6 in 6 - Hope in the Dark

Welcome to another inspirational podcast at Real Life, Church.

For more great content and updates.

Visit Real Life, Church kc.com. Hey, thanks so much for joining

with us on Church online this morning.

We're so glad you're with us today.

Hey, if you're looking for some Joy.

Look for some excitement, some energy.

Maybe we're excited. Today.

We have a very special time. We have this thing called, six

and six, we got six of the voices, some of the leaders here

at real life. They're going to speak a word of

encouragement. Hope into your life in this

season. So if you look for some joy and

encouragement to ride on somebody's faith, I believe.

God, Roger on purpose today. Come on.

Let's just be excited for God's. Going to do, get some praise to

him. There's some ways to connect.

We have six little message of Hope in six minutes today.

You're not going to forget this. Just going to buff your seat

belt because God is going to bring some truth can be

Encouraging Muslims worship Jesus this morning while some

praise to him. Come all this looks at every

life. Make the doctors run and hide.

You bring the broken back to life.

Only you only you, you set me free from Every Chain, you fill

my heart with songs of praise, only you only you, you're the

only reason that I'm evil. I'm breathing.

I am wide awake. Every Beat is calling.

Every beat is calling out to you.

Glory of your throne to bring this round a way back home.

Only, if you give me all of you, give me life.

You can be dancing through the night.

For Your Glory. My mom

is calling. My sing.

Jesus, Jesus, you're the only reason that I'm even breathing.

I am wide awake. Your freedom is cancer.

I feel it. Rushing through me beat.

Lori. Come on, every beat is calling.

Every beat is calling out to me. So we lean into this moment

today. We are not alone.

God is with us and he's standing with us through whatever trial.

We are going to focus in on these words, close your eyes and

vision and God who is standing next to you.

No matter what you are under today.

When the heart asunder flies. Another way when the walls are

closed. when I look at the space between where I used to be and

this Reckoning, I know I will never be It was another in the

fire. Next to me.

There was another should I ever need been set free.

There is a cross. The barriers of a die for me.

Another my teleporter beneath the water.

I'm no longer safe to my sin and Should I fall in the space

between what we meant to me in the second half?

Either way, I won't bow to the things of this world

sitting next. To me.

There is another in the waters. Holding back the Seas.

We should I / need reminding. Willpower 703.

There is a grave of votes. No bodies.

Now the power lives in me. There is another the fire.

There is another in the fire is another in the fire.

I can see, I can see the light in the darkness.

There's the darkness bow soon. I can even in the heavens as the

spirit. Between where same.

I can feel the ground shake beneath us.

The prison was gave me nothing. Seems you two never?

Seems you two. Palmer seem to Jesus.

Sift it up. There is no other name, but the

name that is Jesus you was and still is and will be through it.

Come on, man, the space between all the things and see and this

Reckoning. I know I will never be I know I

will never be alone. If we another the fire sitting

next to me, the be another in the waters holding back, the

seems shit over need reminding, I could you be until I can't the

joy? I could never.

Godot. Because I knew that's where

you'll be. I can see I can see the light in

the darkness as the darkness guys who I can.

I can feel the ground shake beneath the us as the Prison

Walls King never since you too. Nothing seems her too.

I want you guys to know that God is with you today.

Let's go before. God prayer.

God. We come before you, we just want

to lift you up. We want magnify your name.

We give you praise. We give you honor God.

You were a good God. You were a great God.

We recognize that you sacrifice everything just to release us

from the pain and suffering that we have in life.

And you've called us to a newness of life.

You called us to just just /, take with you just in a life and

a purpose that only we can have through you.

Got us. Want to stab somebody today.

Somebody that just needs you know, somebody maybe this never

met you. Somebody that's struggling with

an addiction or a pain. May be a loss of a family

member. Maybe they're struggling with

disease. God.

I just want them after today just to realize that you were a

powerful God that has their best in mind.

And I got I prayed that they meet with you today and they

realize that you have a love and care for them.

That just can't be found anywhere else in this world.

So God just think you for who you are.

I pray that somebody that has feared a comes out of this

gathering with hope and nose. That they have something great

through you and we lift up all these things in your name.

Amen, guys. Let's go.

Let's give God some honors Gibson.

Praise. Give us some high fives Taipei

men out there. Just let him know how much you

care about him. He was worshipping really big

this morning. And so we are so excited that

you're with us today. I don't know if you're on the

couch, if you're on a walk today, but we are so excited

that you've joined us in this online Gathering.

