I also did 00:26:28.150 --> 00:26:30.789 something else. I said, hey, how do you walk 00:26:30.789 --> 00:26:33.309 through love and peace and hope? I don't remember 00:26:33.309 --> 00:26:35.710 the exact words that I said. And I asked you 00:26:35.710 --> 00:26:41.269 to respond to me. I got exactly four emails of 00:26:41.269 --> 00:26:45.930 people and how they live in peace. You may know 00:26:45.930 --> 00:26:48.170 that I'm a numbers guy, I teach math, and I do 00:26:48.170 --> 00:26:55.369 percentages. Four out of, that's a very low, 00:26:55.410 --> 00:27:02.049 it's not a passing grade. I digress. But I want 00:27:02.049 --> 00:27:04.369 to read an email that I received from Michelle. 00:27:05.890 --> 00:27:08.609 Michelle's email says this, and I think it's 00:27:08.609 --> 00:27:11.289 a beautiful picture of how we can live in this 00:27:11.289 --> 00:27:16.789 crazy world. How? Knowing I belong to the most 00:27:16.789 --> 00:27:21.190 high God, the one and only. Being secure and 00:27:21.190 --> 00:27:25.089 knowing that I call him Abba, Father, and I am 00:27:25.089 --> 00:27:28.390 his daughter. Seeking out his promises in scripture, 00:27:28.670 --> 00:27:34.750 believing, and then speaking it forth. Intentionally 00:27:34.750 --> 00:27:37.529 sitting in the quiet, remembering how he has 00:27:37.529 --> 00:27:41.750 already blessed and taken care of me and our 00:27:41.750 --> 00:27:46.809 family in so many ways. Knowing Jesus is my King, 00:27:47.029 --> 00:27:50.490 He is praying and interceding for me. He has 00:27:50.490 --> 00:27:53.190 given me all the authority of His name. I am 00:27:53.190 --> 00:27:56.910 covered under His blood. Wrapping it all together 00:27:56.910 --> 00:28:01.470 in worship, always. Worship doesn't leave room 00:28:01.470 --> 00:28:06.569 for fear, worry, or anxiety to operate. It accentuates 00:28:06.569 --> 00:28:11.470 peace and hope in Abba, Father, the Most High 00:28:11.470 --> 00:28:15.920 God, for whom nothing is greater, And nothing 00:28:15.920 --> 00:28:23.519 is impossible for. Such a beautiful, beautiful 00:28:23.519 --> 00:28:27.839 email. And it just, there's no way I couldn't 00:28:27.839 --> 00:28:30.980 say it. In fact, next time I need to give a message, 00:28:31.039 --> 00:28:33.559 I'll just email you guys and you can write the 00:28:33.559 --> 00:28:37.880 message for me. This also reminds me of a prayer, 00:28:37.960 --> 00:28:40.700 a prayer that many of you recite. Some of you 00:28:40.700 --> 00:28:43.920 must recite this prayer daily. I have it hanging 00:28:43.920 --> 00:28:46.579 on my wall at home because it is true whether 00:28:46.579 --> 00:28:49.960 you are in recovery or not in recovery. All of 00:28:49.960 --> 00:28:52.880 us are in some kind of recovery. You know it. 00:28:52.880 --> 00:28:54.259 If you want to say it with me, you can say it 00:28:54.259 --> 00:28:58.000 with me. God, grant me the serenity to accept 00:28:58.000 --> 00:29:01.779 the things I cannot change, the courage to change 00:29:01.779 --> 00:29:05.019 the things I can, and the wisdom to know the 00:29:05.019 --> 00:29:11.079 difference. Living in peace, I could stop there 00:29:11.079 --> 00:29:14.029 and walk away. But I want to use the serenity 00:29:14.029 --> 00:29:18.250 prayer to help walk us through how to live in 00:29:18.250 --> 00:29:21.450 peace. The first point, a point that I've used 00:29:21.450 --> 00:29:23.950 before, but a point that God said, Rudy, you 00:29:23.950 --> 00:29:25.769 need to say it again because everyone is like 00:29:25.769 --> 00:29:27.809 you and they need to hear it again to get it 00:29:27.809 --> 00:29:30.369 through their thick skulls. Point number one, 00:29:30.430 --> 00:29:36.009 turn off the world news and pick up the good 00:29:36.009 --> 00:29:40.970 news. There is no good news. It's not the Olympics 00:29:40.970 --> 00:29:43.549 where they give you that cool little back story. 