Going to Work on Gentleness

Today we exist in a society that is increasingly growing coarser in demeanor under the guise of being real. This is me, being me, of, in words sometimes used, being authentic. And people trying to be authentic and connecting with those around them do not go up, but they go down in the way that they enter other people's lives. Language is increasingly becoming coupled with overbearing attitudes that are invasive, that are in your face, and are designed to be verbally and mentally disruptive, to put the other person off. It's amazing that when I hear social media today, when I hear politicians speak, I remember as a boy growing up in the 1950s with some of the words that they used, that they used, my mother had an appointment with me in the restroom.

And she had a bar of soap. I don't know if you've ever had that experience before. But that's how they used to cure a little boy's tongue from saying words that ought not be said. But today it seems as if our politicians have become recycled teenagers and think they're cute and think they're real and think they're authentic by using language that is coarse and frankly ineffective and shows a lack of maturity.

Such lack of civility, fueled by emotional immaturity, is spanning all groups anymore. I hear it everywhere, all ages, all backgrounds, not going up but coming down and becoming coarser, becoming crude, and not what we need to be as the people of God. The bottom line is simply this. Respect and thoughtfulness towards others' spaces is rapidly diminishing as boundaries are being purposefully trespassed. Is it any wonder then, is it any wonder that I turn to the Scripture that I'd like to invite you all to turn as we begin this story together? Join me over into 2 Timothy 3. In 2 Timothy 3 and picking up the thought in verse 1.

2 Timothy 3 and verse 1. But know this. What does that mean? Get it. But know this. That in the last days perilous times will come. Now notice the descriptive of the last times. For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, we don't have any of that today in our news, on the street, no, not at all, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers.

And notice this, because I think this is the most important thing spoken, without self-control. Brutal. The spicers of good. What we find here are people that are out of control, and they're headstrong, and they're brutal. This is the world that we live in. The amp, as it were, in communication coming from all streams of media these days, and politics, and in the school, and at work, and what people think goes, is going down and down and down.

Now, why do I bring this up? Thank you for asking that question. The big question is this, how do you, and how do I, how do we, as disciples of Jesus Christ, enter, touchdown, and exit in other people's lives? I'm not talking about the politicians. I'm not talking about the crude language that social media, podcasters, sports people today use. Unbelievable. Not acceptable in our Christian community. Allow me to use an analogy regarding air travel, and all of us at one time or another have been on air. We recognize that there are takeoffs, and there are landings. Have you ever come into San Diego Airport International?

I still call it Lindbergh. I know that faded years ago. I haven't grown up in San Diego. But coming into San Diego International, you come over downtown, which is always exciting. That's why all the buildings are only 500 feet high. You could almost walk right across the pathway, because they have to make room for the planes. Did you know that? That's why we do that. But then you come down, and the plane comes down, and not always, but sometimes it's as smooth as butter.

That didn't just happen. That takes practice, that takes awareness, that takes training, and you come off and go, wow, that was really neat, because all of us have had enough bumpy rides at times, for one reason or another. But that was a smooth landing. I always like to, you know, the stewardesses and the captain are always at the front, you know, as you're going off. I talk to the captain, I say, no, that was really good. Thank you very, very much. Well, that's a little bit like life. We have takeoffs, and we have landings, as we enter people's lives. And that's what I would like to further discuss with you today, because it doesn't just happen.

As I said before, it takes training, awareness, and focused practice. Likewise, as we move down the tarmac of life, getting ready for potentially bumpy landings and turbulent exits, and they will come, what will we do in our landings and in our encounters in the lives of other people? And this is not a maybe, but it will. Therefore, whom then do we turn to? There has never been anyone more noted for such perfect takeoffs and landings in others' lives than Jesus of Nazareth. He is, you know, when you think of this word that's being tossed around today, about being authentic. He's the most authentic individual ever born of woman that walked this earth.

What you saw is what you got. He was the same inside and out and outside and in. And it's very interesting what is mentioned about this individual. The one who is the Lord of our life, the one that is our coach, the one who says, follow me, walk after me.

Let's look at what he says in Matthew 11. Join me if you would for a moment. Matthew 11 and verse 28. In Matthew 11 and verse 28, notice what he says. Come, that's welcoming, come to me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for notice I am gentle and lowly in heart. And you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. Very interesting when we look at verse 29, you see something that is coupled and it's there for a purpose.