And if you're new with this, that goes double for you.

We just want you to know that we believe that you belong here and

I want you to know that I want you to feel welcome home, the

fact real life, wherever you guys that.

Can we let everybody this new just feel, welcome.

Give them some hard. Give them some loves.

You can see somebody you don't on there.

Just say, hey, we love having you guys here and just thank you

so much for following along with us.

We believe for those that are new guide.

Really have something special for you guys today.

And I want to invite you as a team member of real life to fill

out something, we call a digital communication card.

You can do that in two different ways.

The first one is, you can text. Just RL new to 97,000 or there's

going to be a link that pops up in the comments and you can fill

that out out as well. This is a safe form for you to

fill out. All we're going to do is have

one of our team members call you on the phone, and their whole

job is just to make you feel welcome and resource you in any

possible. That way that we can.

We, we know that God cares about you and we care about you and we

want to help you and connect with you.

Our whole mission here. Real life is to see people far

from God, discover their real life and purpose in.

Jesus say in another way. We are a church for the Church,

we are a community for those that don't have a home.

And so we want you to be part of that as well.

And one of the ways that we're doing that is I want to invite

everybody out. That just has any interest, all

the real life to something. We're calling a welcome party.

And so tonight at six o'clock on a zoom meeting, you can hang out

with bachelor, Sean and Diane and just hear some of our story.

Maybe you've got some questions. Maybe, maybe you're in the midst

of a struggle. You have questions and you have

anxiety, you have fear. You have anger.

Maybe just hang out with us, and they'll We'll have a great time,

just sharing the hope of Jesus with you today.

Maybe you're looking for a new church home for whatever reason.

Maybe you just have questions about who we are at real life

and what we've done or where we're coming from.

What a great opportunity for you to hang out.

If this welcome party was Pastor Shawn and Diane.

It's a really organic meeting. You can just hang outs, like

hanging around the campfire, around the kitchen table and to

do that. I want you guys to do this.

I want you to text are, oh, welcome tonight, 7000 or again.

There's going to be another link.

That pops up in the comment section.

We would love to see you tonight at Clock on that Zoom meeting.

So, let's pray for God's presence one more time.

And we're going to have a great time.

Just worshiping God, y'all. We come before you and we just

lift you up, and we just, we just want your presence to be on

this Gathering. God.

We don't want any of the glory or honor for ourselves.

We give it all to you. And God, we lift up your name

and your son's name. And God.

I just again, I just pray for all the Gatherings across this

community across this nation across this world.

God. I pray that that as people are

Still Gathering online. I pray that as a as they worship

you that just we grow stronger as a kingdom and just, for a for

a strong witness to the world that we are for you and we are

for them. God.

I just pray that you use us in a mighty way allows to keep

serving you and serving those around us that are searching for

you. And God, we lift up all these

things in your name. Amen.

Well, this is your opportunity. I want you to find somebody

that's hanging out in the comment section.

Just you'll find somebody that you know, find somebody.

You don't know, tell them that you're glad to see.

I am that you're happy to see you.

See that. They're here.

I'm alive. We can't wait to hang out with

you guys the rest of the day. Well nice job Barry.

Come on, find somebody above the comments.

Say hi to him. Find some people know to show

some love man. Say hi.

Somebody love know. You recognize them here.

Don't let anybody walk through here or Beyond this thing

without saying, hi them today. Hey, thanks so much for being

with us again. If you park real-life man, thank

you for being here. For new with us.

I would say it's very special. Welcome to you.

So glad you've been with us, could be either in the world

right now, but you're watching us online at believe.

God brought here on purpose today.

Hello. To give you guys a shot of

encouragement. You guys had an awesome job this

last week. Seriously, a record number of

people watched our stuff last Sunday and it's because you guys

had the courage to hit the share button.

We had 38 shares. Absolute incredible.

You guys are reaching out to your family, your friends.

I know I've had family members on their people.

I'm close to, people are close to me, but far from God.

It's absolutely encouraging incredible.

See, what God's doing. We followed up with 40, new

people, that watch our stuff last week.

Means over a hundred sixty people that were following up

with over the last Few weeks all because you guys hit the share

button. Absolutely incredible.

So if you have the courage to hit it, I encourage you to do it

because today is going to be off.

The chains can be absolutely amazing.

We have a lineup of the voices of real life, some leaders

people have a heart for God heart for the mission of God.

Now people we call friends and family.

You're going to want to re-watch this.