00:29:44.029 --> 00:29:48.069 That's not what they do on the news. Turn off 00:29:48.069 --> 00:29:51.109 the world news. Pick up the Bible, that leather 00:29:51.109 --> 00:29:56.349 -bound book full of wisdom, guidance, and direction. 00:29:58.589 --> 00:30:02.029 Colossians 3 .2. Set your mind on things that 00:30:02.029 --> 00:30:06.190 are above, not on things that are here on earth. 00:30:07.390 --> 00:30:12.769 Turn off your TV. Set down your phones. I guess 00:30:12.769 --> 00:30:15.529 I should say turn off your live streaming news 00:30:15.529 --> 00:30:20.730 cycle. I said this line the last time I used 00:30:20.730 --> 00:30:24.670 this, and it's so good. Once you've read the 00:30:24.670 --> 00:30:29.390 fifth article, the 10th article, the 15th, the 00:30:29.390 --> 00:30:33.730 20th, it's not going to tell you anything new. 00:30:34.789 --> 00:30:37.470 It's not going to all of a sudden turn chaos 00:30:37.470 --> 00:30:43.410 into peace. Keep focused on world events, and 00:30:43.410 --> 00:30:45.509 it's just going to remind you that the enemy 00:30:45.509 --> 00:30:52.170 is still alive, trying to steal, kill, and destroy. 00:30:53.509 --> 00:30:58.849 Now, yes, be informed. Yes, don't put your head 00:30:58.849 --> 00:31:05.609 in the sand. Know what's going on. Here's my 00:31:05.609 --> 00:31:09.289 suggestion. Learn enough, read enough about the 00:31:09.289 --> 00:31:13.150 world, just enough about what's going on in the 00:31:13.150 --> 00:31:15.789 world so that you can pray for your brothers 00:31:15.789 --> 00:31:18.609 and your sisters as we do this thing together. 00:31:21.130 --> 00:31:24.970 Put down the world news and pick up the good 00:31:24.970 --> 00:31:28.490 news. And you're going to do something with that 00:31:28.490 --> 00:31:32.230 good news. In 2 Timothy 3, we read this. All 00:31:32.230 --> 00:31:34.490 Scripture is God -breathed and useful for teaching, 00:31:34.589 --> 00:31:37.269 rebuking, correcting, and training. and righteousness, 00:31:37.609 --> 00:31:41.769 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly 00:31:41.769 --> 00:31:45.410 equipped for every good work. You're going to 00:31:45.410 --> 00:31:48.009 need that scripture. You're going to need that 00:31:48.009 --> 00:31:51.130 good news to speak life into the people around 00:31:51.130 --> 00:31:57.039 you. We are meant to be peacemakers. Which leads 00:31:57.039 --> 00:31:59.579 us to our second step, which comes at the first 00:31:59.579 --> 00:32:01.539 line of the serenity prayer. If you know that 00:32:01.539 --> 00:32:03.339 serenity prayer, if you quote that serenity prayer, 00:32:03.460 --> 00:32:05.539 please know that that is the first line and it 00:32:05.539 --> 00:32:08.240 is actually longer. I thought about reading it, 00:32:08.279 --> 00:32:10.299 but I already talked too much. I will post the 00:32:10.299 --> 00:32:12.220 rest of the prayer on Facebook for you because 00:32:12.220 --> 00:32:15.519 there's other good stuff in that prayer. God, 00:32:15.539 --> 00:32:17.160 grant me the serenity to accept the things I 00:32:17.160 --> 00:32:21.019 cannot change. But God, give me the courage to 00:32:21.019 --> 00:32:25.000 change the things I can. The second action step. 00:32:25.740 --> 00:32:30.960 Tend to what you can tend to. Tend to what you 00:32:30.960 --> 00:32:34.859 can tend to. There is so much in the world that 00:32:34.859 --> 00:32:38.339 is out of our control. Focus on the things you 00:32:38.339 --> 00:32:45.079 