1 00:00:00,600 --> 00:00:04,640 Speaker 1: Let us pray offer unto God thanksgiving, and pay thy 2 00:00:04,760 --> 00:00:10,239 Speaker 1: vows under the most high Psalm fifty fourteen. I owe 3 00:00:10,280 --> 00:00:13,880 Speaker 1: you so much, dear Heavenly Father. There will never be 4 00:00:14,000 --> 00:00:17,560 Speaker 1: enough words of thanksgiving to express my gratitude for your 5 00:00:17,600 --> 00:00:21,680 Speaker 1: hand of grace and mercy in my life. You pulled 6 00:00:21,720 --> 00:00:25,680 Speaker 1: me from the fires of sin and death. Your goodness 7 00:00:25,680 --> 00:00:29,400 Speaker 1: overwhelms me as I consider my salvation and all the 8 00:00:29,440 --> 00:00:34,360 Speaker 1: abundant promises granted me. Through that salvation, I am redeemed 9 00:00:34,520 --> 00:00:37,519 Speaker 1: through the precious blood of Jesus and bought with a 10 00:00:37,600 --> 00:00:41,400 Speaker 1: price more valuable than silver and gold. I want to 11 00:00:41,440 --> 00:00:44,400 Speaker 1: thank you for delivering me out of the bondage of 12 00:00:44,440 --> 00:00:49,199 Speaker 1: my shameful offenses, making me part of your eternal family. 13 00:00:50,400 --> 00:00:53,800 Speaker 1: The sacrifice you desire most has nothing to do with 14 00:00:53,920 --> 00:00:59,160 Speaker 1: material sacrifices, but the offerings from the heart. What pleases 15 00:00:59,200 --> 00:01:02,160 Speaker 1: you most is my recognition of what you have done 16 00:01:02,200 --> 00:01:05,959 Speaker 1: for me out of your gracious and merciful heart. It 17 00:01:06,040 --> 00:01:09,160 Speaker 1: is your desire that I should know you and love 18 00:01:09,240 --> 00:01:13,920 Speaker 1: you as you know and love me. For that, I 19 00:01:14,000 --> 00:01:18,000 Speaker 1: must relinquish my childish, selfish attitude and grow in my 20 00:01:18,120 --> 00:01:23,280 Speaker 1: understanding of your goodness. I vow to serve you all 21 00:01:23,319 --> 00:01:27,280 Speaker 1: the days of my life. Then walk in obedience to 22 00:01:27,360 --> 00:01:31,080 Speaker 1: the wisdom of your ways. Then I will forever be 23 00:01:31,240 --> 00:01:34,640 Speaker 1: grateful to you for sending your son to purchase me 24 00:01:34,959 --> 00:01:39,200 Speaker 1: from death into life. Thank you for loving me so 25 00:01:39,319 --> 00:01:48,040 Speaker 1: completely and providing for me in Jesus name. Amen. Thank 26 00:01:48,080 --> 00:01:51,680 Speaker 1: you for listening to today's Daily Prayer for more inspiration 27 00:01:51,960 --> 00:01:55,560 Speaker 1: and an incredible message from our feature pastor stay tuned 28 00:01:55,560 --> 00:01:57,480 Speaker 1: to pray dot COM's Sunday service. 29 00:02:05,200 --> 00:02:08,080 Speaker 2: Hey pray dot com family, Sean Booster here from Authentic 30 00:02:08,120 --> 00:02:10,640 Speaker 2: a show that you can watch right here on pray 31 00:02:10,680 --> 00:02:13,640 Speaker 2: dot Com. You know it's Thanksgiving season again here in 32 00:02:13,680 --> 00:02:16,120 Speaker 2: the US, and well we've got a pretty exciting show 33 00:02:16,160 --> 00:02:17,880 Speaker 2: lined up for you. A lot of people they talk 34 00:02:17,919 --> 00:02:21,480 Speaker 2: about Christmas, Easter, even New Year's as the big holidays 35 00:02:21,520 --> 00:02:23,480 Speaker 2: each year. But I'm going to tell you why I 36 00:02:23,560 --> 00:02:27,320 Speaker 2: think Thanksgiving is the most important of them all, again 37 00:02:27,600 --> 00:02:30,440 Speaker 2: right here on pray dot com. But first, would you 38 00:02:30,440 --> 00:02:33,520 Speaker 2: do me a little favor. Just follow this channel, click 39 00:02:33,560 --> 00:02:37,000 Speaker 2: on that follow button or the plus sign on the screen. Thanks. 40 00:02:58,639 --> 00:03:00,640 Speaker 2: Quite a few years ago now, my brother and I 41 00:03:00,680 --> 00:03:04,400 Speaker 2: started this friendly debate about who came up with Thanksgiving first? 42 00:03:04,639 --> 00:03:09,000 Speaker 2: Was it the Canadians or the Americans. Now, as an 43 00:03:09,040 --> 00:03:11,799 Speaker 2: immigrant to this country, I had no choice. I had 44 00:03:11,840 --> 00:03:14,720 Speaker 2: to take the position that the Americans invented the holiday, 45 00:03:14,800 --> 00:03:17,960 Speaker 2: so it belongs to them as a Canadian. My brother 46 00:03:18,000 --> 00:03:21,440 Speaker 2: took the other side of the question. And see, you've 47 00:03:21,440 --> 00:03:24,360 Speaker 2: got to understand that in my tribe, arguing is an 48 00:03:24,480 --> 00:03:27,000 Speaker 2: art form. It doesn't really matter if you're right or wrong. 49 00:03:27,320 --> 00:03:30,320 Speaker 2: What matters is that you win the argument. And I'll 50 00:03:30,360 --> 00:03:33,600 Speaker 2: admit debating is a pastime that's kind of served me 51 00:03:33,680 --> 00:03:36,960 Speaker 2: well because it taught me to examine other people's points 52 00:03:36,960 --> 00:03:40,800 Speaker 2: of view very carefully, so that I at least understand 53 00:03:40,840 --> 00:03:43,440 Speaker 2: them even if I don't agree. And I guess I 54 00:03:43,480 --> 00:03:46,440 Speaker 2: owe some of the perspectives I've adopted on this show 55 00:03:46,480 --> 00:03:50,280 Speaker 2: to a lifetime of debate. Anyway, back to the rather 56 00:03:50,480 --> 00:03:54,720 Speaker 2: meaningless debate about who invented Thanksgiving, the story we tell 57 00:03:54,760 --> 00:03:57,840 Speaker 2: in America is rooted in the first harvest the Pilgrims 58 00:03:57,880 --> 00:04:03,600 Speaker 2: enjoyed in November of sixteen, when the Wampanoag Indians famously 59 00:04:03,720 --> 00:04:07,320 Speaker 2: joined the Pilgrims for a celebratory feast. And we don't 60 00:04:07,360 --> 00:04:10,200 Speaker 2: know for sure that they were eating Turkey that day. 61 00:04:10,320 --> 00:04:14,120 Speaker 2: We do know they were eating birds, as recorded by 62 00:04:14,560 --> 00:04:17,960 Speaker 2: the famous pilgrim Edward Winslow, who actually made a note 63 00:04:18,040 --> 00:04:21,560 Speaker 2: of what they did that day. He writes, our harvest 64 00:04:21,600 --> 00:04:25,120 Speaker 2: being gotten in, our governor sent four men on fowling, 65 00:04:25,520 --> 00:04:28,479 Speaker 2: so that so we might, after a special manner, rejoice 66 00:04:28,520 --> 00:04:31,400 Speaker 2: together after we had gathered the fruits of our labors. 