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<v Speaker 1>Hello, and welcome to Pastor Rick's Daily Hope. This is

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<v Speaker 1>the Bible teaching ministry of Rick Warren. Hey, we're so

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<v Speaker 1>glad you've joined us today. We're continuing a powerful series

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<v Speaker 1>called Radicalis Developing Spiritual Roots, And in this series, Rick

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<v Speaker 1>will show you how to grow deep in your faith,

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<v Speaker 1>stay grounded in God's word, and become everything He created

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<v Speaker 1>you to be. So let's join Rick right now for

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<v Speaker 1>the final part of a message called Radical Love.

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<v Speaker 2>The Book of Titus says the free gift, it's free

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<v Speaker 2>gift of eternal salvation is offered to who who everyone.

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<v Speaker 2>Notice there's no mention of religion there say this is

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<v Speaker 2>only offered to this religion or to that religion, or

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<v Speaker 2>to this group or to that group or that nationality.

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<v Speaker 2>It says, this is offered to everyone, the friends. I

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<v Speaker 2>don't really care what your religious background is. You may

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<v Speaker 2>be Catholic, Protestant, you may be Jewish, you may be

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<v Speaker 2>Muslim or Mormon, or Buddhist or Baptist or Hindu. You

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<v Speaker 2>may be atheist or agnostic. I don't really care what

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<v Speaker 2>your religious background is. Jesus still died for you. The

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<v Speaker 2>free gift of eternal salvation is offered to everyone. Doesn't

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<v Speaker 2>matter at all what your religious background is, because it's

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<v Speaker 2>not about religion. It's about a relationship to Christ. Look

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<v Speaker 2>at the next verse. It makes no difference who you

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<v Speaker 2>are or where you're from. If you want God and

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<v Speaker 2>you're ready to do as he says, the door is open.

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<v Speaker 2>He says, there regardless of your ethnic background, regardless of

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<v Speaker 2>your economic background, regardless of your educational background, doesn't matter

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<v Speaker 2>who you are, what you've done, or who you've done

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<v Speaker 2>it with, or how long you did it. sCOD says,

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<v Speaker 2>I'm not interested in that. It's all about whoever believes

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<v Speaker 2>on Him shall not perish. He says, it's about what

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<v Speaker 2>I've done for you. It's not about what you do

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<v Speaker 2>for me. It's amazing grace for every race. Jesus is

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<v Speaker 2>an equal opportunity savior. How do I accept this offer?

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<v Speaker 2>Whoever believes in Him shall not perish. We'll notice the

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<v Speaker 2>next verse. The Bible says this, If you confess with

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<v Speaker 2>your mouth Jesus is Lord, and you believe in your

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<v Speaker 2>heart that God raised him from the dead, that's what

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<v Speaker 2>Easter is all about. You will be saved.

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<v Speaker 3>Now.

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<v Speaker 2>The problem with that verse, we don't understand the meaning

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<v Speaker 2>of the word lord, because we don't. We're not in

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<v Speaker 2>a feudal system today. We're in a democracy in America.

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<v Speaker 2>We elect our presidents and our congressmen and our senators.

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<v Speaker 3>So we're not in a.

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<v Speaker 2>World of kings and queens and lords and ladies and

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<v Speaker 2>your lordship. We don't have vassals and counts and serfs

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<v Speaker 2>and knights and pages and lords. So the word lord

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<v Speaker 2>is not a word that we use it frequently in

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<v Speaker 2>our language. So what does it mean when I say

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<v Speaker 2>I'm going to confess Jesus is my lord. What's the

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<v Speaker 2>modern component to it? The modern comparison is, Jesus is

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<v Speaker 2>my manager, my CEO, the chairman of my board. He's

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<v Speaker 2>my boss, he's my supervisor. He's calling the shots.

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<v Speaker 3>In my life.

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<v Speaker 2>Jesus is sitting in the driver's seat in my car.

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<v Speaker 2>Jesus is the pilot of my plane. He is directing it.

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<v Speaker 2>When you say Jesus is lord, the best description of

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<v Speaker 2>that is you put on a sign that says I'm

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<v Speaker 2>under new management.

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<v Speaker 3>I'm under new management.

