1 00:00:00,517 --> 00:00:02,051 With both of our kids 2 00:00:02,426 --> 00:00:04,255 being choir to my wife Whitney me and 3 00:00:04,335 --> 00:00:06,801 I had to keep ourselves entertained for an 4 00:00:06,801 --> 00:00:08,890 entire are week, you know, we're at that 5 00:00:08,890 --> 00:00:11,523 stage in our lives where she and I 6 00:00:11,523 --> 00:00:13,678 have lots of opportunities to hang out together, 7 00:00:14,077 --> 00:00:16,319 what with the boys you know, very busy 8 00:00:16,319 --> 00:00:19,038 social schedules and the demands of their extracurricular 9 00:00:19,647 --> 00:00:20,123 activities. 10 00:00:20,836 --> 00:00:22,342 It's kinda weird honestly, 11 00:00:23,150 --> 00:00:25,293 our oldest is 17. So all these years, 12 00:00:25,451 --> 00:00:27,594 you know, our lives have all drum, the 13 00:00:27,594 --> 00:00:27,832 boys. 14 00:00:28,784 --> 00:00:29,919 So not having 15 00:00:30,308 --> 00:00:32,935 1 or both of the boys around nearly 16 00:00:32,935 --> 00:00:34,391 all the time is 17 00:00:35,006 --> 00:00:35,802 something new. 18 00:00:36,598 --> 00:00:37,315 We're adjusting. 19 00:00:37,872 --> 00:00:39,884 We're We very much love each other's company. 20 00:00:40,045 --> 00:00:42,364 So so what's all good, But it just 21 00:00:42,364 --> 00:00:44,765 so happens that while the boys were on 22 00:00:44,765 --> 00:00:46,879 k to or She and I watched several 23 00:00:47,015 --> 00:00:47,515 historical 24 00:00:47,970 --> 00:00:51,415 films. You know, Amazon Prime has that feature 25 00:00:51,790 --> 00:00:52,745 where they recommend, 26 00:00:54,191 --> 00:00:55,857 movies we think you'll like. So what they 27 00:00:55,857 --> 00:00:58,736 call it, and they they had several movie 28 00:00:58,950 --> 00:01:00,561 recommendations about historical 29 00:01:01,109 --> 00:01:03,422 incidents. And so far, all the films that 30 00:01:03,422 --> 00:01:05,894 they've recommended had been very good. So we've 31 00:01:05,894 --> 00:01:08,287 watched the imitation game. If you've ever seen 32 00:01:08,287 --> 00:01:10,361 that 1. That stars been at a c. 33 00:01:10,934 --> 00:01:13,576 It's about the British breaking the Nazis 34 00:01:14,107 --> 00:01:16,409 secret radio codes or world war 2. Great 35 00:01:16,409 --> 00:01:17,940 mood. We've seen 36 00:01:18,488 --> 00:01:22,498 Parkland about the Kennedy assassination, starring paul Ama 37 00:01:22,636 --> 00:01:23,614 as Abraham 38 00:01:23,992 --> 00:01:24,470 Zap p. 39 00:01:25,108 --> 00:01:27,602 We watched a movie called the report, which 40 00:01:27,661 --> 00:01:30,652 was is about the investigation into the Cia 41 00:01:31,191 --> 00:01:34,327 use of so called enhanced interrogation techniques 42 00:01:34,786 --> 00:01:35,585 after 09:11, 43 00:01:36,000 --> 00:01:36,899 And we finally 44 00:01:37,200 --> 00:01:38,239 got around to watching 45 00:01:38,719 --> 00:01:40,239 Oppenheimer, been wanting to watch it for a 46 00:01:40,239 --> 00:01:41,680 year. Last year's 47 00:01:42,159 --> 00:01:44,215 I guess this year's Oscar Winner for best 48 00:01:44,653 --> 00:01:47,366 motion picture about the development of the the 49 00:01:47,366 --> 00:01:47,844 nuclear bomb. 50 00:01:49,041 --> 00:01:50,099 All of these films 51 00:01:50,557 --> 00:01:53,283 were excellent. They all tell these very compelling 52 00:01:53,283 --> 00:01:53,783 stories 53 00:01:54,240 --> 00:01:54,479 about, 54 00:01:55,435 --> 00:01:56,493 important historical 55 00:01:57,030 --> 00:01:59,842 events. They all shed light on things that 56 00:02:00,153 --> 00:02:01,579 you know, deserve our attention, 57 00:02:02,450 --> 00:02:03,346 and they also 58 00:02:03,956 --> 00:02:07,459 tell the truth about the complexities of life. 59 00:02:07,778 --> 00:02:09,394 And an excellent example 60 00:02:09,771 --> 00:02:10,271 is 61 00:02:10,729 --> 00:02:12,084 the story of Robert 62 00:02:12,483 --> 00:02:12,882 Oppenheimer. 63 00:02:13,440 --> 00:02:16,652 Last year's brilliant film by Christopher Nolan 64 00:02:17,124 --> 00:02:20,182 was an adaptation of part of the equally 65 00:02:20,241 --> 00:02:23,698 brilliant and much more thorough biography of Oppenheimer 66 00:02:23,917 --> 00:02:26,235 by K bird and Martin She. 67 00:02:28,408 --> 00:02:30,266 Oppenheimer was a was a complicated, 68 00:02:31,364 --> 00:02:34,501 imperfect man with an at times troubling 69 00:02:35,133 --> 00:02:36,347 history. But 70 00:02:36,721 --> 00:02:37,936 as a Jewish scientist, 71 00:02:38,469 --> 00:02:41,590 he was crystal clear in his moral assessment 72 00:02:41,726 --> 00:02:44,208 of Nazi Germany and he he may very 73 00:02:44,208 --> 00:02:46,765 well have been the only person on Earth 74 00:02:46,765 --> 00:02:49,881 who had the the charisma, the drive and 75 00:02:49,881 --> 00:02:51,970 the grasp both con... Quantum physics. 