He says, I am, notice what he says, I am gentle and lowly in heart. We're going to be talking about that the rest of this message, of how to be gentle and to recognize that there's this coming together of being lowly in heart and, or we'll use the word humble and becoming gentle. And we're going to find as we go through this message that gentleness is rooted in the soil of humility.

And that's how it works. And that's how I just ask you, how humble are you? How humble am I? As we encounter people, which is very important. In Galatians 5 verse 22, join me if you would over there for a second. In Galatians 5 and verse 22. Galatians 5 verse 22. But, remember what I always say about words. Words have meaning. Somebody just brought that up before services.

I forget who it was. Words mean something. When you have the word but, that's to get our attention. But, the fruit of the Spirit, because this is in contrast to the deeds of man. But, the fruits of the Spirit is love and joy and peace, long suffering, kindness, goodness and faithfulness. Where's gentleness? Oh, I've got to turn the page. Notice.

Gentleness and with gentleness, notice, comma, self-control. And against such, all of these, there is no law. Scripture is blaring out, this is good, this is how it ought to be. This is like the inside of Jesus Christ. You're on the way. You're following the footsteps of the Master. And He welcomes people into His midst because He is gentle. He is understanding. And of all that, He's the one that created the universe under His Father.

That with this power and all that came in His way, He is gentle and welcomes us into His company. Interesting. And then, let's continue here. And those who are Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Now notice this, verse 25, if we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another. Is that happening today in the world around us? Does that happen in the sports world? Does that happen in the political world? Or have all manners been lost in civility and in communication? And being able to dialogue with people that maybe even you don't agree with?

Interesting. You notice it says, if we're going to live in the Spirit, we've got to walk in the Spirit. That means we have to exercise. It doesn't just happen becoming gentle. I'm talking to men, and I'm talking to women. I'm talking to people that are older, middle age, younger.

You know the old thing where when you go to a rivalry range, what's the key phrase? Ready? Aim? Fire! What's communication like today in the world around us? It's just converse to that. Fire. Ready? Aim. Shrapnel. Emotional hurt. Pushing off somebody. Distancing ourselves from our fellow citizens, our fellow students, maybe our fellow co-workers at work. And remember, we are to have the light of Jesus Christ in us. We may not necessarily be able to change the world right now, but we can change ourselves.

The title of this message is simply this, Going to Work on Gentleness. Let's talk. Before diving into the body of this message, let's put some space between being a soft touch and a gentle touch. A soft touch and a gentle touch. I remember growing up there was that commercial, I forget which one it was, reach out and touch somebody. Reach out and touch somebody. We do that every day as we encounter people and not only stand still but walk into their lives by our body language, by our personal language, by the ears that we use rather than the tongue that gets ahead of our ears and listening. It takes training. It takes practice.

Just like hitting the target, not fire-ready aim, aim-ready fire. And I see more and more, maybe people's minds are so crowded with the information that comes out of the social world and the computer world and all of that, that maybe if they took time to think, maybe they wouldn't quite put it that way.

Because when you're putting things that way in a coarse manner, you're not drawing anybody to you. You're repelling them. You're repulsing them. And we've been called to do something different than that. There is a difference between being a soft touch and a gentle touch.

Now, when we think of soft touch, God has not called us to necessarily just be a soft touch. Remember, Jesus himself is not only the Lamb of God but the Lion of Judah.

There's a multiple personality within him that he uses in the right time, in the right way, for the right outcome. A soft touch is a person who is easily imposed upon or taken advantage of. A gentle touch is executed with forethought, with love, and controlled towards an ongoing, meaningful relationship. I'm going to give you five quick points. Number one, let's begin by asking why we need to go to work on gentleness. Very good. Join me if you would in 1 Timothy 6.11. 1 Timothy.

