WEBVTT - Comfort in the Ashes 0:00:08.119 --> 0:00:12.920 Every single day you brush shoulders with people experiencing trauma. 0:00:13.200 --> 0:00:15.600 A few of us know how to respond. Coming up 0:00:15.600 --> 0:00:18.600 on today's broadcast, we'll learn some lessons from the biblical 0:00:18.600 --> 0:00:21.880 character job. As we sit down with job, we'll find 0:00:21.920 --> 0:00:25.120 comfort in the ashes. The best part? You'll come away 0:00:25.120 --> 0:00:28.480 with tools to help support trauma survivors in your life. 0:00:28.600 --> 0:00:31.680 And maybe you are that survivor. As always, we'll update 0:00:31.680 --> 0:00:34.360 you on all the headlines from the Middle East and more. 0:00:34.560 --> 0:00:37.440 So welcome to the land and the book. Our host, 0:00:37.440 --> 0:00:40.920 Doctor Charlie Dyer, Middle East expert and author. I'm John 0:00:40.920 --> 0:00:43.440 Gager and you know, Charlie, a lot of people are, 0:00:43.479 --> 0:00:45.600 you know, maybe not thinking about the fact that Jewish 0:00:45.600 --> 0:00:49.400 people in general have never heard the gospel. Some, yes, 0:00:49.400 --> 0:00:51.920 but many haven't. And every week we talk about Israel 0:00:51.920 --> 0:00:54.360 and the Jewish people, and it's important to remember that they, 0:00:54.600 --> 0:00:57.120 like everyone else, need to hear the good news, right? 0:00:57.280 --> 0:01:00.070 That's right. And that's why life in Messiah, this ministry 0:01:00.070 --> 0:01:04.630 that's been in existence for over 135 years, is devoted 0:01:04.630 --> 0:01:07.390 to sharing the gospel with Jewish people around the world. 0:01:07.750 --> 0:01:10.630 And now they're offering a gift to moody listeners. This 0:01:10.630 --> 0:01:15.110 free e-book, Reaching Jewish People for Messiah, highlights the need 0:01:15.110 --> 0:01:18.389 for the gospel among the Jewish people. It will equip 0:01:18.390 --> 0:01:21.709 you with practical ways to share the good News with them. Now, 0:01:21.709 --> 0:01:25.390 to receive this free e-book, visit Life in Messiah org 0:01:25.510 --> 0:01:28.309 and click on the Moody Radio logo. Sign up today 0:01:28.310 --> 0:01:31.350 to get your copy. That's life in Messiah. 0:01:32.830 --> 0:01:36.070 Well, let's swing our focus now toward current events. US 0:01:36.110 --> 0:01:41.309 and Iranian negotiators continue discussing Iran's nuclear program. But really, 0:01:41.310 --> 0:01:44.470 are they making any progress and what will happen should 0:01:44.470 --> 0:01:47.030 those discussions finally reach an impasse? 0:01:47.590 --> 0:01:50.950 The most recent round of talks were inconclusive, though all 0:01:50.950 --> 0:01:55.309 sides issued positive statements afterward. The US characterized the talks 0:01:55.310 --> 0:01:59.460 as constructive and President Trump said there was real progress. Now, 0:01:59.500 --> 0:02:02.580 talk of an interim deal with creative options for producing 0:02:02.580 --> 0:02:07.100 nuclear fuel and including joint ventures are apparently being floated. 0:02:07.500 --> 0:02:11.020 Senior European officials have warned the U.S. that Iran is 0:02:11.020 --> 0:02:15.740 stalling the negotiations to avoid having U.N. sanctions snap back 0:02:15.740 --> 0:02:20.140 into place before they're scheduled to expire. Under the original agreement, 0:02:20.139 --> 0:02:23.580 the West has the authority to reimpose broad U.N. Security 0:02:23.580 --> 0:02:27.859 Council sanctions on Iran in response to major violations of 0:02:27.860 --> 0:02:33.500 Iran's nuclear commitments. However, that option expires in October. Iran 0:02:33.500 --> 0:02:37.220 has already threatened to respond forcefully should the Europeans activate 0:02:37.220 --> 0:02:41.579 the snapback mechanism. The core area of disagreement still remains 0:02:41.580 --> 0:02:44.940 the issue of uranium enrichment. The U.S. has said it 0:02:44.940 --> 0:02:48.660 will not allow Iran to enrich uranium under a new agreement, 0:02:48.660 --> 0:02:51.260 while Iran insists it has a right to do so. 0:02:51.780 --> 0:02:55.980 As the negotiations continue, reports are circulating that suggest Israel 0:02:55.980 --> 0:03:00.290 is preparing for a strike on Iran's nuclear facilities. What's 0:03:00.290 --> 0:03:03.049 not clear is whether Israel will hold off to see 0:03:03.050 --> 0:03:06.770 how the negotiations progress, or if they're planning an attack, 0:03:06.770 --> 0:03:10.489 regardless of what happens in the negotiations. This is causing 0:03:10.530 --> 0:03:14.370 tension between President Trump and Israel. And Israel has denied 0:03:14.370 --> 0:03:16.690 it will strike Iran in a bid to derail the 0:03:16.690 --> 0:03:20.290 current nuclear talks. Iran said it would strike a devastating 0:03:20.290 --> 0:03:24.490 blow should Israel attack. Now, Israel views Iran's nuclear program 0:03:24.490 --> 0:03:27.730 as an existential threat. This is what people need to understand. 0:03:27.889 --> 0:03:32.170 In 1981, Israel attacked Iraq to stop Saddam Hussein from 0:03:32.169 --> 0:03:36.210 acquiring nuclear weapons, and in 2007, they attacked a nuclear 0:03:36.210 --> 0:03:40.370 facility being built in Syria to stop Bashar Assad from 0:03:40.370 --> 0:03:43.690 obtaining nuclear weapons. They'll do the same to Iran if 0:03:43.690 --> 0:03:49.210 it's necessary. Ambassador Huckabee reaffirmed President Trump's position that Iran 0:03:49.210 --> 0:03:52.570 will not be allowed to have nuclear weapons. With the 0:03:52.570 --> 0:03:55.480 end of UN sanctions looming on the horizon and In 0:03:55.520 --> 0:03:59.040 Israel preparing to defend itself. A time will come, very 0:03:59.040 --> 0:04:02.040 possibly this summer, when Iran will either agree to end 0:04:02.080 --> 0:04:06.480 its nuclear program voluntarily, or Israel could very well intervene 0:04:06.480 --> 0:04:08.400 to try to bring it to an end themselves. 0:04:08.760 --> 0:04:12.600 Story number two, the US has lifted sanctions on Syria, 0:04:12.760 --> 0:04:16.120 but questions remain over the long term stability of the country. Charlie, 0:04:16.120 --> 0:04:17.640 that leads me to ask in the first place, what 0:04:17.640 --> 0:04:20.120 in the world are we doing? It does appear unstable. 0:04:20.120 --> 0:04:22.680 What has changed the suddenly are here's a here's a 0:04:22.680 --> 0:04:24.480 great place to lift some sanctions. 0:04:24.480 --> 0:04:28.159 It is definitely unstable and it's a rather dangerous move 0:04:28.160 --> 0:04:30.720 on the US's part. In fact, I think there are 0:04:30.720 --> 0:04:34.680 three obstacles to stability that we are not facing up to. 0:04:35.120 --> 0:04:38.880 The first is Syria's lack of cohesion. Most people don't 0:04:38.880 --> 0:04:41.360 know it, but Syria is actually an artificial country. It 0:04:41.360 --> 0:04:45.360 was created following World War one. England and France carved 0:04:45.360 --> 0:04:48.440 up the Middle East into spheres of influence without really 0:04:48.440 --> 0:04:53.920 taking into account geographical, ethnic or religious boundaries. Syria was 0:04:53.920 --> 0:04:57.940 created from a patchwork of ethnic and religious groups. For decades, 0:04:57.940 --> 0:05:00.580 it was ruled by the Assads, who were part of 0:05:00.580 --> 0:05:03.620 the minority Alawites. Even though the majority of the people 0:05:03.620 --> 0:05:10.900 are Sunni Muslims, the country also has significant populations of Druze, Kurds, Christians, Shiites, 0:05:10.940 --> 0:05:15.500 Yazidis and Ismailis. The second obstacle, though, is the background 0:05:15.500 --> 0:05:19.620 of Syria's new president. Before donning a suit, Al-shara was 0:05:19.620 --> 0:05:22.660 part of Al Qaeda and then founded his own terror 0:05:22.700 --> 0:05:26.140 group that mirrored ISIS. He claims to have changed, but 0:05:26.140 --> 0:05:29.620 as one Druze leader in Syria said, he still keeps 0:05:29.620 --> 0:05:32.620 his beard, which shows he's afraid of all the fundamentalist 0:05:32.620 --> 0:05:35.779 religious groups. And there have already been multiple attacks by 0:05:35.779 --> 0:05:40.420 Islamist groups against the Christians, the Alawites and the Druze communities. 0:05:40.779 --> 0:05:45.260 The third obstacle is the constitution. Al-shara proposed for the country. 0:05:45.460 --> 0:05:49.180 It's based on the Quran rather than a civil constitution 0:05:49.220 --> 0:05:52.860 granting equal rights to the different sects and communities. And 0:05:52.860 --> 0:05:55.650 this gets back to the original problem. How do you 0:05:55.650 --> 0:05:59.170 govern a country that's really defined by strong ethnic and 0:05:59.170 --> 0:06:03.010 religious divisions, without having one group impose its beliefs on 0:06:03.010 --> 0:06:06.450 the others? At a Senate hearing, U.S. Secretary of State 0:06:06.450 --> 0:06:09.890 Rubio warned that Syria could be weeks or perhaps months 0:06:09.890 --> 0:06:13.330 away from civil war. The U.S. is hoping, I think, 0:06:13.370 --> 0:06:16.730 trying to engage Syria's new leaders and influence them in 0:06:16.730 --> 0:06:19.010 a way that will help promote peace in the region. 