76 00:02:52,527 --> 00:02:53,958 To lead a team that could, 77 00:02:54,515 --> 00:02:56,208 win a race of unimaginable 78 00:02:56,583 --> 00:02:57,083 consequences, 79 00:02:58,989 --> 00:03:00,989 which, of course, the United States did, 80 00:03:02,509 --> 00:03:05,329 which, of course, brought the war with Japan 81 00:03:05,870 --> 00:03:06,769 to a close 82 00:03:07,404 --> 00:03:10,361 several months after the nazis had surrendered. 83 00:03:11,559 --> 00:03:13,557 The goal of beating the nazis to the 84 00:03:13,557 --> 00:03:15,075 bomb became almost irrelevant, 85 00:03:15,569 --> 00:03:18,530 in the final analysis, difficult decisions that had 86 00:03:18,530 --> 00:03:20,229 to be made at the end of this 87 00:03:20,370 --> 00:03:21,189 just uni 88 00:03:21,569 --> 00:03:22,069 awful 89 00:03:22,449 --> 00:03:22,949 conflict 90 00:03:23,901 --> 00:03:26,925 And the legacy of the Manhattan project would 91 00:03:26,925 --> 00:03:28,994 would haunt Oppenheimer for the rest of his 92 00:03:28,994 --> 00:03:32,218 life. It would lead to a complicated legacy 93 00:03:32,676 --> 00:03:33,575 of his own 94 00:03:33,953 --> 00:03:36,508 because as the movie makes clear as the 95 00:03:36,508 --> 00:03:38,924 history makes clear, even the most 96 00:03:39,541 --> 00:03:41,333 obvious choice a between good 97 00:03:41,709 --> 00:03:43,483 and evil led to 98 00:03:43,939 --> 00:03:45,873 difficult and morally complicated 99 00:03:46,568 --> 00:03:46,886 outcomes. 100 00:03:48,240 --> 00:03:49,457 And that's because 101 00:03:49,928 --> 00:03:52,161 life is full of complexities, 102 00:03:52,958 --> 00:03:54,154 and it always has been. 103 00:03:55,589 --> 00:03:57,263 Which brings us to our subject for today. 104 00:03:59,031 --> 00:04:00,862 This is week 2 of our 4 week 105 00:04:00,862 --> 00:04:02,874 sermon series on track 106 00:04:03,409 --> 00:04:05,399 throughout the month of July as the world 107 00:04:05,399 --> 00:04:08,159 prepares to turn its attention to the Paris 108 00:04:08,279 --> 00:04:10,433 20 24 summer are Olympics, which show... It's 109 00:04:10,433 --> 00:04:12,427 going to be wonderful. I'm sure. We're going 110 00:04:12,427 --> 00:04:13,405 to be exploring 111 00:04:14,181 --> 00:04:18,144 in scripture places where sports metaphors show up 112 00:04:18,582 --> 00:04:21,128 sports metaphors that illustrate the journey of faith. 113 00:04:21,367 --> 00:04:23,356 Last week, we kicked off with a passage 114 00:04:23,356 --> 00:04:24,651 from the letter to the Hebrews 115 00:04:25,027 --> 00:04:26,800 that highlights the need for perseverance. 116 00:04:27,349 --> 00:04:28,386 In our spiritual lives. 117 00:04:29,662 --> 00:04:31,996 Today, we're turning to the book of 118 00:04:32,693 --> 00:04:33,193 ec, 119 00:04:33,570 --> 00:04:35,404 which is a book of the bible about 120 00:04:35,404 --> 00:04:36,622 which people have 121 00:04:37,174 --> 00:04:38,453 honestly mixed feelings. 122 00:04:39,172 --> 00:04:42,209 Ec is in the Wisdom tradition, and it 123 00:04:42,209 --> 00:04:45,725 deals with very practical theology. It's written from 124 00:04:45,725 --> 00:04:47,118 the perspective of 125 00:04:47,496 --> 00:04:48,374 an aging, 126 00:04:48,932 --> 00:04:49,251 rich, 127 00:04:50,049 --> 00:04:52,843 powerful man who is looking back on his 128 00:04:52,843 --> 00:04:54,061 own life and 129 00:04:54,693 --> 00:04:56,926 assessing the state of the world in general. 130 00:04:57,484 --> 00:05:00,195 Now tradition as describes it to solomon, 131 00:05:00,833 --> 00:05:02,827 but the scholar of the evidence makes clear 132 00:05:02,827 --> 00:05:05,313 that it was written centuries after the time 133 00:05:05,313 --> 00:05:06,348 of David's son. 134 00:05:07,145 --> 00:05:08,101 And its tone, 135 00:05:08,898 --> 00:05:09,956 and its message 136 00:05:10,731 --> 00:05:13,121 and its wisdom in the wisdom tradition. 137 00:05:13,773 --> 00:05:15,840 Are pretty different than than their places in 138 00:05:15,840 --> 00:05:16,079 scripture. 139 00:05:17,431 --> 00:05:20,691 Some read the books, 12 chapters as kind 140 00:05:20,691 --> 00:05:21,169 of bleak, 141 00:05:22,058 --> 00:05:22,534 in a sense, 142 00:05:23,566 --> 00:05:24,939 depicting a life that is 143 00:05:25,709 --> 00:05:27,558 fleeting and empty of 144 00:05:27,931 --> 00:05:29,042 meaning. For example, 145 00:05:29,851 --> 00:05:32,473 the second verse of the book says Vanity 146 00:05:32,473 --> 00:05:35,913 of Vanity says the teacher, vanity of van. 147 00:05:36,858 --> 00:05:37,733 All as vanity. 