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Elder Appointment Service

We appoint two new elders for our OC Church family - Ron Richmond and Kinney Barbour!

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OC Church of Christ

Transcript
Speaker:

I want to say thank you, Steve Staten, wherever you

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are for all the hard work you've

put to get this process rolling.

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I also want to say thank

you to the LA church.

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We have a number of elders from the

Los Angeles, please stand up so we

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can reckon and deacons and deacons.

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I see deacons.

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Thank you very much.

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Multiple regions here to

support and to share in this

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historic moment with you today.

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Two men, Ron Richman and Kenny

Barber are being appointed

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shepherds in God's kingdom.

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But wait, there will be more, but not yet.

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Two for today, shepherds in God's flock.

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This is a role that has

been incredibly significant.

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Among God's people for thousands of

years, for thousands of years, God has

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worked through shepherds, through elders

to protect his people, to heal his

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people, to train and teach and prepare

his people for the challenges they would

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face in this life so that they could

be with the father in the next life.

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And God used shepherds.

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They provided wisdom and spiritual

direction for the community of God.

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They were charged with

protecting the community of God.

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They were charged with caring

for the needs of the people

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in the community of God.

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Because they have such a significant

role in His plan for humankind.

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That he was very cautious about who

would be a shepherd in God's people.

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Who would be, who can be, an

elder in the community of God.

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Paul told Timothy, when it was time

to appoint elders in the church,

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which was something entirely new.

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Because previously, they had all been,

the community was Jews, and they knew God.

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But now all of a sudden the church

had started spread and it was full of

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Gentiles and full of people with different

cultures from different languages.

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And there were many more needs.

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And so there was a great need for

shepherds of that new community.

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And it was incredibly important

that they would be men who could

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deal with a diversity of issues

and challenges for all people from

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all backgrounds in all languages.

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from all nations.

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And so Paul told Timothy that they are to

be above reproach, faithful to his wife,

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temperate, self controlled, respectable,

hospitable, able to teach, not given to

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drunkenness, not violent, but gentle,

not quarrelsome, not a lover of money.

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He must manage his own family well

and see that his children obey him.

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And he must do so in a manner worthy.

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of full respect.

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Anyone does not, anyone who does not

know how to manage his own family,

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how can he take care of God's church?

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He must not be a recent convert,

or he may become conceited and fall

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into the same judgment as the devil.

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He must also have a good reputation

with outsiders so that he will not fall

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into disgrace and into the devil's trap.

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And he told Titus, an elder must

be blameless, faithful to his wife

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and a man whose children believe

and who are not open to the charge

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of being wild and disobedient.

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Since an overseer manages God's household,

he must be blameless, not overbearing, not

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quick tempered, not given to drunkenness,

not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain.

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Rather, he must be hospitable.

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One who loves what is good, who

is self-controlled, upright,

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wholly, and disciplined.

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He must hold firmly to the trustworthy

message as it has been taught so

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that he can encourage others by sound

doctrine and refute those who oppose it.

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God was preparing a community that

would have to deal with all the

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challenges of the Greco-Roman world.

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Yes, a world in major transition, a world

is shifting culturally and socially,

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but not just that world for the next 20

centuries and who knows how many more

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centuries to deal with all the world

would dish out in the shifts and the

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pools and the tides and the ups and

the downs and the challenges and the

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influences that the world would try to

exert on God's community to protect them.

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To guide them through the many,

many challenges they would face.

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And therefore, he sent Timothy

and Titus to finish the work.

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Meaning he had already sent out

evangelists to preach the gospel

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and to advance the kingdom.

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But now you have a church and

it has to be taken care of.

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And it has to grow and be healthy

and thrive and shine so that

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it can be a light to the world.

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And that's not an easy thing.

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Because we are constantly

in this spiritual battle.

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We are constantly under attack by Satan.

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And we are, we are hurt by those outside.

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We are hurt by ourselves.

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We hurt ourselves sometimes.

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And there is a great need for godly

shepherds to take care of this church.

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And so, these instructions that

we were given are the instructions

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we used to choose these men.

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These are the men that you have called

on, that you have recognized and

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approved to be appointed as shepherds.

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Now a shepherd and elder is a man, but

we know that there's no righteous man

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or ever going to be righteous without

a righteous woman helping him along.

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And part of the wisdom of elders is

they know that they're not getting

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anywhere without their wives saying,

honey, don't you think we should pray?

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Don't you think we should ask

directions on how to get there?

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Don't you think we should get some advice

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in their loving, humble,

but powerful ways?

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Guiding their husbands, as

somebody once said, he may be

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the head, but she's the neck.

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So I would like to ask We're going to

recognize the wives of these men first.

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I would like to ask Becky and Karina and

Lisa and Julie to come on up on the stage.

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Speaker 2: She's learning.

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What a great day.

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Thank you everyone for coming.

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Um, all the elders and their wives

that drove so far, I'm so grateful.

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We feel so supported.

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We feel so encouraged by your prayers.

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And you, you were in the

battle with us as we searched.

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For God to reveal who would

these, who this couple would be.

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So I'm here to share about Lisa Richmond.

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And

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Thank you.

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Yeah.