0:06:19.450 --> 0:06:22.570 But that's really a gamble. Israel and Turkey are also 0:06:22.610 --> 0:06:25.810 working with the new government to help stabilize the situation 0:06:25.810 --> 0:06:28.969 along their borders. But right now, I think the jury 0:06:28.970 --> 0:06:32.130 is out on whether or not this new government will succeed. 0:06:32.130 --> 0:06:34.730 From Moody Radio. This is the land and the book, 0:06:34.730 --> 0:06:38.289 our host, Doctor Charlie Dyer, noted Old Testament scholar, Middle 0:06:38.290 --> 0:06:41.089 East authority. I'm John Geiger, and these are the current 0:06:41.089 --> 0:06:43.890 events we're looking at. Turkey might be trying to help 0:06:43.890 --> 0:06:47.770 stabilize Syria, but Turkish President Erdogan is facing his own 0:06:47.770 --> 0:06:51.690 set of challenges. How stable is Turkey, both economically and 0:06:51.800 --> 0:06:52.839 politically right now. 0:06:53.279 --> 0:06:55.679 Well, the leadership there is saying all the right things, 0:06:55.680 --> 0:06:58.560 but just below the surface, the country is facing a 0:06:58.560 --> 0:07:02.760 number of problems. Turkey's finance minister said the country's disinflation 0:07:02.760 --> 0:07:05.960 program is on track, and that year end inflation will 0:07:05.960 --> 0:07:09.720 be within the forecast range. Now that sounds good until 0:07:09.720 --> 0:07:14.080 you realize that the forecast for the year is 24% inflation, 0:07:14.400 --> 0:07:17.960 while the rate in March and April was hovering around 38% 0:07:18.680 --> 0:07:21.520 in a survey, nearly three quarters of Turkey's households don't 0:07:21.560 --> 0:07:25.239 expect the inflation rate to fall significantly in the next 0:07:25.240 --> 0:07:29.320 12 months. In addition to all the ongoing economic crises, 0:07:29.520 --> 0:07:33.080 President Erdogan's political standing has also fallen because of the 0:07:33.120 --> 0:07:36.360 jailing of Istanbul's mayor, who is seen as his main 0:07:36.360 --> 0:07:40.480 political rival. Last week, still more political opponents were rounded 0:07:40.480 --> 0:07:45.600 up in Istanbul. The arrests are perceived to be politically motivated. Now, 0:07:45.600 --> 0:07:49.000 in addition to all that, many people distrust Erdogan because 0:07:49.000 --> 0:07:52.470 of his recent push for a new constitution. The current 0:07:52.470 --> 0:07:56.190 constitution limits the president to two terms in office. And 0:07:56.190 --> 0:07:59.310 people fear that he wants to change the Constitution to 0:07:59.350 --> 0:08:02.110 allow him to remain in power. He said he has 0:08:02.110 --> 0:08:06.470 no personal ambitions to seek re-election, but many, perhaps most, 0:08:06.470 --> 0:08:09.590 are skeptical. Now, if there's one piece of positive news 0:08:09.590 --> 0:08:12.590 for Turkey, it was the decision of the Kurdish militant 0:08:12.590 --> 0:08:16.310 group PKK to end the insurgent war against Turkey after 0:08:16.310 --> 0:08:19.750 40 years. The Turkish government hailed the decision as a 0:08:19.750 --> 0:08:24.790 historic milestone for regional peace and stability. But it's uncertain 0:08:24.790 --> 0:08:27.270 if that one piece of good news is sufficient to 0:08:27.310 --> 0:08:31.470 balance out all the other economic and political concerns and 0:08:31.470 --> 0:08:33.830 crises that seem to be piling up there. 0:08:33.870 --> 0:08:36.590 What about tourism right now in Turkey? Up, down. Neutral. 0:08:36.590 --> 0:08:37.750 What would you say, Charlie? 0:08:37.910 --> 0:08:41.790 Actually, it's up and up rather substantially, mainly because of 0:08:41.790 --> 0:08:45.709 the inflation rate. Turkey's currency is so devalued right now 0:08:45.710 --> 0:08:47.190 that it's actually a pretty good buy. 0:08:47.309 --> 0:08:51.540 Okay. Well, artificial intelligence and quantum computing are at the 0:08:51.540 --> 0:08:55.699 forefront of technology, and several startup companies in Israel are 0:08:55.700 --> 0:08:58.660 working to provide leadership in both areas. What's the latest 0:08:58.660 --> 0:09:01.460 from Amazing Israel on these hot topics, Charlie? 0:09:01.660 --> 0:09:04.020 Well, in this case, I think Israel's reputation as a 0:09:04.020 --> 0:09:10.100 startup nation is continuing. Israeli quantum software startup Classic Technologies, 0:09:10.100 --> 0:09:15.420 and that's spelled Klassik, is focused on creating software to 0:09:15.460 --> 0:09:19.699 make quantum computing more workable and accessible. They've developed an 0:09:19.700 --> 0:09:23.780 operating platform that works across all major types of quantum hardware. 0:09:24.179 --> 0:09:26.140 Their goal is to become, as they would say, at 0:09:26.140 --> 0:09:31.020 the Microsoft of quantum computing by developing operating software to 0:09:31.059 --> 0:09:35.620 power quantum applications, just like Microsoft did with windows OS. 0:09:36.020 --> 0:09:40.140 Their software platform would help data scientists, computational scientists, and 0:09:40.140 --> 0:09:45.260 engineers then develop software without worrying about the quantum hardware underneath. 0:09:45.660 --> 0:09:50.370 In terms of artificial intelligence, two other Israeli startups, Bilott's 0:09:50.410 --> 0:09:54.570 and Fletcher, are developing AI driven solutions for industries like 0:09:54.570 --> 0:10:00.329 construction and business operations, making them more efficient, scalable and sustainable. 0:10:00.410 --> 0:10:05.770 And another AI startup blockade, founded by former cyber intelligence operatives, 0:10:05.770 --> 0:10:08.890 is working to provide end to end crypto security to 0:10:08.929 --> 0:10:11.130 keep users safe. Now, these are just some of the 0:10:11.130 --> 0:10:15.850 recent startups utilizing their technological expertise to help power the 0:10:15.850 --> 0:10:19.810 AI and quantum computing revolution, while also keeping the rest 0:10:19.809 --> 0:10:23.449 of us safe from those seeking to misuse those technologies. 0:10:23.570 --> 0:10:25.890 And that's the kind of innovation, John, that's coming out 0:10:25.890 --> 0:10:28.689 of amazing Israel that we've all come to expect. 0:10:28.929 --> 0:10:31.850 And that's a look at current events from the region. Well, 0:10:31.850 --> 0:10:34.010 every single day you and I brush shoulders with people 0:10:34.010 --> 0:10:37.410 experiencing trauma. Maybe you're one of those yourself. But so 0:10:37.450 --> 0:10:39.730 few of us know how to respond. Well, coming up 0:10:39.730 --> 0:10:41.250 on the land and the book, we're going to learn 0:10:41.250 --> 0:10:44.570 some lessons from the biblical character job. As we sit 0:10:44.570 --> 0:10:47.400 down with job, we'll find comfort in the ashes. This 0:10:47.400 --> 0:10:50.640 is a very practical conversation. You'll appreciate the insights and 0:10:50.640 --> 0:10:53.600 lessons from job. Next on the land and the book. 0:11:08.000 --> 0:11:12.280 One day, just one day. That's all it took to 0:11:12.320 --> 0:11:16.800 lose his children, his possessions, his health, his wealth. We're 0:11:16.800 --> 0:11:20.559 talking about the biblical character job, of course, despite his losses, 0:11:20.559 --> 0:11:23.840 despite the discouragement of his friends, despite the bitterness of 0:11:23.840 --> 0:11:26.920 his own wife, he determined to hang on to his faith. 0:11:27.160 --> 0:11:30.680 What made him tick? What was inside of job that 0:11:30.720 --> 0:11:33.880 steeled him from everything that was going on outside? Said 0:11:33.880 --> 0:11:37.559 another way. How did he find comfort in the ashes? 0:11:38.000 --> 0:11:40.439 This is the land and the book. I'm John Geiger. 0:11:40.440 --> 0:11:44.199 Today's conversation is for anyone in search of comfort in 0:11:44.200 --> 0:11:46.780 a troubling time. Maybe you've got a friend going through 0:11:46.780 --> 0:11:49.420 something rough before we meet job, though. Let's think about 0:11:49.420 --> 0:11:52.060 meeting our Jewish friends and neighbors, and maybe how you 0:11:52.059 --> 0:11:54.579 and I can more effectively share the love of Christ 0:11:54.580 --> 0:11:58.580 with them. So you and I know the gospel. Believe 0:11:58.580 --> 0:12:01.420 the gospel. We understand the gospel. How do we explain 0:12:01.420 --> 0:12:04.660 the gospel in a Jewish context when we're talking with 0:12:04.660 --> 0:12:07.260 our Jewish friends? Greg Savage, what's the answer? 