67 00:04:32,160 --> 00:04:35,080 Speaker 2: They four in one day killed as much fowl as, 68 00:04:35,120 --> 00:04:40,320 Speaker 2: with a little help beside, served the company almost a week. Now, 69 00:04:40,560 --> 00:04:43,719 Speaker 2: as you probably know, food wasn't exactly abundant for those 70 00:04:43,800 --> 00:04:46,760 Speaker 2: early colonists, and they suffered a lot of hardship when 71 00:04:46,800 --> 00:04:50,920 Speaker 2: they first arrived. In fact, if the Wampanoags had not 72 00:04:51,040 --> 00:04:54,080 Speaker 2: taught them how to survive in the new world, they 73 00:04:54,120 --> 00:04:58,520 Speaker 2: probably wouldn't have made it. So the story of Thanksgiving 74 00:04:58,520 --> 00:05:02,800 Speaker 2: in America is really well known, even legendary. I mean, 75 00:05:02,880 --> 00:05:05,640 Speaker 2: when I was growing up in Canada, even we watched 76 00:05:05,720 --> 00:05:09,839 Speaker 2: the American Thanksgiving specials because most of the TV shows 77 00:05:09,880 --> 00:05:13,039 Speaker 2: we watched were bleeding over the border from the United States. 78 00:05:13,800 --> 00:05:16,760 Speaker 2: And so when I moved here, I already understood the 79 00:05:16,800 --> 00:05:22,040 Speaker 2: cultural importance of your biggest holiday. So that's the American 80 00:05:22,120 --> 00:05:25,040 Speaker 2: version of Thanksgiving. And I still maintain that it's a 81 00:05:25,160 --> 00:05:28,640 Speaker 2: much bigger deal here than it ever was in Canada. 82 00:05:28,800 --> 00:05:32,080 Speaker 2: I mean, don't get me wrong, Canadians also celebrate Thanksgiving, 83 00:05:32,560 --> 00:05:34,760 Speaker 2: but they do it more than a month before we do, 84 00:05:34,920 --> 00:05:37,719 Speaker 2: because way up there, above the forty ninth parallel, the 85 00:05:37,800 --> 00:05:40,800 Speaker 2: harvest comes a lot earlier than it does down here, 86 00:05:41,240 --> 00:05:45,400 Speaker 2: So they celebrate Thanksgiving in October. And while the holiday 87 00:05:45,720 --> 00:05:48,920 Speaker 2: is important to Canadians, it's nowhere near as important as 88 00:05:48,920 --> 00:05:52,599 Speaker 2: it is down here. In the United States. Thanksgiving almost 89 00:05:52,640 --> 00:05:55,960 Speaker 2: seems bigger than Christmas, but not so much where I 90 00:05:56,040 --> 00:05:59,080 Speaker 2: was born. I mean, they still have turkey and cranberry 91 00:05:59,160 --> 00:06:02,640 Speaker 2: sauce and pumpkin pie and special sermons in church about 92 00:06:02,680 --> 00:06:06,159 Speaker 2: being thankful and even a little bit of football. But 93 00:06:06,279 --> 00:06:10,680 Speaker 2: in Canada I could safely schedule other events across Thanksgiving 94 00:06:10,680 --> 00:06:13,960 Speaker 2: and not create a problem. In fact, I used to 95 00:06:14,000 --> 00:06:17,720 Speaker 2: host a major fundraising event on Thanksgiving and it didn't 96 00:06:17,839 --> 00:06:22,040 Speaker 2: kill attendance. Gina and I even got married on Thanksgiving 97 00:06:22,040 --> 00:06:24,880 Speaker 2: and everybody still turned out. As most of you know, 98 00:06:25,640 --> 00:06:30,600 Speaker 2: that would not happen in America. The first official Thanksgiving 99 00:06:30,640 --> 00:06:33,520 Speaker 2: in Canada was in eighteen seventy nine, nearly two hundred 100 00:06:33,520 --> 00:06:37,480 Speaker 2: and fifty years after the Pilgrims celebrated theirs. But of 101 00:06:37,520 --> 00:06:41,200 Speaker 2: course the practice of Thanksgiving, or at least the tradition 102 00:06:41,240 --> 00:06:45,039 Speaker 2: of harvest festivals, goes back a lot further than that. 103 00:06:45,600 --> 00:06:49,200 Speaker 2: So in some regards I'll admit my brother was at 104 00:06:49,240 --> 00:06:53,839 Speaker 2: least partly right. History records a Thanksgiving festival in Canada 105 00:06:54,160 --> 00:06:58,400 Speaker 2: back in fifteen seventy nine, more than forty years before 106 00:06:58,400 --> 00:07:02,440 Speaker 2: the famous dinner at Plymouth. It happened when Martin Frobisher, 107 00:07:02,520 --> 00:07:06,440 Speaker 2: the English explorer, was looking for the fabled Northwest Passage, 108 00:07:06,880 --> 00:07:09,280 Speaker 2: a route that could take you over the top of 109 00:07:09,320 --> 00:07:13,880 Speaker 2: North America. He was up around Baffin Island, a place 110 00:07:13,920 --> 00:07:16,640 Speaker 2: that I loved to visit, and he intended to start 111 00:07:16,680 --> 00:07:20,920 Speaker 2: a small community up there. He had fifteen ships loaded 112 00:07:20,920 --> 00:07:24,160 Speaker 2: with supplies. But then the weather and the ice demolished 113 00:07:24,160 --> 00:07:26,680 Speaker 2: one of those boats, which meant that he lost a 114 00:07:26,720 --> 00:07:30,480 Speaker 2: lot of his building material. It was really discouraging, and 115 00:07:30,520 --> 00:07:32,920 Speaker 2: it meant there was going to be a lot of hardship. 116 00:07:33,680 --> 00:07:36,320 Speaker 2: But then a minister by the name of meister Wolfall 117 00:07:36,800 --> 00:07:41,120 Speaker 2: preached a sermon about gratitude. When they suddenly experienced just 118 00:07:41,160 --> 00:07:44,920 Speaker 2: a little bit of good luck According to one historical record, 119 00:07:45,360 --> 00:07:49,840 Speaker 2: he made unto them a godly sermon, exhorting them especially 120 00:07:49,880 --> 00:07:52,840 Speaker 2: to be thankful to God for their strange and miraculous 121 00:07:52,920 --> 00:07:57,520 Speaker 2: deliverance in those so dangerous places, and putting them in 122 00:07:57,720 --> 00:08:01,120 Speaker 2: mind of the uncertainty of man's life, willed them to 123 00:08:01,200 --> 00:08:05,200 Speaker 2: make themselves always ready as resolute men, to enjoy and 124 00:08:05,280 --> 00:08:11,480 Speaker 2: accept thankfully whatsoever adventure his divine providence should appoint. So 125 00:08:12,160 --> 00:08:15,080 Speaker 2: that was fifteen seventy nine, and a few years later, 126 00:08:15,120 --> 00:08:18,560 Speaker 2: in sixteen oh four, there was another Thanksgiving feast, when 127 00:08:18,560 --> 00:08:22,520 Speaker 2: the explorer Samuel Champlain and his men founded something known 128 00:08:22,800 --> 00:08:26,320 Speaker 2: as the Order of Good Cheer, an organization which held 129 00:08:26,360 --> 00:08:29,960 Speaker 2: feasts of gratitude with the local Indian tribes the same 130 00:08:29,960 --> 00:08:34,960 Speaker 2: way the Pilgrims did, But they did it fifteen years earlier, 131 00:08:36,040 --> 00:08:38,600 Speaker 2: so publicly, I guess I have to concede the debate. 