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I don't know if many of you know our

story, but it didn't start off great.

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But it has ended great, right?

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Yes.

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Lisa is a noble woman.

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And I'm so proud of her.

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If you have an opportunity to be her

friend, she will love you forever.

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She calls you when you least expect.

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She cries with you.

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She prays with you.

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She encourages her husband.

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She encourages her

children, her grandchildren.

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She served her father until his last day.

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She's a great example of

what a noble woman is.

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I'm so proud of you.

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I am grateful to have you by my side.

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With their arms up in

prayer for our congregation.

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I know you and Ron will do amazing things.

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I know Ron can't do this without you.

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And I love you a lot.

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Speaker 6: In 1 Timothy 3, 11, it's

talking about the elders and the

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deacons and it says, In the same way

the women are to be worthy of respect,

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not malicious talkers, but temperate,

and trustworthy in everything.

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Oh, I'm getting emotional.

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Sorry.

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Um,

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worthy of respect.

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I feel like that's Julie.

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From the moment we've been here, I have

seen young children, preteens, teens,

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older women, men, men of all ages.

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Respect Julie.

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She is wise.

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She is hardworking.

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She is kind and gentle.

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Temperate or self controlled.

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I've never talked to Julie.

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She has this gentle, soothing voice.

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She asks all the right

questions in all the right ways.

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She tilts her head a little

bit, makes it a little softer.

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She is a woman of deep convictions.

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It's not just how she

communicates, but it's her life.

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Her life communicates

a life of self control.

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You live righteously, you're devoted

to God, and following all of His ways.

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Trustworthy in everything,

and I mean everything.

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Julie does everything.

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She helps with the children's ministry.

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She just volunteered to serve as

a children's ministry coordinator.

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Um, she serves in just about every

rotation of children's ministry already.

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She helps with the shepherding classes.

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She helps with mental health classes.

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She helps with grief recovery.

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Um, Julie, you have been So helpful

to me personally and to the church.

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It's a little gift for you, but

you are definitely worthy of this.

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And I know that together with

Kenny, I know he, I know you

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will be of great support to him.

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Speaker: Elders are a

sacred role in the church.

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In God's community.

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There's three different words

that we run into in scripture that

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describe them in Greek Presbyteros,

which is the presbyter, the elder,

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simply put, they're the old guys.

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This isn't their first rodeo.

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They've been around the block a few times.

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It's not just the years, it's the miles.

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And they're the ones that can

just nod their head and go,

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yeah, I know why you're mad.

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I get it.

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You know, they're the ones who are

able to rise above the angst and

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the fear and the frustration and

the anger and the emotionalism that

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we all wrestle with as a community.

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They are the Episcopal, the overseers.

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They oversee things, they just

make sure everything's going well.

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It's funny how in, in my family

this weekend with everybody there,

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grandkids, kids and Michelle's parents,

automatically, we all look to her dad,

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what did, when we have to decide what

movie to watch, . And he just makes sure

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he is taking us all out for lunch and.

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And we know him, he's not going

to let anybody pay, he's just

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going to pull out the card.

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He's just oversees the family.

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And it's wonderful, and the minute he

steps out of the room, everybody looks

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at me, and it falls on my shoulders.

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And it's just the way it is, there's

just the Presbyters, the elders, the

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Episcopoi, they're the dads in the church.

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To make sure everybody's taken care of.

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To make sure we don't forget somebody.

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We don't forget a ministry.

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We don't, we don't forget to think

about this group and to keep us ministry

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evangelists thinking of everybody

and remembering that the church is

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not just the army of God, but it's

the family of God and complete with

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grandparents, children, and grandchildren.

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And we want to get everybody

to be with God forever.

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That's the mission.

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Amen.

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Church.

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They are the Poyman, the shepherds, the

ones who watch over the flock and deal

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with false doctrines and divisive people

and errant leaders and errant members.

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And they're the ones that have, that love

to take care of the ministry staff, but

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also the courage to challenge ministry

staff, to take care of the whole flock.

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They're the caretakers.

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They're the shepherds.

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They watch over the flock

and everybody's in it.

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They embody so much of Psalm 23.

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The Lord is my shepherd.

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I lack nothing.

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He makes me lie down in green pastures.

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You ever wonder why it

says he makes me lie down?

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He leads me by quiet waters.

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He refreshes my soul and shows me the

paths of righteousness for his namesake.

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And even though I walk through the valley

of shadow and uncertainty, and I don't

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know where we're meeting next week or

what's going on, I fear no evil for you

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are with me and your rod and your staff.

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They protect me.

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You even appoint a table in

the presence of my enemies and

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you anoint my head with oils

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and my cup overflows.

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Surely goodness and love will follow

me all the days of my life and I

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even I Will dwell in the house of

the Lord forever and ever and ever.

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That's the mission.

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Amen.

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That's what shepherds, that's

what elders make sure we do.

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Make sure the church does.

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Make sure that we stay on point.

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It was a very, very important

role in the early church.

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Working with the evangelists, working

with the teachers, working with the

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prophets, working with all the different

roles that were advancing and spreading

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the gospel and building up the church

and baptizing people to make sure we

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stayed on point and stayed on the path.

