1 00:00:00,596 --> 00:00:03,298 This is week 3 of our July Sermon 2 00:00:03,298 --> 00:00:05,523 series on track. And if you've been with 3 00:00:05,523 --> 00:00:07,192 us the past couple of weeks, you know 4 00:00:07,192 --> 00:00:10,162 the basic. Premise here, inspired by the summer 5 00:00:10,482 --> 00:00:13,299 Olympics, which kick off this week. We are 6 00:00:13,359 --> 00:00:17,329 exploring some biblical metaphors that, talk about sports 7 00:00:17,609 --> 00:00:18,010 particularly, 8 00:00:18,570 --> 00:00:20,170 there are quite a few of those in 9 00:00:20,170 --> 00:00:22,089 the Bible. They're quite good. 10 00:00:22,969 --> 00:00:24,809 But, of course, they're not talking about the 11 00:00:25,129 --> 00:00:25,289 Olympics. 12 00:00:26,104 --> 00:00:29,297 And really neither are we, except to illustrate 13 00:00:29,297 --> 00:00:31,213 a point here and there throughout this series. 14 00:00:31,772 --> 00:00:32,272 So 15 00:00:32,890 --> 00:00:35,146 what's our overall goal with 16 00:00:35,537 --> 00:00:38,713 this series with with sports metaphors as our, 17 00:00:39,189 --> 00:00:41,039 starting point, what are we trying to 18 00:00:41,650 --> 00:00:42,150 accomplish 19 00:00:43,253 --> 00:00:45,980 Well, for me, these scriptures that we're reading 20 00:00:46,116 --> 00:00:48,445 point to a fundamental truth 21 00:00:49,058 --> 00:00:51,841 that we often overlook. A, fundamental truth that 22 00:00:51,841 --> 00:00:52,500 we sometimes 23 00:00:53,447 --> 00:00:56,072 need to be reminded of, fundamental truth that 24 00:00:56,072 --> 00:00:58,322 actually has the power to heal 25 00:00:58,697 --> 00:00:59,197 and 26 00:00:59,652 --> 00:00:59,890 restore. 27 00:01:01,341 --> 00:01:03,656 Many years ago, 1 of my wife's oldest 28 00:01:03,656 --> 00:01:06,209 friends, Aubrey. I recommended a book that I 29 00:01:06,209 --> 00:01:08,936 found to be really helpful. It's... Actually from 30 00:01:08,936 --> 00:01:11,323 another religious tradition, but it has some concepts 31 00:01:11,323 --> 00:01:14,268 that are very much consistent with our Christian 32 00:01:14,268 --> 00:01:14,506 faith. 33 00:01:15,143 --> 00:01:16,814 Whitney and I were in and Arbor, Michigan, 34 00:01:17,133 --> 00:01:19,695 visiting Herbs, family, and we were at dinner 35 00:01:19,695 --> 00:01:21,844 1 night with Aubrey. This was right around 36 00:01:21,844 --> 00:01:24,392 the time that I was beginning my own 37 00:01:24,392 --> 00:01:25,959 journey towards ordained 38 00:01:26,478 --> 00:01:29,431 ministry, and in in fact, Aubrey wedding would 39 00:01:29,431 --> 00:01:31,346 be the first wedding I'd ever off initiate. 40 00:01:31,585 --> 00:01:33,261 We're still very close with Aubrey and her 41 00:01:33,261 --> 00:01:33,500 husband. 42 00:01:34,232 --> 00:01:35,820 And I don't remember exactly how it came 43 00:01:35,820 --> 00:01:38,146 up over dinner, but we were undoubtedly, 44 00:01:38,599 --> 00:01:42,014 yeah, discussing the world's problems, most likely talking 45 00:01:42,014 --> 00:01:44,176 about meaning of life. Kind of stuff. She's 46 00:01:44,176 --> 00:01:46,087 1 of those those types of friends. 47 00:01:47,123 --> 00:01:48,318 And she asked, 48 00:01:49,194 --> 00:01:50,867 kind of out of the blue. Have you 49 00:01:50,867 --> 00:01:52,221 read the doll of poo? 50 00:01:54,868 --> 00:01:55,027 Now, 51 00:01:55,825 --> 00:01:58,536 Aubrey is a thoughtful and insightful person. 52 00:01:59,334 --> 00:02:01,168 She's very well read. She's very well read 53 00:02:01,168 --> 00:02:03,279 about subjects that I care about. Her father 54 00:02:03,498 --> 00:02:06,854 was a therapist and so she understands mental 55 00:02:06,854 --> 00:02:09,490 health. She major in art history, so she's 56 00:02:09,490 --> 00:02:10,484 got this fascinating 57 00:02:11,257 --> 00:02:12,768 set of tastes and interests. 