132 00:08:38,640 --> 00:08:42,360 Speaker 2: It appears that there were Thanksgiving celebrations in Canada before 133 00:08:42,400 --> 00:08:45,679 Speaker 2: we were doing it down here. But then again, neither 134 00:08:45,720 --> 00:08:50,200 Speaker 2: country really invented the idea, because my harvest festivals have 135 00:08:50,240 --> 00:08:53,880 Speaker 2: been around for a really, really long time, going back 136 00:08:53,920 --> 00:08:57,959 Speaker 2: to very ancient cultures. What we often forget here in 137 00:08:58,040 --> 00:09:01,720 Speaker 2: the overfed West is just how hard life has been 138 00:09:01,760 --> 00:09:05,200 Speaker 2: for most people for most of our history. When you 139 00:09:05,240 --> 00:09:08,440 Speaker 2: and I talk about food shortages, we usually mean that 140 00:09:08,480 --> 00:09:10,960 Speaker 2: we can't get our hands on some of our favorite things, 141 00:09:11,320 --> 00:09:14,640 Speaker 2: unlike some places on this planet, where people just hope 142 00:09:14,679 --> 00:09:18,199 Speaker 2: to find something to eat. It would seem that one 143 00:09:18,240 --> 00:09:20,760 Speaker 2: of the things that tends to evaporate when times are 144 00:09:20,800 --> 00:09:24,440 Speaker 2: easy is a sense of gratitude here in the West, 145 00:09:24,880 --> 00:09:28,000 Speaker 2: the more we have, the more we appear to feel 146 00:09:28,200 --> 00:09:33,480 Speaker 2: entitled to have a Today, after the dramatic secularization of 147 00:09:33,520 --> 00:09:37,720 Speaker 2: Western society, there are still millions of people who continue 148 00:09:37,840 --> 00:09:41,920 Speaker 2: to pray before they eat. It's a gesture of gratitude. 149 00:09:42,000 --> 00:09:44,679 Speaker 2: But for many well meaning North Americans, I think that 150 00:09:44,679 --> 00:09:47,920 Speaker 2: that prayer has become something of a superstition, something they 151 00:09:47,920 --> 00:09:51,040 Speaker 2: do from a sense of obligation more than an actual 152 00:09:51,080 --> 00:09:54,000 Speaker 2: sense of gratitude. I mean, I remember as a little 153 00:09:54,080 --> 00:09:57,400 Speaker 2: kid wondering what might happen if I didn't pray before 154 00:09:57,440 --> 00:10:00,480 Speaker 2: I ate, as if saying grace was some kind of 155 00:10:00,520 --> 00:10:05,240 Speaker 2: magical incantation that removed dangerous impurities from the food. And 156 00:10:05,320 --> 00:10:07,840 Speaker 2: I know I'm not alone with that. I've witnessed a 157 00:10:07,880 --> 00:10:10,760 Speaker 2: lot of people who suddenly stop eating halfway through their 158 00:10:10,800 --> 00:10:14,079 Speaker 2: first bite of food, trying to remember did I say grace? 159 00:10:14,200 --> 00:10:17,160 Speaker 2: And some of them get this mild look of panic, 160 00:10:17,200 --> 00:10:19,440 Speaker 2: as if something really bad is going to happen if 161 00:10:19,440 --> 00:10:24,240 Speaker 2: they get the ritual wrong. That mild sense of fear 162 00:10:24,640 --> 00:10:27,000 Speaker 2: is a legacy that we kind of inherited from our 163 00:10:27,080 --> 00:10:29,920 Speaker 2: medieval past, where a lot of Christian preachers gave the 164 00:10:29,960 --> 00:10:34,120 Speaker 2: impression that God was looking for some excuse, any excuse 165 00:10:34,160 --> 00:10:36,600 Speaker 2: at all, to strike us dead with a thunderbolt if 166 00:10:36,600 --> 00:10:39,319 Speaker 2: we stepped a little bit out of line, as if 167 00:10:39,360 --> 00:10:43,400 Speaker 2: he was the Roman god Jupiter. Because of that, a 168 00:10:43,440 --> 00:10:46,320 Speaker 2: lot of the religious rituals back then were intended to 169 00:10:46,400 --> 00:10:49,240 Speaker 2: just stave off the wrath of God, and a prayer 170 00:10:49,320 --> 00:10:52,800 Speaker 2: before dinner wasn't really a matter of faith. It was 171 00:10:52,840 --> 00:10:54,679 Speaker 2: just one more thing you added to your list of 172 00:10:54,720 --> 00:10:57,800 Speaker 2: religious good deeds in order to keep yourself out of 173 00:10:57,840 --> 00:11:02,960 Speaker 2: the fires of hell. Of course, I'm not questioning the 174 00:11:03,000 --> 00:11:07,160 Speaker 2: practice of saying grace, because gratitude is a good thing, 175 00:11:07,240 --> 00:11:10,920 Speaker 2: and Christians have noted that Jesus set the example. In 176 00:11:11,000 --> 00:11:13,600 Speaker 2: Luke twenty two at the Last Supper, you'll notice that 177 00:11:13,679 --> 00:11:17,800 Speaker 2: Jesus took bread gave thanks and broke it and gave 178 00:11:17,840 --> 00:11:19,920 Speaker 2: it to them, saying, this is my body which is 179 00:11:19,960 --> 00:11:24,760 Speaker 2: given for you. Do this in remembrance of me. Now, 180 00:11:24,880 --> 00:11:27,400 Speaker 2: that's just the tip of the iceberg when it comes 181 00:11:27,480 --> 00:11:30,240 Speaker 2: to the Bible's advice that you and I cultivate an 182 00:11:30,320 --> 00:11:34,199 Speaker 2: attitude of thankfulness. And in a world where people seem 183 00:11:34,360 --> 00:11:37,720 Speaker 2: to feel more and more entitled, and where things like 184 00:11:38,120 --> 00:11:41,920 Speaker 2: civility and gratitude seem to be fading into the background, 185 00:11:42,640 --> 00:11:46,160 Speaker 2: maybe this is something we could afford to revisit, especially 186 00:11:46,600 --> 00:11:53,800 Speaker 2: during Thanksgiving. I'll be right back after this. Hey pray 187 00:11:53,840 --> 00:11:56,600 Speaker 2: dot com user, I hope you're enjoying this really special 188 00:11:56,679 --> 00:11:59,599 Speaker 2: Thanksgiving episode. Would you do me a favor and just 189 00:11:59,720 --> 00:12:02,560 Speaker 2: click the follow button on your screen. It might even 190 00:12:02,559 --> 00:12:05,120 Speaker 2: look like a little circle with a plus sign. Our 191 00:12:05,160 --> 00:12:08,200 Speaker 2: team has created some really great content that runs on 192 00:12:08,240 --> 00:12:10,959 Speaker 2: prey dot com. Right here every single Sunday, we talk 193 00:12:11,000 --> 00:12:14,680 Speaker 2: about prophecy, the intersection of faith, science and philosophy, and 194 00:12:14,760 --> 00:12:18,000 Speaker 2: even how you could be the very best version of yourself, 195 00:12:18,040 --> 00:12:20,920 Speaker 2: the version that God created you to be. It's all 196 00:12:21,000 --> 00:12:23,559 Speaker 2: right here on Authentic with me Sean Boonster, and this 197 00:12:23,640 --> 00:12:26,280 Speaker 2: is stuff you don't want to miss, so go ahead 198 00:12:26,640 --> 00:12:27,280 Speaker 2: and follow. 199 00:12:29,559 --> 00:12:33,160 Speaker 3: Life can throw a lot at us. Sometimes we don't 200 00:12:33,200 --> 00:12:36,760 Speaker 3: have all the answers, but that's where the Bible comes in. 201 00:12:37,679 --> 00:12:41,080 Speaker 3: It's our guide to a more fulfilling life. You're at 202 00:12:41,120 --> 00:12:44,480 Speaker 3: the voice of prophecy. We've created the Discover Bible Guides 203 00:12:44,480 --> 00:12:46,760 Speaker 3: to be your guide to the Bible. They're designed to 204 00:12:46,760 --> 00:12:49,920 Speaker 3: be simple, easy to use, and provide answers to many 205 00:12:49,920 --> 00:12:54,079 Speaker 3: of life's toughest questions. And they're absolutely free. So jump 206 00:12:54,080 --> 00:12:56,680 Speaker 3: online now or give us a call and start your 207 00:12:56,760 --> 00:12:58,000 Speaker 3: journey of discovery. 