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<v Speaker 2>See, before I opened my life to Christ, I was

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<v Speaker 2>managing my own life. Wasn't doing a very good job

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<v Speaker 2>of it because I was managing my own life. So

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<v Speaker 2>I kept hitting a bunch of dead ends. I had

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<v Speaker 2>broken relationships, had a lot of stress, a lot of worry,

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<v Speaker 2>a lot of difficulty. I had a lot of regrets

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<v Speaker 2>in my life, unnecessary tension. I really wasn't quite sure

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<v Speaker 2>of what my purpose in life was because I was

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<v Speaker 2>managing my own life. And at one point I said, Okay,

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<v Speaker 2>time out. I'm not doing that hot a job. Whether

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<v Speaker 2>I think, I'm gonna go with God because he made me,

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<v Speaker 2>He loves me, he created me, He knows what will

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<v Speaker 2>make me happy more than I do.

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<v Speaker 3>He sent his son to die for me. He wants

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<v Speaker 3>me to live with him in heaven.

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<v Speaker 2>I think I'll let him be the manager of my

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<v Speaker 2>life under new management. That's what it means to say,

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<v Speaker 2>Jesus is the lord of my life. He says, if

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<v Speaker 2>you'll do that, if you'll say that, and then if

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<v Speaker 2>you will believe in your heart God raised him for

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<v Speaker 2>the dead. Notice it doesn't say believe in your head,

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<v Speaker 2>believe in your heart. Why because a lot of people

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<v Speaker 2>miss heaven by eighteen inches. They got it up here

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<v Speaker 2>in their brain, but they don't have it here in

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<v Speaker 2>their heart. In other words, they have an intellectual understanding

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<v Speaker 2>of Jesus, but they have no heart or emotional commitment.

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<v Speaker 2>So he just said, oh, I believe in Jesus.

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<v Speaker 3>Isn't enough.

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<v Speaker 2>Oh I believe Jesus died on the cross. I believe

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<v Speaker 2>he rose fer sins and I mean to shoot the

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<v Speaker 2>devil believes that. But you're not going to find him

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<v Speaker 2>in heaven of Americas.

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<v Speaker 3>Say, oh, shoot, I believe Jesus was who he said

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<v Speaker 3>he was.

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<v Speaker 2>Our whole calendar split into AD and BC by the

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<v Speaker 2>life of Christ. But that's not enough. What does it

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<v Speaker 2>really mean to believe? The word here in Greek and

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<v Speaker 2>the original translation means it's pistevo or pastuo. It means

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<v Speaker 2>to trust in, to cling to, to rely on. It

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<v Speaker 2>means to have a relationship with That's what God wants,

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<v Speaker 2>is a relationship with you. I could mention a bunch

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<v Speaker 2>of famous people that I could say I know that person.

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<v Speaker 2>You would know who I'm talking about, But I don't

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<v Speaker 2>really know them. I don't know what makes them tick.

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<v Speaker 2>I don't know their internal workings. I certainly don't have

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<v Speaker 2>an intimate relationship with him. But I know Jesus Christ.

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<v Speaker 2>I've known him for forty years. He's my best friend.

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<v Speaker 2>I talked to him all the time, just like I'm

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<v Speaker 2>talking to you. In fact, I was talking to him

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<v Speaker 2>about you just a few minutes ago. And I don't

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<v Speaker 2>have to close my eyes and I don't have to say

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<v Speaker 2>the e. Now I've developed the friendship that I can

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<v Speaker 2>hear God speak to me in my heart and I

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<v Speaker 2>in my head, and I can talk to him. And

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<v Speaker 2>you can do this too. God sent Christ not to

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<v Speaker 2>give you a religion. God sent Christ to give you

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<v Speaker 2>a relationship. In fact, what did Jesus come to do?

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<v Speaker 2>Look on the screen. Jesus said this. I didn't come

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<v Speaker 2>to judge the world, but to save it. Now, that's

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<v Speaker 2>a whole, big different picture of God than most people have.