58 00:02:13,564 --> 00:02:15,075 She and her husband would go on to 59 00:02:15,075 --> 00:02:17,958 found a tea business, fascinating that continues to 60 00:02:17,958 --> 00:02:20,754 thrive to this day. My point is when 61 00:02:20,914 --> 00:02:22,193 Aubrey suggests something, 62 00:02:22,752 --> 00:02:24,485 it's worth considering. But 63 00:02:24,842 --> 00:02:27,308 but I didn't understand what she had said, 64 00:02:28,183 --> 00:02:28,978 have I read what? 65 00:02:29,774 --> 00:02:30,433 I asked 66 00:02:31,683 --> 00:02:32,637 the Dow of poo. 67 00:02:33,367 --> 00:02:34,875 As in when he's up. 68 00:02:35,748 --> 00:02:37,970 This is the 4 anniversary edition of the 69 00:02:37,970 --> 00:02:40,771 book. Which originally came out back in 19 70 00:02:40,827 --> 00:02:41,382 82, 71 00:02:42,115 --> 00:02:43,955 I didn't read this version I read it 72 00:02:43,955 --> 00:02:45,555 before this version came out, but it's a 73 00:02:45,555 --> 00:02:46,115 fast read. 74 00:02:46,835 --> 00:02:49,395 It's pretty deep. It expresses some of the 75 00:02:49,395 --> 00:02:51,110 concepts of Dallas philosophy, 76 00:02:51,729 --> 00:02:53,169 and I'm glad that I read it. I've 77 00:02:53,169 --> 00:02:55,650 still got, a copy of it. The copy 78 00:02:55,650 --> 00:02:57,490 that I bought right after all we recommended 79 00:02:57,490 --> 00:02:59,654 it on on a shelf in my office. 80 00:02:59,813 --> 00:03:00,950 And the back of the book 81 00:03:01,326 --> 00:03:02,838 actually gives you an indication of what it's 82 00:03:02,838 --> 00:03:05,646 about. It says, while e fret 83 00:03:06,260 --> 00:03:07,969 and pig it hesitate, 84 00:03:08,666 --> 00:03:10,204 and rabbit calculates, 85 00:03:11,061 --> 00:03:12,678 an owl po, 86 00:03:14,094 --> 00:03:14,594 who 87 00:03:14,972 --> 00:03:16,010 just is, 88 00:03:17,774 --> 00:03:20,239 The book explores the wisdom of of Winnie 89 00:03:20,239 --> 00:03:21,829 the poo who is a good, 90 00:03:22,545 --> 00:03:24,056 authentic, genuine friendly, 91 00:03:24,548 --> 00:03:27,494 bear, who's very much focused on, whatever is 92 00:03:27,494 --> 00:03:29,803 in front of him at the moment in 93 00:03:29,803 --> 00:03:32,191 the moment, who does not really show up 94 00:03:32,191 --> 00:03:34,430 in what with any kind of hidden agendas, 95 00:03:34,906 --> 00:03:37,391 all while his friends are 96 00:03:37,843 --> 00:03:38,082 preoccupied, 97 00:03:38,955 --> 00:03:42,629 and sometimes overly concerned with life doing their 98 00:03:42,629 --> 00:03:43,129 particular 99 00:03:43,750 --> 00:03:45,290 activities. And this book 100 00:03:45,909 --> 00:03:48,069 makes the case for that fundamental truth that 101 00:03:48,230 --> 00:03:51,284 I alluded to earlier, a fundamental truth that 102 00:03:51,284 --> 00:03:54,084 we often forget or lose sight of or 103 00:03:54,084 --> 00:03:57,044 get distracted from a truth that our faith, 104 00:03:58,179 --> 00:04:00,253 can remind us of because our faith is 105 00:04:00,253 --> 00:04:03,126 very much interested in telling us about this, 106 00:04:03,445 --> 00:04:05,461 the truth that we are human 107 00:04:05,774 --> 00:04:06,274 beings 108 00:04:06,973 --> 00:04:08,112 and not human 109 00:04:08,571 --> 00:04:09,051 doing. 110 00:04:10,809 --> 00:04:13,526 When we're goal oriented and success driven, which 111 00:04:13,686 --> 00:04:14,165 I'm guessing, 112 00:04:14,898 --> 00:04:17,277 all of us are to varying degrees. We 113 00:04:17,277 --> 00:04:20,156 can come to believe that our many seemingly 114 00:04:20,607 --> 00:04:21,876 countless to do lists, 115 00:04:22,843 --> 00:04:24,829 God knows that I have lots and lots 116 00:04:24,829 --> 00:04:27,053 of to do lists. Can... They can come 117 00:04:27,053 --> 00:04:29,993 to seem more important than any kind of 118 00:04:29,993 --> 00:04:32,156 to be list. That we can come up 119 00:04:32,156 --> 00:04:33,772 with. And yet, our faith 120 00:04:34,308 --> 00:04:37,816 is really pretty clear that nothing is is 121 00:04:37,816 --> 00:04:40,463 worth doing if we're not type of people 122 00:04:40,623 --> 00:04:42,381 God is calling us to be. 123 00:04:43,260 --> 00:04:45,357 So that, while there are certainly 124 00:04:46,136 --> 00:04:46,955 an important 125 00:04:47,268 --> 00:04:49,335 list, there is certainly an important list of 126 00:04:49,335 --> 00:04:51,403 things that we do along our spiritual journeys. 