208 00:12:59,240 --> 00:13:02,559 Speaker 2: I think the reasons we often don't feel very thankful 209 00:13:02,960 --> 00:13:06,440 Speaker 2: is ironically because we have so much to be thankful for. 210 00:13:07,480 --> 00:13:10,480 Speaker 2: I mean, don't get me wrong. Life on planet Earth 211 00:13:10,559 --> 00:13:12,760 Speaker 2: is just as frustrating as it used to be, at 212 00:13:12,840 --> 00:13:16,160 Speaker 2: least from an emotional perspective, but a lot of our 213 00:13:16,240 --> 00:13:18,840 Speaker 2: material needs are being met in a way that would 214 00:13:18,840 --> 00:13:22,800 Speaker 2: have surprised the socks off our ancestors. Even the poor 215 00:13:22,840 --> 00:13:25,400 Speaker 2: among us are much better off than the poor of 216 00:13:25,440 --> 00:13:30,119 Speaker 2: the past, and overall, our level of material prosperity easily 217 00:13:30,280 --> 00:13:34,240 Speaker 2: outstrips almost every generation that came before us. In fact, 218 00:13:34,400 --> 00:13:38,800 Speaker 2: many of us live far more conveniently than medieval nobles did. 219 00:13:39,360 --> 00:13:42,720 Speaker 2: But somehow, at the same time, we seem to be 220 00:13:42,840 --> 00:13:45,720 Speaker 2: less thankful than they were. And I sometimes wonder if 221 00:13:45,720 --> 00:13:48,160 Speaker 2: a little bit of hardship might not be a good thing. 222 00:13:48,800 --> 00:13:50,960 Speaker 2: And judging by the state of the world right now, 223 00:13:51,000 --> 00:13:54,400 Speaker 2: I have a sneaking suspicion there's a bit of hardship 224 00:13:54,440 --> 00:13:57,520 Speaker 2: coming down the pike. I was born at a very 225 00:13:57,559 --> 00:14:01,080 Speaker 2: privileged time in history, certainly more privilege than even my 226 00:14:01,200 --> 00:14:04,800 Speaker 2: own parents. I don't have to deal with Nazi occupation 227 00:14:05,000 --> 00:14:08,360 Speaker 2: or state orchestrated famines. I didn't even have to deal 228 00:14:08,360 --> 00:14:11,120 Speaker 2: with things like polio or iron lungs, because a lot 229 00:14:11,120 --> 00:14:14,760 Speaker 2: of those kinds of problems had been mostly eliminated by 230 00:14:14,760 --> 00:14:18,000 Speaker 2: the time I drew my first breath. I didn't have 231 00:14:18,040 --> 00:14:20,320 Speaker 2: to go and fight a war. I didn't have to 232 00:14:20,360 --> 00:14:22,480 Speaker 2: go and beg on a street corner hoping for just 233 00:14:22,640 --> 00:14:25,440 Speaker 2: enough change to get something to eat. I mean, it 234 00:14:25,520 --> 00:14:28,160 Speaker 2: doesn't mean that my life was easy, because it really wasn't, 235 00:14:28,800 --> 00:14:31,680 Speaker 2: but it was certainly easier for me than the people 236 00:14:31,680 --> 00:14:35,560 Speaker 2: who came before me. And yet my generation, the ones 237 00:14:35,600 --> 00:14:39,240 Speaker 2: coming after me as well, somehow we seem a lot 238 00:14:39,360 --> 00:14:42,640 Speaker 2: less thankful, and we assume that we deserve what we have, 239 00:14:43,240 --> 00:14:46,880 Speaker 2: maybe more so maybe today, in light of the Thanksgiving holiday, 240 00:14:46,920 --> 00:14:49,520 Speaker 2: I'd like to share some reminders from the scriptures that 241 00:14:49,880 --> 00:14:55,320 Speaker 2: Christian believers should always be cultivating gratitude, and I think 242 00:14:55,320 --> 00:14:57,480 Speaker 2: I want to start with a passage from the Book 243 00:14:57,520 --> 00:15:00,720 Speaker 2: of Philippians, which was written by the apostle Paul, a 244 00:15:00,720 --> 00:15:04,640 Speaker 2: man whose life was anything but easy. He writes in 245 00:15:04,760 --> 00:15:09,600 Speaker 2: Philippians Chapter four, be anxious for nothing, but in everything 246 00:15:09,640 --> 00:15:13,960 Speaker 2: by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, Let your request be 247 00:15:14,040 --> 00:15:17,040 Speaker 2: made known to God. And the peace of God, which 248 00:15:17,040 --> 00:15:20,720 Speaker 2: surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through 249 00:15:20,840 --> 00:15:25,480 Speaker 2: Christ Jesus. Now there's a lot of information packed into 250 00:15:25,480 --> 00:15:27,520 Speaker 2: that short verse, so let's see if we can just 251 00:15:27,760 --> 00:15:30,640 Speaker 2: unpack it a little bit. First of all, I want 252 00:15:30,680 --> 00:15:33,200 Speaker 2: you to notice that he writes this in the context 253 00:15:33,200 --> 00:15:37,600 Speaker 2: of people having serious problems. The Philippians were anxious, which 254 00:15:37,680 --> 00:15:41,240 Speaker 2: is a phenomenon that is certainly widespread again today. In fact, 255 00:15:42,000 --> 00:15:45,280 Speaker 2: something like forty million adults in this country find themselves 256 00:15:45,320 --> 00:15:49,960 Speaker 2: struggling with an anxiety disorder during any given year. We 257 00:15:50,080 --> 00:15:52,880 Speaker 2: might be the most prosperous generation in the history of 258 00:15:52,920 --> 00:15:55,560 Speaker 2: the world, but it's starting to look like we might 259 00:15:55,600 --> 00:15:58,520 Speaker 2: also be one of the most anxious. And while some 260 00:15:58,560 --> 00:16:01,160 Speaker 2: people are dealing with a genuine mental illness or a 261 00:16:01,200 --> 00:16:05,960 Speaker 2: devastating condition like PTSD, which might require some professional help, 262 00:16:06,640 --> 00:16:09,640 Speaker 2: for the rest of us, Paul is offering a remedy 263 00:16:09,680 --> 00:16:13,880 Speaker 2: for anxiety. He says, be anxious for nothing, which implies 264 00:16:13,960 --> 00:16:17,520 Speaker 2: that you have a choice. And I don't know about you, 265 00:16:17,560 --> 00:16:20,360 Speaker 2: but for me, simply choosing not to be anxious, well, 266 00:16:20,720 --> 00:16:23,120 Speaker 2: that hasn't really worked very well. I'm one of those 267 00:16:23,160 --> 00:16:24,960 Speaker 2: people who lies awake in the middle of the night 268 00:16:25,040 --> 00:16:28,960 Speaker 2: almost every single night, worried about problems that I can't 269 00:16:28,960 --> 00:16:32,920 Speaker 2: fix at two o'clock in the morning, and rationally, I 270 00:16:33,000 --> 00:16:35,200 Speaker 2: know that I'm wasting my time in the wei hours, 271 00:16:35,760 --> 00:16:38,880 Speaker 2: but emotionally, it's really hard to turn off the feedback 272 00:16:38,920 --> 00:16:41,800 Speaker 2: loop that keeps the problem alive in my middle of 273 00:16:41,840 --> 00:16:45,840 Speaker 2: the night imagination. And I do all the usual things 274 00:16:45,880 --> 00:16:48,280 Speaker 