0:12:07.580 --> 0:12:10.860 Well, John, I like to call this christianese. We all 0:12:10.860 --> 0:12:15.940 have our little language justification, sanctification, blood of the lamb, 0:12:15.940 --> 0:12:19.220 Son of God. We all use these verses, and people 0:12:19.220 --> 0:12:23.660 that aren't believers have no idea what we're talking about. Right. 0:12:23.700 --> 0:12:26.260 And I know for a fact, because I went to 0:12:26.300 --> 0:12:28.980 a church once with a friend and it was like, 0:12:29.260 --> 0:12:32.580 stand up, sit down, stand up, sit down, shake hands. 0:12:32.580 --> 0:12:36.060 And there were these words that I had never heard before. 0:12:36.100 --> 0:12:37.579 This is you as a as a non-believer. 0:12:37.620 --> 0:12:39.980 As a non-believer. And I think the best way that 0:12:39.980 --> 0:12:42.939 you should talk to Jewish people are in terms that 0:12:42.940 --> 0:12:50.850 they understand Stand. Atonement. God. Messiah. Repentance. Redeemer. They'll understand that. 0:12:50.850 --> 0:12:54.890 But if you start saying, you know, justified by faith, 0:12:55.130 --> 0:12:56.770 they'll have no idea what that is. 0:12:56.890 --> 0:13:00.530 Yeah. So very basic and very simple and very straightforward. 0:13:00.530 --> 0:13:04.170 That's the conversation to have as you're explaining the gospel. 0:13:04.210 --> 0:13:06.810 That's Greg Savitt, who serves with Rock of Israel here 0:13:06.809 --> 0:13:11.209 on the land and the book doctor. Michele Kushner is 0:13:11.210 --> 0:13:14.690 an associate research fellow with the Kirby Centre for Public 0:13:14.690 --> 0:13:17.890 Theology and the director of discipleship for a Growing church 0:13:17.890 --> 0:13:21.850 in Las Vegas. She's an award winning novelist and devotional author. 0:13:22.090 --> 0:13:25.410 Michele lives in Southern Nevada with her retired marine husband, 0:13:25.450 --> 0:13:29.770 their two children, and one spoiled dog. Our conversation today 0:13:29.770 --> 0:13:33.050 is inspired by her book comfort in the ashes. And 0:13:33.050 --> 0:13:34.730 we're glad you're with us today, Michele. 0:13:35.050 --> 0:13:36.730 Thank you so much for having me. I'm so happy 0:13:36.730 --> 0:13:37.290 to be here. 0:13:37.530 --> 0:13:39.490 Well, I've often wondered if one of the reasons God 0:13:39.490 --> 0:13:44.240 allowed job to endure such extraordinary pain and loss so 0:13:44.240 --> 0:13:46.520 that none of us, none of us could ever complain 0:13:46.520 --> 0:13:48.640 that we've got it worse. Job kind of sets the 0:13:48.640 --> 0:13:51.480 bar almost impossibly high. What do you think, Michelle? 0:13:52.120 --> 0:13:56.280 Oh, job endures pretty much anything we could think of, right? 0:13:56.320 --> 0:14:01.240 Losing his family, losing his health, losing his community. Yeah. 0:14:01.400 --> 0:14:04.240 Job kind of takes it all and says, yeah, I'm 0:14:04.240 --> 0:14:06.680 going to walk through all of that. So it does 0:14:06.720 --> 0:14:08.839 kind of put our usual sufferings in a little bit 0:14:08.840 --> 0:14:09.719 of perspective. 0:14:09.760 --> 0:14:12.600 Yeah. Well, to that question I posed earlier, what was 0:14:12.600 --> 0:14:15.840 inside of job that steeled him from everything that was 0:14:15.840 --> 0:14:19.000 going on outside? What did he possess that many of 0:14:19.000 --> 0:14:22.040 us lack as we go through our own grief and pain? 0:14:22.480 --> 0:14:25.480 Oh, wow, that's a great question. So I think when 0:14:25.480 --> 0:14:27.560 we look at job, one of the first things we 0:14:27.560 --> 0:14:30.560 see is the love and the devotion that he had 0:14:30.560 --> 0:14:33.720 for God. It starts in the very beginning, and we 0:14:33.720 --> 0:14:36.640 see it go through the whole book that even when 0:14:36.640 --> 0:14:40.280 job doesn't understand what he's going through, even though he 0:14:40.280 --> 0:14:44.950 doesn't understand where God is. He knows who God is 0:14:45.230 --> 0:14:48.430 and he clings to that and that's why he keeps 0:14:48.430 --> 0:14:51.870 coming back. God, why is this happening? God, where are you? 0:14:52.150 --> 0:14:55.390 Because he knows that God that he loves and serves. 0:14:55.950 --> 0:14:58.030 Today on the land. And the book we're visiting with 0:14:58.030 --> 0:15:00.830 Doctor Michelle Keener, looking at ways you and I can 0:15:00.830 --> 0:15:04.470 bring comfort in the ashes. Her book by that same title. 0:15:04.670 --> 0:15:07.070 You know, when you worked on this book, spending so 0:15:07.070 --> 0:15:09.510 much time with job. What surprised you? 0:15:10.830 --> 0:15:14.910 I think what surprised me most was seeing how understanding 0:15:14.950 --> 0:15:18.390 trauma really helps us understand the book of job. I'd 0:15:18.390 --> 0:15:21.790 never really put the two together before. And then once 0:15:21.790 --> 0:15:25.150 I did kind of this background research on what trauma is, 0:15:25.150 --> 0:15:27.990 how we tend to react to trauma, what it's like 0:15:27.990 --> 0:15:31.670 to walk through those seasons. Then I started reading job again, 0:15:31.670 --> 0:15:34.030 and it all kind of started to click. I was like, oh, 0:15:34.510 --> 0:15:37.670 I get that's why it switches from prose to poetry. Oh, 0:15:37.670 --> 0:15:41.500 I understand why job is having real big feelings about 0:15:41.500 --> 0:15:45.540 this moment and seeing those pieces. It really helped me 0:15:45.540 --> 0:15:49.340 understand the book more. And honestly, if I'm being really transparent, 0:15:49.340 --> 0:15:51.820 it helped me appreciate the book in a way that 0:15:51.820 --> 0:15:53.300 I think I hadn't before. 0:15:54.060 --> 0:15:56.540 Michelle, I'm going to confess I've got a problem, and 0:15:56.540 --> 0:15:59.260 I think a bunch of our listeners have the same problem. 0:15:59.300 --> 0:16:01.500 You know, we read the book of Job. We love 0:16:01.500 --> 0:16:05.660 his testimony. We love his faithfulness, and yet we know 0:16:05.820 --> 0:16:09.300 we're just not in that league, you know. And so 0:16:09.300 --> 0:16:12.940 it's almost like, that's nice, but it's out there. It's 0:16:12.940 --> 0:16:16.580 unattainable for us. Speak to those of us who feel 0:16:16.580 --> 0:16:17.060 that way. 0:16:17.980 --> 0:16:21.900 Yeah. It's kind of holding ourselves to this standard of 0:16:21.900 --> 0:16:26.540 one of these biblical heroes, one of these biblical characters 0:16:26.540 --> 0:16:30.180 that goes through so much. And how can I do that? Lord, 0:16:30.180 --> 0:16:33.220 how would I ever look like that? And I think 0:16:33.220 --> 0:16:38.970 the Book of Job shows us that suffering can come unexpectedly. Expectedly. 0:16:39.450 --> 0:16:43.930 And so it's what we do before the suffering strikes, right? 0:16:43.970 --> 0:16:48.410 Building that relationship with God ahead of time, really learning 0:16:48.410 --> 0:16:51.810 who he is, and having it so settled in our 0:16:51.810 --> 0:16:55.570 heart that I. I know God's character. I know who 0:16:55.570 --> 0:16:59.770 Jesus is. I know what God cares about. I know 0:16:59.770 --> 0:17:03.210 what God does in the world, that when those unexpected 0:17:03.210 --> 0:17:06.810 moments hit, and when we find ourselves in suffering, we 0:17:06.810 --> 0:17:11.890 have that within us already. And that's our job task 0:17:12.130 --> 0:17:15.370 because suffering is not a competition. This is the suffering 0:17:15.369 --> 0:17:17.850 I'm walking through, and this is how I'm going to 0:17:17.850 --> 0:17:18.610 do it. Well. 0:17:18.970 --> 0:17:20.570 Yeah, I think that's such a key point you've touched 0:17:20.570 --> 0:17:23.570 on here, because we're not going to be open to 0:17:23.609 --> 0:17:25.930 all that. We should be in the middle of suffering 0:17:26.090 --> 0:17:28.930 if we have not at least laid some groundwork by 0:17:28.930 --> 0:17:30.610 way of our relationship with God. Right? 