148 00:05:38,290 --> 00:05:38,608 Mh. 149 00:05:40,119 --> 00:05:42,028 But others read it in the in the 150 00:05:42,028 --> 00:05:43,540 context of Eastern philosophy, 151 00:05:44,350 --> 00:05:46,894 in which the world is seen as a 152 00:05:46,894 --> 00:05:48,165 mystery in which, 153 00:05:48,801 --> 00:05:50,335 good and bad things happen 154 00:05:50,709 --> 00:05:52,790 sometimes see without explanation, 155 00:05:53,505 --> 00:05:55,831 in which our relationship with God 156 00:05:56,364 --> 00:05:58,691 is the thing that gives our lives comfort 157 00:05:58,747 --> 00:06:00,891 and and meaning and purpose. 158 00:06:03,132 --> 00:06:05,460 Cards on the table. I love ec. 159 00:06:06,391 --> 00:06:09,968 I appreciate it's honesty. I appreciate its clear 160 00:06:09,968 --> 00:06:10,468 headed, 161 00:06:11,019 --> 00:06:13,096 when it comes to the complexities and and 162 00:06:13,096 --> 00:06:13,596 challenges 163 00:06:13,975 --> 00:06:16,372 of the world and we're gonna kind of 164 00:06:16,372 --> 00:06:17,490 unpack some of that together. 165 00:06:18,143 --> 00:06:20,610 Today. So our reading is actually from a 166 00:06:20,610 --> 00:06:23,476 relatively obscure part of book from the ninth 167 00:06:23,476 --> 00:06:23,794 chapter. 168 00:06:24,351 --> 00:06:26,182 I'm gonna read the first 6 versus of 169 00:06:26,182 --> 00:06:27,670 the chapter now. We'll come back and read 170 00:06:27,789 --> 00:06:29,457 the rest later. So listen friends for the 171 00:06:29,537 --> 00:06:31,523 Word of God as it is proclaimed by 172 00:06:31,603 --> 00:06:34,089 God's servant, the author of ec, 173 00:06:34,940 --> 00:06:35,074 the 174 00:06:37,024 --> 00:06:37,581 All this, 175 00:06:38,376 --> 00:06:39,251 I laid to heart, 176 00:06:40,047 --> 00:06:42,673 examining it all how the righteous and the 177 00:06:42,673 --> 00:06:44,127 wise and their deeds 178 00:06:44,597 --> 00:06:45,711 are in the hand of god. 179 00:06:46,745 --> 00:06:48,018 Whether it is love or hate, 180 00:06:48,654 --> 00:06:49,529 1 does not know. 181 00:06:50,563 --> 00:06:52,734 Everything that comforts them as vanity 182 00:06:53,365 --> 00:06:55,524 since the same fate comes to all to 183 00:06:55,524 --> 00:06:57,205 the righteous and to the wicked to the 184 00:06:57,205 --> 00:06:59,125 good and the evil to the queen and 185 00:06:59,125 --> 00:06:59,865 the uncle 186 00:07:00,576 --> 00:07:01,791 to those who sacrifice 187 00:07:02,164 --> 00:07:03,696 and those who do not sacrifice. 188 00:07:04,863 --> 00:07:06,689 As are the good, so are the sinner, 189 00:07:07,165 --> 00:07:07,665 those 190 00:07:08,055 --> 00:07:10,375 who swear are like those who shu a 191 00:07:10,375 --> 00:07:10,615 oath. 192 00:07:11,814 --> 00:07:13,654 This is an evil in all that happens 193 00:07:13,654 --> 00:07:15,814 under the sun that the same thing comes 194 00:07:15,814 --> 00:07:16,794 to everyone 195 00:07:17,428 --> 00:07:20,138 Moreover the hearts of all are full of 196 00:07:20,138 --> 00:07:22,449 evil madness in their hearts while they live. 197 00:07:22,609 --> 00:07:24,761 And after that, they go to the dead. 198 00:07:25,968 --> 00:07:28,691 But whoever is joined with all the living 199 00:07:29,223 --> 00:07:29,962 has hope 200 00:07:30,653 --> 00:07:33,114 for a living dog is better than a 201 00:07:33,114 --> 00:07:33,750 dead lion. 202 00:07:34,877 --> 00:07:36,546 The living know that they will die, but 203 00:07:36,546 --> 00:07:37,580 the dead know nothing. 204 00:07:38,295 --> 00:07:40,362 They have no more reward, and even the 205 00:07:40,362 --> 00:07:41,554 memory of them is lost. 206 00:07:42,524 --> 00:07:45,002 Their love and their hate and their envy 207 00:07:45,002 --> 00:07:46,280 have already perished. 208 00:07:47,159 --> 00:07:50,036 Never again, will they have any share in 209 00:07:50,036 --> 00:07:51,415 all that happens 210 00:07:51,728 --> 00:07:52,444 under the sun. 211 00:07:54,274 --> 00:07:55,944 And this is the word of God for 212 00:07:55,944 --> 00:07:56,740 the people of God. 213 00:07:58,665 --> 00:07:59,384 Thanks, Peter God. 214 00:08:00,345 --> 00:08:02,045 Alright. That was 6 versus 215 00:08:02,745 --> 00:08:03,465 a lot in there, 216 00:08:04,585 --> 00:08:05,545 and you may be thinking, 217 00:08:06,585 --> 00:08:08,836 Chris. What exactly does this have to do 218 00:08:08,836 --> 00:08:09,475 with the Olympics, 219 00:08:11,071 --> 00:08:12,828 which is a fair question. We're gonna get 220 00:08:12,828 --> 00:08:14,744 to the sports metaphor in the in the 221 00:08:14,744 --> 00:08:16,420 second half of the reading. 