can change. Psalm 34, 14. Turn from evil and 00:32:45.079 --> 00:32:50.640 do good. Seek peace and pursue it. Now, I'm not 00:32:50.640 --> 00:32:53.900 going to quote another huge Levitical law. But 00:32:53.900 --> 00:32:56.619 I will tell you that Leviticus 20 tells us that 00:32:56.619 --> 00:32:59.660 if we see wrong in the world and we ignore it, 00:32:59.779 --> 00:33:03.480 we will be held accountable for letting it go. 00:33:05.519 --> 00:33:08.859 That doesn't mean you have to do all of the things, 00:33:08.960 --> 00:33:15.279 just the ones that you can tend to. It's one 00:33:15.279 --> 00:33:18.480 of my favorite quotes. The author's name is James 00:33:18.480 --> 00:33:25.339 Keller. A candle loses nothing by lighting another 00:33:25.339 --> 00:33:30.759 candle. Your candle will lose nothing if you 00:33:30.759 --> 00:33:32.480 reach out and light a candle. The only thing 00:33:32.480 --> 00:33:38.579 that's lost is more darkness. We are called to 00:33:38.579 --> 00:33:40.799 be the peacemaker. We're not called to sit in 00:33:40.799 --> 00:33:44.319 our house and sit in inaction. So I want to tell 00:33:44.319 --> 00:33:47.289 you a story. And I'm going to get close to halfway 00:33:47.289 --> 00:33:49.130 through the story. And some of you that have 00:33:49.130 --> 00:33:50.509 known me for a long time are going to be like, 00:33:50.589 --> 00:33:54.109 seriously, Rudy? Seriously? Because I thought 00:33:54.109 --> 00:33:55.849 the same thing, and so did my wife, and so did 00:33:55.849 --> 00:33:59.369 my son. For Thanksgiving, we drove to Indianapolis 00:33:59.369 --> 00:34:02.450 to see my father. We drove out Tuesday night. 00:34:02.549 --> 00:34:04.549 We drove home Saturday morning. It was a great 00:34:04.549 --> 00:34:07.049 trip. It was relaxing. We didn't go to any stores. 00:34:07.069 --> 00:34:08.949 Well, I'm lying, and you'll hear why we went 00:34:08.949 --> 00:34:11.809 to this store in this story. We just relaxed 00:34:11.809 --> 00:34:14.699 with my father all week. So Tuesday, we get off 00:34:14.699 --> 00:34:17.559 of work, off of school. Everyone's home. We get 00:34:17.559 --> 00:34:20.239 settled in. I was going to take the one car, 00:34:20.360 --> 00:34:22.039 but the stupid dog crate wouldn't fit in the 00:34:22.039 --> 00:34:25.000 trunk, so we had to take the other car. If you 00:34:25.000 --> 00:34:28.760 want chaos on a trip, take your two -year -old 00:34:28.760 --> 00:34:34.619 boxer with you. So we start driving. We drive 00:34:34.619 --> 00:34:37.760 about two hours until we needed to stop for gas, 00:34:37.860 --> 00:34:39.380 and we stopped for gas, and then Carrie took 00:34:39.380 --> 00:34:43.440 over. Walked the dog, and, you know. What happens 00:34:43.440 --> 00:34:45.280 when you, how many of you have a dog that as 00:34:45.280 --> 00:34:46.719 soon as you let it out, it does its business 00:34:46.719 --> 00:34:49.780 right away and then you're good to go? Not our 00:34:49.780 --> 00:34:52.079 dog. So, of course, what does that do to the 00:34:52.079 --> 00:34:57.260 time? How many of you like to beat the GPS to 00:34:57.260 --> 00:35:00.460 where you're going? Okay. So we stop. And every 00:35:00.460 --> 00:35:02.440 time we stop, what's happening? For goodness 00:35:02.440 --> 00:35:05.960 sakes, dog, let's do this. Okay. Of course, we 00:35:05.960 --> 00:35:07.460 only had to stop and fill up the gas because 00:35:07.460 --> 00:35:11.179 we took the wrong car. Okay. So a couple years 00:35:11.179 --> 00:35:13.139 ago, we started taking a new route to Dad's. 00:35:13.159 --> 00:35:15.719 We used to do 70, then we used to do 68, 79. 