0:17:31.210 --> 0:17:33.570 Right. And I mean, Jesus talks about it in the 0:17:33.570 --> 0:17:36.290 New Testament, right? That you go you build your house 0:17:36.290 --> 0:17:39.840 on the firm Foundation before the storm hits. Right. We 0:17:39.880 --> 0:17:42.600 don't start building once we're in the storm. We need 0:17:42.600 --> 0:17:45.800 to build, and we need to have that firm foundation 0:17:45.800 --> 0:17:49.960 that's been chosen well before the storm comes at us. 0:17:49.960 --> 0:17:51.640 And then we can withstand it. 0:17:52.000 --> 0:17:54.399 From Moody Radio. This is the land and the book. 0:17:54.400 --> 0:17:57.760 I'm John Geiger, our guest, doctor Michelle Keener. She's helping 0:17:57.760 --> 0:18:00.840 us learn to be better helpers as we engage friends 0:18:00.840 --> 0:18:04.320 going through trauma. And that's where we're headed next. Obviously, Michelle, 0:18:04.320 --> 0:18:06.080 the book of job has insights for those of us 0:18:06.080 --> 0:18:09.639 going through trauma today. You've written it's time for church 0:18:09.640 --> 0:18:14.200 leaders and believers to stop offering prettily packaged responses from 0:18:14.200 --> 0:18:16.680 a safe distance. It's time for us to sit in 0:18:16.680 --> 0:18:19.879 the ashes with the hurting. Our Sunday school clothes covered 0:18:19.880 --> 0:18:24.040 in dirt and grime, our faces lined with tears. Trauma 0:18:24.160 --> 0:18:27.120 brings people to the ash heap. So that is where 0:18:27.119 --> 0:18:29.880 the church needs to go. It sounds to me like 0:18:29.880 --> 0:18:31.920 you might be giving the church today a less than 0:18:31.960 --> 0:18:36.359 glowing endorsement along the lines of our suffering engagement component. 0:18:36.470 --> 0:18:42.190 Elaborate a less than glowing endorsement, maybe. I think really 0:18:42.190 --> 0:18:46.990 the the purpose is to remind us all as the church, 0:18:47.310 --> 0:18:49.950 because the church isn't a building. The church is people. 0:18:50.310 --> 0:18:54.590 It's to remind us all that Jesus met people in 0:18:54.590 --> 0:18:58.430 their suffering, and there wasn't an expectation of, I need 0:18:58.430 --> 0:19:01.310 you to get all your stuff together. I need you 0:19:01.310 --> 0:19:04.910 to be better. And then you can come and worship 0:19:04.910 --> 0:19:07.030 with me, and then you can come and be a 0:19:07.030 --> 0:19:12.430 part of me. But instead, Jesus is meeting people right 0:19:12.470 --> 0:19:15.110 in the ash heap. He's meeting them in their suffering. 0:19:15.109 --> 0:19:19.310 He's meeting them in their pain. And my experience and 0:19:19.310 --> 0:19:21.630 some of the things I've seen, and the church does 0:19:21.630 --> 0:19:25.590 so many things so well. But there are times when 0:19:25.630 --> 0:19:29.710 suffering is scary. Yes. And so there are church leaders. 0:19:29.710 --> 0:19:33.190 There are church believers, church members, and we tend to 0:19:33.230 --> 0:19:36.450 pull back and say, oh, I'm going to give them 0:19:36.450 --> 0:19:40.490 some space so they can work through this, but I'll 0:19:40.490 --> 0:19:44.649 be here when they come back. How opposite is that 0:19:44.650 --> 0:19:48.610 to what Jesus demonstrated and to what God demonstrated in 0:19:48.609 --> 0:19:51.810 the book of Job? Right? Right. God shows up in 0:19:51.810 --> 0:19:55.450 the ashes. And so it's not meant to be a 0:19:55.490 --> 0:19:58.810 really a harsh criticism of the church. It's really meant 0:19:58.810 --> 0:20:01.650 to be more of a reminder of who we're called 0:20:01.650 --> 0:20:05.690 to be, and the purpose that God has already given us. 0:20:05.730 --> 0:20:07.690 Yeah. Well, I really resonate with what you're saying there, 0:20:07.690 --> 0:20:09.530 because it seems to me that one of the biggest 0:20:09.530 --> 0:20:12.489 hurdles we face is knowing how, or even if we 0:20:12.490 --> 0:20:15.330 should mention the pain, the tragedy, the loss that a 0:20:15.330 --> 0:20:17.330 fellow believer is going through. It's not so much that 0:20:17.330 --> 0:20:19.490 we don't care to help, but that we don't want 0:20:19.530 --> 0:20:23.050 to hurt by bringing up something that might be too sensitive. 0:20:23.170 --> 0:20:25.649 So in many cases, as you've observed, we end up 0:20:25.650 --> 0:20:28.330 saying nothing. So what's a better road to take? What 0:20:28.330 --> 0:20:31.609 is the the first step toward moving toward the ashes? 0:20:31.970 --> 0:20:34.680 Oh, that's such a great question. I think the first 0:20:34.680 --> 0:20:38.280 step is actually what we see job's friends do. They 0:20:38.280 --> 0:20:41.720 show up for job and they sit with him, right? 0:20:41.760 --> 0:20:45.000 They sit with him in silence for seven days. Right? 0:20:45.040 --> 0:20:48.119 It's only when people begin talking that things go sideways 0:20:48.119 --> 0:20:51.040 in the book of job. But this idea that we 0:20:51.040 --> 0:20:54.800 can be present to someone in their pain, even if 0:20:54.800 --> 0:20:57.120 we don't have all the answers, even if we don't 0:20:57.119 --> 0:21:00.040 know why this awful thing happened to them. I don't 0:21:00.040 --> 0:21:02.760 know why you got this diagnosis. I don't know why 0:21:02.760 --> 0:21:05.000 you lost your child. I don't know why you lost 0:21:05.000 --> 0:21:07.800 your job. But I know that I love you, and 0:21:07.800 --> 0:21:10.240 I can sit with you here and make sure you're 0:21:10.240 --> 0:21:13.560 not going through it by yourself. So I would suggest 0:21:13.560 --> 0:21:16.080 that first step is just being present. 0:21:16.119 --> 0:21:19.160 Yeah, well, it seems to me we're not very good listeners. 0:21:19.160 --> 0:21:21.800 I think that's part of the fallen human state. I'm 0:21:21.800 --> 0:21:24.080 reading a book right now How to Listen with intention, 0:21:24.320 --> 0:21:27.880 and the author observes, listening well requires that you suspend 0:21:27.880 --> 0:21:31.520 your own self-interest and ego and gracefully allow someone else 0:21:31.520 --> 0:21:34.429 to shine. Maybe in this context, even if they're in 0:21:34.430 --> 0:21:36.990 the ashes. So, Michelle, how much of a factor is 0:21:36.990 --> 0:21:40.950 this unwillingness of ours to suspend our own self-interest? 0:21:41.550 --> 0:21:43.550 Oh, I think it's a huge factor. And I'm just 0:21:43.550 --> 0:21:45.350 going to write down that book title because I'm going 0:21:45.390 --> 0:21:48.190 to go get that book. I'm so glad you shared that. 0:21:48.190 --> 0:21:50.389 And I do think that's a big part of it 0:21:50.590 --> 0:21:54.350 is a lot of times we listen to respond instead 0:21:54.350 --> 0:21:58.510 of listening to receive. So I'm going to listen. But 0:21:58.510 --> 0:22:01.150 as you're talking, I've got this voice in my head 0:22:01.190 --> 0:22:04.350 that's preparing my response and everything I want to say, 0:22:04.830 --> 0:22:07.070 which is I want to make sure I can impose 0:22:07.070 --> 0:22:11.430 my agenda and give you an answer, rather than taking 0:22:11.430 --> 0:22:13.830 the time to say, I don't really understand what you're 0:22:13.830 --> 0:22:16.590 going through. So I'm just going to listen, to learn 0:22:16.830 --> 0:22:20.190 and get a better idea of where you're at. And 0:22:20.190 --> 0:22:22.590 I think one of the things we see the church 0:22:22.670 --> 0:22:27.350 do a lot is battle this instinct, this sense of 0:22:27.350 --> 0:22:29.949 obligation to have all the answers. 0:22:29.990 --> 0:22:30.350 Yes. 0:22:30.390 --> 0:22:33.060 Like if someone comes to us in suffering, I need 0:22:33.060 --> 0:22:35.460 to be able to explain it, and I have to 0:22:35.460 --> 0:22:37.820 be able to tell them exactly what to do. Or 0:22:37.980 --> 0:22:40.060 as a pastor, as a church leader, I'm not doing 0:22:40.060 --> 0:22:43.980 my job. And what I would challenge that is to say, 0:22:44.540 --> 0:22:49.380 maybe the first step is to listen and to have 0:22:49.380 --> 0:22:51.820 the humility to say, maybe I don't know what you're 0:22:51.820 --> 0:22:55.380 going through, but I can learn and I can support 0:22:55.380 --> 0:22:56.100 you in it. 0:22:56.619 --> 0:23:00.220 You say that theological platitudes and positive thinking aren't simply 0:23:00.220 --> 0:23:04.820 dismissive to those who suffer, but they inevitably retraumatize the wounded. Now, 0:23:04.820 --> 0:23:07.380 surely you're not suggesting there's no role at all for 0:23:07.380 --> 0:23:09.300 sharing an appropriate word of Scripture, are you? 0:23:09.859 --> 0:23:12.700 Absolutely not. And especially because I work in a church. Boy, 0:23:12.700 --> 0:23:16.100 that would be bad, right? No, I think there is 0:23:16.100 --> 0:23:18.820 always a time for us to share the truth and 0:23:18.820 --> 0:23:24.139 the love of God. Absolutely. My concern is when we 0:23:24.180 --> 0:23:28.220 want to offer kind of a bumper sticker response or 0:23:28.380 --> 0:23:31.649 the coffee mug verse. So we're just going to throw 0:23:31.690 --> 0:23:34.850 that quick. Oh you just need to pray more or 0:23:34.890 --> 0:23:38.889 oh just let go and let God. Right. Or just 0:23:38.890 --> 0:23:41.970 trust that God's working all things for good. All of 0:23:41.970 --> 0:23:45.930 those things are probably true, right? All of those scriptures, 0:23:45.930 --> 0:23:50.449 they all count. And at the same time, the right 0:23:50.490 --> 0:23:55.609 word at the wrong time risks being the wrong response. Yeah. 0:23:55.650 --> 0:23:58.930 And so we need to be sensitive to where is 0:23:58.930 --> 0:24:03.530 this person right now. What do they need from me 0:24:03.570 --> 0:24:08.690 right now instead of trying to throw that quick response 0:24:08.690 --> 0:24:11.730 that makes us sound super spiritual and makes us sound 0:24:11.730 --> 0:24:15.490 like we got all the answers. Maybe we just need 0:24:15.490 --> 0:24:18.250 to be able to say, I don't know. Yeah. 0:24:18.930 --> 0:24:20.970 Well, in the moment we've got left, would you just 0:24:20.970 --> 0:24:24.169 walk us through a step or two further in bringing 0:24:24.170 --> 0:24:27.210 comfort to somebody in the ashes? What could we do? 0:24:27.530 --> 0:24:32.120 Absolutely. So I offer in the book three steps that 0:24:32.119 --> 0:24:34.919 we as the church and then even we as individual 0:24:34.960 --> 0:24:39.160 believers can help bring to someone who is going through 0:24:39.160 --> 0:24:41.679 a season of suffering. The first is to provide a 0:24:41.680 --> 0:24:46.000 place of safety. And that means physical safety, emotional spiritual safety, 0:24:46.320 --> 0:24:49.399 making sure that this person is in a good, safe place. 