1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:07,000 Howdy. You know, I have a truism to give to all of you today. 2 00:00:09,520 --> 00:00:16,520 Is that you never realize how important your toes are until you hurt them. 3 00:00:17,760 --> 00:00:24,080 You don't realize, oh my word, how many times is there where it's like you're going along 4 00:00:24,080 --> 00:00:29,360 and you manage to end up having that one pinky toe that just like off to the side, you know, 5 00:00:29,360 --> 00:00:33,080 like you're walking through a doorway, like you've got flip flops on because you're going 6 00:00:33,080 --> 00:00:37,280 to go to the beach and everything's great and you go through a door and that one pinky 7 00:00:37,280 --> 00:00:42,200 toe just grabs the side of the door, right, oh, right there and you're like, pinky toe, 8 00:00:42,200 --> 00:00:47,640 are you still on my foot? Are you still there? Okay, all right, good. And you're like, pinky 9 00:00:47,640 --> 00:00:52,880 toe, this is going to hurt for a while. Okay, you even know, it's like, like maybe 10 seconds 10 00:00:52,880 --> 00:00:59,240 until you really feel it. But then more than that is then you end up going to China for 11 00:00:59,240 --> 00:01:06,240 a year and end up playing what ends up being the worst game of duck duck goose ever. And 12 00:01:06,360 --> 00:01:11,240 you end up trying to run through a different doorway and instead of the pinky toe having 13 00:01:11,240 --> 00:01:18,240 an issue, somehow it's your big toe that manages to take all of your weight and bang into the 14 00:01:18,240 --> 00:01:25,240 doorway and break into two pieces off to the side there. I haven't played duck duck goose 15 00:01:26,720 --> 00:01:31,960 since then. It's too dangerous apparently for me. And on top of that is like it took 16 00:01:31,960 --> 00:01:37,160 that it took five days just to get insurance to say yes to getting it fixed. I have, it 17 00:01:37,160 --> 00:01:43,320 was crazy. It's like just put it back in. And at that point though, is that a little 18 00:01:43,320 --> 00:01:48,360 toe, you can just bandage it up. It's not a huge deal. You know, you can get through 19 00:01:48,360 --> 00:01:55,360 and it'll heal. Not a big toe. Big toes, three months and you have to be off of that foot. 20 00:01:56,040 --> 00:02:02,000 So there I was hobbling around China trying to get from place to place with one foot in 21 00:02:02,000 --> 00:02:08,440 a soft cast everywhere that I went the whole time just that one little toe and every other 22 00:02:08,440 --> 00:02:14,360 part of me seemed to be doing just fine. But because that one toe, the whole last three 23 00:02:14,360 --> 00:02:20,000 months of my time in China was completely derailed. I had to teach classes with my foot 24 00:02:20,000 --> 00:02:26,520 up. I had to get in taxis to try to go get some food. Wo yo, yega. And then would accidentally 25 00:02:26,520 --> 00:02:30,440 start speaking in Spanish because I don't know that much Chinese and that doesn't help 26 00:02:30,440 --> 00:02:38,560 by the way. But the thing is, is that one small part can make the huge difference to 27 00:02:38,560 --> 00:02:45,240 the entire body, even when nothing else may think that they're feeling it. And isn't that 28 00:02:45,240 --> 00:02:52,240 same thing true for the body of Christ? See, that's the thing about whenever we think about 29 00:02:52,240 --> 00:02:58,040 the body of Christ and Ephesians four is that we take it for granted that yeah, we're all 30 00:02:58,040 --> 00:03:04,600 part of the same body. But do we realize just why it is that it's important to point it 31 00:03:04,600 --> 00:03:13,040 out? See, the thing is, is that when we end up realizing that oftentimes people get separated 32 00:03:13,040 --> 00:03:19,760 from the body of Christ for various reasons. Maybe they felt that they were ridiculed or 33 00:03:19,760 --> 00:03:25,600 pushed away. Maybe they felt isolated by something that had happened or maybe in other ways they 34 00:03:25,600 --> 00:03:31,080 just never got a chance to use their gifts in a way that they thought was meaningful. 