127 00:04:51,641 --> 00:04:53,788 And while we while we talk about those 128 00:04:53,788 --> 00:04:54,743 quite a bit, Of course, 129 00:04:55,538 --> 00:04:57,964 worship and bible study in prayer and generosity 130 00:04:58,263 --> 00:05:00,341 and service and volunteer work in the church. 131 00:05:00,501 --> 00:05:02,578 I mean, listen, we could do an extended 132 00:05:02,578 --> 00:05:03,478 sermon series 133 00:05:03,857 --> 00:05:06,149 about the things we do along our spiritual 134 00:05:06,509 --> 00:05:06,829 journeys, 135 00:05:07,310 --> 00:05:09,550 but it's also essential for us to be 136 00:05:09,550 --> 00:05:10,110 aware of, 137 00:05:10,910 --> 00:05:13,009 to reflect upon to develop 138 00:05:13,310 --> 00:05:17,003 those those personal characteristics that God calls us 139 00:05:17,003 --> 00:05:20,060 to how are we to be disciples 140 00:05:20,759 --> 00:05:22,997 on these spiritual journeys with God. 141 00:05:24,036 --> 00:05:26,361 And as it turns out, God sports metaphors 142 00:05:26,361 --> 00:05:29,537 can be helpful because athletes in addition to 143 00:05:29,537 --> 00:05:32,238 all that they do in order to pursue 144 00:05:32,238 --> 00:05:34,754 their sport and the skills required in their 145 00:05:34,874 --> 00:05:38,468 sport. They also have to exhibit certain characteristics 146 00:05:38,602 --> 00:05:41,776 in order to excel. The mental game, the 147 00:05:41,776 --> 00:05:44,175 being game is is a essential for athletes 148 00:05:44,175 --> 00:05:44,892 to be an athlete, 149 00:05:45,529 --> 00:05:47,463 it is essential to embody certain 150 00:05:47,999 --> 00:05:48,318 traits, 151 00:05:49,353 --> 00:05:51,504 some of which as it turns out are 152 00:05:51,504 --> 00:05:52,482 also vital 153 00:05:52,794 --> 00:05:54,785 for followers of Jesus. And so in first 154 00:05:54,785 --> 00:05:56,458 2 weeks, the series we've talked about, 155 00:05:57,494 --> 00:05:59,406 the importance of perseverance, and we've talked about 156 00:05:59,406 --> 00:06:00,478 the of e. 157 00:06:01,012 --> 00:06:02,682 And if you missed either of those sermon, 158 00:06:02,842 --> 00:06:04,853 you can catch them on our website or 159 00:06:04,910 --> 00:06:06,023 through our podcasts. 160 00:06:07,233 --> 00:06:07,472 Today, 161 00:06:08,189 --> 00:06:10,980 our trait is lifted up by the second 162 00:06:10,980 --> 00:06:13,929 letter of Paul to Timothy. So we're gonna 163 00:06:13,929 --> 00:06:15,147 be in the second chapter 164 00:06:15,459 --> 00:06:17,533 I'm gonna read the first 7 versus first. 165 00:06:17,772 --> 00:06:18,889 We'll come back and read some more later. 166 00:06:19,527 --> 00:06:21,042 Listen friends for the word of God as 167 00:06:21,042 --> 00:06:22,180 it is proclaimed 168 00:06:22,558 --> 00:06:23,435 by God servant, 169 00:06:23,993 --> 00:06:25,245 the author of second Timothy 170 00:06:27,759 --> 00:06:30,234 You then, my child be strong in the 171 00:06:30,234 --> 00:06:31,671 grace that is in Christ Jesus, 172 00:06:32,470 --> 00:06:34,067 and what you have heard from me through 173 00:06:34,067 --> 00:06:34,726 many witnesses 174 00:06:35,279 --> 00:06:37,111 and trust of faithful people who will be 175 00:06:37,111 --> 00:06:39,023 able to teach others as well. 176 00:06:40,218 --> 00:06:41,276 Share and suffering 177 00:06:41,812 --> 00:06:44,122 like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No 178 00:06:44,122 --> 00:06:44,622 1 179 00:06:44,934 --> 00:06:47,167 serving in the army gets entangled in everyday 180 00:06:47,167 --> 00:06:49,502 affairs. The soldiers aim is to please 181 00:06:49,879 --> 00:06:51,075 the enlist officer. 