Notice what it says. Maybe you've never landed on this verse just the way I have. But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, faith, love, patience. And notice what's last. And gentleness. Hey, guys, can I talk a moment? Ladies, you don't have to listen to this, okay? Remember when you saw good-looking over there and you were ready to go pursue her? Nothing was going to hold you back. Am I talking to men here? Nothing's going to hold you back. There is a lady that seemingly is of your dreams that you want to get to know better. You would turn every corner, do this, do that, boom, boom, boom, and be there. To pursue means to run after. It means to go after. It means to lean forward and give it all that you have to draw upon the power and the wisdom and the love of God's Spirit, to actively nurture development of the seed of His Spirit planted in you so as to bear fruit in your life, and that of others. Let's remember something. I want to explain this. When we receive God's Holy Spirit, we receive the essence of the Father and the Son to dwell in us and to be planted in the soil of our heart. That is their essence. But you don't have a natural or metaphorical fruit stand in your heart at this time of love and joy. It's not like a store shelf load. Okay, now you've got love, now you've got this. No, those are seeds that are planted that need to be nurtured and watered and handled and turned over. And like any landscaping, even of your heart, they be weeded. And then that fruit grows. It's not fruit and spirit. You have the Spirit. That is the catalyst. That is the essence. You've got the seed of all that God, the Father, and Jesus Christ are. But then, if you don't act on that, if you don't train for it, if it's fire-ready aim, you don't exercise, you don't walk in the Spirit, it's not going to grow. And the way you walk in the Spirit sometimes is come up to a situation that is how you used to handle it one way. But now understanding that Jesus Christ is that gentle one, we want to emulate Him. The bottom line is that gentleness is planted in the soil of humility. That enables us to knock on people's doors. You know, it's a privilege to come into other people's lives. It's not necessarily a right. It's a privilege. And every day, whether it's a co-worker, whether it's a student that you're at school with, whether it's a relative, whether it's your mate, hello, it's a privilege. And, you know, what you do normally when you go through a door, you knock first. It gives you a moment of space. It gives the other person a moment of space to come as that door opens and interact personally. Let me explain something to you for a moment.

I brought these up. You know what happens when we have disagreements? We have arguments? We have back and forth between friends? What's going on? And it heightens. It gets bigger. It gets bigger. I know none of you have ever...maybe you're looking at me as Weber for real. Why is he up here speaking? It sounds like he's got problems. No, I'm a human being. And you're human beings. And God's called us to a higher level to be like Jesus Christ. What we do sometimes when we get into conflict... Kids out there, listen up. You'll remember this one. Sometimes husbands and wives, in-laws, mother-in-laws, daughter-in-laws, bosses, employees, coworkers, whatever. We get into it, day to day. And we think we're dealing with paper cups. Paper cups.

Keep on going at it. Nobody's stopping it. Nobody's stopping, right? They're looking pretty good. And the worst thing that happens if it gets even more intense just goes back. But that's not what I want to show you. Because people aren't really paper cups.

They're like this. And what happens? What do we do when we come at one another with words that belittle the other person? When we try to bring the other person down to bring ourselves up. And we no longer have that gentle touch of Jesus Christ. But we're poking with the spirit of this world. And we know who the God of this age is. And so it begins to happen.

Anybody want me to go harder? Then why do you do it at home? Thinking that somebody on the other side of this is not going to break. Why don't you remember this?

Pictures worth a thousand words. Don't want to break these or I'm in trouble with Susan.

But we just do it. Because we are so right, and the other person is so wrong, or at least we think so. And we don't think anybody's going to crack up. We don't think there's going to be a fissure. We don't think that there's going to be something that ultimately can't be sealed. All we have is to blame ourselves for not following in the footsteps of Jesus, having humility, and recognizing a gentle spirit. A gentle spirit will draw something out of somebody that we never could with all of our rightness, and all of our words, all of our put-downs, to make us feel bigger than the other person. Ephesians 4, verse 1.

I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you. In other words, I put my heart out, all the way out there for you, to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called. Notice again, with all lowliness, gentleness, with doesn't come easily. That's why you have to walk in the spirit and get our exercise, or the weight of human nature isn't going to fall off, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace. Notice how that comes out. And here Paul's in prison, and he's trying to teach from prison how to follow the example of Jesus Christ. In Philippians 4, verse 5, join me if you would for a second. Philippians 4, verse 5. Notice what it says here. Let your, not mine, your, let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. As disciples of Jesus Christ, remembering what our Lord said, you are the salt of the earth. You're the light of this world. I am the big light. I am the light, John 8. But that you are lights too. And people may never understand, people may never understand why we believe, what we believe, how we follow scripture, etc., etc., etc. But always remember, the most important sermon that you will ever give is not in words, but by your example.

That you're known as a person.

Spiritual maturity. How you got there? They may not understand. But they come to understand that you really are, in your own way, striving to follow Jesus Christ. We are a walking, talking advertisement for the kingdom of God.

You, in your bedrooms, in the hallways at work, at the playgrounds at school, young ladies. Got them. They're up. I had to watch you all this time. Now you get to watch me.

We are. We are to be a light.

Notice 1 Timothy 3 and verse 3.