00:35:16.199 --> 00:35:18.780 Now the GPS takes us through these winding hills 00:35:18.780 --> 00:35:21.780 up Route 43. If you know anything about western 00:35:21.780 --> 00:35:23.840 Pennsylvania, western Maryland, it's not flat. 00:35:24.920 --> 00:35:30.139 It's, right? Also, the Tuesday before Thanksgiving, 00:35:30.400 --> 00:35:32.380 it had rained. It was raining the whole way out. 00:35:32.719 --> 00:35:35.059 If you're 50 years or older, you might be able 00:35:35.059 --> 00:35:39.119 to relate to this. I can't, nor can my wife, 00:35:39.159 --> 00:35:41.980 see the white lines on the road when the rain 00:35:41.980 --> 00:35:47.119 is coming down. So, she gets on an exit. It's 00:35:47.119 --> 00:35:49.139 one of those double exits. Take the first exit, 00:35:49.199 --> 00:35:51.880 not the second exit. And she took the second 00:35:51.880 --> 00:35:53.860 exit. And as soon as she took it, there's nowhere 00:35:53.860 --> 00:35:57.699 to turn around. So, recalculating. So, instead 00:35:57.699 --> 00:36:02.559 of now 1215, it's 1230 a .m. that we're estimated 00:36:02.559 --> 00:36:06.199 to pull in. Right? Now, my wife has a lead foot. 00:36:06.239 --> 00:36:10.159 She made some of that time up. We go on down 00:36:10.159 --> 00:36:13.880 the road. Still, same reroute. We're on this 00:36:13.880 --> 00:36:18.119 back road, two lanes. Hey, take this left, whatever 00:36:18.119 --> 00:36:22.179 the GPS says. And she's like, Christopher, do 00:36:22.179 --> 00:36:27.420 you? I don't see a left. I saw the left. I saw 00:36:27.420 --> 00:36:33.840 it. Back there as we passed it. So now what's 00:36:33.840 --> 00:36:40.840 happening to the GPS? 1230 turns to 1245, right? 00:36:41.519 --> 00:36:44.480 So we settle in. We're having a good conversation. 00:36:45.260 --> 00:36:47.079 We're having a great conversation with our son 00:36:47.079 --> 00:36:48.519 who has his headphones on the back and can't 00:36:48.519 --> 00:36:53.099 hear anything we ask him. We drive on out through 00:36:53.099 --> 00:36:56.300 Ohio. If you've ever driven through Ohio, I highly 00:36:56.300 --> 00:37:03.710 suggest going around Ohio. This is supposed to 00:37:03.710 --> 00:37:05.550 be an eight -hour drive. We should have been 00:37:05.550 --> 00:37:08.690 there around a little after midnight. Of course, 00:37:08.710 --> 00:37:10.690 construction through Columbus, thank you, Columbus. 00:37:11.489 --> 00:37:13.369 If you've ever been through Columbus, it is the 00:37:13.369 --> 00:37:16.210 worst city to drive through. I've often thought 00:37:16.210 --> 00:37:19.110 about stopping, but the roads make me so mad 00:37:19.110 --> 00:37:24.650 I'm not. Carrie, once you get through Columbus, 00:37:24.869 --> 00:37:27.070 we'll pull over and we'll switch. Because she 00:37:27.070 --> 00:37:29.489 should have been driving four. She had to drive 00:37:29.489 --> 00:37:32.110 almost five hours now. So I needed to be the 00:37:32.110 --> 00:37:34.849 man and drive again. Although I didn't drive 00:37:34.849 --> 00:37:41.429 home at all. So now we're driving. We're past 00:37:41.429 --> 00:37:44.349 Columbus. And it says, hey, would you like to 00:37:44.349 --> 00:37:47.829 take this detour to avoid this traffic? Yes. 00:37:49.210 --> 00:37:51.469 Of course, does that add time or take away time? 00:37:51.590 --> 00:37:53.710 Who knows? So we get off. I'm like, well, just 00:37:53.710 --> 00:37:56.050 go ahead and get gas when we pull off. And there 00:37:56.050 --> 00:37:59.309 was no gas station anywhere on the detour. So 00:37:59.309 --> 00:38:02.170 she gets back on. Finally, we pull over. And 00:38:02.170 --> 00:38:04.750 we're both watching the GPS just tick, tick, 00:38:04.809 --> 00:38:06.889 tick, tick, tick, tick, tick. Like, I just want 00:38:06.889 --> 00:38:08.510 to get to my dad's house. I just want to relax. 