35 00:03:31,080 --> 00:03:35,640 Why should I be there? I don't have anything to contribute. The thing is, is that there 36 00:03:35,640 --> 00:03:42,560 are many reasons why we oftentimes feel isolated. But in reality is that we're all meant to 37 00:03:42,560 --> 00:03:51,760 be important because we have one Lord, one faith, one baptism, not all not a whole bunch 38 00:03:51,760 --> 00:03:57,040 of different sects or small groups that are meant to all do their own thing as if they're 39 00:03:57,040 --> 00:04:06,680 completely separate. We're meant to be one unified body because it's better to be a part 40 00:04:06,680 --> 00:04:12,960 of the community instead of thinking that our faith is somehow my own personal thing 41 00:04:12,960 --> 00:04:17,880 which has never been what scripture has said. And now this is where I get to give my 30 42 00:04:17,880 --> 00:04:23,360 second commercial for Rally Day later this month. We're going to be having a chance to 43 00:04:23,360 --> 00:04:30,680 get together at 9.30 a.m. on a Sunday morning on August 25th because as we see in Ephesians 44 00:04:30,680 --> 00:04:38,120 4, there are all sorts of gifts that different people have. Apostles, prophets, evangelists, 45 00:04:38,120 --> 00:04:45,640 shepherds, teachers. Apostles being not just the strict sense where we understand the original 46 00:04:45,640 --> 00:04:51,280 apostles that went to spread the church but also the idea of those who are trying to do 47 00:04:51,280 --> 00:04:57,640 something new, something that maybe hasn't been done previously. We've got people who 48 00:04:57,640 --> 00:05:02,000 are bringing back our Stephen Ministries that we had had before. We've got a group of people 49 00:05:02,000 --> 00:05:07,360 that would like to get you signed up if you'd like to be ready to help after disasters and 50 00:05:07,360 --> 00:05:12,440 maybe take care of things that may happen in a person's yard or at their home. But also 51 00:05:12,440 --> 00:05:18,560 even Tracy wants us to get together and do something for Thanksgiving for the local community 52 00:05:18,560 --> 00:05:22,760 and frankly that's something that we're looking to do. And on Rally Day we'd like to see if 53 00:05:22,760 --> 00:05:26,960 we could recruit people. So I didn't tell her I was going to point her out. You're welcome. 54 00:05:26,960 --> 00:05:33,840 That's what I do for people I care about. But with it is even those who are the prophets 55 00:05:33,840 --> 00:05:39,120 is that oftentimes it's not just the pastor who's meant to speak truth into the world but 56 00:05:39,120 --> 00:05:45,800 also that other people have you been taking the time to ask what is it that God's actually 57 00:05:45,800 --> 00:05:52,240 saying not just in you but through you to other people. The evangelists, those who are meant 58 00:05:52,240 --> 00:05:57,160 to be out in the world bringing the gospel to people that don't know. The shepherds, 59 00:05:57,160 --> 00:06:01,800 those who are meant to bring care and love and compassion to people who are in need and to care 60 00:06:01,800 --> 00:06:07,600 for their needs. Not just the pastor but others as well. Teachers, those who are meant to go out 61 00:06:07,600 --> 00:06:14,600 there because one person is not supposed to be the whole arbiter of learning and truth. We need 62 00:06:14,600 --> 00:06:23,400 all of us together working as a community to learn, to teach, to be together. See everyone is 63 00:06:23,400 --> 00:06:31,040 gifted and we're meant to cherish these gifts. See with that is that oftentimes we may have to take 64 00:06:31,040 --> 00:06:38,200 a little time to maybe pause and do something that we're not usually as gifted in. But that doesn't 65 00:06:38,200 --> 00:06:43,000 mean that we don't get to spend more time in the things that we feel God has called us to do. 66 00:06:43,000 --> 00:06:49,200 There are times whenever I end up