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<v Speaker 2>Most people think God sits up in heaven waiting to

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<v Speaker 2>catch you doing something wrong just so he can judge you,

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<v Speaker 2>just so he can tell you what you did wrong,

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<v Speaker 2>just so he can put you down, just so we

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<v Speaker 2>can tell you should have done this, you should have

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<v Speaker 2>done that, you must do this, you shouldn't have done that,

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<v Speaker 2>you shouldn't have done that. Friends, that's not God, that's

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<v Speaker 2>your parent. Don't confuse an unpleasable parent with God. A

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<v Speaker 2>lot of people take their idea of their parents and

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<v Speaker 2>put it on God and think God is unpleasable. God

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<v Speaker 2>is not mad at you, He's mad about you. God

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<v Speaker 2>so loved the world that he sent his son to

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<v Speaker 2>die for you. Nobody's ever sent anybody to die for

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<v Speaker 2>you except God. That whosoever believes in him. That's the

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<v Speaker 2>great gift. I did not come to judge the world,

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<v Speaker 2>but to save it. And it really doesn't matter what

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<v Speaker 2>you've done. You know, over the many years here at Saddleback,

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<v Speaker 2>over twenty thousand adults have said, I confess Jesus is

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<v Speaker 2>my Lord. I believe in my heart. I'm opening my

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<v Speaker 2>life to Christ. I'm stepping across the line. I'm becoming

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<v Speaker 2>a part of God's family. Over twenty thousand people just

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<v Speaker 2>in this church, over one thousand of them have come

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<v Speaker 2>across his stage and told their stories. And those you've

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<v Speaker 2>been here for years know that you've heard the most

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<v Speaker 2>amazing stories you've ever heard of life transformation. Only God

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<v Speaker 2>can make those changes. I thought this Christmas we'd put

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<v Speaker 2>the testimony on video. Leo was a Cuban mafia in Miami.

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<v Speaker 2>He was a drug runner, making a lot of money

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<v Speaker 2>selling cocaine and then he found how to opened his

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<v Speaker 2>life to Christ and it was revolutionized and changed. I

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<v Speaker 2>want you to hear his story.

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<v Speaker 3>Listen to this.

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<v Speaker 4>I was born in Cuba and at the age of eleven,

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<v Speaker 4>my parents brought us to the United States. We lived

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<v Speaker 4>in the city of New Orleans, where I lived there

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<v Speaker 4>for over twenty years. There I went to school, and

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<v Speaker 4>in nineteen seventy seven, after having graduated from high school,

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<v Speaker 4>I decided to move to Miami. This was the disco mecca,

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<v Speaker 4>something that I was very involved in that was really

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<v Speaker 4>my lifestyle. I met a man named Manny who would

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<v Speaker 4>turn out to be my best friend. One night, as

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<v Speaker 4>we went out, we walked into this club and there

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<v Speaker 4>was this guy that was causing a lot of attention

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<v Speaker 4>and had all the girls around him, and as we

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<v Speaker 4>got closer, it turned out to be Manny's uncle.

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<v Speaker 3>He invited us.

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<v Speaker 4>To his table and we hung out that night, and

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<v Speaker 4>it wasn't long before he offered us if we'd be

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<v Speaker 4>interested in come to work for him. We would get

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<v Speaker 4>on a fast boat and we will drive out to

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<v Speaker 4>the open ocean where we will meet a mother boat.

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<v Speaker 4>This boat would unload these big belts of drugs and

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<v Speaker 4>we will hold them in and we would get paid

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<v Speaker 4>big amounts of money. After a while, we graduated to

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<v Speaker 4>wanting out to be distributing cocaine. And if we're making

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<v Speaker 4>a lot of money running the boats, this kid of

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<v Speaker 4>money duplicated and here we are money and I out

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<v Speaker 4>there at the disco with more money in our pockets

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<v Speaker 4>that we know what to do with. There was a

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<v Speaker 4>lot of competition, and there was a lot of bloodshed,

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<v Speaker 4>and the streets of Miami got very dangerous, and I

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<v Speaker 4>found myself caught up in this business of money and blood.

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<v Speaker 4>I would literally walk over their bodies and left person

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<v Speaker 4>that I knew behind to die. I spent close to

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<v Speaker 4>three or four years as a fugitive. Peace wasn't part

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<v Speaker 4>of my life. Love wasn't part of my life. It

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<v Speaker 4>was something that was foreign because you didn't trust anybody's

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<v Speaker 4>During this time that I was hiding out, if you

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<v Speaker 4>will in a bar, that I meet this beautiful girl

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<v Speaker 4>that is ten years younger than me. I wasn't out

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<v Speaker 4>to meet anybody. I wasn't out for a relationship, and

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<v Speaker 4>I kind of actually ran away from her, even though

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<v Speaker 4>there was a sense that there was something special about her.