182 00:06:51,793 --> 00:06:53,388 And in the case of an athlete, no 183 00:06:53,388 --> 00:06:54,447 1 is crowned 184 00:06:54,998 --> 00:06:57,065 without competing according to the rules. 185 00:06:58,178 --> 00:07:00,245 It is the farmer who does the work 186 00:07:00,245 --> 00:07:01,915 who ought to have the first share of 187 00:07:01,915 --> 00:07:02,654 the crops 188 00:07:03,683 --> 00:07:05,918 Think over what I say for the Lord 189 00:07:05,918 --> 00:07:07,296 will give you understanding 190 00:07:07,834 --> 00:07:08,632 in all things. 191 00:07:09,989 --> 00:07:11,585 This is the word of God for the 192 00:07:11,585 --> 00:07:12,158 people of God god. 193 00:07:13,670 --> 00:07:14,385 Thanks, Peter God. 194 00:07:16,692 --> 00:07:19,396 So second Timothy is 1 of 3 books 195 00:07:19,396 --> 00:07:20,271 in the new testament, 196 00:07:20,844 --> 00:07:22,062 Referred to as the pastor 197 00:07:22,680 --> 00:07:25,394 letters, first Timothy and Titus are the other 198 00:07:25,394 --> 00:07:25,554 2. 199 00:07:26,352 --> 00:07:27,389 And somewhere between, 200 00:07:28,188 --> 00:07:31,015 like, 80 to 90 percent of biblical scholars 201 00:07:31,072 --> 00:07:33,459 consider the pastor letters who have been written 202 00:07:33,459 --> 00:07:36,244 by a student of Paul some years after 203 00:07:36,244 --> 00:07:36,563 his, 204 00:07:37,453 --> 00:07:40,242 death, writing in another person's name was common 205 00:07:40,242 --> 00:07:41,118 in the ancient world, 206 00:07:41,755 --> 00:07:43,826 and examples of it show up several times 207 00:07:43,826 --> 00:07:44,796 in the bible. 208 00:07:45,750 --> 00:07:48,056 Second, Timothy, in particular is an important type 209 00:07:48,056 --> 00:07:50,304 of biblical literature that appears a few times 210 00:07:50,997 --> 00:07:52,825 throughout scripture from the old testament to the 211 00:07:52,825 --> 00:07:55,708 new. It's a it's a final testament a 212 00:07:55,708 --> 00:07:56,208 final 213 00:07:56,665 --> 00:07:58,282 message from Paul 214 00:07:58,898 --> 00:08:01,689 to 1 of his most important students, Timothy. 215 00:08:02,168 --> 00:08:03,146 Paul had raised 216 00:08:03,856 --> 00:08:05,764 had raised up, Timothy had identified him as 217 00:08:05,764 --> 00:08:07,059 a leader had I had 218 00:08:07,512 --> 00:08:10,136 mentored him to become an important leader in 219 00:08:10,136 --> 00:08:10,851 the early church, 220 00:08:11,664 --> 00:08:13,264 And in a letter, we we read that 221 00:08:13,264 --> 00:08:16,544 he is, writing from prison, Paul is near 222 00:08:16,544 --> 00:08:18,464 the end of his own life and ministry, 223 00:08:18,625 --> 00:08:20,084 and he's offering Timothy 224 00:08:20,399 --> 00:08:21,696 his final words 225 00:08:22,073 --> 00:08:24,625 of advice, lessons that he's learned from so 226 00:08:24,625 --> 00:08:27,676 many years of following Jesus and leading 227 00:08:28,133 --> 00:08:28,691 in the church. 228 00:08:29,984 --> 00:08:31,422 And what's fascinating to me. 229 00:08:32,221 --> 00:08:35,017 And instructive to me is that Paul does 230 00:08:35,017 --> 00:08:37,470 not leave Timothy with a big long 231 00:08:37,909 --> 00:08:38,470 to do list. 232 00:08:39,589 --> 00:08:41,990 His final advice to Timothy is not a 233 00:08:41,990 --> 00:08:44,470 collection of tasks that that Timothy needs to 234 00:08:44,470 --> 00:08:47,275 get done. Now, Paul has done plenty of 235 00:08:47,275 --> 00:08:49,684 that in other places. It's not because he's 236 00:08:49,900 --> 00:08:51,570 shy about telling people what they need to 237 00:08:51,570 --> 00:08:54,537 be doing. His other letter, are are full 238 00:08:54,537 --> 00:08:57,333 of very specific instructions to the churches he 239 00:08:57,333 --> 00:08:58,931 had founded and to the the leaders he 240 00:08:58,931 --> 00:09:01,970 had identified, to do lists were part of 241 00:09:01,970 --> 00:09:02,629 the legacy 242 00:09:03,083 --> 00:09:04,513 of the great apostle. 