dropping a pen on the floor and I don't know maybe I'm being 67 00:06:49,200 --> 00:06:53,840 laser whatever and I'm trying to pick it up off the floor with my toes and everything and I'm like 68 00:06:53,840 --> 00:06:59,160 come on I almost got it. I almost got it right. Sometimes toes aren't really meant for that but 69 00:06:59,160 --> 00:07:05,240 you're you're gonna try that anyway. But sometimes it's just not only more effective but a little 70 00:07:05,240 --> 00:07:12,440 more gratifying when you get to do the thing that you're designed and meant for. The thing is is 71 00:07:12,440 --> 00:07:18,560 that I broke my toe. I didn't try to replace it with something else. I mean did I try to replace 72 00:07:18,560 --> 00:07:24,920 my broken toe with an eye? No because that would be really weird and it's not covered by insurance. 73 00:07:24,920 --> 00:07:33,880 But the thing is is that instead of trying to be someone else is that God is wanting us to be more 74 00:07:33,880 --> 00:07:41,800 of ourselves. The thing is is that sometimes we're almost afraid of the gifts that we know that God 75 00:07:41,800 --> 00:07:48,680 has given us. We're afraid of taking those things on. You see the thing is is sometimes we need to 76 00:07:48,680 --> 00:07:55,280 be strengthened in the things that we've been called to do. We need others to encourage us not 77 00:07:55,280 --> 00:08:02,160 only to share those gifts but to be happy and joyful in being a part of this community. See the 78 00:08:02,160 --> 00:08:07,680 thing is is that maybe maybe you're looking at doing something that you're afraid might be a 79 00:08:07,680 --> 00:08:13,760 little bit too noticeable. Yeah I could do that but people might pay a little too much attention to 80 00:08:13,760 --> 00:08:20,120 me and I don't know. I feel like I might end up letting people down. See that's the thing is that 81 00:08:20,120 --> 00:08:27,800 sometimes we're afraid of hurting the body because we know that we have weaknesses. We know we have 82 00:08:27,800 --> 00:08:36,120 struggles. We know that we don't have it all figured out. And the reality is that as much as 83 00:08:36,120 --> 00:08:44,320 we're afraid of being noticed and that people can realize that, is that it's also not something to 84 00:08:44,320 --> 00:08:52,640 fear because that's when we need the body even more. The thing is is that as much as you know 85 00:08:52,640 --> 00:09:00,480 like my broken toe was over there in pain and I couldn't walk, am I going to be over there just 86 00:09:00,480 --> 00:09:07,360 yelling at my broken toe? How dare you toe? How dare you be broken? What's wrong with you? Stupid 87 00:09:07,360 --> 00:09:17,640 toe? Okay maybe I did do that every day for three months. But the thing is is that the point of 88 00:09:17,640 --> 00:09:23,040 whenever we're struggling and we're hurting is that that's also the time when we need each other 89 00:09:23,040 --> 00:09:29,720 more. That's the time when we need the community. When we need the body of Christ. Because we need 90 00:09:29,720 --> 00:09:37,200 to know that we're not going through that alone. The whole body had to take the time for the one 91 00:09:37,200 --> 00:09:44,680 but because that one part mattered. And that's the thing is that sometimes we need a little tender 92 00:09:44,680 --> 00:09:52,400 loving care. We don't need to be afraid of sharing our gifts just because someone will discover that 93 00:09:52,400 --> 00:09:58,720 we don't have everything all figured out. But even more than the times when we have failures, 94 00:09:58,720 --> 00:10:04,840 what about the fact that we're kind of weird? I know it's hard to believe but there are some 95 00:10:04,840 --> 00:10:12,240 people who occasionally think I'm a little strange. I know, I know it's okay. I know you 96 00:10:12,240 --> 00:10:17,240 don't get it. But the thing is is that you know sometimes you're kind of like man why is there 97 00:10:17,240 --> 00:10:23,280 that weird toenail right there? It's always kind of off to the side a little bit and you're kind 98 00:10:23,280 --> 00:10:28,840 of wondering about it. It's like maybe you're afraid of being involved in the community of God 99 00:10:28,840 --> 00:10:35,560 because you're like I'm different. I don't see that I'm gonna fit in all that well. I mean for 100 00:10:35,560 --> 00:10:42,200 crying out like nobody seems quite like me and I don't know how it is that my oddity is supposed 101 00:10:42,200 --> 00:10:48,640 to be a part of the church. You know what's interesting about the church? Wouldn't it be weird? 