222 00:08:16,993 --> 00:08:19,537 We should talk for a minute here about 223 00:08:19,537 --> 00:08:22,001 the author. Because, this is a passage. This 224 00:08:22,001 --> 00:08:24,465 is a book that is written from the 225 00:08:24,465 --> 00:08:25,919 first person singular 226 00:08:26,709 --> 00:08:29,509 perspective, which is actually... It's a pretty infrequent 227 00:08:29,509 --> 00:08:31,670 point of view in the Bible. And the 228 00:08:31,670 --> 00:08:33,049 opening verse of ec 229 00:08:33,763 --> 00:08:36,326 tells us that these are, quote, the words 230 00:08:36,461 --> 00:08:37,810 of the teacher. 231 00:08:39,080 --> 00:08:42,040 The teacher is a sage, a wise person 232 00:08:42,349 --> 00:08:44,660 who has lived long and prosper life and 233 00:08:44,660 --> 00:08:46,493 who's trying to pass on to others, 234 00:08:47,609 --> 00:08:49,522 what he has learned. And as I mentioned, 235 00:08:50,253 --> 00:08:52,343 You know, people are divided in their opinion 236 00:08:52,639 --> 00:08:54,308 of this book if you've read it. You 237 00:08:54,308 --> 00:08:56,057 probably have a strong opinion 1 way or 238 00:08:56,057 --> 00:08:58,148 another about this book. Some 239 00:08:58,777 --> 00:08:59,995 read it to be pessimistic 240 00:09:00,690 --> 00:09:02,763 with not enough faith in the power of 241 00:09:02,843 --> 00:09:03,162 God. 242 00:09:03,879 --> 00:09:06,191 While some read it to be an honest 243 00:09:06,191 --> 00:09:08,541 to say assessment of the difficulties and 244 00:09:08,999 --> 00:09:09,557 of life, 245 00:09:10,276 --> 00:09:12,670 trusting that God is with us through it 246 00:09:12,670 --> 00:09:12,830 all. 247 00:09:14,187 --> 00:09:15,120 And much of this 248 00:09:15,479 --> 00:09:16,356 difference of opinion, 249 00:09:17,154 --> 00:09:19,627 really comes down to the interpretation of the 250 00:09:19,627 --> 00:09:23,014 phrase that I read earlier, vanity of Van 251 00:09:23,154 --> 00:09:25,631 says the teacher of vanity of Van all 252 00:09:25,631 --> 00:09:26,350 is vanity. 253 00:09:27,708 --> 00:09:27,868 Now, 254 00:09:28,827 --> 00:09:30,606 those who dislike ec, 255 00:09:31,799 --> 00:09:33,178 vanity to mean 256 00:09:33,876 --> 00:09:34,376 meaningless 257 00:09:35,314 --> 00:09:35,814 or 258 00:09:36,273 --> 00:09:36,773 absurdity 259 00:09:37,152 --> 00:09:37,652 or 260 00:09:38,350 --> 00:09:38,670 emptiness. 261 00:09:39,723 --> 00:09:42,141 And if if everything is emptiness and a 262 00:09:42,200 --> 00:09:44,757 absurdity or if this author believes that everything 263 00:09:44,757 --> 00:09:46,570 is emptiness and absurdity 264 00:09:47,087 --> 00:09:49,655 why exactly do we care what the teacher 265 00:09:49,791 --> 00:09:50,427 has to say. 266 00:09:51,382 --> 00:09:51,541 Right? 267 00:09:52,496 --> 00:09:53,473 But that word 268 00:09:54,101 --> 00:09:54,601 Vanity 269 00:09:54,976 --> 00:09:56,725 in in hebrew is he, 270 00:09:57,281 --> 00:09:59,030 EVEL, 271 00:09:59,189 --> 00:10:00,643 and it literally means 272 00:10:01,494 --> 00:10:02,789 breath or 273 00:10:03,258 --> 00:10:04,054 or breeze, 274 00:10:05,088 --> 00:10:08,349 which is before something that's important, but that's 275 00:10:08,349 --> 00:10:09,861 only there briefly. 276 00:10:10,273 --> 00:10:12,341 And so, I read that verse vanity of 277 00:10:12,420 --> 00:10:14,329 Vanity says the teacher of Vanity of Van 278 00:10:14,329 --> 00:10:16,499 all is vanity. I read that to mean 279 00:10:16,873 --> 00:10:18,169 that life is 280 00:10:18,543 --> 00:10:18,861 fleeting. 281 00:10:20,308 --> 00:10:22,061 Life on on this side of the grave, 282 00:10:22,460 --> 00:10:24,314 and no matter how many years we're given 283 00:10:24,850 --> 00:10:25,350 is 284 00:10:25,965 --> 00:10:26,465 nonetheless 285 00:10:27,001 --> 00:10:27,375 temper. 286 00:10:28,366 --> 00:10:31,142 And the teacher is clear that in our 287 00:10:31,142 --> 00:10:32,332 fleeting lives, 288 00:10:33,046 --> 00:10:35,029 we should be present in this moment. 289 00:10:36,239 --> 00:10:38,955 Grateful for what God. It's given us aware 290 00:10:38,955 --> 00:10:39,695 that God 291 00:10:40,074 --> 00:10:44,163 is with us and authentically knowing that that 292 00:10:44,163 --> 00:10:46,417 we control very little of what happens 293 00:10:47,113 --> 00:10:47,831 in this life. 294 00:10:49,266 --> 00:10:51,601 And that that eastern philosophy 295 00:10:53,350 --> 00:10:55,690 or better put that theology 296 00:10:56,149 --> 00:10:59,669 is what's captured in the most famous passage 297 00:10:59,669 --> 00:11:00,410 from ec 298 00:11:00,804 --> 00:11:03,197 the third chapter which begins with the verse, 299 00:11:03,356 --> 00:11:05,908 which you surely have heard for everything. 300 00:11:06,307 --> 00:11:08,221 There is a season and a time for 301 00:11:08,221 --> 00:11:09,417 every matter under heaven. 