243 00:09:05,864 --> 00:09:06,421 But here, 244 00:09:07,136 --> 00:09:09,537 in his final testament and It's whether or 245 00:09:09,537 --> 00:09:11,633 not it was written by Paul or by 246 00:09:12,170 --> 00:09:14,323 maybe a student in writing in his name 247 00:09:14,323 --> 00:09:17,753 after his death. Paul is reminding his most 248 00:09:17,753 --> 00:09:18,845 important men he 249 00:09:19,522 --> 00:09:21,139 who he is supposed to be 250 00:09:21,676 --> 00:09:22,872 as a follower of Jesus. 251 00:09:23,989 --> 00:09:26,802 Because, who we are as disciples 252 00:09:27,339 --> 00:09:28,158 very much 253 00:09:29,108 --> 00:09:29,586 influences, 254 00:09:30,143 --> 00:09:32,133 what we do. And then our reading for 255 00:09:32,133 --> 00:09:34,441 today, Paul starts with the most important thing. 256 00:09:34,600 --> 00:09:36,613 He tells Timothy to be strong 257 00:09:37,084 --> 00:09:40,440 in the grace of Jesus because, for disciples, 258 00:09:40,919 --> 00:09:42,618 everything begins there. Everything 259 00:09:43,236 --> 00:09:44,216 begins with 260 00:09:44,769 --> 00:09:45,009 Grace. 261 00:09:45,728 --> 00:09:47,805 We are saved by the grace given to 262 00:09:47,805 --> 00:09:50,442 us in Christ. We are redeemed by the 263 00:09:50,522 --> 00:09:53,324 Grace of God embodied in Christ. We are 264 00:09:53,800 --> 00:09:56,260 empowered to live in accordance with the will 265 00:09:56,260 --> 00:09:58,664 of God by the power of the grace 266 00:09:58,799 --> 00:10:02,073 of Jesus working in within us. The Christian 267 00:10:02,073 --> 00:10:04,964 life is is grounded in grace 268 00:10:05,659 --> 00:10:08,129 from the moment. We place our faith in 269 00:10:08,288 --> 00:10:10,200 Jesus until the moment we meet him and 270 00:10:10,200 --> 00:10:11,513 each eternity someday 271 00:10:11,970 --> 00:10:13,348 and beyond. Grace 272 00:10:13,806 --> 00:10:16,279 is the starting place and the place where 273 00:10:16,279 --> 00:10:18,527 we always live as followers. Of Christ. 274 00:10:19,482 --> 00:10:20,220 And then 275 00:10:21,072 --> 00:10:22,766 Paul identifies our 276 00:10:23,220 --> 00:10:26,578 specific subject for today of he says, in 277 00:10:26,578 --> 00:10:27,535 the case of an athlete, 278 00:10:28,172 --> 00:10:29,230 no 1 is crowned 279 00:10:29,925 --> 00:10:30,823 without competing 280 00:10:31,200 --> 00:10:32,156 according to the rules. 281 00:10:33,603 --> 00:10:34,978 Which means that 282 00:10:35,353 --> 00:10:35,853 integrity 283 00:10:36,944 --> 00:10:37,740 integrity matters, 284 00:10:38,853 --> 00:10:39,967 and it matters always, 285 00:10:42,051 --> 00:10:44,543 expressing that requirement through a sports metaphor 286 00:10:45,239 --> 00:10:48,448 is particularly relevant as the world prepares 287 00:10:48,824 --> 00:10:49,780 for the summer Olympics. 288 00:10:51,548 --> 00:10:53,303 There's an Athlete from Dallas who's getting a 289 00:10:53,303 --> 00:10:55,457 lot of buzz heading into the Olympics you 290 00:10:55,457 --> 00:10:57,392 may have have heard of her, S 291 00:10:58,009 --> 00:11:00,104 Richardson is a sprint phenomenon 292 00:11:00,561 --> 00:11:02,648 from our air you back in 20 19, 293 00:11:03,206 --> 00:11:05,516 as a freshman at Ls u. She set 294 00:11:05,516 --> 00:11:07,667 the c record in the hundred meter dash, 295 00:11:07,826 --> 00:11:10,216 a blistering 10.75 296 00:11:10,216 --> 00:11:11,288 seconds. They that record 297 00:11:11,663 --> 00:11:12,299 still stands. 298 00:11:13,094 --> 00:11:15,559 And for many people, the the hundred is 299 00:11:15,559 --> 00:11:18,421 the the premier running event in the Olympics 300 00:11:18,421 --> 00:11:19,557 because it identifies 301 00:11:20,170 --> 00:11:22,418 that person we describe as the the fastest 302 00:11:22,418 --> 00:11:24,970 man and the fastest woman on Earth, and 303 00:11:25,209 --> 00:11:25,709 Richardson 304 00:11:26,166 --> 00:11:27,862 is certainly in that stratosphere 305 00:11:28,479 --> 00:11:29,675 of world class talent. 