102 00:10:48,640 --> 00:10:57,560 Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could help others enjoy their uniqueness? Has anybody wondered 103 00:10:57,560 --> 00:11:04,800 about that little dangly punching bag in the back of your throat? Okay you're over there, 104 00:11:04,800 --> 00:11:10,680 you're brushing your teeth, you take a look and there's a little dangly hanging piece of flesh in 105 00:11:10,680 --> 00:11:15,280 the back of your mouth and it's weird looking okay. It's this one little piece of flesh and it's kind 106 00:11:15,280 --> 00:11:22,280 of dangling down okay and you're kind of like that's the yufila, that's a weird name for that okay 107 00:11:22,280 --> 00:11:28,320 and you're kind of looking at it you're like that's so strange why do I even need it to be there 108 00:11:28,320 --> 00:11:35,560 and then you realize that without it you know like that helps with saliva but also it keeps the 109 00:11:35,560 --> 00:11:43,040 food and the drink from going up into your nose when you swallow. So you know you could be the 110 00:11:43,040 --> 00:11:48,640 part of the body of Christ that keeps meat and potatoes from going up into the nose of Christ. 111 00:11:48,640 --> 00:11:56,920 So you know there is a part for everybody no matter how weird and dangly it may be. The truth 112 00:11:56,920 --> 00:12:04,240 is is that our uniqueness it's not because we're trying to gain attention or importance but because 113 00:12:04,240 --> 00:12:13,000 we're meant to bless others with the uniqueness. See that's the thing about this, the body of Christ 114 00:12:13,000 --> 00:12:18,720 is kind of complicated. We don't always get it, we don't always understand every single piece. 115 00:12:18,720 --> 00:12:24,920 Lynn Osborn said earlier that he was the appendix of Christ and I'm like well I don't know about 116 00:12:24,920 --> 00:12:30,880 that but sometimes I know we sometimes feel that way but the truth being told is that it's 117 00:12:30,880 --> 00:12:37,560 complicated as we are it's the complexity that's needed. The reality is that before we debate and 118 00:12:37,560 --> 00:12:44,480 argue about who's important what's important what's necessary is that maybe instead we take the time 119 00:12:44,480 --> 00:12:50,600 to appreciate the oddities because all the different parts they end up working together in ways we 120 00:12:50,600 --> 00:12:56,680 didn't even realize. As my toe was healing and my hands needed to stretch the tendons so that it 121 00:12:56,680 --> 00:13:03,680 could move again and then I needed to use my mouth to ask questions of what to do and how to care 122 00:13:03,680 --> 00:13:10,240 for it. All the different parts that are there is that without the entire body there's always 123 00:13:10,240 --> 00:13:18,200 something missing. There's always some part that we can't do when one part isn't connected to the 124 00:13:18,200 --> 00:13:25,160 whole. I don't know what may have caused any of you to feel like you weren't a part of the body 125 00:13:25,160 --> 00:13:32,000 like you didn't matter to the body and like maybe you weren't missed but the reality is that you are 126 00:13:32,000 --> 00:13:42,600 completely vital because you belong to Christ because Christ you matter to us so wherever you 127 00:13:42,600 --> 00:13:51,880 may be whatever you may have been feeling you are needed here because you always have been. 128 00:13:51,880 --> 00:13:58,080 Thanks be to God.