2: that people recommend. I get out of bed and make 275 00:16:48,320 --> 00:16:50,240 Speaker 2: a list of things I plan to do in the morning, 276 00:16:50,640 --> 00:16:53,560 Speaker 2: which convinces your brain that the problem has been taken 277 00:16:53,640 --> 00:16:56,880 Speaker 2: care of for now. I remind myself as I lay 278 00:16:56,880 --> 00:16:59,120 Speaker 2: there in the dark that most of the things we 279 00:16:59,160 --> 00:17:03,000 Speaker 2: worry about never actually happen. I take a few deep breaths, 280 00:17:03,520 --> 00:17:06,560 Speaker 2: I listen to the radio to distract myself, and all 281 00:17:06,600 --> 00:17:11,399 Speaker 2: of those exercises certainly help, but it's not enough. So 282 00:17:11,480 --> 00:17:14,679 Speaker 2: Paul adds another very important component to the power of choice, 283 00:17:14,720 --> 00:17:19,159 Speaker 2: and that's the practice of gratitude. Be anxious for nothing, 284 00:17:19,200 --> 00:17:22,119 Speaker 2: he says. And you'll notice he doesn't say try not 285 00:17:22,240 --> 00:17:24,320 Speaker 2: to be anxious. He just tells you not to do it, 286 00:17:24,359 --> 00:17:28,080 Speaker 2: which is a command, and at first glance, that's a 287 00:17:28,119 --> 00:17:30,159 Speaker 2: tall order. I mean, how in the world do you 288 00:17:30,240 --> 00:17:33,800 Speaker 2: just shut off your obsessive thinking. Well, Paul suggests that 289 00:17:33,840 --> 00:17:36,479 Speaker 2: we do it by bringing those thoughts to God with 290 00:17:36,600 --> 00:17:41,040 Speaker 2: prayer and supplication. In other words, take the problem and 291 00:17:41,119 --> 00:17:44,760 Speaker 2: give it to somebody far more capable than you. And 292 00:17:44,840 --> 00:17:47,280 Speaker 2: really that makes a lot of sense, because when we 293 00:17:47,320 --> 00:17:50,160 Speaker 2: were kids and our parents promised to solve a problem 294 00:17:50,200 --> 00:17:53,119 Speaker 2: for us, we usually breathe a big sigh of relief 295 00:17:53,160 --> 00:17:56,080 Speaker 2: because somebody bigger than us was on the case and 296 00:17:56,080 --> 00:17:58,919 Speaker 2: we could just let go of the thing. But for 297 00:17:58,960 --> 00:18:02,879 Speaker 2: some reason, after childhood, we tend to doubt God's ability 298 00:18:02,960 --> 00:18:06,480 Speaker 2: to handle things, even if we say we believe in him. 299 00:18:06,680 --> 00:18:08,960 Speaker 2: And I know some people laugh at faith in God 300 00:18:09,000 --> 00:18:12,080 Speaker 2: as if it's a crutch for simpletons, but that tells 301 00:18:12,119 --> 00:18:16,640 Speaker 2: me they've never actually tried it. There's nothing easy about 302 00:18:16,640 --> 00:18:20,359 Speaker 2: a relationship with God, but if you can learn to 303 00:18:20,440 --> 00:18:23,919 Speaker 2: do it, surrendering makes all the difference in the world. 304 00:18:24,520 --> 00:18:27,000 Speaker 2: Let me diverge from the Book of Philippians for just 305 00:18:27,080 --> 00:18:28,800 Speaker 2: a moment, and I want to show you something in 306 00:18:28,840 --> 00:18:31,280 Speaker 2: the Book of Psalms that I was reading just well 307 00:18:31,320 --> 00:18:34,639 Speaker 2: a few weeks ago. And if you're following along in 308 00:18:34,680 --> 00:18:37,280 Speaker 2: your own Bible, you might want to bookmark Philippians four 309 00:18:37,320 --> 00:18:39,400 Speaker 2: because we're going to come back there. But for now, 310 00:18:39,440 --> 00:18:42,199 Speaker 2: let's take a look at Psalm one, p. Thirty one. 311 00:18:42,400 --> 00:18:45,879 Speaker 2: It says, Lord, my heart is not haughty, nor my 312 00:18:45,960 --> 00:18:49,600 Speaker 2: eyes lofty. Neither do I concern myself with great matters, 313 00:18:49,640 --> 00:18:53,680 Speaker 2: nor with things too profound for me. Take a moment 314 00:18:53,720 --> 00:18:57,680 Speaker 2: and ask yourself, what do I really know? How much 315 00:18:57,720 --> 00:19:00,399 Speaker 2: of this universe am I in charge of? Some of 316 00:19:00,400 --> 00:19:03,240 Speaker 2: the wisest philosophers in the history of the world came 317 00:19:03,280 --> 00:19:06,359 Speaker 2: to the conclusion that they really didn't know much at all. 318 00:19:06,480 --> 00:19:10,080 Speaker 2: I mean, apart from a few accomplished physicists. How many 319 00:19:10,160 --> 00:19:13,720 Speaker 2: of us really understand how gravity works. Most of us 320 00:19:13,800 --> 00:19:16,640 Speaker 2: just trust it. We use gravity to get things done. 321 00:19:17,240 --> 00:19:20,280 Speaker 2: How many of us can grasp how tiny little particles 322 00:19:20,680 --> 00:19:24,920 Speaker 2: seem to communicate across vast distances faster than the speed 323 00:19:24,960 --> 00:19:28,840 Speaker 2: of light through quantum entanglement. If you don't understand that, 324 00:19:29,800 --> 00:19:32,359 Speaker 2: are you going to stop living your life? Do you 325 00:19:32,440 --> 00:19:35,439 Speaker 2: really understand how ball lightning works? Do you know what 326 00:19:35,560 --> 00:19:38,680 Speaker 2: dark matter is? Or what the universe is actually made 327 00:19:38,720 --> 00:19:41,520 Speaker 2: out of? There are lots of things that you and 328 00:19:41,560 --> 00:19:45,240 Speaker 2: I struggle to understand, but that doesn't mean they don't exist. 329 00:19:45,760 --> 00:19:49,760 Speaker 2: And just because the Bible has inexplicable concepts, that doesn't 330 00:19:49,760 --> 00:19:53,240 Speaker 2: mean this book isn't true. In fact, if this book 331 00:19:53,359 --> 00:19:57,239 Speaker 2: was inspired by an omniscient, infinite God, you'd have to 332 00:19:57,280 --> 00:20:00,600 Speaker 2: expect that you don't understand it all. Another show for 333 00:20:00,600 --> 00:20:02,160 Speaker 2: another day, and we've got to get back to Psalm 334 00:20:02,280 --> 00:20:05,639 Speaker 2: one thirty one. David simply tells us that he doesn't 335 00:20:05,640 --> 00:20:07,560 Speaker 2: waste a lot of time worried about the things he 336 00:20:07,600 --> 00:20:11,840 Speaker 2: doesn't understand. He just accepts them because he's come to 337 00:20:11,880 --> 00:20:15,000 Speaker 2: know that God is real, which brings us to his 338 00:20:15,080 --> 00:20:19,480 Speaker 2: second verse, where he says, surely I have calmed and quieted. 