306 00:11:30,960 --> 00:11:33,977 She qualified for the pandemic related Tokyo... Or 307 00:11:33,977 --> 00:11:37,628 sorry, pandemic delayed, Tokyo Olympics in 20 21, 308 00:11:37,866 --> 00:11:38,342 and she was... 309 00:11:38,995 --> 00:11:40,995 Thrilled to have the chance to join the 310 00:11:40,995 --> 00:11:44,355 great Pant of American dominance in Olympic track. 311 00:11:45,075 --> 00:11:45,955 She, oh, 312 00:11:46,929 --> 00:11:47,589 was it 313 00:11:48,287 --> 00:11:50,684 surely the favorite to a 1 the hundred 314 00:11:50,684 --> 00:11:51,403 that year, but, 315 00:11:52,281 --> 00:11:53,080 she was suspended. 316 00:11:54,051 --> 00:11:56,588 And she was disqualified for failing a drug 317 00:11:56,588 --> 00:11:56,747 test. 318 00:11:57,698 --> 00:11:59,205 It was following the death of her mother. 319 00:11:59,919 --> 00:12:01,188 She had used marijuana. 320 00:12:01,759 --> 00:12:03,908 Which was legal in Oregon where she did 321 00:12:03,908 --> 00:12:06,377 it, but it's banned by the world anti 322 00:12:06,377 --> 00:12:06,877 doping 323 00:12:07,491 --> 00:12:09,800 agency. It is clearly against the rules, 324 00:12:10,853 --> 00:12:11,892 and integrity matters. 325 00:12:13,330 --> 00:12:14,928 In the in the wake of that incident, 326 00:12:15,567 --> 00:12:17,105 Richardson took 4 responsibility. 327 00:12:17,499 --> 00:12:20,451 She, owned her mistake. She committed not to 328 00:12:20,451 --> 00:12:22,127 do it again, and she set her sights 329 00:12:22,127 --> 00:12:22,866 on rehab 330 00:12:23,404 --> 00:12:24,281 her career. 331 00:12:25,333 --> 00:12:26,289 The next couple of years, 332 00:12:26,927 --> 00:12:29,238 she... As she worked on her comeback, her 333 00:12:29,238 --> 00:12:32,367 performance was was uneven by her standards below 334 00:12:32,758 --> 00:12:36,179 her high expectations. But but by 20 23, 335 00:12:36,736 --> 00:12:37,770 she was back to form. 336 00:12:39,122 --> 00:12:41,208 At the eleventh big trials on June 20 337 00:12:41,208 --> 00:12:41,447 second. 338 00:12:42,163 --> 00:12:43,916 She won the a hundred meters with a 339 00:12:43,916 --> 00:12:45,691 time of 10.71 340 00:12:46,147 --> 00:12:46,465 seconds, 341 00:12:47,182 --> 00:12:48,696 the fastest in the world this year. 342 00:12:49,667 --> 00:12:52,297 Having recovered from her mistake, she's the favorite 343 00:12:52,297 --> 00:12:54,927 to win the gold in Paris. And as 344 00:12:54,927 --> 00:12:57,253 you can see from this photo, she is 345 00:12:57,253 --> 00:12:58,789 on the cover of V magazine 346 00:12:59,326 --> 00:13:00,043 in August. 347 00:13:00,522 --> 00:13:02,595 And you can you can bet that I'll 348 00:13:02,595 --> 00:13:04,610 be pulling for our hometown star 349 00:13:05,066 --> 00:13:05,465 this year. 350 00:13:08,023 --> 00:13:09,158 The apostle Paul 351 00:13:09,532 --> 00:13:10,430 was clear 352 00:13:11,201 --> 00:13:13,211 about who we are called to be 353 00:13:13,664 --> 00:13:16,322 as we... As we live our lives of 354 00:13:16,377 --> 00:13:16,877 spirituality 355 00:13:17,408 --> 00:13:20,421 and faith, drawing on a sports metaphor he 356 00:13:20,421 --> 00:13:21,848 says, in the case of an athlete, 357 00:13:22,578 --> 00:13:23,715 no 1 is crowned 358 00:13:24,647 --> 00:13:26,796 without competing according to the rules. 359 00:13:28,626 --> 00:13:31,173 For followers of Jesus, the rules as interpreted 360 00:13:31,173 --> 00:13:31,571 by him, 361 00:13:32,462 --> 00:13:33,441 are very much 362 00:13:33,977 --> 00:13:36,449 all about the theology of grace. We are 363 00:13:36,449 --> 00:13:38,601 called to love God with all our heart 364 00:13:38,601 --> 00:13:40,276 soul mind and strength. We are called to 365 00:13:40,276 --> 00:13:43,007 love our neighbor as we love ourselves. We're 366 00:13:43,007 --> 00:13:45,185 called to preach the gospel through the way 367 00:13:45,245 --> 00:13:46,124 we live our lives. 