302 00:11:10,785 --> 00:11:13,348 And then that section of ec 303 00:11:13,721 --> 00:11:17,504 goes on to list 14 pairs of of 304 00:11:17,861 --> 00:11:20,002 realities a time to be born and a 305 00:11:20,002 --> 00:11:22,461 time to die. A time to week, and 306 00:11:22,461 --> 00:11:25,102 a time to laugh, a time to mourn 307 00:11:25,886 --> 00:11:27,633 and a time to dance. 308 00:11:28,983 --> 00:11:29,721 And while 309 00:11:30,095 --> 00:11:32,080 chapter 3 is the most famous part of 310 00:11:32,080 --> 00:11:32,580 ec, 311 00:11:32,953 --> 00:11:34,486 all of its 12 chapters 312 00:11:35,194 --> 00:11:38,411 contain that same kind of wisdom that life 313 00:11:38,551 --> 00:11:39,370 can be 314 00:11:39,989 --> 00:11:40,489 wonderful 315 00:11:41,108 --> 00:11:43,127 and blessed and also sorrow 316 00:11:43,985 --> 00:11:44,725 and grief 317 00:11:45,990 --> 00:11:49,508 we can experience tremendous success and and terrible 318 00:11:49,564 --> 00:11:52,025 failure. We can be built up by those 319 00:11:52,025 --> 00:11:53,613 around us and we can be oppressed by 320 00:11:53,613 --> 00:11:55,939 those who have power over us. We can 321 00:11:55,939 --> 00:11:56,439 be 322 00:11:57,135 --> 00:11:58,650 consumed with our desires, 323 00:11:59,527 --> 00:12:00,745 and we can be glorious 324 00:12:01,202 --> 00:12:03,376 glorious content with whatever it is 325 00:12:03,769 --> 00:12:04,488 that we have. 326 00:12:06,087 --> 00:12:08,005 In my harper column study bible the heading 327 00:12:08,005 --> 00:12:10,882 for our for our reading today is take 328 00:12:10,882 --> 00:12:11,921 life as it comes. 329 00:12:13,613 --> 00:12:15,598 Which seems like pretty wise advice, really. 330 00:12:17,186 --> 00:12:18,537 The teacher is saying that all of us 331 00:12:18,537 --> 00:12:19,331 are a mixed bag. 332 00:12:20,125 --> 00:12:22,690 Got. We're all imperfect. We're all 333 00:12:23,397 --> 00:12:25,704 sinner. We can all be, you know, selfish 334 00:12:25,704 --> 00:12:27,295 and and and shorts sighted. 335 00:12:28,250 --> 00:12:30,318 We we all have the capacity for hate 336 00:12:30,318 --> 00:12:30,875 and envy. 337 00:12:32,084 --> 00:12:34,796 If we're honest with ourselves, we know that 338 00:12:34,796 --> 00:12:36,710 we can we can miss the mark. That's 339 00:12:36,710 --> 00:12:39,820 what the teacher is saying and ec and 340 00:12:39,820 --> 00:12:40,320 certainly 341 00:12:40,698 --> 00:12:43,108 in our passage from ninth chapter. 342 00:12:44,946 --> 00:12:46,544 But there's another side of us. 343 00:12:47,503 --> 00:12:50,400 We also have the capacity for great love 344 00:12:50,794 --> 00:12:54,651 and virtue. Of for honesty and and generosity 345 00:12:55,110 --> 00:12:58,486 and and goodness. We all have it within 346 00:12:58,626 --> 00:12:59,685 ourselves to love 347 00:12:59,998 --> 00:13:00,498 God 348 00:13:01,114 --> 00:13:02,868 with all of our heart soul mind and 349 00:13:02,868 --> 00:13:05,099 strength and to love our neighbor as ourselves. 350 00:13:05,339 --> 00:13:07,273 We've got both of these possibilities 351 00:13:08,301 --> 00:13:08,857 within us. 352 00:13:10,128 --> 00:13:11,104 And an un 353 00:13:11,478 --> 00:13:13,249 look at the world makes clear 354 00:13:13,623 --> 00:13:16,880 that the sun rises and falls on the 355 00:13:16,880 --> 00:13:17,380 best 356 00:13:17,849 --> 00:13:18,888 and the worst of us all. 357 00:13:20,726 --> 00:13:20,966 Now, 358 00:13:22,085 --> 00:13:23,443 unfortunately, for God's people, 359 00:13:24,003 --> 00:13:26,820 it's it's not just the faithful who thrive 360 00:13:27,214 --> 00:13:27,534 I mean, 361 00:13:28,334 --> 00:13:30,355 we would love that. That would be awesome 362 00:13:30,495 --> 00:13:31,794 if only God's faithful 363 00:13:32,334 --> 00:13:34,735 thrived. But the teacher says, and we read 364 00:13:34,735 --> 00:13:37,539 it. The same fate comes to all to 365 00:13:37,539 --> 00:13:39,371 the righteous and the wicked to the good 366 00:13:39,371 --> 00:13:41,045 and the evil to the queen and the 367 00:13:41,045 --> 00:13:43,852 uncle to the to those who sacrifice and 368 00:13:43,852 --> 00:13:44,912 those who do not 369 00:13:45,450 --> 00:13:45,950 sacrifice. 370 00:13:48,087 --> 00:13:50,414 It's not as though only the faithful succeed 371 00:13:50,414 --> 00:13:52,659 is not as though only people who suffer 372 00:13:53,191 --> 00:13:54,777 are those who don't love God. 373 00:13:56,046 --> 00:13:57,236 That's not the way the world works. 374 00:13:58,283 --> 00:13:59,713 And that's not the way God works in 375 00:13:59,713 --> 00:14:00,667 the world. We know that. 376 00:14:02,575 --> 00:14:06,867 Now our divine reward is more spiritual than 377 00:14:06,867 --> 00:14:09,836 that As followers of Jesus, we believe that 378 00:14:09,836 --> 00:14:10,555 it's eternal. 