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In Ephesians 4 he says, So Christ himself

gave the apostles, the prophets, the

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evangelists, the pastors, and teachers to

equip his people for works of service so

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that the body of Christ may be built up.

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So we can be strong in

every one of those roles.

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The apostles, which today are like

evangelists who plant churches.

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They're the ones that started new

things that spread the gospel out there.

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And there's a whole lot more

people in Orange County that

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need to hear the gospel.

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They desperately need it.

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And the prophets Who was

willing to preach God's word.

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They're not out trying to figure out

what is the world want or what do people

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want or even what is the church want?

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They're in charge with what does God want.

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Because they know better than anybody that

the best way to do anything is God's way.

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Always seek the Lord first.

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And everything else will fall in place.

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And the evangelist who spread the good

news, not the bad news, the good news.

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Amen.

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Of Jesus Christ, the good news that

we can all be forgiven of our sins.

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That doesn't matter how much you blew it.

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You can be forgiven

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and you too can make it.

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And spread that good news and the

teachers who helped to train and equip

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and help us understand how do we grow?

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How do we grow in being formed in Christ?

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How do we place the

scriptures in our hearts?

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How do we live that out?

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The rest of that Matthew 28, go and make

disciples, baptize them in the name of the

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Father, Son, Holy Spirit, and teach them

to practice everything he taught us to do.

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And he would be with us

forever and ever and ever.

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And lastly, the pastors, that's the

elders, the shepherds that would watch

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over us, take care of us and make sure.

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And we know, we know from

experience, the church will not

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be healthy without this whole team

in play, without the evangelists

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and the elders working together.

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And even some teachers is good for us.

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Keeping us on point and the

deacons all doing their part and

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he tells us why we need all this.

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We, so that we all reach unity in the

faith and in the knowledge of the son of

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God and become mature, attaining to the

whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

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Boy, that's a mouthful.

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What does that mean?

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Attain the whole measure

of the fullness of Christ.

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It's that promise Jesus made.

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Life to the full.

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Even though he knew this

world would be all messed up.

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But you could still have life to the full.

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Not just in the life to

come, but in this life.

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And no matter what Satan deals out to us.

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No matter what happens

to us in this world.

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And horrible things happen in this world.

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We could still have life to the full.

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And that's why he gave us this team to

help us and to train us so that why,

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and that's not even the end of the goal

so that we can do works of service for

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the Lord so that we can be the light

of the world that sits in darkness so

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that we Can be the pioneer spreading the

gospel so that we can help our Children

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and our families and our neighbors and

our co workers and our co students so

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that we even with all our faults and

weaknesses could bring God's good news

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to everybody and to help everybody.

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And the results, he says, then we

will no longer be infants tossed back

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and forth by the waves blown here

and there by every wind of teaching

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and by the cunning and craftiness of

people and their deceitful scheming.

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We live in a time where there's

a lot of tossing back and forth.

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There's a lot of forces out there

trying to influence our minds

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and our hearts to divide us, to

separate us, to fill us with fear.

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To protect us, he said.

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Instead, speaking the truth in love,

we will grow to become in every respect

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the mature body of him who is the head.

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That is Christ.

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From him, the whole body, joined and

held together by every supporting

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ligament, grows and builds itself up

in love as each part does its work.

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That's us, guys.

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That's us.

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And shepherds, that's you.

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That's you.

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That's you.

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To help us.

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That's you.

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To help us get there.

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And we need your help.

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We need help as a people.

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What a fantastic vision for the church.

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And yet, today, is a significant

step in that direction.

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And the truth is, we need more men and

we will have more men who rise up and

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take that charge to lead and to serve.

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And that's coming, but not just men.

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We need more women to rise up and take the

charge to serve and to help this church

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be healthy and be a light to the world.

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We need that.

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And God is moving forward and praise God.

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For doing so because he loves us.

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And I know we've, we've struggled with a

vision for who and what is Orange County.

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God hasn't struggled.

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He knows exactly who you are and he loves

you and cherishes you and can't wait

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for your light to shine brighter still.

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And today's a big step in that process.

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I would like Ron and Kenny

to come on up and Marcel.

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Let's appoint these men.

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Come up here, Ron.

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First Ron, then we'll do Kenny.

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Let me tell you about Ron.

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Here's his bio.

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Born in New York City.

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1961.

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He's a Presbyterian.

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He's old.

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One of three children.

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Children.

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His older sister, Betsy Edmonds, is

probably here somewhere this morning.

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There she is over there.

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Went to Duke University,

where he graduated with a

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BA in biochemistry in 1983.

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I almost said 63, but that

would have made him two.

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He then graduated from the University of

th Carolina Medical School in:

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He decided to specialize

in family practice.

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and went to Akron, Ohio for residency,

finishing his training in:

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God was serving and opened a door for

him to work as a traveling physician

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for two years, working in six to

eight week stints across the country.

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It was during this time

that the Lord moved.

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It was during this time that

he was invited to church

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in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

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For He studied the Bible there,

but God had further plans.

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And so his next assignment was

here in Los Angeles, where he

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was baptized by Mike Stefan.

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I think Mike's around here

somewhere right over there.