339 00:20:19,480 --> 00:20:22,919 Speaker 2: My soul like a weaned child with his mother, like 340 00:20:22,960 --> 00:20:26,440 Speaker 2: a wean child, is my soul within me. One of 341 00:20:26,480 --> 00:20:29,199 Speaker 2: the most frequent metaphors found in the Bible is the 342 00:20:29,240 --> 00:20:33,159 Speaker 2: image of parenthood. Over and over, the Bible describes God 343 00:20:33,320 --> 00:20:37,080 Speaker 2: as our father and you as his child. And here 344 00:20:37,080 --> 00:20:39,320 Speaker 2: in the Psalms, David tells us what kind of children 345 00:20:39,359 --> 00:20:42,600 Speaker 2: we are. He says, we're weaned, which means that from 346 00:20:42,640 --> 00:20:45,760 Speaker 2: Heaven's perspective, you and I have barely moved beyond the 347 00:20:45,800 --> 00:20:50,520 Speaker 2: stage of complete and utter helplessness. We're like toddlers, maybe 348 00:20:50,560 --> 00:20:54,080 Speaker 2: even younger. The only real skill, from a cosmic perspective, 349 00:20:54,080 --> 00:20:57,080 Speaker 2: that we've developed is the ability to eat a little 350 00:20:57,080 --> 00:20:59,959 Speaker 2: bit of solid food. Now, you and I like to 351 00:21:00,080 --> 00:21:02,160 Speaker 2: think that, in the cosmic scheme of things, the human 352 00:21:02,240 --> 00:21:06,440 Speaker 2: race has reached some kind of developmental pinnacle. We think 353 00:21:06,560 --> 00:21:09,280 Speaker 2: you and I are the executive chefs and master painters 354 00:21:09,320 --> 00:21:12,160 Speaker 2: of the universe. But according to the Bible, we're still 355 00:21:12,160 --> 00:21:16,600 Speaker 2: busy making mugpies and meaningless scribbles with crayons, and judging 356 00:21:16,600 --> 00:21:18,720 Speaker 2: by the mess we've made of this planet, there's a 357 00:21:18,800 --> 00:21:22,240 Speaker 2: really good chance that the human race is probably still 358 00:21:22,240 --> 00:21:27,160 Speaker 2: at the stage of soiling its diapers. Of course, it's 359 00:21:27,160 --> 00:21:30,080 Speaker 2: not that we're completely helpless, because we're not. I mean, 360 00:21:30,119 --> 00:21:34,960 Speaker 2: the human race is incredibly inventive, incredibly resourceful, at times 361 00:21:34,960 --> 00:21:38,160 Speaker 2: incredibly inspiring. But I don't think there are too many 362 00:21:38,160 --> 00:21:41,160 Speaker 2: people who would say that somehow the human race has arrived. 363 00:21:41,800 --> 00:21:45,159 Speaker 2: According to the Bible, our place in this universe is 364 00:21:45,200 --> 00:21:48,360 Speaker 2: that of a recently weaned infant. And if you think 365 00:21:48,359 --> 00:21:53,680 Speaker 2: about really small children, you'll notice something fascinating. Sometimes they're 366 00:21:54,000 --> 00:21:59,240 Speaker 2: far too confident because they don't understand their own limitations. Oh, 367 00:21:59,359 --> 00:22:02,120 Speaker 2: they like to play grown up, they like to try 368 00:22:02,119 --> 00:22:04,600 Speaker 2: and convince us that they're ready for life. But then 369 00:22:04,640 --> 00:22:08,119 Speaker 2: at other times they're far too frightened, hiding behind their 370 00:22:08,160 --> 00:22:11,119 Speaker 2: mother's skirt. And we have to convince the little ones 371 00:22:11,119 --> 00:22:15,000 Speaker 2: to exercise a little more courage. And that's who we 372 00:22:15,040 --> 00:22:18,960 Speaker 2: are according to the Bible. So when David faced anxiety, 373 00:22:19,000 --> 00:22:21,919 Speaker 2: he reminded himself, we're not alone in this universe, and 374 00:22:22,000 --> 00:22:26,040 Speaker 2: there are things we absolutely will not understand. But at 375 00:22:26,080 --> 00:22:28,560 Speaker 2: the same time, we're children who have a father, and 376 00:22:28,600 --> 00:22:32,040 Speaker 2: we can leave the biggest problems with him. David says 377 00:22:32,080 --> 00:22:36,399 Speaker 2: that's how he calmed and quieted his soul. I'll be 378 00:22:36,480 --> 00:22:37,720 Speaker 2: right back after this. 379 00:22:41,320 --> 00:22:43,880 Speaker 4: Here at the Voice of Prophecy, we're committed to creating 380 00:22:43,960 --> 00:22:47,159 Speaker 4: top quality programming for the whole family, Like our audio 381 00:22:47,200 --> 00:22:51,840 Speaker 4: adventure series Discovery Mountain. Discovery Mountain is a Bible based 382 00:22:51,880 --> 00:22:55,280 Speaker 4: program for kids of all ages and backgrounds. Your family 383 00:22:55,359 --> 00:22:58,480 Speaker 4: will enjoy the faith building stories from this small mountain 384 00:22:58,520 --> 00:23:02,359 Speaker 4: summer camp and town. With twenty four seasonal episodes every 385 00:23:02,440 --> 00:23:05,960 Speaker 4: year and fresh content every week, there's always a new 386 00:23:05,960 --> 00:23:07,879 Speaker 4: adventure just on the horizon. 387 00:23:11,640 --> 00:23:14,239 Speaker 2: Hey Prey dot com user, I hope you're enjoying this 388 00:23:14,320 --> 00:23:17,720 Speaker 2: really special Thanksgiving episode. Would you do me a favor 389 00:23:17,760 --> 00:23:20,480 Speaker 2: and just click the follow button on your screen. It 390 00:23:20,560 --> 00:23:22,840 Speaker 2: might even look like a little circle with a plus sign. 391 00:23:23,320 --> 00:23:26,439 Speaker 2: Our team has created some really great content that runs 392 00:23:26,440 --> 00:23:29,119 Speaker 2: on Prey dot Com. Right here every single Sunday, we 393 00:23:29,160 --> 00:23:32,520 Speaker 2: talk about prophecy, the intersection of faith, science and philosophy, 394 00:23:32,920 --> 00:23:35,720 Speaker 2: and even how you could be the very best version 395 00:23:35,760 --> 00:23:38,359 Speaker 2: of yourself, the version that God created you to be. 396 00:23:38,920 --> 00:23:41,440 Speaker 2: It's all right here on Authentic with me Sean Boonster, 397 00:23:41,600 --> 00:23:44,080 Speaker 2: and this is stuff you don't want to miss, so 398 00:23:44,160 --> 00:23:49,080 Speaker 2: go ahead and follow. Just before the break, we were 399 00:23:49,080 --> 00:23:51,800 Speaker 2: looking at PSALM one p. Thirty one, where David reminds 400 00:23:51,880 --> 00:23:54,679 Speaker 2: us that we're barely wean children when it comes to 401 00:23:54,720 --> 00:23:57,879 Speaker 2: our place in the universe. But he also suggests we 402 00:23:57,920 --> 00:24:00,760 Speaker 2: have a father who knows we can't always find for ourselves, 403 00:24:00,800 --> 00:24:03,439 Speaker 2: and he says we can learn to trust him. We 404 00:24:03,480 --> 00:24:06,520 Speaker 2: can let go of those obsessive thoughts that plague us, 405 00:24:06,520 --> 00:24:09,639 Speaker 2: and we can find comfort in knowing that somebody else 406 00:24:09,720 --> 00:24:13,040 Speaker 2: is going to deal with the things we can't control. Now. 407 00:24:13,040 --> 00:24:16,400 Speaker 2: Of course, it's easier to say that than to do it. 408 00:24:16,920 --> 00:24:18,679 Speaker 2: But I've got to tell you, even though I haven't 409 00:24:18,720 --> 00:24:21,840 Speaker 2: mastered this by a long shot, as the years go by, 410 00:24:22,359 --> 00:24:27,280 Speaker 2: it's definitely getting better. David concludes by saying, Oh, Israel, 411 00:24:27,400 --> 00:24:31,200 Speaker 2: hope in the Lord from this time forth and forever. 