379 00:14:12,153 --> 00:14:15,245 But the question that this author is 380 00:14:15,603 --> 00:14:17,995 asking the question that this author is trying 381 00:14:17,995 --> 00:14:18,973 to answer 382 00:14:19,350 --> 00:14:21,344 is how is it in such a world 383 00:14:21,344 --> 00:14:22,402 are we to live 384 00:14:22,779 --> 00:14:22,938 today? 385 00:14:24,470 --> 00:14:25,910 So he he gets into that at the 386 00:14:25,910 --> 00:14:26,730 end of our 387 00:14:27,269 --> 00:14:29,610 reading here chapter 9 versus 388 00:14:29,990 --> 00:14:30,870 7 through 11. 389 00:14:33,359 --> 00:14:33,759 Go, 390 00:14:34,716 --> 00:14:36,951 eat your bread with enjoyment and drink your 391 00:14:36,951 --> 00:14:37,451 wine 392 00:14:37,829 --> 00:14:38,787 with a merry heart. 393 00:14:39,998 --> 00:14:42,385 For God has long ago approve what you 394 00:14:42,385 --> 00:14:42,624 do. 395 00:14:44,055 --> 00:14:46,044 Let your garments always be white. Do not 396 00:14:46,044 --> 00:14:47,874 let oil be lacking on your head. 397 00:14:49,162 --> 00:14:51,151 Enjoy life with the wife whom you love, 398 00:14:51,470 --> 00:14:52,925 all the days of your 399 00:14:53,300 --> 00:14:57,200 vain life, your ep life, your temporary life 400 00:14:57,200 --> 00:14:58,177 that you are given 401 00:14:58,488 --> 00:15:00,873 under the sun because that is your portion 402 00:15:00,873 --> 00:15:02,860 in life and in your toil at which 403 00:15:02,860 --> 00:15:05,960 you toil under the sun, whatever, your hand 404 00:15:05,960 --> 00:15:07,176 finds to do 405 00:15:08,204 --> 00:15:09,242 do with your mind. 406 00:15:10,121 --> 00:15:13,098 For there's no work or thought or knowledge 407 00:15:13,157 --> 00:15:13,876 or wisdom, 408 00:15:14,276 --> 00:15:15,015 in chill 409 00:15:15,889 --> 00:15:16,927 to which you are going. 410 00:15:18,845 --> 00:15:19,084 Again, 411 00:15:19,803 --> 00:15:22,141 I saw that that under the sun 412 00:15:22,852 --> 00:15:24,361 the race is not to the swift, 413 00:15:25,552 --> 00:15:26,902 nor the battle to the strong, 414 00:15:27,697 --> 00:15:29,126 nor the bread to the wise, 415 00:15:29,841 --> 00:15:31,612 nor riches to the intelligent 416 00:15:32,398 --> 00:15:34,067 nor favor to the skill, 417 00:15:35,418 --> 00:15:37,032 but time and chance 418 00:15:38,519 --> 00:15:39,314 happened them to them mall. 419 00:15:43,379 --> 00:15:45,443 Last week, we learned from the letter to 420 00:15:45,443 --> 00:15:47,507 the Hebrews that are that our spiritual journey 421 00:15:47,507 --> 00:15:48,721 should be marked by perseverance. 422 00:15:49,746 --> 00:15:53,109 Meaning the steadfast and patient endurance 423 00:15:53,643 --> 00:15:55,473 that the life of faith requires. 424 00:15:56,984 --> 00:15:59,250 Well, this week, The author of rec ec 425 00:15:59,625 --> 00:16:02,035 is commend to us the value of e. 426 00:16:02,332 --> 00:16:04,242 I love that word. It was my word 427 00:16:04,242 --> 00:16:06,587 for the year, 1 year. It means 428 00:16:07,042 --> 00:16:09,053 the mental balance of 429 00:16:09,508 --> 00:16:11,599 being calm and even tempered 430 00:16:12,212 --> 00:16:13,663 through the up and downs of life. 431 00:16:15,422 --> 00:16:18,858 Because our spiritual journeys unfold in a world 432 00:16:18,858 --> 00:16:21,435 full of complexities and joys and 433 00:16:21,908 --> 00:16:23,920 sorrows in the context of communities 434 00:16:24,533 --> 00:16:26,624 filled with people who may or may not 435 00:16:26,920 --> 00:16:28,295 have value similar 436 00:16:29,003 --> 00:16:30,537 to hours in a life 437 00:16:30,912 --> 00:16:32,265 that will throw at us, 438 00:16:33,061 --> 00:16:36,743 loss and illness and sorrow and and distractions. 439 00:16:38,247 --> 00:16:39,999 The race is not always to the swift. 440 00:16:40,636 --> 00:16:43,024 We know that. The battle is not always 441 00:16:43,024 --> 00:16:45,174 to the strong. The victory is not always 442 00:16:45,174 --> 00:16:47,839 to the faithful the blessings are not always 443 00:16:48,613 --> 00:16:49,330 to the righteous. 444 00:16:51,321 --> 00:16:53,153 At the Paris some Olympics in a few 445 00:16:53,153 --> 00:16:54,847 weeks, some who cheat 446 00:16:55,639 --> 00:16:58,600 may very well not get caught, and they 447 00:16:58,600 --> 00:17:00,600 might win and get all the glory. 448 00:17:01,559 --> 00:17:04,213 And and some who are truly the best 449 00:17:04,213 --> 00:17:06,290 at their sport may stumble or they may 450 00:17:06,290 --> 00:17:08,468 make a mistake and miss the metal stand 451 00:17:09,087 --> 00:17:09,566 entirely. 452 00:17:10,125 --> 00:17:10,785 There is 453 00:17:11,178 --> 00:17:13,970 0 chance that a hundred percent of the 454 00:17:13,970 --> 00:17:16,384 results in every event will accurately 455 00:17:16,921 --> 00:17:18,915 reflect the best of the best of the 456 00:17:18,915 --> 00:17:22,065 more than 10000 athletes for more 200 countries 457 00:17:22,445 --> 00:17:23,164 who will compete. 