0:24:49.760 --> 0:24:51.679 The second is to provide them with a place to 0:24:51.680 --> 0:24:55.400 share their story. Everybody wants to be listened to, right? 0:24:55.640 --> 0:24:58.000 Everybody wants to know that there is a place where 0:24:58.000 --> 0:25:01.000 they can talk about what they're going through without judgment, 0:25:01.240 --> 0:25:06.000 without feeling bad for the way they're already feeling. And 0:25:06.000 --> 0:25:09.320 then the third is a place of community, right. That 0:25:09.320 --> 0:25:13.600 we can be very intentional about creating spaces where people belong, 0:25:13.840 --> 0:25:17.080 where people know they're welcome, where people know that they 0:25:17.080 --> 0:25:20.119 can be a part and join with us even if 0:25:20.119 --> 0:25:23.119 they're still in the ashes. Even if life hasn't worked 0:25:23.119 --> 0:25:26.240 everything out yet, that they're still welcome and we would 0:25:26.240 --> 0:25:27.750 still love to be with them. 0:25:27.790 --> 0:25:29.990 Boy, that is great content. And there's a whole lot 0:25:29.990 --> 0:25:34.070 more in Michelle's book, comfort in the ashes. You've enjoyed 0:25:34.070 --> 0:25:36.630 this interview as you've listened. I'm sure you'll love the book. 0:25:36.670 --> 0:25:38.870 A link to that at our website. The land and 0:25:38.869 --> 0:25:42.510 the book. Michelle, you've got to come back and visit 0:25:42.510 --> 0:25:43.830 with us again. Would you do that? 0:25:44.230 --> 0:25:46.510 Anytime you let me know and I will be here. 0:25:46.550 --> 0:25:48.470 All right. We'll look forward to that. But right now, 0:25:48.710 --> 0:25:51.070 it's a visit with Gerald Peterman, who answers your Bible 0:25:51.070 --> 0:26:07.550 questions next on the land and the book. Let's be honest, 0:26:07.550 --> 0:26:10.230 when it comes to reading and studying our Bibles, questions 0:26:10.230 --> 0:26:14.350 come easily. Answers are not so easily. This is the 0:26:14.350 --> 0:26:17.030 land and the book. I'm John Gager, and that's why 0:26:17.030 --> 0:26:19.669 we dedicate this third segment to taking a look at 0:26:19.670 --> 0:26:22.910 not just any questions, but your questions. Questions that you've 0:26:22.910 --> 0:26:25.710 puzzled over as you're reading through Scripture. So glad you've 0:26:25.710 --> 0:26:28.379 decided to hang out with us today. And I have 0:26:28.380 --> 0:26:30.780 a question as we start things off, though, with our 0:26:31.100 --> 0:26:34.260 Bible expert guy, Doctor Gerald Peterman. Do you know that 0:26:34.300 --> 0:26:37.460 most Jewish people have never heard the gospel? And you know, Jerry, 0:26:37.500 --> 0:26:41.060 every week we talk about Israel and the Jewish people, 0:26:41.380 --> 0:26:44.300 and it's so important to remember that they, like everybody else, 0:26:44.300 --> 0:26:45.700 need to hear the good news, right? 0:26:45.740 --> 0:26:49.540 That's so right. Yes, indeed. Life in Messiah, a ministry 0:26:49.540 --> 0:26:52.780 in existence for over 135 years, is devoted to sharing 0:26:52.780 --> 0:26:56.260 the gospel with Jewish people around the world. Now they're 0:26:56.300 --> 0:27:00.100 offering a gift to many listeners. This free e-book, Reaching 0:27:00.100 --> 0:27:03.260 Jewish People for Messiah, highlights the need for the gospel 0:27:03.260 --> 0:27:06.460 among the Jewish people and will equip you with practical 0:27:06.460 --> 0:27:08.740 ways to share the Good News with them. To receive 0:27:08.740 --> 0:27:13.580 this free e-book, visit Messiah. Click on the Moody Radio 0:27:13.619 --> 0:27:16.620 logo and sign up today to get your copy. 0:27:16.780 --> 0:27:19.420 All right. Thanks, Jerry. Let's get to Shaun's question. He 0:27:19.420 --> 0:27:22.899 kicks things off, asking how many resurrections are there in 0:27:22.900 --> 0:27:26.410 the future? As in the past, there were resurrections in 0:27:26.410 --> 0:27:29.010 the Old Testament and New Testament, he says, and our 0:27:29.010 --> 0:27:32.490 Lord Jesus resurrection is past. So how many resurrections are 0:27:32.490 --> 0:27:33.850 there in the future? 0:27:34.130 --> 0:27:37.650 Well, according to Paul, in first Thessalonians four verses 16 0:27:37.650 --> 0:27:40.930 and 17, there will be a rapture when the Lord returns. 0:27:41.369 --> 0:27:44.369 Paul says, the Lord will descend from heaven, and the 0:27:44.369 --> 0:27:47.290 dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are 0:27:47.290 --> 0:27:49.729 alive and are left will be caught up together to 0:27:49.770 --> 0:27:53.010 meet them in the clouds, in the air. That makes 0:27:53.250 --> 0:27:57.330 one resurrection. Then we go to the book of Revelation. 0:27:57.650 --> 0:28:01.890 When the tribulation starts, there'll be a seven year tribulation 0:28:01.930 --> 0:28:05.490 after the tribulation. We find the story of the Millennial Kingdom. 0:28:05.490 --> 0:28:09.129 Revelation 20 mentions a resurrection at the beginning of the 0:28:09.130 --> 0:28:13.450 Millennial Kingdom that makes two. And then revelation 20 says, 0:28:13.450 --> 0:28:15.370 the rest of the dead will not come to life 0:28:15.369 --> 0:28:19.290 until after the thousand years are completed. That makes three. 0:28:19.330 --> 0:28:21.970 All right. The answer is three. I hope that's helpful. 0:28:22.250 --> 0:28:24.510 And here's a question from a listener who is studying 0:28:24.510 --> 0:28:28.070 Psalm 71. In verse nine it says, do not cast 0:28:28.070 --> 0:28:31.310 me off in the time of old age. Forsake me 0:28:31.310 --> 0:28:34.830 not when my strength is spent. The listener says, this 0:28:34.830 --> 0:28:37.590 has got me to thinking. Besides David, in a middle 0:28:37.630 --> 0:28:41.950 age crisis with Bathsheba, King Solomon falling away to idolatry 0:28:41.950 --> 0:28:46.550 and King Asa's losing trust in God referenced in second Chronicles, 0:28:46.590 --> 0:28:49.150 are there any other great men of the Bible that 0:28:49.150 --> 0:28:51.590 fell away from God in their older age? 0:28:51.630 --> 0:28:55.350 Oh, this has got me pondering and wondering if other 0:28:55.350 --> 0:29:02.030 candidates will be on the list. Uh, I'm thinking of Hezekiah. Now, earlier, uh, 0:29:02.030 --> 0:29:04.310 he was doing a really good job. But then later 0:29:04.310 --> 0:29:08.310 in life, we read in Two Kings chapter 20 that Merodach-baladan, 0:29:08.510 --> 0:29:13.230 son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent envoys and letters 0:29:13.230 --> 0:29:15.670 and a present to King Hezekiah. And then you know 0:29:15.670 --> 0:29:19.790 what happened, that when these men came from Babylon, King 0:29:19.790 --> 0:29:23.940 Hezekiah showed them everything in his armoury showed them everything 0:29:23.940 --> 0:29:26.380 in his palace. And that was a very foolish move. 0:29:26.420 --> 0:29:30.300 And the prophet then came and rebuked him for this, saying, 0:29:30.300 --> 0:29:37.300 you have done something foolish. Um, so then, uh, Hezekiah 0:29:37.340 --> 0:29:41.220 spoke to Isaiah the prophet I just mentioned. Um, the 0:29:41.220 --> 0:29:43.660 word of the Lord you have spoken is good for 0:29:43.660 --> 0:29:47.060 Hezekiah thought, why not? If there'll be peace and security 0:29:47.060 --> 0:29:49.620 in my days? Oh, it should be okay, he says, 0:29:49.620 --> 0:29:51.900 if there's peace and security in my days. This is 0:29:51.900 --> 0:29:54.900 not the attitude he had earlier in life, you know. 0:29:54.940 --> 0:29:58.060 Now he seems to be thinking, as long as I'm okay, 0:29:58.260 --> 0:29:59.300 we're all okay. 0:29:59.340 --> 0:30:01.100 Yeah. Not a forward looking response. 