412 00:24:31,840 --> 00:24:34,600 Speaker 2: Now before the clock runs out on me yet again, 413 00:24:34,760 --> 00:24:37,360 Speaker 2: Let's go back to that passage in the Book of Philippians, 414 00:24:37,440 --> 00:24:40,840 Speaker 2: chapter four, where Paul is giving us some advice for 415 00:24:40,960 --> 00:24:44,960 Speaker 2: dealing with anxiety. Be anxious for nothing, he writes, But 416 00:24:45,080 --> 00:24:49,199 Speaker 2: in everything, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your 417 00:24:49,240 --> 00:24:52,080 Speaker 2: request be made known to God. And the peace of God, 418 00:24:52,280 --> 00:24:56,000 Speaker 2: which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds. 419 00:24:56,480 --> 00:25:00,800 Speaker 2: Through Christ Jesus. Sometimes you'll hear Christian refer to something 420 00:25:00,840 --> 00:25:04,760 Speaker 2: they call the peace that passes understanding, and this is 421 00:25:04,800 --> 00:25:07,760 Speaker 2: what they're talking about. It's the peace of mind you 422 00:25:07,840 --> 00:25:10,560 Speaker 2: get when you realize you're a cosmic toddler with a 423 00:25:10,560 --> 00:25:14,720 Speaker 2: heavenly Father, a personal God, a God who's very interested 424 00:25:14,760 --> 00:25:18,040 Speaker 2: in what happens to you. And the secret, according to Paul, 425 00:25:18,640 --> 00:25:21,720 Speaker 2: is not only leaving your problems with God, but leaving 426 00:25:21,720 --> 00:25:26,320 Speaker 2: them behind with an attitude of thanksgiving. In other words, 427 00:25:26,920 --> 00:25:29,960 Speaker 2: be grateful for what you have. That's the reason that 428 00:25:30,040 --> 00:25:33,080 Speaker 2: Thanksgiving is really my favorite holiday. I mean, yeah, I 429 00:25:33,200 --> 00:25:35,640 Speaker 2: enjoy the nice meal that Gene makes. She's a much 430 00:25:35,680 --> 00:25:38,240 Speaker 2: better cook than me, and yeah, I've been known to 431 00:25:38,280 --> 00:25:40,760 Speaker 2: crash on the couch and watch a little football when 432 00:25:40,760 --> 00:25:44,520 Speaker 2: my tummy is full. But it's the original concept behind 433 00:25:44,560 --> 00:25:48,280 Speaker 2: the holiday that really makes me treasure in it. I mean, 434 00:25:48,320 --> 00:25:50,919 Speaker 2: other holidays, like Christmas, they come with a lot of 435 00:25:51,000 --> 00:25:53,480 Speaker 2: stress and a lot of activity in it, a lot 436 00:25:53,480 --> 00:25:59,080 Speaker 2: of obligation, But there's something pure about Thanksgiving. It gives 437 00:25:59,119 --> 00:26:01,840 Speaker 2: us an opportunity to stop and be grateful, which is 438 00:26:02,040 --> 00:26:05,119 Speaker 2: huge when it comes to finding real peace of mind. 439 00:26:05,880 --> 00:26:09,159 Speaker 2: You know, back when the Pilgrims celebrated that first Thanksgiving 440 00:26:09,160 --> 00:26:11,720 Speaker 2: in sixteen twenty one. They had a lot to be 441 00:26:11,760 --> 00:26:14,720 Speaker 2: thankful for. A lot of their friends and family had 442 00:26:14,800 --> 00:26:18,160 Speaker 2: died from the brutal hardship of living in Plymouth, especially 443 00:26:18,200 --> 00:26:21,480 Speaker 2: in the winter, but now they suddenly had this abundance 444 00:26:21,520 --> 00:26:23,920 Speaker 2: of food. In the Old World, they were forced to 445 00:26:24,000 --> 00:26:27,320 Speaker 2: leave England and relocate to the Netherlands because the State 446 00:26:27,440 --> 00:26:30,800 Speaker 2: Church had outlawed a lot of their beliefs, And now 447 00:26:30,840 --> 00:26:33,800 Speaker 2: as they gathered around a table with friends, they were 448 00:26:33,840 --> 00:26:36,480 Speaker 2: celebrating one of the most precious gifts a person could 449 00:26:36,520 --> 00:26:40,919 Speaker 2: hope for religious freedom. There's a big part of me 450 00:26:41,359 --> 00:26:44,880 Speaker 2: that suspects that our generation probably complains a lot more 451 00:26:44,880 --> 00:26:48,280 Speaker 2: than our ancestors did, even though we have less to 452 00:26:48,320 --> 00:26:52,600 Speaker 2: complain about. Some of my relatives endured incredible hardship when 453 00:26:52,640 --> 00:26:55,719 Speaker 2: the Nazi seized their towns and put them in labor camps. 454 00:26:56,359 --> 00:27:00,120 Speaker 2: Do you know something, growing up, I never heard one 455 00:27:00,200 --> 00:27:03,200 Speaker 2: of them complain about it. They had to work harder 456 00:27:03,240 --> 00:27:06,359 Speaker 2: than we do. They had far fewer prospects of an 457 00:27:06,359 --> 00:27:09,639 Speaker 2: easy life, and they lived life with a smile and 458 00:27:09,680 --> 00:27:13,159 Speaker 2: a heart full of gratitude. And it occurs to me 459 00:27:13,240 --> 00:27:16,040 Speaker 2: that the less we actually have, the more likely we 460 00:27:16,119 --> 00:27:19,280 Speaker 2: seem to be to be grateful. I'm reminded of that 461 00:27:19,400 --> 00:27:23,520 Speaker 2: scene from Pilgrim's Progress where the lead character named Christian 462 00:27:23,560 --> 00:27:26,840 Speaker 2: approaches the cross and the huge burden he was carrying 463 00:27:26,920 --> 00:27:31,360 Speaker 2: on his back suddenly falls to the ground. Bunyan rights up. 464 00:27:31,400 --> 00:27:34,800 Speaker 2: This way therefore did burdened Christian run, but not without 465 00:27:34,840 --> 00:27:38,280 Speaker 2: great difficulty because of the load on his back. He 466 00:27:38,400 --> 00:27:41,160 Speaker 2: ran thus till he came to a place somewhat ascending, 467 00:27:41,600 --> 00:27:44,800 Speaker 2: And upon that place stood a cross, and a little below, 468 00:27:44,840 --> 00:27:47,800 Speaker 2: in the bottom a tomb. So I saw in my 469 00:27:47,920 --> 00:27:50,360 Speaker 2: dream that just as Christian came up with the cross, 470 00:27:50,400 --> 00:27:53,560 Speaker 2: his burden loosed from off his shoulders and fell from 471 00:27:53,600 --> 00:27:56,720 Speaker 2: off his back, and began to tumble. And so continued 472 00:27:56,720 --> 00:27:59,200 Speaker 2: to do till it came to the mouth of the tomb, 473 00:27:59,680 --> 00:28:03,160 Speaker 2: where fell in, and I saw it no more. Then 474 00:28:03,320 --> 00:28:06,359 Speaker 2: was Christian glad and lightsome, and said with a merry heart, 475 00:28:06,600 --> 00:28:09,720 Speaker 2: he hath given me rest by his sorrow and life 476 00:28:10,040 --> 00:28:14,840 Speaker 2: by his death. When Bunyan's protagonist approached that cross, the 477 00:28:14,880 --> 00:28:18,120 Speaker 2: heavy bundle he was carrying on his back suddenly fell off, 478 00:28:18,160 --> 00:28:21,480 Speaker 2: and Bunyan said, at that point he was