368 00:13:46,763 --> 00:13:49,400 Grace is the foundation of all of that. 369 00:13:50,373 --> 00:13:52,524 And in this world that has, you know, 370 00:13:52,843 --> 00:13:53,742 competing values 371 00:13:54,676 --> 00:13:56,349 to be people of grace, 372 00:13:58,035 --> 00:13:58,750 requires integrity. 373 00:14:01,608 --> 00:14:02,402 Let's finish 3. 374 00:14:03,514 --> 00:14:04,808 This is second Timothy 375 00:14:05,579 --> 00:14:06,793 versus 8 376 00:14:07,263 --> 00:14:08,938 03:10. 377 00:14:11,331 --> 00:14:12,549 Remember Jesus Christ 378 00:14:13,086 --> 00:14:15,319 raised from the dead, a descendant of David. 379 00:14:15,478 --> 00:14:16,675 That is my gospel. 380 00:14:17,485 --> 00:14:19,473 For which I suffer hardship even to the 381 00:14:19,473 --> 00:14:21,858 point of being chained like a criminal. He's 382 00:14:21,858 --> 00:14:22,415 in prison. 383 00:14:23,210 --> 00:14:25,372 But the word of God is not chained. 384 00:14:26,484 --> 00:14:28,630 Therefore, I endure everything for the sake of 385 00:14:28,630 --> 00:14:30,538 the alexa of that they may also obtain 386 00:14:30,538 --> 00:14:31,674 the salvation 387 00:14:32,048 --> 00:14:33,320 that is in christ Jesus. 388 00:14:34,449 --> 00:14:35,488 With eternal glory. 389 00:14:37,166 --> 00:14:37,566 I'm amen. 390 00:14:39,644 --> 00:14:40,863 Though Paul 391 00:14:41,482 --> 00:14:42,281 is in prison, 392 00:14:43,000 --> 00:14:44,928 the word of god is not changed. 393 00:14:46,359 --> 00:14:47,392 It's powerful contrast. 394 00:14:48,505 --> 00:14:50,651 In that word of god, we believe is 395 00:14:50,651 --> 00:14:51,469 all about 396 00:14:52,179 --> 00:14:54,015 grace and we have to have the integrity 397 00:14:54,015 --> 00:14:56,431 of knowing that grace is an essential part 398 00:14:56,889 --> 00:14:59,284 of who we are. As he as he 399 00:14:59,284 --> 00:15:01,335 near the end of his ministry at 400 00:15:01,934 --> 00:15:04,095 near the end of his days. He encourages 401 00:15:04,254 --> 00:15:06,815 Timothy to be strong in grace to make 402 00:15:06,815 --> 00:15:09,855 that theology of grace the foundation of of 403 00:15:09,855 --> 00:15:12,204 who he is, and how he will live 404 00:15:12,420 --> 00:15:14,888 facing all of the challenges of the late 405 00:15:14,888 --> 00:15:17,298 first century church in a hostile 406 00:15:17,753 --> 00:15:20,323 Roman empire that would per the marty 407 00:15:20,633 --> 00:15:21,508 even as it 408 00:15:21,984 --> 00:15:24,051 imprisoned and would ultimately execute Paul. 409 00:15:25,163 --> 00:15:27,730 Timothy is reminded to have 410 00:15:28,437 --> 00:15:31,881 integrity as the world's values clash with God's 411 00:15:32,017 --> 00:15:32,517 desire 412 00:15:32,972 --> 00:15:36,404 for the world, his mentor is clear, nothing 413 00:15:36,404 --> 00:15:38,333 else matters. Nothing else 414 00:15:39,104 --> 00:15:40,874 matters if Timothy abandon 415 00:15:41,803 --> 00:15:44,519 his very identity. If he loses sight of 416 00:15:44,519 --> 00:15:45,976 who God wants him 417 00:15:46,433 --> 00:15:46,832 to be. 418 00:15:48,747 --> 00:15:51,061 And then at the end of this final 419 00:15:51,061 --> 00:15:53,228 testament at the close of this final bit 420 00:15:53,228 --> 00:15:53,967 of advice 421 00:15:54,344 --> 00:15:55,800 to his most important 422 00:15:56,256 --> 00:15:56,814 pro j. 423 00:15:57,851 --> 00:15:58,988 A Paul offers 424 00:15:59,938 --> 00:16:01,793 these po last words 425 00:16:02,250 --> 00:16:04,961 to the next generation of disciples and leaders 426 00:16:05,121 --> 00:16:07,056 This is this is in the fourth chapter 427 00:16:07,114 --> 00:16:08,390 of second Timothy. He says, 428 00:16:09,121 --> 00:16:09,757 as for me, 429 00:16:10,552 --> 00:16:12,086 the time of my departure 430 00:16:12,460 --> 00:16:12,937 has come. 431 00:16:14,368 --> 00:16:16,118 I have fought the good fight. 432 00:16:17,310 --> 00:16:18,208 I have finished 433 00:16:18,598 --> 00:16:18,997 the race. 434 00:16:20,513 --> 00:16:21,310 I have kept the faith. 