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And Henry Kramer in November 1st, 1992.

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The following summer, Ron was asked

to move to orange County to help form

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a medical professionals ministry.

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Here in O.

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C.

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Coincidentally, Lisa, then

Gardner, moved to Orange County

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as well from the East region.

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Lisa was baptized in 1982 in the

Plantation Church in Florida by none

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other than Bruce and Robin Williams.

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One year after her mother, Joyce

Dilley, was baptized in the same church.

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Ron and Lisa were soon married in 1994.

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And raised up Evelyn and

Andrew here in this church.

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Evelyn married a wonderful

disciple, Christian Bolaños, who

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grew up in the San Diego church.

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And they just had their second child.

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First Finn and Mavis, Mavis, Mavis

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Speaker 7: Roe.

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She's back there.

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She is a

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Speaker: man.

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I know Ron actually met Ron when

I was leading hope worldwide and

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I was so impressed by Ron's heart.

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Because as much as God blessed him, he

was so concerned about the poor and he

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was so concerned about helping people.

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And he was concerned that hope

worldwide be run righteously

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and be done the right way.

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And I was very, very impressed by Ron and

I felt so blessed later to be able to come

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and work with you here in Orange County.

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And us to be coworkers

in God's kingdom here.

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And I'm super proud.

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I know.

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And I hear from so many disciples,

how you've impacted them, how you have

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been a rock in the midst of many storms

here, and you have been rock solid.

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You are a shepherd of God's people.

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And today we have the privilege to

recognize that and appoint you an elder.

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So I have some gifts here.

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First of all, a shepherd's rod.

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So we don't show up.

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A shepherd's rod is to protect

and defend God's people.

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As a good shepherd does.

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You are to fight the lion,

the wolf, and the bear.

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And they do show up.

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You are to keep the church

protected from false doctrines.

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From sin and Satan's attacks

from without and from within.

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You are given that charge.

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I also have

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oil from Jerusalem scented with

frankincense and myrrh and oil.

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Is representative of the Holy spirit

and representative of healing.

406

:

As we just heard in Psalm 23, the

Lord anoints us with perfumed oils,

407

:

and I give you this oil to heal and

to anoint the Orange County Church.

408

:

And I have another gift.

409

:

This is the shofar.

410

:

This is a shofar.

411

:

We'll have to get Malcolm

to come up here and play it.

412

:

The shofar has two

major symbolic gestures.

413

:

One, it was used to call

God's people into battle.

414

:

And you are to call us

to fight the good fight.

415

:

Help us in this battle.

416

:

Number two, it was also used

to call God's people to prayer.

417

:

To the times of prayer.

418

:

To get on their knees, to

humble themselves before the

419

:

Lord, and to pray to him.

420

:

And you are to call us to prayer, that the

church be a house of prayer for the Lord.

421

:

I give you, I give you this charge.

422

:

It's the charge of Peter.

423

:

He wrote, Be a shepherd of God's

flock that is under your care.

424

:

And watch over them, not because you must,

but because you are willing as God wants

425

:

you to be not pursuing dishonest gain,

but eager to serve, not lording it over

426

:

those entrusted to you, but being examples

to the flock so that when the chief

427

:

shepherd appears, you will receive the

crown of glory that will never fade away.

428

:

I give you these gifts,

and I give you this charge.

429

:

Do you accept?

430

:

I do.

431

:

Speaker 4: I want to

introduce to you Kenny Barber.

432

:

Kenny has been married 29 years to Julie.

433

:

They have two daughters,

Courtney and Kelsey.

434

:

Kenny was born and raised

in the Washington D.

435

:

C.

436

:

metropolitan area, also DMV.

437

:

He did want me to mention

that he is younger than Ron.

438

:

Kenny received, Kenny received his

bachelor's degree from Townsend

439

:

State University, has been working

at, and has a career in the

440

:

informational technology management.

441

:

Kenny has been a Christian for 30 years

this month and has spent the last 28

442

:

years here in Southern California.

443

:

Kenny was converted as a

Christian in the Baltimore church.

444

:

He has been part of the Baltimore.

445

:

The Metro L.

446

:

A.

447

:

Region and Orange County

Ministries in our fellowship.

448

:

Kenny is a staple here in the O.

449

:

C.

450

:

Church.

451

:

And has been a part of our North OC core

group leadership group for over, uh,

452

:

for over a decade and currently leads a

small group here in North Orange County.

453

:

He has led the chemical recovery and

disciples in motion classes and recently

454

:

our shepherding classes as well.

455

:

He enjoys spending time with his

family and watching his Washington

456

:

Commanders football team.

457

:

That shows you what kind of man he is.

458

:

To stay loyal to the

Washington Commanders.

459

:

That's hard living right there.

460

:

That's a man of faith and

perseverance right there.

461

:

Kenny admits that his weakness

in kryptonite is his affinity

462

:

for white chocolate raspberry

truffle Haagen Dazs ice cream.

463

:

Kenny, you are a man of God.

464

:

That is the very first thing that

comes to mind when I think of you.

465

:

That you are a man of God.

466

:

You had, you have a deep faith in God.