0:30:01.140 --> 0:30:03.460 Not a oh, that's a great way of putting it. 0:30:03.460 --> 0:30:05.940 This is not a forward looking response. 0:30:06.100 --> 0:30:08.460 Now, if I'm not mistaken, all of this happens after 0:30:08.460 --> 0:30:10.860 he has been told, hey, you've got a fatal illness 0:30:10.860 --> 0:30:12.739 or you're going to get ready to die, right? And 0:30:12.740 --> 0:30:15.100 then Hezekiah pleads for his life and God says, I'm 0:30:15.100 --> 0:30:16.380 going to extend that. 0:30:16.420 --> 0:30:19.140 And Hezekiah turns his face against the wall. He pleads 0:30:19.140 --> 0:30:22.450 with God. He weeps. And then Isaiah, who's actually in 0:30:22.450 --> 0:30:24.810 the middle of doing something else, is then sent back 0:30:24.810 --> 0:30:26.530 to him. Go back and tell him, I'm going to 0:30:26.570 --> 0:30:30.650 extend your life for 15 years. So after getting such 0:30:30.690 --> 0:30:34.130 a tremendous grace from God, he then has this kind 0:30:34.130 --> 0:30:36.890 of quirky, I would say, pretty much bad attitude later 0:30:36.890 --> 0:30:37.570 in life. 0:30:37.850 --> 0:30:39.450 You know, I have often wondered if you were to 0:30:39.490 --> 0:30:42.209 interview him now or in heaven. It might be an 0:30:42.210 --> 0:30:46.490 uncomfortable question, but what would his response be to the question, 0:30:46.850 --> 0:30:48.610 had you to do it all over again? Would you 0:30:48.610 --> 0:30:51.050 have not asked to have your life extended, knowing that 0:30:51.050 --> 0:30:52.730 that other failure was going to come with it? 0:30:52.770 --> 0:30:54.770 Oh, I don't know. I hate to second guess, but 0:30:54.770 --> 0:30:57.650 I think the answer would be yes. I'd rather. Let 0:30:57.650 --> 0:31:00.690 me paraphrase it like I'm speaking for Hezekiah. I'd rather 0:31:00.690 --> 0:31:02.810 obey God than have a longer life. 0:31:02.850 --> 0:31:05.290 Yeah, I do too. This is the land and the 0:31:05.290 --> 0:31:08.130 book from Moody Radio. Doctor Gerald Peterman, who serves on 0:31:08.130 --> 0:31:11.130 the Moody Bible Institute faculty, is with us in the studio, 0:31:11.130 --> 0:31:14.650 and he welcomes your questions online at The Land and 0:31:14.650 --> 0:31:18.530 the Book at Moody's. Again, you got to email those 0:31:18.530 --> 0:31:24.840 questions to the land and the book at Moody's. Marcia 0:31:24.840 --> 0:31:27.880 was reading in second Samuel eight, and she points out 0:31:27.880 --> 0:31:32.000 that verse 18 says at the end, David's sons were priests. 0:31:32.280 --> 0:31:34.400 She says, I was surprised because priests do not come 0:31:34.400 --> 0:31:37.600 from the tribe of Judah. David's tribe. And I don't 0:31:37.600 --> 0:31:39.960 believe I've ever heard of them being priests. Can you 0:31:39.960 --> 0:31:41.520 explain this to me, Marcia? 0:31:41.560 --> 0:31:46.000 Brings a tough question. Different Bible scholars give different answers 0:31:46.000 --> 0:31:49.080 to the question, as you might imagine. Some say David's 0:31:49.080 --> 0:31:53.000 sons functioned as priests even though it was wrong for 0:31:53.000 --> 0:31:55.360 them to do so. And they say the author of 0:31:55.400 --> 0:31:58.040 two Samuel just mentions it and doesn't tell us what 0:31:58.040 --> 0:32:01.000 was wrong. Well, I don't think so. Some other scholars 0:32:01.000 --> 0:32:04.640 say David and his sons were priests according to the 0:32:04.640 --> 0:32:08.280 order of Melchizedek. Well, actually, we don't find this order 0:32:08.280 --> 0:32:10.560 mentioned in first and second Samuel. Oh, by the way, 0:32:10.560 --> 0:32:14.640 it's mentioned in Psalm 110. So my solution is the 0:32:14.640 --> 0:32:19.830 term priests was sometimes used for civil servants as opposed 0:32:19.830 --> 0:32:23.190 to religious servants. Okay. There's a close parallel to this 0:32:23.510 --> 0:32:27.870 in First Chronicles 1817, where you find something very similar 0:32:27.870 --> 0:32:31.670 to the passage that Marcia was reading. Although the chronicler 0:32:31.710 --> 0:32:35.950 then says David's three sons were listed as chief officials. 0:32:36.510 --> 0:32:37.590 I hope that helps. 0:32:37.630 --> 0:32:41.510 Okay. I do too. Charles takes us to Nehemiah chapter two, 0:32:41.750 --> 0:32:44.270 which tells of the time that Nehemiah was sad in 0:32:44.270 --> 0:32:47.670 the king's presence and made known his desire to return 0:32:47.670 --> 0:32:51.790 to Judah to help rebuild the walls. Verse six parenthetically 0:32:51.790 --> 0:32:55.390 includes the fact that, quote, the queen was sitting beside 0:32:55.390 --> 0:32:58.469 the king. What would be the significance of that fact? 0:32:58.470 --> 0:32:59.350 Charles wonders. 0:32:59.350 --> 0:33:03.350 I'm thinking, Charles, for reading carefully and wondering why was 0:33:03.350 --> 0:33:08.150 the Queen sitting there? Yeah, that's very important because typically 0:33:08.150 --> 0:33:10.110 when the Kings go about doing their job, they are 0:33:10.110 --> 0:33:13.590 running so low. When the king and queen are together, 0:33:13.590 --> 0:33:18.500 it's an official business. This is a public presentation. Maybe 0:33:18.500 --> 0:33:21.900 there's some sort of entourage of people there. And so 0:33:22.100 --> 0:33:26.660 this means that when Nehemiah is seen as sad in 0:33:26.660 --> 0:33:29.340 the king's presence with the queen there, it's a very 0:33:29.340 --> 0:33:33.420 public event. And then it's even more astounding to me 0:33:33.420 --> 0:33:36.820 that then he prays secretly to his God and then 0:33:36.820 --> 0:33:40.660 brings up this question. Oh, I think that's just courageous 0:33:40.660 --> 0:33:41.780 on Nehemiah's part. 0:33:42.380 --> 0:33:45.540 Here's a question why does it seem that men in 0:33:45.540 --> 0:33:49.340 churches today, in their latter years, seem to fall away? 0:33:49.460 --> 0:33:52.860 Is it pride, or are they thinking they know it all? 0:33:53.060 --> 0:33:55.500 Or is it the feeling that God has forsaken them 0:33:55.500 --> 0:33:58.100 because they're moving on in life, just aging out? 0:33:58.460 --> 0:34:01.180 That's a great question. I'm sad to hear from this 0:34:01.180 --> 0:34:04.140 listener that this is this listener's experience, that many older 0:34:04.140 --> 0:34:06.820 men are falling away from the faith or not attending 0:34:06.820 --> 0:34:10.420 church anymore. That's not been my experience, my experience in 0:34:10.420 --> 0:34:13.339 the congregation where I've been. Thanks be to God is 0:34:13.340 --> 0:34:16.410 the older men are hanging in there. They're attending church 0:34:16.410 --> 0:34:19.690 in their 90s and they are faithful. But to answer 0:34:19.690 --> 0:34:23.850 the question, yes, I think sometimes when we get older, 0:34:23.850 --> 0:34:26.210 we begin to get prideful. When we get older, we 0:34:26.210 --> 0:34:28.970 think we're wiser. We begin to kind of take it easy, 0:34:28.969 --> 0:34:32.049 and when we get older we get, uh, maybe we 0:34:32.050 --> 0:34:34.649 have aches or pains. And we're thinking attending church is 0:34:34.650 --> 0:34:35.970 not that important. 0:34:36.010 --> 0:34:37.770 It could be any number of factors, is what you're saying. 0:34:37.770 --> 0:34:40.050 It could be any number of factors. Yeah. 0:34:40.570 --> 0:34:43.009 All right. Here's one from Melissa. She's wondering about the 0:34:43.010 --> 0:34:46.690 claim that there are no tears in heaven. If we 0:34:46.690 --> 0:34:49.570 have loved ones, she says, who will not accept Jesus 0:34:49.570 --> 0:34:52.810 as their Savior here? How can there be no tears 0:34:52.810 --> 0:34:54.969 in heaven, but we just forget them when we get 0:34:54.969 --> 0:34:58.050 to heaven? She says, I've prayed and continued to pray 0:34:58.050 --> 0:35:00.730 that their hearts will soften and will one day come 0:35:00.730 --> 0:35:03.850 to know Jesus, but it seems like an unbearable thing 0:35:03.890 --> 0:35:06.890 to be in heaven without them. I've wondered about this too. 0:35:07.330 --> 0:35:10.009 Yes, this is a very important question, and I was 0:35:10.010 --> 0:35:13.450 deeply touched by the compassion you hear in this question. 0:35:13.890 --> 0:35:16.830 If we have a family member, if we have a 0:35:16.830 --> 0:35:19.509 close friend who doesn't know Christ, it hurts us. It 0:35:19.510 --> 0:35:23.870 hurt Paul. Read Romans nine. I don't have a particular passage. 