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<v Speaker 4>In nineteen eighty nine, the law finally caught up with

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<v Speaker 4>me and I ended up doing close to five years

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<v Speaker 4>in a federal institution in Tallahassee.

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<v Speaker 3>I got out of.

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<v Speaker 4>Prison and I did my time. While at a restaurant

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<v Speaker 4>one night, I ran into Doris's stepfather and this is

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<v Speaker 4>when he breaking the news that Doris has been waiting

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<v Speaker 4>for me all this time, and she never gave up,

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<v Speaker 4>and she invited me to come to church with her.

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<v Speaker 4>Next day, he I'm sitting at church and I'm sitting

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<v Speaker 4>by myself because she was part of the choir. I

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<v Speaker 4>don't know how this came about, but next thing I know,

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<v Speaker 4>I was up front, crying like a baby, giving my

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<v Speaker 4>life to Jesus. I had a hard time understanding why

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<v Speaker 4>will God receive me after the lifestyle that I lived,

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<v Speaker 4>How he will love on me and accept me. That

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<v Speaker 4>beautiful girl that I met that dark night in my

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<v Speaker 4>life is today my wife. Come June sixth, it will

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<v Speaker 4>be a fourteenth anniversary out of this love union. We

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<v Speaker 4>have two beautiful children, Samuel or my little man, he's thirteen,

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<v Speaker 4>and Teresa, my baby girl, she's seven. So, as I

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<v Speaker 4>have shared this with you, I only had done it

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<v Speaker 4>with one thing in mind, and it's knowing that if

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<v Speaker 4>I went through all of these changes, and I did

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<v Speaker 4>all of this and yet He received me, I know

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<v Speaker 4>that doesn't matter what it is that you've done. Doesn't

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<v Speaker 4>matter what it is that you have gone through, or

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<v Speaker 4>even someone you love. Nothing that will hold you, that

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<v Speaker 4>will keep you away from that will separate you from

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<v Speaker 4>the love of our most wonderful creator, the Lord Jesus Christ.

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<v Speaker 3>Now you may think.

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<v Speaker 2>God would never accept me, Well, he accepted Leo. Only

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<v Speaker 2>God can make changes like that. Now, let's review the

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<v Speaker 2>greatest verse in the world. God so loved you, the

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<v Speaker 2>greatest love that he gave his only begotten son, the

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<v Speaker 2>greatest sacrifice. Nobody's ever made that kind of sacrifice for you,

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<v Speaker 2>that whoever believes in him should not perish. That's the

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<v Speaker 2>greatest offer. But have eternal life. That's the greatest gift.

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<v Speaker 2>You know, you get a lot of gifts at Christmas

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<v Speaker 2>that don't last six months, much less sixty years. Some

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<v Speaker 2>of your gifts, most of your gifts you can't even

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<v Speaker 2>remember what you got last year. This is a gift

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<v Speaker 2>that will last forever, eternal life. Now what does that

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<v Speaker 2>mean you say, was like going to heaven. Oh yeah,

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<v Speaker 2>it involves heaven. But eternal life is far more than

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<v Speaker 2>just duration. It involves donation. It's a quality of life.

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<v Speaker 2>In fact, there are three parts to eternal life. It

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<v Speaker 2>begins the moment you open your heart to Christ. It's

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<v Speaker 2>your past, it's your present, in your future. It's three dimensional.

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<v Speaker 2>Now listen very closely. When you invite Christ into your

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<v Speaker 2>life and accept this salvation, three things happen. You get

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<v Speaker 2>your past forgiven, you get a purpose for living, You

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<v Speaker 2>get a home in heaven. It takes care of your past,

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<v Speaker 2>your present, your future, past forgiven, everything you've ever done wrong,

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<v Speaker 2>wiped out purpose for living while you're here on earth,

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<v Speaker 2>home in heaven for eternity. Where are you going to

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<v Speaker 2>get a deal like that? Only God can make that

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<v Speaker 2>kind of offer to you. And it is the free gift.

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<v Speaker 2>And it's what Christmas is all about. Do you know

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<v Speaker 2>why we give gifts at Christmas? It's because God gave

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<v Speaker 2>us the first gift, the first gift of his son,

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<v Speaker 2>Jesus Christ, and we give gifts in response to that.