467

:

You have a deep faith in the power of

Jesus and his ability to change lives

468

:

and the power of Jesus and his word.

469

:

You care for God's people with

the sincere love that is seen,

470

:

heard, felt, and experienced by

those who come in contact with you.

471

:

You work hard, and you have been

faithful to God's people, and

472

:

you are worthy of imitation.

473

:

We are grateful to have you here in

Orange County and I am personally

474

:

grateful for our friendship and service

together over the last several years.

475

:

Corinne and I respect you and your

wife and we have learned so much from

476

:

you and we love and adore your family.

477

:

I am confident that you will

serve God, and you will serve his

478

:

church with integrity as an elder.

479

:

I too will give you these three gifts.

480

:

I give you the Shepherd's Rod

to protect and defend God's

481

:

people as a good Shepherd does.

482

:

You are to fight the lion,

the wolf, and the bear.

483

:

As a shepherd of the family of

God, you must protect the church

484

:

from false doctrine and Satan's

attacks from within and without.

485

:

I give to you also a vial of

olive oil from Jerusalem to anoint

486

:

and to heal the Lord's people.

487

:

The oil also represents the

presence of the Holy Spirit, which

488

:

you are to listen to closely.

489

:

I also give to you the shofar of Israel.

490

:

The shofar, as was mentioned earlier,

491

:

was blown to call God's people to battle.

492

:

You are to call God's people to

fight the good fight and to wage

493

:

the war in the spiritual battle.

494

:

A shofar was also used to

call God's people to prayer.

495

:

You are to make sure that the OC Church

is a house of prayer for the Lord.

496

:

I give you now this charge

in 1 Peter 5, verse 2.

497

:

Amen.

498

:

Be a shepherd of God's flock

that is under your care and watch

499

:

over them, not because you must.

500

:

But because you are willing as God

wants you to be not pursuing dishonest

501

:

game, but eager to serve not lording,

not lording it over those entrusted to

502

:

you, but being examples to the flock.

503

:

So that when the chief shepherd appears,

you will receive the clown of Crown

504

:

of glory that will never fade away.

505

:

Do you accept these gifts and

thereby doing so accept this charge?

506

:

Yeah, I do accept

507

:

Speaker 5: this charge.

508

:

Speaker: We have presented these

two men, men that you've chosen, men

509

:

that you have approved of men that

you have selected to be shepherds

510

:

over this flock, to watch over the

Orange County region to be shepherds.

511

:

In the body of elders for the

Los Angeles Church of Christ.

512

:

Now, I have a charge for you.

513

:

In Hebrews 12, 17, He tells us,

Obey them that have oversight

514

:

over you, and submit yourselves,

for they watch over your souls.

515

:

As they that must give account,

516

:

they watch over you.

517

:

that they may do it with

joy and not with grief.

518

:

For that would be no advantage for you.

519

:

Do you Orange County region accept

this charge to follow these men

520

:

as your overseers and elders?

521

:

And if it is yes, then let the church say

522

:

With God as your witness,

523

:

you have recognized

these men as your elders.

524

:

I would like all the evangelists and

elders in the room to come up here, come

525

:

up here to lay hands on these men so that

we may pray and the wives too, please.

526

:

As we know, it's a team.

527

:

I'm going to do a blessing and then

James Willis is going to come up and pray

528

:

over them as we all lay hands on them.

529

:

We didn't get this from Avatar.

530

:

They got it from us.

531

:

Go ahead and put your hands

on these fellows here.

532

:

May the God, may God,

533

:

how many elders does it

take to organize a group?

534

:

Let us bless these men,

bless them with your hearts.

535

:

And with agreement in these words, may

God, the father prepare your journey.

536

:

Jesus, the son guide your footsteps, the

spirit of life, strengthen your body.

537

:

The three in one watch over you

on every road that you may follow.

538

:

May the love of Christ be active in

your heart, be heard in your words, be

539

:

seen in your actions and inform your

choices today and all the days to come.

540

:

Amen.

541

:

May the Lord protect and bless all

that you set your hands to accomplish.

542

:

Watch over your families and

guard your heart, mind, soul,

543

:

and body in the name of Jesus.

544

:

Amen.

545

:

Go ahead, James.

546

:

Speaker 8: Amen.

547

:

Speaker: Hands on.

548

:

Speaker 8: I will pray.

549

:

But before I do that, I want to thank

all of you for your prayers and support.

550

:

For this region, I don't want

to thank the men and women up

551

:

on the stage and support the L.

552

:

A.

553

:

Church and the M.

554

:

L.

555

:

C.

556

:

And the service team have provided for us.

557

:

Steve Staten.

558

:

Thank Robert and Michelle for

their willingness to serve and to

559

:

minister and shepherd us as well.

560

:

So, I just want to encourage all of

you to continue to pray, continue

561

:

to call on each other to encourage

one another because we are family

562

:

and one part of the body suffer.

563

:

We all suffer and I'm grateful

for all of you and your faith

564

:

and your commitment to God.

565

:

Let us pray.

566

:

Dear Heavenly Father, we are in

awe of you and your many blessings

567

:

that you constantly bestow upon us.

568

:

We're grateful for this day.