glad and lightsome, 479 00:28:22,119 --> 00:28:24,399 Speaker 2: and you know, over the years of kind of notice 480 00:28:24,440 --> 00:28:28,040 Speaker 2: something really important. Sometimes people who grow up in the 481 00:28:28,119 --> 00:28:30,879 Speaker 2: church kind of take what they have for granted, and 482 00:28:30,920 --> 00:28:35,120 Speaker 2: when someone from outside the church suddenly finds the church, 483 00:28:35,400 --> 00:28:39,200 Speaker 2: while the lifetimers are amazed at his or her excitement, 484 00:28:40,000 --> 00:28:42,280 Speaker 2: and maybe it has something to do with the size 485 00:28:42,360 --> 00:28:45,720 Speaker 2: of their burdens. Sometimes people outside the church are a 486 00:28:45,760 --> 00:28:49,520 Speaker 2: lot more honest about their imperfections and their guilt. They 487 00:28:49,560 --> 00:28:52,360 Speaker 2: feel the burden of living in a broken world far 488 00:28:52,440 --> 00:28:56,560 Speaker 2: more keenly, and when they finally find relief, they feel 489 00:28:56,560 --> 00:28:59,680 Speaker 2: that relief a lot more keenly than the rest of us. 490 00:29:00,040 --> 00:29:01,760 Speaker 2: I'll be right back after this. 491 00:29:07,440 --> 00:29:10,560 Speaker 5: Are you searching for answers to life's toughest questions like 492 00:29:10,760 --> 00:29:14,360 Speaker 5: where is God when we suffer? Can I find real happiness? 493 00:29:14,480 --> 00:29:17,560 Speaker 5: Or is there any hope for our chaotic world? That 494 00:29:17,640 --> 00:29:20,240 Speaker 5: Discover Bible Guides will help you find the answers you're 495 00:29:20,360 --> 00:29:24,040 Speaker 5: looking for. Visit us at Bible Studies dot com or 496 00:29:24,160 --> 00:29:27,440 Speaker 5: give us a call at eight eight eight four five, six, 497 00:29:27,960 --> 00:29:31,400 Speaker 5: seven nine three three for your free Discover Bible Guides. 498 00:29:31,760 --> 00:29:35,560 Speaker 5: Study online on our secure website, or have the free 499 00:29:35,560 --> 00:29:38,360 Speaker 5: guides mailed right to your home. There is never a 500 00:29:38,360 --> 00:29:42,160 Speaker 5: cost or obligation. The Discover Bible Guides are our free 501 00:29:42,200 --> 00:29:45,080 Speaker 5: gift to you. Find answers and guides like does my 502 00:29:45,200 --> 00:29:48,840 Speaker 5: life Really Matter to God? And a Second Chance at Life. 503 00:29:48,920 --> 00:29:51,040 Speaker 5: You'll find answers to the things that matter most to 504 00:29:51,080 --> 00:29:53,800 Speaker 5: you in each of the twenty six Discover Bible Guides. 505 00:29:54,040 --> 00:29:58,080 Speaker 5: Visit Bible Studies dot com and begin your journey today 506 00:29:58,160 --> 00:30:03,479 Speaker 5: to discover answers to life's deepest questions. 507 00:30:06,120 --> 00:30:10,240 Speaker 2: The Thanksgiving holiday gives us an incredible opportunity right now. 508 00:30:10,280 --> 00:30:12,080 Speaker 2: I know that some of you are still carrying a 509 00:30:12,080 --> 00:30:16,920 Speaker 2: load on your back, and you've been weighed down by worry, regret, guilt, 510 00:30:17,640 --> 00:30:19,520 Speaker 2: and it's been robbing you of the peace of mind 511 00:30:19,560 --> 00:30:22,640 Speaker 2: that Paul promises. The good news is that you can 512 00:30:22,720 --> 00:30:25,960 Speaker 2: drop your burden now. You can remind yourself you're a 513 00:30:25,960 --> 00:30:28,560 Speaker 2: cosmic toddler and you have a father in heaven who's 514 00:30:28,600 --> 00:30:33,000 Speaker 2: willing to handle it. You're not alone. This is an 515 00:30:33,000 --> 00:30:37,600 Speaker 2: opportunity to practice real gratitude and quit living with brutal anxiety. 516 00:30:38,280 --> 00:30:41,160 Speaker 2: Maybe take a moment to express out loud what you're 517 00:30:41,200 --> 00:30:43,920 Speaker 2: grateful for. Just sit there for a moment and make 518 00:30:43,960 --> 00:30:47,920 Speaker 2: a list, and then read that list and choose to 519 00:30:47,960 --> 00:30:50,440 Speaker 2: be thankful. I think you might start to get a 520 00:30:50,480 --> 00:30:54,240 Speaker 2: sense of what those pilgrims felt in sixteen twenty one. 521 00:30:54,320 --> 00:30:57,640 Speaker 2: And once you've done this, once rehearse what you're thankful for, 522 00:30:58,480 --> 00:31:00,560 Speaker 2: I'm guessing you're going to want to do it a 523 00:31:00,640 --> 00:31:04,400 Speaker 2: whole lot more often. I'm Sean Boonster. Thanks for watching, 524 00:31:04,720 --> 00:31:12,720 Speaker 2: thanks for joining us this week, and Happy Thanksgiving. Hey 525 00:31:12,760 --> 00:31:15,600 Speaker 2: Prey dot com user, I hope you've enjoyed this episode 526 00:31:15,600 --> 00:31:19,800 Speaker 2: of Authentic with me Sean Boonster. Maybe consider giving us 527 00:31:19,840 --> 00:31:23,000 Speaker 2: a follow and would you even consider helping us out 528 00:31:23,160 --> 00:31:26,040 Speaker 2: by praying for us, and if you feel so inclined, 529 00:31:26,280 --> 00:31:29,360 Speaker 2: by giving a little something to financially support the production 530 00:31:29,480 --> 00:31:32,760 Speaker 2: and distribution of this show. Authentic is brought to you 531 00:31:33,040 --> 00:31:36,720 Speaker 2: by the Voice of Prophecy and made possible by viewers 532 00:31:36,840 --> 00:31:39,560 Speaker 2: like you. Just hop on over to vop dot com 533 00:31:39,720 --> 00:31:42,440 Speaker 2: and look for the big orange donate button to help 534 00:31:42,520 --> 00:31:42,920 Speaker 2: us out. 535 00:31:44,880 --> 00:31:48,200 Speaker 6: You've been listening to Authentic sponsored by Voice of Prophecy. 536 00:31:48,680 --> 00:31:51,400 Speaker 6: Remember you can listen every week right here at the 537 00:31:51,400 --> 00:31:55,160 Speaker 6: same time, and thank you. Authentic is funded by listeners 538 00:31:55,280 --> 00:31:59,120 Speaker 6: just like you. You can support at Voiceoprophecy dot com. 539 00:31:59,160 --> 00:32:01,880 Speaker 6: That's also where you can find all the episodes you mixed, 540 00:32:02,200 --> 00:32:04,800 Speaker 6: or where you can listen again. That's Voice of Prophecy 541 00:32:04,920 --> 00:32:13,920 Speaker 6: dot com. You will be like God human unity. 542 00:32:14,000 --> 00:32:18,640 Speaker 2: If God was severed and through it all, God's promise 543 00:32:18,840 --> 00:32:20,160 Speaker 2: remain true. 544 00:32:20,440 --> 00:32:25,440 Speaker 1: Follow me, April and I will make you great. 545 00:32:25,640 --> 00:32:29,520 Speaker 2: This is the Chosen People. 546 00:32:31,400 --> 00:32:34,840 Speaker 6: Listen to the Chosen People at the Chosen. 547 00:32:34,560 --> 00:32:35,920 Speaker 2: People dot com. 548 00:32:36,000 --> 00:32:47,560 Speaker 6: That's the Chosen People dot com.