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<v Speaker 2>The whole idea of gift giving started because God gave

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<v Speaker 2>you the first gift. Now, how silly would it be

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<v Speaker 2>to go Christmas after Christmas, after Christmas, after Christmas, after Christmas,

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<v Speaker 2>after Christmas, and never open your biggest gift, God's gift

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<v Speaker 2>to you, the whole reason for Christmas.

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<v Speaker 3>God so loved the world that he gave.

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<v Speaker 2>His son that if you will believe in Him, you

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<v Speaker 2>will not perish, but have everlasting life, past, forgiven, purpose

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<v Speaker 2>for living home in heaven.

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<v Speaker 3>Look of what the Bible.

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<v Speaker 2>Says, because Jesus was raised from the dead, we have

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<v Speaker 2>been given a brand new life. That's the past completely,

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<v Speaker 2>you know, wiped out. Get a new life, have everything

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<v Speaker 2>to live for that's the present, and have a future

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<v Speaker 2>in heaven. That's the future, and the future starts now.

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<v Speaker 2>I wonder how many of these dimensions are you living

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<v Speaker 2>in right now? Has your past been forgiven? Are you

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<v Speaker 2>still caring around grilt, regrets, resentment, and grudges? Don't carry

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<v Speaker 2>those into the new decade, leave them here, let them

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<v Speaker 2>go the God. Are you living with a purpose in

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<v Speaker 2>life or you're just going to be in drifting around

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<v Speaker 2>being pressured? So you'll either live by purpose or live

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<v Speaker 2>by pressure in life? How about heaven? Are you certain

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<v Speaker 2>of your home in heaven? Are you afraid of death.

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<v Speaker 2>I'm not afraid of death. I've been afraid of death

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<v Speaker 2>for years. He says, I want to give you these things,

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<v Speaker 2>and not only that, you become a part of God's family.

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<v Speaker 2>The Bible says this, God's unchanging plan has always been

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<v Speaker 2>to adopt us into his own family by bringing us

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<v Speaker 2>to himself through Jesus Christ. Now follow me very closely

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<v Speaker 2>on this. Everybody in the world is created by God.

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<v Speaker 2>Everybody in the world is loved by God. But not

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<v Speaker 2>everybody in the world is in the family of God.

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<v Speaker 2>Because that's a choice. God's not going to force you

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<v Speaker 2>to love him. You must choose to love his son

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<v Speaker 2>to get in his family, and he's not going to

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<v Speaker 2>force you to do that. You see, when you were

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<v Speaker 2>born physically, you automatically became a part of the human

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<v Speaker 2>You didn't have a choice. Sorry, you're part of the

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<v Speaker 2>human race, but you didn't become a part of any

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<v Speaker 2>specific family till somebody chose to take you home from

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<v Speaker 2>the hospital.

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<v Speaker 3>You must choose to be.

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<v Speaker 2>A part of God's family. Now, what would keep me

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<v Speaker 2>from accepting this gift? Well, there are a couple things.

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<v Speaker 2>One of them is feared. I wish somebody had told

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<v Speaker 2>me a long time ago that I didn't have to

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<v Speaker 2>have all my doubts answered and all my questions saw

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<v Speaker 2>before I began a relationship with Jesus Christ, I would

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<v Speaker 2>have done it a whole lot sooner. I just didn't

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<v Speaker 2>understand that. You see, I've been a friend of Christ

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<v Speaker 2>for over forty years now, and I read this book,

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<v Speaker 2>the Bible. There's still a lot of stuff in here

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<v Speaker 2>I don't understand. There's still things I have doubts about.

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<v Speaker 2>I have questions about. In fact, I've made a list,

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<v Speaker 2>and when I get to Heaven, I'm going to ask God, now,

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<v Speaker 2>why did you do this? And why did you say this?

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<v Speaker 2>And why did you do that? And you see, if

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<v Speaker 2>I had been God, I wouldn't have done that. You

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<v Speaker 2>ought to be glad I'm not God. I'm glad you're

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<v Speaker 2>not God. But there are a lot of things I

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<v Speaker 2>don't understand that I have doubts, I have questions about.

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<v Speaker 3>So what.

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<v Speaker 2>That didn't stop me from enjoying a relationship with Christ.