569

:

God, we're grateful for all that

you have done to help us to see

570

:

what an amazing God you are.

571

:

And Father, we lift you up right now.

572

:

God, as we lift up Ron and Lisa

Kenny and Julie to you, Father, we

573

:

thank you so much for the Holy Spirit

that called upon them to serve in

574

:

this role as elders, as overseer of

your flock here in Orange County.

575

:

God, we pray that you will be with

them, strengthen them in their faith,

576

:

strengthen them in their weaknesses,

help them, God, to turn to you.

577

:

Like your word says, Jesus, to

come to you, all who are weary and

578

:

burdened, for you will give them rest.

579

:

Take your yoke upon them because

you are gentle and humble in heart.

580

:

God, I pray that they will be a

safe place for the flock to come to.

581

:

God, to shepherd, to encourage, to

inspire, to cry, to lift them up to you.

582

:

Because they are yours, God.

583

:

And we are only overseers.

584

:

And we thank you so much.

585

:

For your faithfulness to us, we ask

you to please be with us, protect all

586

:

of our hearts, protect their hearts

because we know who the real enemy is,

587

:

God, and we cannot lose sight of that.

588

:

God, we have to continue to rely

on you and your Holy spirit and

589

:

put on the full armor every day.

590

:

God encouraging one lifting each other up.

591

:

Father, we love you, God.

592

:

And we thank you, Jesus, for

this calling that you have given

593

:

these men, not because they must.

594

:

Because they are willing and I

pray that you will be with them.

595

:

Be with their wives.

596

:

Please watch over and

protect their families, their

597

:

children and grandchildren.

598

:

God, we love you so much.

599

:

We lift all these things up to you, Jesus.

600

:

Please be with us in a powerful way.

601

:

God, we love you.

602

:

It's your name.

603

:

We pray.

604

:

Amen.

605

:

Speaker 7: Amen.

606

:

Speaker: Orange County, I give you your

two new elders, Ron Richman, Kenny Barber,

607

:

Speaker 3: Ron Kenny, you see this?

608

:

Have you seen the crowd?

609

:

Look at your people.

610

:

Speaker: And we're going to

close out with a few words.

611

:

from their hearts, beginning with Kenny.

612

:

Speaker 5: Amen.

613

:

God is good, right?

614

:

Um, I'm full of emotion.

615

:

I'm here.

616

:

Um, first of all, um, My wife

being by my side, I'm seeing the

617

:

wonderful things said about her.

618

:

Seeing my father here, who traveled from

Maryland, Washington DC area, the DMV.

619

:

And my uncle, Jimmy as well, my two

girls, and it's quite a journey.

620

:

My wife, Just to know

that God chose her for me.

621

:

Uh, I knew that from the beginning,

uh, in bringing this journey together.

622

:

Uh, she shaped me.

623

:

Um, every argument we've

had, every Um, joyful moment.

624

:

Uh, I think God shaped me for this.

625

:

Um, I, I see that, uh, with my,

my kids, uh, seeing them growing

626

:

up from child to an adult.

627

:

Um, every argument we may have

had or every conflict we've had.

628

:

Just seeing how they've always

given me the space to come

629

:

back and change and repent.

630

:

They've always given me that space,

uh, so I appreciate them for that.

631

:

Um, you know, uh, just seeing their

journeys move me, uh, shape me.

632

:

My daughter here singing,

um, moves me as well.

633

:

Um, my father.

634

:

Uh, he's always been my role model.

635

:

Um, his gentleness, uh, his humility,

his strength, he's well respected.

636

:

Um, I've always wanted to

imitate him and still do.

637

:

Uh, I appreciate him

coming here to support me.

638

:

Uh, he, even being humble enough

to ask for my Um, scripturally, um,

639

:

um, spiritually as well recently.

640

:

Um, my, my, my uncle has always challenged

me in character ever since I was young.

641

:

You know, I grew up pretty, pretty fast.

642

:

Uh, I mean, physically I was,

I think in the seventh grade

643

:

I was maybe six foot two.

644

:

And he would challenge me.

645

:

He says, you're, you're, you're tall.

646

:

And I'd slump over.

647

:

He said, you need to act like

it and be tall and know you're

648

:

tall and stop slumping over.

649

:

He'd always challenge me on my character.

650

:

I respect them so much, them both,

in their walk with God as well.

651

:

Uh, Also, um, seven years ago, uh, Kevin

Maynes, he used to lead the church here.

652

:

Um, he, he passed away deceased.

653

:

Uh, he'd always, um, toss it

around eldership to me, uh, a lot.

654

:

And it's something I was, didn't

want to grasp, you know, I was, I

655

:

was never willing, you know, to that,

it was such a high esteem and, uh,

656

:

we had a men's retreat and, uh, he

was rushing out the door for lunch.

657

:

And he sees me and he says,

Kenny, Eldership, it's yours.

658

:

Literally an hour later,

he had a heart attack.

659

:

Uh, and I never saw Kevin again.

660

:

He died.

661

:

His last words to me.

662

:

It's been seven years.

663

:

It was 2017 in January.

664

:

Uh, seven years.

665

:

Uh, seven years.

666

:

Scripturally, it talks about, it's a,

it's a magical number for some reason.