It says here, actually at verse 1, this is a faithful saying, and this is talking about people that perhaps are going to become an elder, become a minister, become a pastor, etc. Talks about a bishop, then must be blameless, blah, blah, blah. But then down in verse 3, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous. Gentle. Right now, I'm involved in a podcast. Mr. Victor Kubik, I think most of us know Mr. Kubik over the years. We're dear friends. Also, Daris McNeely. Daris, Vic, and I are all dear friends. We've worked together in many gigantic situations over the years in the United Church of God. And Vic decided to have a podcast with the old guys. All of us have over 50 years of ministerial experience. And we just gave a podcast. It's not out yet, but it was on what we know now and how we wish that we had known it when we became young elders in our 20s. And how we approach people.

It's a very interesting podcast. Maybe I'll send it to you. But you have to start somewhere, don't you? And you have to learn. And that's the important thing. And so a lot of this has been weighing on my mind. Let me go to point number two. Gentleness allows others to grow. Oh, there's outcomes for other people. Gentleness allows others to grow. Join me if you would in 1 Thessalonians 2. 1 Thessalonians 2. And picking up the thought if we could in verse 4. Notice what it says here.

But 1 Thessalonians 2 verse 4. But as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts. For neither at any time did we use flattering words, as you know, nor a cloak for covenantless God has witnessed. Now notice verse 6. Nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others, when we might have made demands as apostles of Christ. Look who I am! Look, I saw Christ on the road to Damascus, and I am so special. Therefore you have to hear me.

Notice what it says. Verse 7. But we were gentle among you, just as a nursing mother cherishes her own children. Cherishes their own children.

Think about that. Think of a mother nursing that baby, and where that contact comes from. That bond. It's kind of fun again having a couple great-grandchildren, watching the eyes turn. You know it can be a crowded room. But the eyes will always turn to the mother. Dads were kind of in second at times, in her own way. But they'll turn to the mother, because that was their connection. That was their touch coming into life. And it was gentle. It was bonding. It was nurturing. And for life. That touch creates a lifelong pattern of affinity and togetherness. Oftentimes in battlefields, oftentimes when men are dying in trenches, they go back to when they're a child. And you know who they're asking for? They're asking for their mother. They're asking for their mothers. And thank God above that He put that in this special creation of the sixth day. And that's how we ought to be with other people, like that mother nourishing her child. Not repelling people. That doesn't mean to put up with baloney. Are you with me? I'm not talking about being a soft touch. But for you, when you're encountering, when you walk into the door of somebody's life, that you come like the master. You start with gentility. You start like Paul. Paul had to be like a human volcano at times when he read his writings. He did not suffer fools. You can just go to some of the early stories in the book of Acts. But when it came to the brethren, in the book of 2 Corinthians, which is actually 3 Corinthians, Bob already knows that because Bob knows everything about the Bible. But 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians is basically saying, way to go. I went pretty tough on you in 1 Corinthians. You folks were not an example of what the church of God ought to be, but you know, you kind of made a rebound. You listened to me. And he talks about the gentleness that is there now. There's a time to be bold. There's a time to be gentle, and we need to understand that. I want to share a thought with you here. Psalm 15 and verse 4. Psalm 15 verse 4.

I love this verse, and I hope I can tuck it in your heart way down deep. Psalm 15 and verse 4. Notice what it says here. Psalm 15. Excuse me a second. I did have it. Oh, did I say Psalm? Proverbs. Pardon me. Proverbs 15.4. Notice what it says. A wholesome tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit. Breaks the spirit. Have you met these two before? Oh, same audience, but remember this. It says a tongue that is loose, not in training, not walking in the spirit. When you walk in the spirit, that's not just an event. That's not just an event. It's an existence of walking in the spirit. Once we were baptized and have to have BJ back, his wife, he was baptized a couple of weeks ago, you're to be a new creation. We were not to go back. And we're to emulate this authentic individual sent down to us from heaven to emulate and not to break people.

I want you to know something here. Chantleness is to allow others to grow. First Kings. Would you join me a second? First Kings. You say, how can First Kings be about gentleness? We're going to find out. First Kings 19 and picking up the thought in verse 11. This is the famous story of Elijah in the wilderness. He's crushed. He's in the cave. He's cohabiting with the bats and the mushrooms in the cave. He's afraid of this woman named Jezebel. Now notice what it says then. Verse 11. Then he said, Go out and stand on the mountain before the Lord, and behold the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains, broke the rocks and places before the Lord. But the Lord was not in the wind, and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. And, three's a charm, maybe, no, and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. Now those are pretty captivating. They grab your attention. Like you see today with people, they want to grab your attention, normally to put you down and bring themselves up. What happens here? And after the earthquake, bah bah bah. And after that, a still, small voice. And so it was when Elijah heard that, that he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave.