00:38:11.070 --> 00:38:13.929 So she pulls over, 10 minutes to 11 to get gas. 00:38:14.670 --> 00:38:16.789 Now, for some reason, nothing in the world has 00:38:16.789 --> 00:38:20.230 ever opened past 11 o 'clock. Like, Walmart used 00:38:20.230 --> 00:38:23.389 to be 24 hours. The gas station closes at 11. 00:38:23.489 --> 00:38:27.269 It's 10 off. We get out. Of course, my credit 00:38:27.269 --> 00:38:29.690 card was breached the week before. So who's pumping 00:38:29.690 --> 00:38:32.570 the gas? Her with her credit card while I'm quickly 00:38:32.570 --> 00:38:35.670 getting the dog to do his business again. And 00:38:35.670 --> 00:38:38.190 I really have to pee, but it closes at 11 o 'clock. 00:38:38.309 --> 00:38:42.550 So I run in literally at 11 o 'clock. And then 00:38:42.550 --> 00:38:46.130 as I run in to use the restroom, apologizing 00:38:46.130 --> 00:38:49.610 to the girl, I see this kid walk up to my wife. 00:38:49.690 --> 00:38:53.500 And I'm like, hmm. But I trust God's got it. 00:38:53.519 --> 00:38:57.199 There's people around, right? I go to do my business. 00:38:57.880 --> 00:39:03.440 I did it quickly. And I walk back out and Carrie 00:39:03.440 --> 00:39:07.900 asked me, hey, Christopher, do we have a jack 00:39:07.900 --> 00:39:11.380 in the trunk? Now, this is where some of you 00:39:11.380 --> 00:39:13.440 are going to be like, seriously, Rudy? Seriously? 00:39:15.400 --> 00:39:19.239 My hydraulic jack is not in the trunk because 00:39:19.239 --> 00:39:23.050 we're traveling. So it's out. So the stupid crappy 00:39:23.050 --> 00:39:24.949 scissor jack is in the trunk. And if you've ever 00:39:24.949 --> 00:39:29.110 used a scissor jack, they, I don't want to use 00:39:29.110 --> 00:39:34.750 bad words. So I use it. I jack it, I jack his 00:39:34.750 --> 00:39:38.030 car up. I have a midsize sedan. This kid had 00:39:38.030 --> 00:39:39.969 a full size sedan. This crappy little scissor 00:39:39.969 --> 00:39:43.750 jack, the jack just went whoop. Like, okay, let's 00:39:43.750 --> 00:39:46.349 do it again. Let's do it slowly. So I jack it 00:39:46.349 --> 00:39:51.179 up again. The second time. The jack bends. So 00:39:51.179 --> 00:39:53.699 I throw the spare tire underneath, and then I 00:39:53.699 --> 00:39:57.519 go around looking. We're at another gas station 00:39:57.519 --> 00:39:59.260 across the street now, and it's open all night. 00:39:59.320 --> 00:40:02.460 So I go in. They got to have tools, right? Roadside 00:40:02.460 --> 00:40:05.079 tools. The only thing they had was jumper cables. 00:40:05.179 --> 00:40:09.539 He didn't need jumped. So I asked, do you guys 00:40:09.539 --> 00:40:14.280 have pliers? Like, you're a gas station. No, 00:40:14.559 --> 00:40:16.599 we don't have pliers. And then, of course, I'm 00:40:16.599 --> 00:40:19.929 like. But if you know, this kid's tire is going 00:40:19.929 --> 00:40:23.989 to change before I leave this parking lot. It's 00:40:23.989 --> 00:40:26.250 after 11 o 'clock, Walmart, literally right there, 00:40:26.389 --> 00:40:30.070 not open, closed. So I'm like, if I could just, 00:40:30.210 --> 00:40:32.650 well, and the reason I'm looking for the pliers, 00:40:32.769 --> 00:40:36.170 side story, he did have this janky cylinder jack. 00:40:36.409 --> 00:40:38.110 And if you know anything about hydraulics, there's 00:40:38.110 --> 00:40:40.170 this little button that you turn back and forth. 00:40:40.630 --> 00:40:44.510 But he didn't have the tool that turns it back 00:40:44.510 --> 00:40:46.309 and forth. The pliers would have done the trick. 