458 00:17:24,285 --> 00:17:24,845 We know that. 459 00:17:25,884 --> 00:17:28,125 Because the world is not a perfect place. 460 00:17:29,337 --> 00:17:31,249 And things don't always go like they should. 461 00:17:33,559 --> 00:17:35,550 But at the end of it all, the 462 00:17:35,550 --> 00:17:37,802 teacher notes in the last chapter 463 00:17:38,114 --> 00:17:38,933 of ec 464 00:17:39,470 --> 00:17:39,709 this. 465 00:17:41,144 --> 00:17:43,138 He says all must go to their eternal 466 00:17:43,138 --> 00:17:43,378 home. 467 00:17:44,335 --> 00:17:45,314 And the dust 468 00:17:45,850 --> 00:17:47,786 returns to earth as it was 469 00:17:48,656 --> 00:17:49,554 and the breath 470 00:17:50,090 --> 00:17:52,081 returns to god who gave it. 471 00:17:53,914 --> 00:17:54,653 Which means 472 00:17:55,044 --> 00:17:57,200 that our spiritual lives are on track when 473 00:17:57,200 --> 00:17:59,993 we have the e to accept life as 474 00:17:59,993 --> 00:18:00,472 it is. 475 00:18:01,430 --> 00:18:03,799 Even even when things are not as they 476 00:18:04,157 --> 00:18:05,690 should be to be grateful 477 00:18:06,382 --> 00:18:08,289 to the god who has blessed us with 478 00:18:08,289 --> 00:18:09,106 this day 479 00:18:09,481 --> 00:18:12,023 and and to walk humbly with the 1 480 00:18:12,023 --> 00:18:12,523 who 481 00:18:12,912 --> 00:18:15,876 we love with all of our heart and 482 00:18:15,932 --> 00:18:17,760 soul and mind and strength. 483 00:18:18,793 --> 00:18:19,429 Come what name. 484 00:18:23,417 --> 00:18:24,450 There's a name you may know, 485 00:18:25,960 --> 00:18:29,139 Rick H. He was born in 19 62, 486 00:18:29,298 --> 00:18:30,410 and he had cerebral palsy. 487 00:18:31,541 --> 00:18:32,599 He was quad 488 00:18:32,976 --> 00:18:35,367 as a result of that condition. He was 489 00:18:35,367 --> 00:18:37,280 unable to move his limbs. He was unable 490 00:18:37,280 --> 00:18:37,838 to speak. 491 00:18:39,128 --> 00:18:41,119 When he was 10, he began to use 492 00:18:41,119 --> 00:18:44,305 a a specialized computer to help him communicate. 493 00:18:45,181 --> 00:18:47,331 And when he was 15 and 19 77, 494 00:18:47,984 --> 00:18:49,680 he asked for something that seemed 495 00:18:50,057 --> 00:18:52,130 impossible. There was AA5 496 00:18:52,130 --> 00:18:55,000 mile benefit run somewhere in their area for 497 00:18:55,000 --> 00:18:55,877 AAA 498 00:18:55,877 --> 00:18:58,523 cross player who had been paralyzed in an 499 00:18:58,523 --> 00:18:58,841 accident. 500 00:18:59,798 --> 00:19:02,030 And, Rick told his father, he wanted to 501 00:19:02,030 --> 00:19:05,115 participate. He wanted to show this young man 502 00:19:05,314 --> 00:19:06,190 that that, 503 00:19:06,907 --> 00:19:09,057 things were still possible. It was still possible 504 00:19:09,057 --> 00:19:10,513 to be an active teenager 505 00:19:11,606 --> 00:19:13,916 despite the challenges that life throws at you. 506 00:19:15,287 --> 00:19:17,602 Now, Rick's father, whose name was Dick. 507 00:19:18,320 --> 00:19:20,634 Was 37 years old at the time. He 508 00:19:20,634 --> 00:19:22,231 was not an endurance athlete, 509 00:19:22,804 --> 00:19:24,322 any he and he certainly never 510 00:19:24,882 --> 00:19:26,959 never aspire to be a distance runner. 511 00:19:30,408 --> 00:19:31,844 But he couldn't tell his son no. 512 00:19:33,279 --> 00:19:34,875 And so they ran the race. 513 00:19:36,231 --> 00:19:37,507 They finished second to last, 514 00:19:38,623 --> 00:19:40,629 and they started an odyssey that would last 515 00:19:40,629 --> 00:19:41,582 the rest of their lives. 516 00:19:43,012 --> 00:19:45,473 Over the coming decades, they would participate in 517 00:19:45,473 --> 00:19:47,006 more than 1100 518 00:19:47,220 --> 00:19:49,070 races, including marathons 519 00:19:49,460 --> 00:19:50,200 and triathlon, 520 00:19:50,740 --> 00:19:53,380 including 6 iron man competitions. And now if 521 00:19:53,380 --> 00:19:55,220 you're not familiar with iron man competitions, 522 00:19:55,859 --> 00:19:58,658 they include They start with 2.4 523 00:19:58,658 --> 00:20:00,880 miles of swimming, then that's followed by a 524 00:20:00,880 --> 00:20:02,863 hundred and 12 miles of bi, and then 525 00:20:02,863 --> 00:20:05,140 it ends, the whole thing ends with a 526 00:20:05,259 --> 00:20:07,017 up marathon, 26.2 527 00:20:07,017 --> 00:20:09,354 miles of running. And in these triathlon, 528 00:20:10,053 --> 00:20:11,810 Dick would pull his son in a boat. 529 00:20:12,384 --> 00:20:14,538 With a bungee cord around his waist, and 530 00:20:14,538 --> 00:20:17,031 then he would pedal a special 2 seater 531 00:20:17,249 --> 00:20:19,642 bicycle, and then he'd push him in his 532 00:20:19,642 --> 00:20:21,716 custom made chair for the marathon. 