435 00:16:22,985 --> 00:16:23,485 Words 436 00:16:24,102 --> 00:16:25,697 that we should aspire to have read at 437 00:16:25,697 --> 00:16:27,212 our own funerals someday. 438 00:16:28,978 --> 00:16:29,478 Paul 439 00:16:29,930 --> 00:16:31,913 has long been clear who he is, who 440 00:16:32,072 --> 00:16:33,603 God is calling him 441 00:16:34,055 --> 00:16:36,038 to be, and he expresses it with this. 442 00:16:37,166 --> 00:16:39,498 With this beauty in this depth that 443 00:16:39,875 --> 00:16:42,981 that remain just as po 2000 years later 444 00:16:42,981 --> 00:16:45,053 as they were when he when he wrote 445 00:16:45,053 --> 00:16:45,553 them 446 00:16:46,104 --> 00:16:47,938 it's 1 of my favorite passages of scripture. 447 00:16:49,294 --> 00:16:51,527 And this... And the sports imagery in this 448 00:16:51,527 --> 00:16:53,144 case brings home 449 00:16:53,521 --> 00:16:55,276 the point. I have fought the good fight. 450 00:16:55,515 --> 00:16:57,784 I have finished the race I have kept 451 00:16:58,160 --> 00:16:58,718 the faith. 452 00:17:00,153 --> 00:17:03,341 What we do as disciples is inevitably shaped. 453 00:17:03,580 --> 00:17:07,101 Finished by who we are. And the integrity 454 00:17:07,101 --> 00:17:08,079 of our beliefs 455 00:17:08,535 --> 00:17:10,607 is an essential part of who we will 456 00:17:10,607 --> 00:17:10,766 be. 457 00:17:14,677 --> 00:17:17,061 In the writing of Aa Mill, 458 00:17:17,856 --> 00:17:18,571 poo offers 459 00:17:19,064 --> 00:17:21,451 a famous encouragement to his friends. He says, 460 00:17:22,008 --> 00:17:22,986 you are brave 461 00:17:23,600 --> 00:17:26,249 than you believe, stronger than you seem 462 00:17:26,784 --> 00:17:28,137 and smarter than you think. 463 00:17:29,903 --> 00:17:32,153 We all need an encouraging friend like that 464 00:17:32,766 --> 00:17:33,562 in our lives, 465 00:17:34,437 --> 00:17:35,312 you know, but better yet. 466 00:17:36,042 --> 00:17:38,346 We can be that kind of encouraging friend 467 00:17:38,346 --> 00:17:41,230 for others while your fret and pig it 468 00:17:41,445 --> 00:17:44,249 hesitate and rabbit calculates an owl 469 00:17:44,720 --> 00:17:45,220 po, 470 00:17:46,720 --> 00:17:47,220 who 471 00:17:47,919 --> 00:17:48,559 just is. 472 00:17:50,639 --> 00:17:53,359 The Dow poo ends with wisdom that is 473 00:17:53,359 --> 00:17:56,252 entirely consistent with our Christian theology that the 474 00:17:56,252 --> 00:17:59,129 holy spirit is within us all h writes 475 00:17:59,129 --> 00:18:01,527 this. It says the masters of life know 476 00:18:01,527 --> 00:18:03,205 the way where they listen to the voice 477 00:18:03,205 --> 00:18:05,398 within them, the the voice of wisdom and 478 00:18:05,458 --> 00:18:05,857 simplicity, 479 00:18:06,976 --> 00:18:09,213 that voice is not just power and property 480 00:18:09,213 --> 00:18:10,033 of a few 481 00:18:10,572 --> 00:18:13,460 but has been given to everyone. The those 482 00:18:13,460 --> 00:18:16,088 who pay attention to it, too often are 483 00:18:16,088 --> 00:18:18,396 treated as exceptions to the rule rather than 484 00:18:18,396 --> 00:18:20,466 as examples of the rule in operation, 485 00:18:21,436 --> 00:18:24,539 a rule that can apply to anyone who 486 00:18:24,539 --> 00:18:25,255 makes use of it. 487 00:18:26,846 --> 00:18:27,721 If we are smart. 488 00:18:28,768 --> 00:18:30,907 We will choose the way of poo. 489 00:18:34,393 --> 00:18:34,631 Friends, 490 00:18:35,678 --> 00:18:37,991 on this spiritual journey to which we're all 491 00:18:37,991 --> 00:18:38,231 call. 492 00:18:39,746 --> 00:18:42,777 We need the integrity to be who god 493 00:18:42,777 --> 00:18:43,654 calls us to be. 494 00:18:45,824 --> 00:18:46,623 When we have it, 495 00:18:47,741 --> 00:18:49,179 that's when we fight the good fight. 496 00:18:50,457 --> 00:18:51,416 We finished the race. 497 00:18:52,786 --> 00:18:53,501 We'd keep the faith. 498 00:18:55,407 --> 00:18:56,042 May it be so. 499 00:18:57,709 --> 00:18:58,106 How man?