0:35:23.870 --> 0:35:26.509 I don't have a particular verse that addresses this. But 0:35:26.510 --> 0:35:29.069 what I do know is that when we're in the 0:35:29.070 --> 0:35:31.230 new heaven and the new earth, when we have our 0:35:31.230 --> 0:35:35.350 new body, we will have been transformed. We will no 0:35:35.350 --> 0:35:37.710 longer have a sinful nature, and we're going to be 0:35:37.710 --> 0:35:39.509 in the presence of God. And we're going to, thanks 0:35:39.550 --> 0:35:42.830 be to God, see our Lord Jesus face to face. 0:35:42.989 --> 0:35:46.149 And our whole perspective on the world and our whole 0:35:46.150 --> 0:35:49.710 perspective on our existence is just going to be radically transformed. 0:35:50.230 --> 0:35:52.509 So I think at this point, we're going to be 0:35:52.510 --> 0:35:56.189 able to trust God with our lost family members in 0:35:56.190 --> 0:35:59.110 ways we could never trust him while we were on earth. 0:35:59.150 --> 0:36:00.710 And I would add two things. And I wonder if 0:36:00.710 --> 0:36:03.750 you could confirm or maybe correct one in heaven. We 0:36:03.750 --> 0:36:06.989 will finally have a fully correct sense of the justice 0:36:06.989 --> 0:36:10.229 of God. We will not be as likely to quote 0:36:10.270 --> 0:36:12.629 blame him as we feel free to do now. And 0:36:12.630 --> 0:36:15.460 number two, We will be so in love with Jesus, 0:36:15.780 --> 0:36:17.180 it will overshadow everything. 0:36:17.219 --> 0:36:20.660 Absolutely. Having a better insight into the justice of God. 0:36:20.660 --> 0:36:23.620 Because these days, many times we complain because we think 0:36:23.620 --> 0:36:27.980 God isn't just yes. And being so in love with 0:36:27.980 --> 0:36:30.980 Jesus and receiving his love in heaven. Everything else is 0:36:30.980 --> 0:36:32.500 just going to be washed away. 0:36:32.540 --> 0:36:34.420 Hey. Our email address for you to get your question 0:36:34.420 --> 0:36:38.420 to Doctor Peterman is the land and the book at Moody. 0:36:39.580 --> 0:36:41.819 Hope to hear from you. And Charlie Dyer is back 0:36:41.820 --> 0:36:57.660 with his devotional next. That's right here. Appreciate your company 0:36:57.700 --> 0:36:59.620 here at the land and the book. Always fun to 0:36:59.620 --> 0:37:02.259 have you. Part of the broadcast. I'm John Geiger with 0:37:02.260 --> 0:37:05.540 our host, Charlie Dyer. You know, Charlie riots, you think 0:37:05.540 --> 0:37:09.260 about riots, an out of control crowd. Absolutely. Never fun 0:37:09.260 --> 0:37:13.410 and always scary. But riots are nothing new. In fact, 0:37:13.410 --> 0:37:15.529 you'll find accounts of several of them in Scripture. And 0:37:15.530 --> 0:37:18.209 I think that's where we're headed with today's devotional. 0:37:18.410 --> 0:37:20.730 It is absolutely. We're going to head to the temple 0:37:20.730 --> 0:37:22.570 at Pentecost and see a riot. 0:37:22.610 --> 0:37:25.330 Okay. I think I'll look forward to that. But before 0:37:25.330 --> 0:37:28.290 we get there, let's pause for a Holy Land experience. 0:37:28.330 --> 0:37:30.650 Listen to this testimony from an Israel traveler. 0:37:34.730 --> 0:37:38.410 I went to Israel in 1997 with a group of 0:37:38.410 --> 0:37:44.290 Messianic Jews, and when we were on the Mount of Olives, 0:37:44.810 --> 0:37:48.290 the rabbi who was with us, the messianic rabbi, would 0:37:48.290 --> 0:37:51.570 always give a lesson from the Bible at each spot 0:37:51.570 --> 0:37:55.410 that we stopped at. And after he gave the lesson, 0:37:55.410 --> 0:37:57.890 we were to separate from each other and go find 0:37:57.890 --> 0:38:00.969 a quiet place and pray. And I felt like the 0:38:00.969 --> 0:38:03.489 Lord was saying to me as I was looking at 0:38:03.489 --> 0:38:08.690 these olive trees, these olives are not very valuable. Just 0:38:08.690 --> 0:38:14.000 being olives. But when they're squeezed and the oil comes out, 0:38:14.640 --> 0:38:20.440 that is valuable. It brings healing. Are you willing to 0:38:20.440 --> 0:38:25.440 be squeezed so that that oil can bring healing to others? 0:38:26.560 --> 0:38:29.560 And of course, in the years to come, I was 0:38:29.560 --> 0:38:33.480 squeezed very much. And I'm glad that the Lord gave 0:38:33.480 --> 0:38:35.799 me that, because I always reflect on that and know 0:38:35.800 --> 0:38:39.280 that he was preparing me and he was testing me. 0:38:39.719 --> 0:38:43.200 And so sometimes those kind of things happen in a 0:38:43.200 --> 0:38:46.800 place like Israel. So I just wanted to share that. 0:38:46.800 --> 0:38:48.600 And thank you very much for your program. 0:38:50.200 --> 0:38:51.960 Always great to hear from folks who've been to the 0:38:51.960 --> 0:38:55.040 Holy Land and walk away forever changed with stories like 0:38:55.040 --> 0:38:57.160 you just heard. All right, Charlie, let's turn it over 0:38:57.160 --> 0:38:58.759 to you for today's devotional. 0:38:59.120 --> 0:39:02.800 Thanks, John. Yeah. This Sunday is the Jewish feast of Shavuot, 0:39:02.840 --> 0:39:06.160 the celebration we know as the day of Pentecost. Though 0:39:06.200 --> 0:39:09.990 in a strange quirk of scheduling, the church actually celebrates 0:39:09.989 --> 0:39:13.110 Pentecost a week later on June 8th. But our journey 0:39:13.110 --> 0:39:17.149 today takes us to Jerusalem to celebrate Shavuot. But not 0:39:17.150 --> 0:39:21.790 in 2025. We're heading to Jerusalem in the spring of A.D. 57, 0:39:21.989 --> 0:39:25.189 14 years after the resurrection of Jesus and the birth 0:39:25.190 --> 0:39:27.910 of the church. As one of the three annual feasts 0:39:27.910 --> 0:39:30.870 when Jews were expected to appear before the Lord, the 0:39:30.870 --> 0:39:34.830 temple indeed the entire city is wall to wall people. 0:39:34.870 --> 0:39:37.510 Now keep a close look out, because somewhere in this 0:39:37.510 --> 0:39:40.989 mass of humanity is the Apostle Paul. But I'm getting 0:39:40.989 --> 0:39:43.950 ahead of myself. So let's gather over here in the 0:39:43.950 --> 0:39:46.390 far corner of the court of the Gentiles, next to 0:39:46.430 --> 0:39:49.629 this stairway that leads up to the Roman fortress of Antonia. 0:39:49.830 --> 0:39:52.190 And I'll try to bring you up to date. Several 0:39:52.190 --> 0:39:55.390 weeks ago, Paul was traveling from Corinth back to Jerusalem 0:39:55.390 --> 0:39:58.270 at the end of his third missionary journey. Paul stopped 0:39:58.270 --> 0:40:01.109 off in Philippi to celebrate Passover and the Feast of 0:40:01.110 --> 0:40:04.870 Unleavened Bread before continuing. He then visited with the believers 0:40:04.870 --> 0:40:07.630 in Troas for seven days. And that's where he raised 0:40:07.739 --> 0:40:10.460 Eutychus from the dead on a Sunday night service to 0:40:10.500 --> 0:40:13.339 be remembered. It's the service where Paul spoke to the 0:40:13.340 --> 0:40:16.220 church all night because he planned to leave the next day. 0:40:16.540 --> 0:40:19.140 A few days later, Paul docked in Miletus and sent 0:40:19.140 --> 0:40:22.299 for the elders of Ephesus. They probably expected him to 0:40:22.340 --> 0:40:24.580 spend some time in the city because of all the 0:40:24.580 --> 0:40:27.379 time he'd spent there before. But Paul was a man 0:40:27.380 --> 0:40:29.339 on a mission. He said he was in a hurry 0:40:29.340 --> 0:40:33.339 to reach Jerusalem, if possible. By Shavuot, which was now 0:40:33.380 --> 0:40:36.580 less than a month away. Amazingly, Paul made it to 0:40:36.620 --> 0:40:40.140 Jerusalem with just over a week to spare. The leaders 0:40:40.140 --> 0:40:42.500 of the church in Jerusalem asked Paul to demonstrate his 0:40:42.500 --> 0:40:45.820 commitment to God and His Word by paying the expenses 0:40:45.820 --> 0:40:49.820 for four individuals about to complete a Nazarite vow. And 0:40:49.820 --> 0:40:52.220 that brings us to where we are today. The crowds 0:40:52.219 --> 0:40:54.739 are pressing in on every side, but somewhere in this 0:40:54.739 --> 0:40:58.100 mass of people is the Apostle Paul. He's been coming 0:40:58.100 --> 0:41:00.779 to the temple every single day, between the celebration of 0:41:00.780 --> 0:41:03.819 Shavuot and the preparation for helping these men fulfill their 0:41:03.820 --> 0:41:06.700 Nazarite vow. Paul has been a man on the move, 0:41:06.810 --> 0:41:09.530 and that's probably good, because there are a large number 0:41:09.530 --> 0:41:11.930 of people in this crowd who would like nothing better 0:41:11.930 --> 0:41:15.850 than to cause him harm. Their hatred of Paul is visceral, 0:41:15.850 --> 0:41:18.810 and that's why. Wait a minute. Do you hear all 0:41:18.810 --> 0:41:21.489 that noise coming from beyond the wall there inside the 0:41:21.489 --> 0:41:24.050 temple court? There seems to be some sort of an uproar, 0:41:24.050 --> 0:41:27.290 but I can't tell if it's revelry or a riot. Look, 0:41:27.290 --> 0:41:29.890 here comes a large crowd streaming out of the gate 0:41:29.890 --> 0:41:32.410 there on the north side, and the gates being slammed 0:41:32.410 --> 0:41:35.410 shut behind them. What are they saying? And who is 0:41:35.410 --> 0:41:38.770 it that they seem to be dragging along? It looks like. 0:41:38.810 --> 0:41:41.850 Yes it is. It's the Apostle Paul. The crowd's starting 0:41:41.850 --> 0:41:44.250 to get ugly. So let's work our way closer to 0:41:44.290 --> 0:41:47.009 the exit, just in case we don't want to get 0:41:47.010 --> 0:41:50.089 trapped in here. If Roman soldiers come swooping down that 0:41:50.090 --> 0:41:53.450 stairway from the fortress of Antonia. And look out! Here 0:41:53.450 --> 0:41:56.770 they come! Thankfully, the rioters have also spotted them and 0:41:56.770 --> 0:41:59.969 stopped beating Paul. It looks like he's going to be rescued. 