533 00:20:23,243 --> 00:20:26,130 Natives of Massachusetts, they ran the Boston Marathon 534 00:20:26,664 --> 00:20:27,698 32 times. 535 00:20:28,334 --> 00:20:31,377 32 times between 19 80 and 20 14. 536 00:20:31,775 --> 00:20:34,565 If you are, a runner, you know that 537 00:20:34,565 --> 00:20:36,181 the Boston Marathon is 538 00:20:36,717 --> 00:20:39,518 just hall around for runners. And they... These 539 00:20:39,518 --> 00:20:42,325 these 2, the father and son became an 540 00:20:42,461 --> 00:20:44,211 institution at that hall event. 541 00:20:45,497 --> 00:20:45,997 Their 542 00:20:46,369 --> 00:20:47,401 passion for running, 543 00:20:48,274 --> 00:20:50,655 evolved into a non profit organization called the 544 00:20:50,734 --> 00:20:52,877 H Foundation. That was founded in 19 89, 545 00:20:53,848 --> 00:20:57,199 and they still today raise money and give 546 00:20:57,199 --> 00:20:59,934 grants to support this mission to build the 547 00:20:59,992 --> 00:21:03,036 individual character self confidence and self esteem of 548 00:21:03,275 --> 00:21:05,028 America's young people with disabilities. 549 00:21:05,506 --> 00:21:07,896 Through inclusion in all facets of daily life, 550 00:21:08,374 --> 00:21:10,525 including in family and community, activities, 551 00:21:11,098 --> 00:21:13,667 especially sports at home in schools 552 00:21:14,122 --> 00:21:14,997 and in the workplace. 553 00:21:16,351 --> 00:21:19,310 And to support this vision, In 19 92, 554 00:21:19,469 --> 00:21:21,935 so 3 years after the foundation was established. 555 00:21:22,571 --> 00:21:25,276 They spiked and ran across the United States. 556 00:21:26,561 --> 00:21:28,943 3735 557 00:21:28,943 --> 00:21:29,181 miles. 558 00:21:30,293 --> 00:21:33,230 And and all of it started because a 559 00:21:33,230 --> 00:21:34,127 young man 560 00:21:34,754 --> 00:21:36,453 journey with e, 561 00:21:37,951 --> 00:21:41,068 not letting the substantial hardships of his life, 562 00:21:41,947 --> 00:21:44,105 derail his desire to live well. 563 00:21:46,980 --> 00:21:47,853 In 20 13, 564 00:21:48,487 --> 00:21:50,550 a statue of the v was installed at 565 00:21:50,550 --> 00:21:51,606 the Boston Marathon 566 00:21:52,073 --> 00:21:52,629 starting line. 567 00:21:54,218 --> 00:21:56,069 Dick died in 20 21 568 00:21:56,284 --> 00:21:58,588 at the age of 80. Rick died last 569 00:21:58,588 --> 00:22:00,257 year at the age of 61, but they 570 00:22:00,257 --> 00:22:04,038 will forever remain a a presence at the 571 00:22:04,255 --> 00:22:06,407 legendary start line of the race that they 572 00:22:06,407 --> 00:22:06,646 loved. 573 00:22:08,414 --> 00:22:08,974 Asked once, 574 00:22:09,694 --> 00:22:11,375 if he could give his father 1 thing, 575 00:22:12,255 --> 00:22:12,894 what would it be? 576 00:22:14,414 --> 00:22:14,894 Rick said, 577 00:22:15,694 --> 00:22:17,474 the thing I'd most like 578 00:22:18,109 --> 00:22:19,546 for my dad to sit in the chair, 579 00:22:20,344 --> 00:22:21,701 and I would push him for once. 580 00:22:24,973 --> 00:22:26,410 Those are 2 remarkable lives. 581 00:22:27,855 --> 00:22:28,910 Lived beautifully 582 00:22:29,680 --> 00:22:30,394 and faithfully. 583 00:22:33,490 --> 00:22:33,990 Friends 584 00:22:34,779 --> 00:22:36,397 the world is a complicated 585 00:22:37,096 --> 00:22:39,114 and and sometimes heartbreaking 586 00:22:39,893 --> 00:22:40,132 place. 587 00:22:41,251 --> 00:22:43,820 No matter how good or loving or faithful. 588 00:22:44,138 --> 00:22:46,691 We are... There will be challenges to overcome, 589 00:22:46,850 --> 00:22:48,924 and there will be grief to face, and 590 00:22:48,924 --> 00:22:49,743 there will be 591 00:22:50,120 --> 00:22:53,484 sorrows to journey through, but our faith is 592 00:22:53,484 --> 00:22:53,802 clear. 593 00:22:54,998 --> 00:22:57,070 God is with us through it all. 594 00:22:58,903 --> 00:23:01,148 So as the as the teacher taught us 595 00:23:01,148 --> 00:23:04,435 so long ago, our spiritual journeys can be 596 00:23:04,492 --> 00:23:07,381 defined by this great word e. 597 00:23:08,488 --> 00:23:11,750 The mental balance of being calm and even 598 00:23:11,750 --> 00:23:14,716 tempered through the ups and downs of life 599 00:23:14,853 --> 00:23:15,353 because 600 00:23:15,663 --> 00:23:16,379 as he wrote, 601 00:23:17,333 --> 00:23:19,638 all will ultimately go to their eternal home. 602 00:23:20,512 --> 00:23:22,977 And the dust returns to Earth as it 603 00:23:22,977 --> 00:23:23,215 was. 604 00:23:24,348 --> 00:23:25,248 And the breath 605 00:23:25,787 --> 00:23:27,065 returns to god who gave it. 606 00:23:29,702 --> 00:23:30,022 I'm amen.