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<v Speaker 2>There's not a single other area in your life where

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<v Speaker 2>you have to have everything figured out before you enjoy

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<v Speaker 2>the benefit. You certainly didn't understand what it meant to

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<v Speaker 2>be a parent before you became a parent. I mean,

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<v Speaker 2>you get on planes all the time. I doubt you

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<v Speaker 2>understand how the physics of aerospace and aerodynamics. I certainly

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<v Speaker 2>don't know how a multi ton engine can fly up

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<v Speaker 2>in the air, but I still trust the plane to

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<v Speaker 2>get me somewhere. You don't understand how all a plane works,

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<v Speaker 2>but you trusted to get you somewhere. I don't understand

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<v Speaker 2>how right now there are radio and TV waves coming

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<v Speaker 2>through this auditorium and with sound and pictures, and they're

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<v Speaker 2>actually going through your body right now. I can't prove it,

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<v Speaker 2>but they are. But if I have a tuner, I

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<v Speaker 2>can tune it in and it doesn't stop me from

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<v Speaker 2>watching television just because.

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<v Speaker 3>I don't understand how it works.

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<v Speaker 2>I don't understand internal combustion doesn't stop me from driving

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<v Speaker 2>a car. Shoot, I don't understand the chemistry of digestion

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<v Speaker 2>or taste buds, but it stop doesn't stop me from

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<v Speaker 2>eating a cinnamon. How about if I said I'm never

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<v Speaker 2>gonna eat till I understand digestion, well, I'm never gonna happen.

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<v Speaker 3>You don't have to understand it all.

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<v Speaker 2>You just have to enjoy what you got and over

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<v Speaker 2>the time, you'll get to understand it better and better.

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<v Speaker 2>One of my favorite stories in the Bible is this

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<v Speaker 2>guy comes to Jesus one day and he's just an

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<v Speaker 2>honest guy and he says, Lord, my daughter's sick and

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<v Speaker 2>I really she needs to be healed. And Jesus looks

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<v Speaker 2>at the guy and says, do you believe I could

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<v Speaker 2>heal her? And I love this guy because he's honest,

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<v Speaker 2>he's authentic. He says, well, I want to believe. Help

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<v Speaker 2>with my doubt. That's a classic answer, I want to believe,

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<v Speaker 2>help me with my doubt. And Jesus says that's good enough, bam,

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<v Speaker 2>and he heals her. Did you know that you can

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<v Speaker 2>say that today, this Christmas, that gift that's been under

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<v Speaker 2>the Christmas tree every year of your life and you've

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<v Speaker 2>never unwrapped it, the gift of salvation. You can say,

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<v Speaker 2>I want to believe, help me with my doubt, and

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<v Speaker 2>Jesus will say.

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<v Speaker 3>That's good enough.

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<v Speaker 2>The other reason that keeps us from making that acceptance

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<v Speaker 2>of God's gift Christmas gift us is actually hurt. Because

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<v Speaker 2>when we get hurt, and everybody gets hurt in life,

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<v Speaker 2>we typically build walls around us and we say it,

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<v Speaker 2>I'm never again gonna let any woman hurt me. I'm

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<v Speaker 2>never gonna again let any man hurt me. I'm never

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<v Speaker 2>gonna again let anybody get close to me. I'm not

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<v Speaker 2>gonna get suckered. I'm not gonna And we build up

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<v Speaker 2>these walls, and sometimes we even build up barriers against God.

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<v Speaker 2>Now God hadn't hurt you. Other people have heard you.

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<v Speaker 2>We say, well, my brother died, so you get mad

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<v Speaker 2>at God. Or I had a friend who died in

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<v Speaker 2>the war, so you get mad at God. God didn't

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<v Speaker 2>cause that. Most of it happens in the world is

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<v Speaker 2>not God's will. That's why I were to pray Thy

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<v Speaker 2>will be done on earth. Most of the things that

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<v Speaker 2>happen is my will, your will, and the will of

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<v Speaker 2>other sinful people, and all the problems God's going. Why

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<v Speaker 2>are you guys doing that? Now you can stop it,

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<v Speaker 2>real simple, take away your free will and everybody else's.

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<v Speaker 2>But he wants us to have a choice. Maybe you've

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<v Speaker 2>been hurt in a marriage, Maybe you've been hurt in

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<v Speaker 2>a business. Maybe you've been hurt by a friend who

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<v Speaker 2>betrayed you. Maybe you've been hurt by religion, maybe by

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<v Speaker 2>a church maybe you've been hurt by Saddleback Church, this church.