667

:

Like it says, how many

times do you forgive?

668

:

It says seven, 77.

669

:

So seven years, it's been a journey

from that point to a noun, really, um,

670

:

becoming closer to God.

671

:

Uh, I've had kind of, not because of those

words, but things that happen in a way,

672

:

just really seeing God and, um, Wanting

to, um, have a relationship with him.

673

:

Um, Curiosity set in.

674

:

I wanted to find out more about Jesus.

675

:

More about how he thinks.

676

:

More about what he wants from me.

677

:

What is he telling me.

678

:

Uh, really moved me.

679

:

And it caused me to want to love him more.

680

:

Uh, it talks about, you

know, like loving God.

681

:

And, you know, with all your

heart and soul and strength.

682

:

And loving your neighbors.

683

:

I really caught on to that.

684

:

Um, and then with curiosity.

685

:

People, I started falling in

love with God's people more.

686

:

Uh, and um, and just in love, just

getting time with people and finding out,

687

:

um, interesting things about someone.

688

:

I realized it was hard for me to love

someone unless I really knew them.

689

:

You know, talk to them and do

something about them and love.

690

:

So that's my quest, just

to get to know and connect.

691

:

Uh, and I started thriving for that.

692

:

Um, really understanding and

I love hearing brokenness.

693

:

You know, too, because

there's always opportunity.

694

:

So many men here has shaped my

life, and women have shaped my life.

695

:

Just hearing their stories, and so

many have so many great stories.

696

:

And that's so important to me.

697

:

Uh, Through the time, grace, seven years

and understanding God's grace and just

698

:

how broken I am and how many challenges

I've had the whole time spiritually, uh,

699

:

and just how God has Really understand

how he healed me, uh, through this.

700

:

Uh, and it does say you have to, you know,

we have this, um, I realized that you have

701

:

these, we all have these unlovable parts

of us, you know, we can push it away.

702

:

Don't want to, I don't want to

address it, but it's like loving

703

:

those unlovable parts of you.

704

:

And when you can do that, as you

understand God's grace, and then

705

:

you can love other people fully.

706

:

And you can love the evils you see

in them, too, you know, so like it's

707

:

magic to that and this christian

this christian walk is fairly simple

708

:

It's not we can make it so complex.

709

:

It's just love god, you know, um, which

you love god You start loving yourself

710

:

and love other people and I started really

Grasping that it's like i'm gonna love

711

:

god's people You know regard and this and

and just my my time together with god.

712

:

I had this quiet time And then,

uh, it really hit me with God and

713

:

I'm like, you know what, I like,

I feel like I really touching God.

714

:

I love you.

715

:

And it's like, I think this

was maybe four years ago.

716

:

I was like, I think you've got

me for the rest of my life.

717

:

I mean, really, I think you've got me.

718

:

I think you've got me here.

719

:

I mean, that's, and I, you got me

no matter what, because I really,

720

:

and I, and so I think this,

this statement here, and I do.

721

:

Um, I do think this appointment

is by the Holy Spirit.

722

:

I accept it, um, to protect his people,

um, to continue my curiosity with God.

723

:

Uh, it's going to always be in prayer

as well, so, you know, I look forward

724

:

to doing this and pray for me.

725

:

I look forward to what God's going to

do for us in the church, so thank you.

726

:

Speaker 7: Um, good morning family, uh,

you know, Lisa and I are very honored.

727

:

Uh, to be taking on this role of

elder and elder's wife, uh, alongside.

728

:

with some great people, Kenny

and Julie and James and Vicky.

729

:

So there are some spiritual people on

this team, and that's a good thing.

730

:

Um, I was convicted the other day

I was talking with James and Vicky.

731

:

I mean, with James and Kenny about

something, and we were You know, it was

732

:

a planning thing and whatever, and both

of them were like, Well, I was up this

733

:

morning and I was praying about this.

734

:

And I was like, Oh, wow, there's an idea.

735

:

That's a good idea.

736

:

Because I was just thinking about it.

737

:

I was,

738

:

so I was like, I'm in,

I'm in good company here.

739

:

This is good for me.

740

:

But family, we've been through a lot.

741

:

And, you know, I was thinking coming

here of, of 30 plus years of, of

742

:

meeting Anaheim Hilton, Red Lion,

Hyatt, Teller Building, uh, the Freeman

743

:

Forum, uh, we've been everywhere.

744

:

We've been in parks, you

know, we've been everywhere.

745

:

And God is not done with us.

746

:

I mean, that's the temptation sometimes is

to feel like, oh, well, it was a good run.

747

:

Yeah.

748

:

All right.

749

:

Yeah.

750

:

They found us out.

751

:

We're not really that, that good,

you know, but you know, I'm always

752

:

encouraged by the scripture of outwardly

though we are wasting away inside,

753

:

we are being renewed day by day.

754

:

And I feel that.

755

:

How about you?

756

:

I mean, I feel like I'm wasting away

and yet sometimes we get renewed.

757

:

We get refreshed.

758

:

We get filled up.

759

:

And I feel like this is that time

that God has set aside for us.

760

:

This year was brutal.

761

:

Right?