And the conversation began with God. How often do we approach people? And maybe there are things that need to be brought up and shared. We're not talking about you and me being soft touches, but we're talking about being gentle. What captured and motivated Elijah's attention when it was said and done? Was it the earthquake? No. Was it the wind? No. Was it the fire? No. But it was a still, small voice.

That reached Elijah and took him from the wilderness and sent him back into the community to continue his ministry. I just have a question for you. When we're dealing with relationships where we're having a touchdown, maybe even a takeoff, is it an earthquake? Is it fire? Is it wind? Is it lightning? Or can we calm down enough and be reasonable enough with the exercise of God's Spirit to perhaps exit in peace for another time and to let patience have its perfect work rather than allowing our words, our anger, our hostility, our rightness to dig a grave deeper and deeper in our relationship? See, I know I'm talking to people that are Sabbatarians. I know I'm talking to people that observe the festivals of God. I know people out here that you are not going to eat piggy and you're not going to eat things that come from the ocean floor that would make you want to throw up if you thought about it, going into your mouth. I know that you tithe faithfully. I know what you do. I know what you do. I know what you do. And you know what I do as a Church of God member. But as God above and as Jesus Christ, our Lord and Master, and the people that we come into contact with as we go down the tarmac of life, would they understand that there's a difference not only from what we believe but what we are that they normally run into in this world? You fill in the blanks. And I've got an answer for myself.

I'm going to skip a point. I'll send you my notes. But I want to share something with you here. We'll make this point number three. Gentleness is a mark of wisdom. Gentleness is a mark of wisdom. As we begin to move towards the conclusion of this message, let me ask you a question. That's when you're supposed to nod. Okay. What is your IQ? Now you're getting personal. What is your IQ? And I am sorry to be personal, but we need to make that comment to come to point. IQ is defined as intelligence quotient. And yes, it's nice to have a lot of smarts upstairs to keep you going and growing. But I'm speaking of a completely different kind of IQ, not based on your intelligent quotient, but stands for your identity quotient as to how you measure up being a disciple of Christ and following in the footsteps of our Master.

You're going to be blazing enough new trails after baptism, but they still need to be in the footsteps of our Master as to how He handled them. The fullness thereof is what truly measures our authenticity. Over 50 years of being an organized religion, being a minister, and this and that, I've met a lot of people that are smart. And they can go into realms of biblical scholarship that are up above the clouds of Olympus. That's kind of a mix, isn't it? Greek mythology and the Bible. But anyway, they're up there.

But while they were dealing with all of this knowledge up here, they forgot the basic matters of the Spirit down here below that God gives us to grow in.

And God doesn't just simply want us to be this and this. So in the Church of God vocabulary, it's oftentimes, when did you know what you know? Is that a common conversation when you meet somebody? Or am I the only one that's been in the Church over 60 years?

We, at times, prize what we know. Not who we are. Not how we are with other people, all people, as we enter down the tarmac for takeoffs and landings. Allow me to take you to James 3 for a second. Would you join me there, please? James 3? In James 3.

James is oftentimes thought of as the Proverbs of the New Testament. A lot of wisdom in the book of James. In James 3 verse 17, I'm going to read it out of the New Living Translation. I apologize. It's very brief, but I think it'll make the point a little bit better. But wisdom from above. Not knowledge, but the wisdom from above is, first of all, pure. It is also peace-loving. It is gentle at times. And it's willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and the fruits of good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere. That means genuine. Sincer is the Latin word. Sincer means without wax. Without wax. And what happened in days of yore, they would take statuary and they would put on a cart back in ancient Rome going down. We talk about Roman roads, but it wasn't like our highways today other than the one that I live by, but we won't talk about that during church. I may not be gentle. But anyway, down that road, and you know what happens? Sometimes the statuary might fall over and break. And so what they would do to save it, they would fill it with wax to put it all back together. So what happens is what you see is not really what you're getting because you don't know what's been cracked and underneath. We are to be more than sincere. We are to be genuine. With the most authentic spirit of individual that ever walked and said that I am meek and I am lowly of spirit. That means, to use an example that really helps with gentleness when you're in a conversation, remember the old expression we've always here? God gave us two ears and only one tongue to maybe get a point across to us of how we enter other people's lives. Have any of you, probably some of the ladies, did any of you ever see the movie Sense and Sensibility? Sense and Sensibility? You remember Sense and Sensibility? This is taken about 1825, 1830. It's so very British and a lot of gentility. I forget the gentleman's name on it. He was very popular at the time. But what they used to do, this is the PowerPoint, so watch this. So what they would do, when you entered into somebody's doorway and came into a room to show civility, to show breeding, to show culture, the man would go like this. I know this is going to be funny, I'm trying to think how he did it. But he would kind of go like this. Before he said anything, he would bow. And the lady that was there, being properly chaperoned, of course, was somebody in the room. She would then curtsy and bow. Susan and I always came away from that movie the first time we saw it about 20, 25 years ago, with the thought, as Christians, maybe we should bow more and talk less. And things might come out better for everybody involved.