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<v Speaker 2>I'm sorry. I'm sorry if you've been hurt. But let

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<v Speaker 2>me give you a little friendly advice. Don't ever let

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<v Speaker 2>the sins of other people keep you from God.

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<v Speaker 3>That's stupid. God didn't hurt you.

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<v Speaker 2>Don't ever let the sins of other people keep you

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<v Speaker 2>from God. You know, Kay went shopping this week for

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<v Speaker 2>Christmas shopping. When she came home, she'd been to Macy's

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<v Speaker 2>and I was interested that the cover of the Macy's

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<v Speaker 2>bag says.

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<v Speaker 3>A million reasons to believe.

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<v Speaker 2>That's interesting at Christmas, a million reasons to believe. But

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<v Speaker 2>you know, the truth is, you don't need a million

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<v Speaker 2>reasons to believe. You only need one reason to believe.

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<v Speaker 2>God loves you. He made you, he created you, he

401
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<v Speaker 2>loves you. He sent his son to die for you,

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<v Speaker 2>and he did it all because God so loved you.

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<v Speaker 3>It's bow our heads.

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<v Speaker 2>Father, I want to thank you for your amazing love

405
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<v Speaker 2>for us, for your grace. I thank you that you

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<v Speaker 2>love us even when we don't deserve it. Thank you that,

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<v Speaker 2>even when we don't feel it, that you are consistent

408
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<v Speaker 2>when we're inconsistent. And Lord, there are people here today

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<v Speaker 2>who know about you, but they don't really know you.

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<v Speaker 2>They don't have a friendship with you like I do.

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<v Speaker 2>They don't have a personal relationship with you. You seem distant,

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<v Speaker 2>detached to them. So today I pray that they will experience,

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<v Speaker 2>not just know, but experience your love completely and receive

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<v Speaker 2>your Christmas gift. Now you pray, just doesn't matter what

415
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<v Speaker 2>you say. Just say yes to God. Say yes. You're

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<v Speaker 2>confessing Jesus as the lord of your life. He said, Well,

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<v Speaker 2>I them know what to pray. Okay, I'll say some words,

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<v Speaker 2>and if this makes sense to you, you say me too.

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<v Speaker 3>God.

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<v Speaker 2>Dear God, I haven't talked to you in a long time,

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<v Speaker 2>maybe never, But I thank you for loving me, thank

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<v Speaker 2>you for wanting me, thank you for creating me. I

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<v Speaker 2>admit that I often take your love and the good

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<v Speaker 2>things you've done in my life for granted, and I'm sorry,

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<v Speaker 2>and I want to be more grateful this Christmas. I

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<v Speaker 2>want to accept the Christmas gift of your son, Jesus Christ.

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<v Speaker 3>God.

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<v Speaker 2>I don't understand it all, but as much as I

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<v Speaker 2>know how, I want to open my life to you.

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<v Speaker 3>I want to be under new management. Jesus Christ.

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<v Speaker 2>I need you to be my savior because I know

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<v Speaker 2>I'm not perfect and I could never get into heaven

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<v Speaker 2>on my own. So I want to ask you to

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<v Speaker 2>forgive my past. I ask you to give me a

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<v Speaker 2>purpose in the present, and I ask you to give

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<v Speaker 2>me a home in heaven in the future. And I

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<v Speaker 2>want to learn to trust you and love you. Amen.

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<v Speaker 1>Wow, thank you Rick for that amazing message. You know

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<v Speaker 1>people are being transformed by these messages every day, but

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<v Speaker 1>that's only because of your partnership with us. In fact,

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<v Speaker 1>here's Rick to share some important news with you.

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<v Speaker 2>Let's be honest about this time of year. At the

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<v Speaker 2>end of every year, there are so many ministries that

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<v Speaker 2>ask for you to support them in the end of

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<v Speaker 2>your giving. And you know what, we believe in every

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<v Speaker 2>ministry that proclaims the name of Jesus, and we thank

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<v Speaker 2>God for them. And I know it can be difficult

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<v Speaker 2>to decide who to give to, So let me just

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<v Speaker 2>give you some biblical foundations for giving, some simple guidelines

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<v Speaker 2>for end of your giving. You might think of these

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<v Speaker 2>three or four things. Number one, give to the ministry

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<v Speaker 2>that God tells you to support. Go to God, pray

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<v Speaker 2>to him, ask him, say God, who do you want

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<v Speaker 2>me to support and you know what, I support you

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<v Speaker 2>giving to whoever God tells you.