762

:

I mean, we all feel beaten up,

tired, like, Oh my gosh, I can't

763

:

handle another controversy.

764

:

Right?

765

:

And yet God's like, no, no, no, no, no.

766

:

See, I am doing something new.

767

:

Do you not perceive it?

768

:

And it's, you know, it's hard to hope.

769

:

It's hard.

770

:

Right?

771

:

It's hard to give your heart to, uh,

well, maybe, and, and to have a hope.

772

:

And yeah, I feel like that's

what God's been saying.

773

:

You know, it's like, forget the

past, forget the former things.

774

:

We're moving in a new direction.

775

:

We're not abandoning everything.

776

:

We haven't done everything wrong.

777

:

We did a few things right.

778

:

We have a great family of believers

here, brothers and sisters.

779

:

That didn't, that didn't

happen by accident.

780

:

We were, we were loving each other all

along, you know, sometimes good, sometimes

781

:

bad, but there's some relationships.

782

:

Just walking around the room.

783

:

I mean, seeing John Varghese and like,

I remember when he and I were like

784

:

the two most arrogant guys on the

basketball team here in Orange County,

785

:

like talking trash to each other.

786

:

I didn't like him.

787

:

He didn't like me, you know, but you

know, he could shoot better than me,

788

:

but anyway, I'll give him that much,

but he didn't know how to play defense.

789

:

But, uh, and, and, and,

790

:

and Ramon and Maureen moving

back and just countless people.

791

:

I mean, one of the things that

I don't know about you, but.

792

:

I look forward to heaven, because I

feel like finally there will be enough

793

:

time to hang out with everybody.

794

:

Right?

795

:

I mean, at times Lisa and I sit down

and we're trying to plan out the week,

796

:

and it's like, there's like 15 people

that we want to, or should, or need

797

:

to, or just would love to hang out with

and it's like, well, we've only got

798

:

three evenings free and you know, and

you're constantly feeling that pressure.

799

:

And I'm sure all of you feel that as well.

800

:

And so heaven's going

to be great in that way.

801

:

But along the way, we still have this.

802

:

And I appreciate what was said

before life to the full, right?

803

:

I mean, I remember a day when

there was nobody I could think

804

:

of to talk to about my life.

805

:

Now, I can't, I feel stressed

out because there's too many

806

:

people to talk to about my life.

807

:

And also there's a lot of people that

want to talk to me about their lives, you

808

:

know, so that gets overwhelming at times.

809

:

But we need to revel in that, in the

fullness that we share as God's people.

810

:

And I was thinking about the

scripture that said you are a

811

:

royal priesthood, a holy nation.

812

:

And, uh, so, you know, Kenny and

James and I, we may be elders,

813

:

but you are royal priests.

814

:

You're the people of God.

815

:

And, uh, you know, so I think as

we move forward, it's important

816

:

for all of us to be thinking

where, what's God calling me to?

817

:

What's my ministry?

818

:

Who am I ministering to?

819

:

And not just what am I getting?

820

:

So anyway, Lisa and I

are excited to serve.

821

:

We're willing to serve, you know,

this job does not come with, uh,

822

:

without, you know, some forbearance.

823

:

You know, I know that it's a hard job.

824

:

But we're willing because we love you.

825

:

I mean, we've been doing and many,

many of you have been doing the job.

826

:

You've been shepherding.

827

:

We've all been shepherding

in our own ways.

828

:

And so we are happy to

take part with the team.

829

:

And I just pray that we can all

throw our hearts back in the circle

830

:

and, and just see where God's going

to take us in the coming days.

831

:

I like to think of life as chapters.

832

:

Um, you know, Kenny was talking about

growing up and everything and, you know,

833

:

as many of you know, I grew up in New

York City with a dad who was abusive

834

:

and alcoholic and a mom who was awesome

and loving and, and made us all feel

835

:

special, and Betsy and I didn't have a

great family start, you know, and yet,

836

:

you know, we hung in there together, my

sister Evelyn and Betsy and I, close.

837

:

We love each other.

838

:

We've been there for each other and

even brought our parents back where

839

:

we were able to, you know, they were,

Oh, my dad opened up about everything.

840

:

We all had forgiveness and we wrote a

great last chapter of their lives where

841

:

they were able to be in the family and

wrote great chapters with Joyce and, uh,

842

:

with Lisa's dad, Jerry, uh, moving out.

843

:

And even though he was sick in our

house for five years, In a hospital

844

:

bed got baptized, you know, that, uh,

you know, family, it takes work, you

845

:

know, there's time we don't all get

along all the time, but we work at it.

846

:

And so, you know, there's just

different chapters as we move along.

847

:

And, um, you know, so I pray that this

next chapter for Orange County is just a

848

:

chapter that we are all super proud of.

849

:

Excited by that we can look back

and go, Oh, that's where God poured

850

:

out his Holy Spirit among us.

851

:

And we felt refreshed because that's

what being close with God is all about.

852

:

It's about having life to the

full, feeling the freshness of

853

:

the Holy Spirit in and around us.

854

:

So I pray to be walking that walk with

all of us as we write the next chapter

855

:

in Orange County's long history.

856

:

So

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