00:40:46.429 --> 00:40:48.550 So I start asking everyone in the parking lot. 00:40:48.630 --> 00:40:50.849 No one wants to help. No, I don't have pliers. 00:40:51.590 --> 00:40:53.789 Like, raise your hand if you have pliers in your 00:40:53.789 --> 00:40:59.429 car. I needed you guys. I can tell this story 00:40:59.429 --> 00:41:03.630 all day, so let me speed it up. One guy, well, 00:41:03.789 --> 00:41:05.369 this girl was like, I think I have pliers. And 00:41:05.369 --> 00:41:06.869 this other guy says, I definitely have pliers. 00:41:07.010 --> 00:41:09.590 I go to his car, and I explain the story. Like, 00:41:09.590 --> 00:41:13.320 all I need is to jack this guy's car up. He reaches 00:41:13.320 --> 00:41:15.139 in his back seat and pulls out a hydraulic jack. 00:41:19.960 --> 00:41:23.340 I'm not leaving until this thing's done. I can't 00:41:23.340 --> 00:41:27.739 do it by myself. I took the scissor jack and 00:41:27.739 --> 00:41:31.579 threw it in the dumpster. This car, have you 00:41:31.579 --> 00:41:34.159 ever used a hydraulic jack? Pump, pump, pump, 00:41:34.260 --> 00:41:37.179 it's up in the air. We finally changed the guy's 00:41:37.179 --> 00:41:41.139 tire. I did it in front of my son so he can see 00:41:41.139 --> 00:41:44.599 what it looks like to be a peacemaker. We changed 00:41:44.599 --> 00:41:46.920 this guy's tire. He says, what can I do? There's 00:41:46.920 --> 00:41:52.420 nothing you can do. Not at midnight. Do I care 00:41:52.420 --> 00:41:54.159 that it took me till 2 o 'clock to get to my 00:41:54.159 --> 00:41:59.000 dad's house? In retrospect, what the enemy meant 00:41:59.000 --> 00:42:13.239 for evil, those detours were on purpose. The 00:42:13.239 --> 00:42:15.420 only thing that I asked him to do, because he 00:42:15.420 --> 00:42:22.579 was a student at Miami of Ohio University. The 00:42:22.579 --> 00:42:25.980 only thing that I asked him to do when he got 00:42:25.980 --> 00:42:28.219 home from that short trip was to give his mom 00:42:28.219 --> 00:42:36.420 a kiss and enjoy the Thanksgiving weekend. Matthew 00:42:36.420 --> 00:42:40.440 5, 10. Blessed are the peacemakers, because they 00:42:40.440 --> 00:42:44.849 will be called sons. Peacemakers don't just sit 00:42:44.849 --> 00:42:47.150 in the house and pray. They don't just sit in 00:42:47.150 --> 00:42:49.929 the house and read their Bible. They get up and 00:42:49.929 --> 00:42:54.650 do stuff. Your Bible is made from the same leather 00:42:54.650 --> 00:43:00.650 as your shoes. Shoes are made for movement. The 00:43:00.650 --> 00:43:04.829 Bible is made for action. When he calls you to 00:43:04.829 --> 00:43:11.429 action, tie on the leather, get moving. Change 00:43:11.429 --> 00:43:13.989 the things you can. But then the other part of 00:43:13.989 --> 00:43:16.389 the serenity prayer, God grant me the serenity 00:43:16.389 --> 00:43:19.809 to accept the things I cannot change. Our last 00:43:19.809 --> 00:43:22.210 action step, and I'll do this quickly because 00:43:22.210 --> 00:43:25.809 we're running behind. Be still and let God work. 00:43:27.929 --> 00:43:30.989 Sometimes you just need to do nothing and let 00:43:30.989 --> 00:43:35.989 him do the work. John 5, 16. Jesus was doing 00:43:35.989 --> 00:43:37.750 all this on the Sabbath. He was healing people 00:43:37.750 --> 00:43:41.510 and they hated it. So Jews began trying to make 00:43:41.510 --> 00:43:45.449 him stop. But he said to them, my father never 00:43:45.449 --> 00:43:53.030 stops working. So I work too. See, after a week 00:43:53.030 --> 00:43:55.949 of struggling to find the right words to explain 00:43:55.949 --> 00:43:59.050 this action step, like I couldn't hear the words 00:43:59.050 --> 00:44:03.610 from God on how to articulate it. And then I 00:44:03.610 --> 00:44:05.610 found this video that I'm about to show you. 00:44:05.710 --> 00:44:08.909 And God said, Rudy. If the action step is let 00:44:08.909 --> 00:44:13.730 God work, then that's all you need to do. What 00:44:13.730 --> 00:44:17.489 is there to say? Be still and watch the video. 