0:42:00.530 --> 0:42:02.850 I'll bet when you came here for Pentecost, you never 0:42:02.850 --> 0:42:05.759 expected to see a riot, did you? This might be 0:42:05.760 --> 0:42:08.279 a good time to slip away, except the crowd seems 0:42:08.280 --> 0:42:11.000 to be quieting down. Look, Paul, standing there on the 0:42:11.000 --> 0:42:14.640 steps leading up to the fortress, and he's surrounded by soldiers. 0:42:14.640 --> 0:42:16.839 He's starting to speak to the crowd. So let's listen 0:42:16.840 --> 0:42:19.480 to what he has to say. He's speaking in Aramaic, 0:42:19.480 --> 0:42:22.640 so I'll try to translate. He's telling about himself and 0:42:22.640 --> 0:42:26.359 his religious upbringing. He just said he was trained under Gamaliel. 0:42:26.400 --> 0:42:29.000 I see some in the crowd starting to nod their approval. 0:42:29.360 --> 0:42:32.080 And now he's talking about how Jesus appeared to him 0:42:32.080 --> 0:42:35.440 on the road to Damascus. He just said Jesus appeared 0:42:35.440 --> 0:42:37.959 to him again when he returned to Jerusalem and was 0:42:37.960 --> 0:42:42.040 praying here in the temple. And oh, the riot starting again! 0:42:42.440 --> 0:42:46.160 Paul just said Jesus had sent him to the Gentiles, 0:42:46.160 --> 0:42:48.799 and that's all this crowd needed to hear. They're now 0:42:48.800 --> 0:42:51.000 saying he's not fit to live and that they should 0:42:51.000 --> 0:42:53.279 rid the earth of him. It's a good thing the 0:42:53.280 --> 0:42:55.719 Roman soldiers have him in custody, or I think that 0:42:55.719 --> 0:42:58.240 mob would have killed him right on the spot. Let's 0:42:58.239 --> 0:43:00.760 slip out of here while we can. Well, the events 0:43:00.760 --> 0:43:04.380 on this Pentecost are certainly different from those 14 years ago. 0:43:04.860 --> 0:43:07.820 Or are they? Back then, Peter was the one preaching 0:43:07.860 --> 0:43:10.940 to those gathered in the temple. This time it's Paul. 0:43:11.219 --> 0:43:13.660 But the message is basically the same in the sense 0:43:13.660 --> 0:43:17.180 that the focus is on Jesus and on obedience to him. 0:43:17.700 --> 0:43:20.219 There wasn't a mob response back when Peter preached, but 0:43:20.219 --> 0:43:23.500 it soon followed. In fact, Paul, who was called Saul 0:43:23.500 --> 0:43:26.380 at the time, was with the crowd who stoned Stephen 0:43:26.380 --> 0:43:29.180 to death. I know none of this should surprise us 0:43:29.180 --> 0:43:32.580 too much. There always seems to be a visceral reaction 0:43:32.580 --> 0:43:35.819 when the claims of Jesus are presented. Some respond in 0:43:35.820 --> 0:43:39.420 faith and placed their trust in him, but others react violently, 0:43:39.420 --> 0:43:42.620 rejecting the message and even trying to harm the messenger. 0:43:42.980 --> 0:43:46.420 And yet, the message keeps being proclaimed. On the original 0:43:46.420 --> 0:43:49.060 day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit was poured out on 0:43:49.060 --> 0:43:52.660 all the followers of Jesus. By the time today's riot 0:43:52.700 --> 0:43:56.180 rolled around, tens of thousands had responded in faith to 0:43:56.219 --> 0:43:58.900 that same message, and they were also empowered by the 0:43:58.900 --> 0:44:02.540 Holy Spirit and became witnesses to Jesus. Well, it's time 0:44:02.540 --> 0:44:04.970 for us to head back home from the temple. I 0:44:04.969 --> 0:44:07.810 doubt if you will ever forget the scene you just witnessed. 0:44:08.010 --> 0:44:10.810 But more than just memories of a riot, I'd really 0:44:10.810 --> 0:44:13.649 like you to carry away one key lesson from the 0:44:13.650 --> 0:44:17.410 scene that unfolded. The lesson is the importance of courage. 0:44:17.610 --> 0:44:20.010 It took courage for Paul to go to the temple 0:44:20.010 --> 0:44:23.450 in the first place. All along his journey to Jerusalem, 0:44:23.450 --> 0:44:26.730 Paul was warned that chains and prison awaited him. But 0:44:26.730 --> 0:44:29.730 Paul kept going. And then when he was attacked by 0:44:29.730 --> 0:44:32.570 the mob and rescued by the soldiers, instead of letting 0:44:32.570 --> 0:44:35.810 them carry him away to safety, Paul asked to address 0:44:35.810 --> 0:44:38.410 the very mob that had tried to kill him. He 0:44:38.450 --> 0:44:41.530 definitely had courage. Now we live in a day when 0:44:41.570 --> 0:44:44.650 keeping a low profile and getting along with the crowd 0:44:44.650 --> 0:44:49.569 is considered wise advice. But maybe, maybe it's time for 0:44:49.570 --> 0:44:52.609 us to stand boldly for the Lord and share the 0:44:52.610 --> 0:44:55.529 message the world needs to hear, even if it's not 0:44:55.530 --> 0:44:59.170 the one they want to hear. On his way to Jerusalem, 0:44:59.170 --> 0:45:02.880 Paul said this to the elders at Ephesus in Acts 2020. 0:45:03.480 --> 0:45:06.560 You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything 0:45:06.560 --> 0:45:08.839 that would be helpful to you, but have taught you 0:45:08.840 --> 0:45:12.040 publicly and from house to house. And we talk about 0:45:12.040 --> 0:45:15.800 2020 vision. But maybe as believers, what we need today 0:45:15.800 --> 0:45:19.880 is the acts 20, verse 20, courage displayed by Paul. 0:45:20.080 --> 0:45:23.560 Or as he put it, I have not hesitated. Paul 0:45:23.560 --> 0:45:27.759 made an impact, not just an impression, on everyone around him, 0:45:27.760 --> 0:45:31.480 because he was courageous in standing for the Lord. This 0:45:31.480 --> 0:45:35.399 day of Pentecost. Why not vow to stand courageously for 0:45:35.400 --> 0:45:39.120 the Lord where you live and work? I don't know 0:45:39.120 --> 0:45:41.759 if you'll cause a riot, but I do know you 0:45:41.760 --> 0:45:44.000 will make an impact for Jesus. 0:45:44.360 --> 0:45:47.080 Thank you, Charlie boy. That's really well said and impact 0:45:47.080 --> 0:45:49.839 for Jesus. I hope you want that too. You can 0:45:49.840 --> 0:45:52.080 always go back and hear this program in its entirety 0:45:52.080 --> 0:45:55.239 at our website. The land and the book. Org. Yeah, 0:45:55.239 --> 0:45:58.320 the podcast is always there for you and your friends. 0:45:58.320 --> 0:46:01.150 We appreciate when you're passing the word along to them 0:46:01.150 --> 0:46:04.950 about this ministry. Also, your Bible questions are welcome. Doctor 0:46:04.950 --> 0:46:07.270 Gerald Peterman is glad to take those. And we heard 0:46:07.270 --> 0:46:09.790 him earlier. You can email us with your question at 0:46:09.830 --> 0:46:14.469 the land and the book. That's the land and the 0:46:14.510 --> 0:46:18.310 book at Moody's. Charlie, I think it's important for listeners 0:46:18.310 --> 0:46:21.149 to know that this is a listener supported ministry. And 0:46:21.150 --> 0:46:23.470 the fact of the matter is that so many stations 0:46:23.469 --> 0:46:25.709 are just giving us airtime. We need to let them 0:46:25.710 --> 0:46:28.270 know that this program is appreciated. Right? 0:46:28.430 --> 0:46:31.310 Well, absolutely, John. In fact, you know, sending an email 0:46:31.310 --> 0:46:34.549 or calling or even writing a letter as an encouragement 0:46:34.550 --> 0:46:37.109 to the station and also a reminder to them that 0:46:37.110 --> 0:46:39.790 this program is making an impact on people's lives. 0:46:39.790 --> 0:46:42.310 So thanks for doing that. And thanks for hanging out 0:46:42.310 --> 0:46:44.950 with us here at The Land and the book on 0:46:44.950 --> 0:46:48.230 behalf of our producer, Dan Anderson, our host, Charlie Dyer, 0:46:48.390 --> 0:46:50.830 I'm John Yeager, and the land and the book is 0:46:50.830 --> 0:46:54.910 a production of Moody Radio, a ministry of Moody Bible Institute.