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<v Speaker 3>To give to.

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<v Speaker 2>And if it's not Daily Hope, I still support you

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<v Speaker 2>to give to who God tells you to give to.

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<v Speaker 2>So pray and ask God. Second, never give when you

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<v Speaker 2>feel pressured. The Bible says in Corinthians that we are

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<v Speaker 2>to never give under pressure or compulsion or under guilt.

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<v Speaker 2>So if you ever feel guilty about giving, don't give

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<v Speaker 2>because God tells you in the Word not to give

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<v Speaker 2>at that time. Give because you want to give, not

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<v Speaker 2>out of guilt or pressure. Number three, give to where

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<v Speaker 2>you support and believe in the goals of that particular ministry. Now,

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<v Speaker 2>every ministry has different goals. But if you believe in

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<v Speaker 2>and have a heart for going to the last, the least,

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<v Speaker 2>and the loss, this would be a ministry you should

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<v Speaker 2>consider supporting and then finally give where your gift will

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<v Speaker 2>be multiplied. For instance, at the end of every year,

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<v Speaker 2>there is a donor to Daily Hope who offers to

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<v Speaker 2>give a matching grant to apply to any donation that

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<v Speaker 2>we receive before the end of the year. Now what

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<v Speaker 2>this means is that for every dollar you are able

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<v Speaker 2>to give this month the Daily Hope, it's going to

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<v Speaker 2>be doubled. That donor will match it. That multiplies your gift.

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<v Speaker 2>Like the little boy who brought his loaves and fishes

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<v Speaker 2>to Jesus, and Jesus read the five thousand. If you

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<v Speaker 2>give twenty five dollars to Daily Hope this month, the

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<v Speaker 2>matching grant will match it at twenty five dollars. If

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<v Speaker 2>you're able to give one hundred dollars, the matching grant

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<v Speaker 2>will add another one hundred dollars. That multiplies your gift.

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<v Speaker 2>I would consider that as a factor in where to

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<v Speaker 2>give during this month. Now let me just say this.

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<v Speaker 2>If you can't help us financially, that's okay, I understand,

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<v Speaker 2>but I would ask that you pray for us. I'm

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<v Speaker 2>so grateful for those of you who are a financial

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<v Speaker 2>supporter of this ministry that monthly giving, month after month.

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<v Speaker 2>It means so much to me, it means much to God,

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<v Speaker 2>but it means so much for eternity to those who

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<v Speaker 2>are hearing the good news for the very first time.

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<v Speaker 2>And so you and I are partners together in reaching

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<v Speaker 2>people for Christ all around the world. Closing, let me

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<v Speaker 2>just ask you to continue to pray pray for me

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<v Speaker 2>as I pray for you, and pray that God's word

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<v Speaker 2>will be taught clearly, with compassion, with clarity, with simplicity

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<v Speaker 2>in this new year, and then it will not only

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<v Speaker 2>help you as you listen to these broadcasts, but it

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<v Speaker 2>will help us reach people for Christ and disciple believers

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<v Speaker 2>and build churches all around the world, especially in the

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<v Speaker 2>tribes that have never heard the name of Christ. Thanks

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<v Speaker 2>for your generosity, thanks for your prayers, and God bless you.

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<v Speaker 1>All this month. Every dollar you give to help Daily

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<v Speaker 1>Hope share the transforming love of Jesus with people around

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<v Speaker 1>the world will be matched up to one hundred thousand dollars.

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<v Speaker 1>You can give right now by going to pastor Rick

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<v Speaker 1>dot com, or you can just text the word hope

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<v Speaker 1>to seven oh three to oh nine. Again, that's pastor

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<v Speaker 1>Rick dot com. Or just text the word hope to

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<v Speaker 1>seven oh three oh nine and thank you so much

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<v Speaker 1>for your self. Be sure to join us next time

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<v Speaker 1>as we look into God's Word for our daily hope.

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<v Speaker 1>This program is sponsored by Pastor Rick's Daily Hope and

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<v Speaker 1>your generous financial support