Interesting. Let's go to point number four. As we conclude, spiritual growth does not happen in a vacuum. It can't be fire-ready aim. Oh, it can be. And you're going to go nowhere. Remember when your folks used to, especially maybe for boys, I don't know so much for girls, but probably so about boys, we used to be up against the kitchen door and they would mark our height with the ruler. Remember that? You did, women got lit, women were in that too? Okay. But you know, you do that. You go, oh man, look, I'm 21 years old, I'm two feet tall. No, you'd be up here, you know, you'd see growth, especially as you go into puberty and your teenage years and you start shooting up like a stalk of corn. If we don't take this message and apply it into our own life, we're not going to gain stature. We're going to go down. Gentility towards others, even those that you may have challenges with, maybe those that you bump up against every day of your life, like an in-law, like an adult parent, like a mate, of how we enter a room and we bow. But we're not only bowing to that individual before us, I'm saying this in an illustrative pictorial way. When we do that, in that sense in our mind, when we bow, we're bowing before God Almighty and Jesus Christ and worshipping them by the way we conduct ourselves with other people. Because if there's anybody that we want to be authentic, I want to be like Jesus Christ. That's my hero that His Father gave all of us. He is truly authentic. That's our model. That's where our IQ, our identity quotient needs to go to. You can't blame anyone. Well, Dad was like that, so I'm like that. Well, I've got a Heavenly Father now. My father is deceased. Miss him very, very much if he ever knew my dad. He was a Church of God original. I know the Sievers remember him. There's nothing like Jack Weber. But I've got a Heavenly Father. That's who I walk, and I use the oxygen of His Son to breathe, especially when I am in challenging situations. It's interesting when Vic and Daris and I were talking the other day, just that you wish that you could take it all over again, 50-55 years of ministry. And of course, we're still ministering. Both Vic and Daris are now retired. And actually, when you're in the United Church of God, you never retire from the Church. We'll always be elders. But just because of the needs of many of our retired ministers, they're still doing many, many things outside of the general retirement. And to be able to share that on the podcast with people, it's been said that the poem that is read by the man of 20 reads differently when they're 80. And I just say that, that sometimes I would have liked to have gone back. I was ordained when I was 24 years of age. And early on, had a lot of responsibility being in the Pasadena area.

I wish I could go back and start over again. I wish I could be 75 and go back and be in a 20... How does that be? 75 and go back in a 24-year-old body, live it out for at least a week, and show how I might approach our dear brethren, maybe in a different way today. Maybe as Paul said, that I came to you with gentility. I can't take it back, and you can't take back what, where you've been with perhaps a spouse, an employer, a dear friend for life, but you're no longer talking to one another because you've got... this. You know, we can do this. Remember, I can't tell Susan I was doing this. We can do this, and for a moment I made a statement as to what you ought to avoid. But when you approach another person with gentility, and you heal a relationship, you know what you can do with these same two cups. When you recognize, like Mordecai spoke to Esther, for such a time as now, for such a time as now, don't postpone it. Don't put it off. For such a time as now, perhaps the kingdom has come to you, to mend, to develop a relationship. It can be shaky as you go through that door, like Esther did. I mean, I'm going to have to be something different than I've been for... Yeah, you do. If it's not working, change. Starting tonight. Pray about it. But then to recognize that these same cups, rather than becoming humanized, weaponized instruments of destruction, you and the other can make a toast to the kingdom and become one. Because you love God the Father, and you love Jesus Christ so much, and you recognize that by their grace and by their love, they're giving you an opportunity to be just like the most authentic being that has ever lived in human flesh. And that's why we're here today to learn how the Lord of the Sabbath not only walked on the Sabbath, but every day of his life. God bless you. God keep you. We'll look forward to having some of you out there join us for message chat in a few minutes.