00:44:17.590 --> 00:44:20.690 So Katie, if you will, will you show this video? 00:44:48.300 --> 00:44:50.000 The only way it would have been better if it 00:44:50.000 --> 00:45:01.820 was Steelers, Ravens. Romans 8, 28. We know that 00:45:01.820 --> 00:45:03.579 all things work together for the good of those 00:45:03.579 --> 00:45:05.900 who love God, those who are called according 00:45:05.900 --> 00:45:08.380 to his purpose. Sometimes you need to say no 00:45:08.380 --> 00:45:12.340 words. Just call on God. He'll send someone else. 00:45:13.699 --> 00:45:18.070 There's nothing for you to do. Be still. Pray 00:45:18.070 --> 00:45:22.610 and let him work. So with that said, I want to 00:45:22.610 --> 00:45:25.889 take communion now. And I want you to stay seated 00:45:25.889 --> 00:45:29.070 today. And I want you to quietly reflect and 00:45:29.070 --> 00:45:34.510 pray for the peace of God. While we're passing 00:45:34.510 --> 00:45:37.610 out the elements, I want you to quietly sit still 00:45:37.610 --> 00:45:41.030 and ask God for peace. If you need an element, 00:45:41.170 --> 00:45:45.239 raise your hand high in the air. If you need 00:45:45.239 --> 00:45:52.659 gluten -free, put both hands up, please. And 00:45:52.659 --> 00:45:56.539 just ask God, this morning, God, can you just 00:45:56.539 --> 00:46:07.119 handle the things I can't? Right after communion, 00:46:07.260 --> 00:46:10.679 when Paul's doing it, he says these words. So 00:46:10.679 --> 00:46:12.639 whoever eats the bread and drinks the cup in 00:46:12.639 --> 00:46:15.179 an unworthy manner will be... an unworthy manner 00:46:15.179 --> 00:46:17.679 will be guilty of sinning against the body and 00:46:17.679 --> 00:46:19.539 blood of the Lord. Everyone ought to examine 00:46:19.539 --> 00:46:22.800 themselves before they eat and drink. For those 00:46:22.800 --> 00:46:24.940 who eat and drink without discerning the body 00:46:24.940 --> 00:46:27.420 of Christ, eat and drink judgment on themselves. 00:46:27.500 --> 00:46:30.739 So sit for a moment, reflecting on that passage. 00:46:31.519 --> 00:46:36.500 God, what do I know? What do I need to do? What 00:46:36.500 --> 00:46:39.860 do I need to give up? And replace that with peace. 00:46:45.230 --> 00:46:48.070 Maybe you're here this morning and you don't 00:46:48.070 --> 00:46:51.110 know Jesus. But you say, Rudy, it's time for 00:46:51.110 --> 00:46:54.170 me to make that decision. I want to provide you 00:46:54.170 --> 00:46:56.550 an opportunity before we take communion to just 00:46:56.550 --> 00:46:59.489 ask Jesus into your heart. Ask Jesus to guide 00:46:59.489 --> 00:47:03.309 you. You're just going to say these simple words, 00:47:03.369 --> 00:47:05.590 repeat after me. And the beauty is you're not 00:47:05.590 --> 00:47:07.550 alone because everyone in here is going to say 00:47:07.550 --> 00:47:11.389 them with you. Church, are you ready? Jesus, 00:47:11.510 --> 00:47:17.739 without you I am lost. I am broken. With you 00:47:17.739 --> 00:47:23.460 I am found. I am whole. I believe you are the 00:47:23.460 --> 00:47:29.960 Son of God. I believe you died for my sins. I 00:47:29.960 --> 00:47:34.059 open the door of my heart. Come into my heart. 00:47:35.380 --> 00:47:39.940 Transform me. Make me new. Give me your peace. 00:47:41.039 --> 00:47:45.260 Give me your Holy Spirit. Allow me to be a peacemaker. 00:47:46.639 --> 00:47:49.260 In Jesus' name, amen.