You want to share this. It's gonna be absolutely

incredible. So what we're doing, we have six

different speakers and we're given six minutes to give you

the best encouragement, the best word in the season and they're

going to answer the crud. The question or finish the

statement coronavirus, you won't coronavirus you won't dot dot

dot, they're going to fill it in with a bold statement.

Some that's on their heart, some kind of encouragement and I'm

telling you when you got six minutes man, you're weeding out

all of the fluff. And so we're going to bring it

today is going to absolutely incredible.

So I'll do is I'll take a few minutes.

I'm going to introduce all the speakers and just ordering to

come up and tell you about who they are and then it come out

back to back to back and they're gonna count down of six minutes

of peace. And so today we're going to

start out with our first Speaker.

This is Carrie. They carry is on staff.

She's got this awesome picture by the way.

Look at this. She just went above and beyond

but she's on staff. She has a heart for young

people. She is in charge of our youth

ministry. Does an incredible job.

She's like my right hand. She puts everything together and

she is, didn't just bring it. She has a passion for people.

She's a passion for you. I'm excited to see what God is

going to do through her today. Our second speaker up is going

to be Drew Holcomb, you know, this guy, come on, you see him

in the kids live, he acts like a fool dancing around.

You see him on the videos, but Drew man, his real passion.

In is people. His passion is, you he's in

charge of her connection team. He's a coach on our team and he

has just a good word to bring for us this morning.

Man. After Drew is come up.

As Scott Jermaine. You might know Scott as coach

Jermaine. He is the head basketball coach

at REI Peg, high school. If you don't know they had an

incredible year. He's been he's just done an

incredible job with that team and I know if you know Scott he

is innovative. He is a leader.

He always has a challenging thought and a word I'm telling

you Scott is going to get you thinking this morning, and I'm

encouraged that he's On our team and he's going to bring a word

to us. After Scott comes up, Rose

Taylor, Rose, and Jerry - no were missionaries in this year

for a year, and they gave their heart and soul to people there.

And they have a passion for the world of passion for you.

And you're going to see that evidence a day when Rose brings

a little word of encouragement to you, and you can feel that

Global impact. And so, I'm excited for her to

speak. She is a registered nurse at

Children's Mercy Hospital. She makes a difference here in

our community and excited to hear from her after roses are in

chai errant, man. He's a leader among leaders.

Is he his way of thinking is incredible?

So we're so blessed. He's putting time into this.

He's a coach on our team. He coached her host, team,

helping us set up and tear down. So he's taking a break, right?

But now he's out serving, they can difference and to Aaron.

I'm just so blessed. You're on our team and is here

to speak and make a difference. He has a heart of gold and

you're going to recognize what God is doing his life through

this message after him. Our final speaker last last but

not least is Victor gocha. Now Victor if you don't know

him, when he says he's praying for you, just expect the

mountains to move. He's one of Guys that he is just

in love with Jesus. He's a man of God.

I know the spiritual father. So many people in our church.

I know his spiritual father to me.

There's some people look up to him.

I promise you, he's going to bring a word of encouragement

today. You're going to leave change.

Come on, get your seat belts. Fastened.

There's going to be some gold coming out of these people's

lives or things. You want to hold on to to invest

of Hope and encouragement today. So let's give it up for all the

speakers. Come on.

Let's give him some love. Let's prime the pump, love know,

you love them and our first perk is going to come out and we're

start out with Carrie Kelly. Come on everybody.

Coronavirus you won't steal my joy.

The season has brought a lot of struggles, a lot of unknowns and

a lot of waiting and I find myself a lot of times looking

back two times that were simpler where we could to do things,

just like taking family vacations.

A couple years ago. We took a vacation to Colorado

as a family. We have four kids.

You guys, we are outnumbered on a good day.

Let alone, we're in a vehicle on a 10 hour drive to another

state. So we just like we do on every

trip, we pack up the car, the night before, so we could hit

the road, really. We wake up sleepyhead kids at 6

a.m. Get in the car leave and I kid

you not 15 minutes into this trip.

It is already chaos in my vehicle.

I've got one kid who's trying to figure out what the tub to pull

ratio on his seat belt is going to break the thing.

I have another kid who just knows she is the next American

Idol and is going to sing at the top of her lungs so that no one

else can actually hear the radio.

I have another kid who just is upset with anybody breathing in

her General vicinity and the snacks that I've given them that

we're supposed to last a good solid couple of hours.

Have you? They're all are already?

Neaten or they've been thrown all around my car.

It is a hot mess. Express you guys.

And as a side note, how many of you moms think the dad's choose

to drive just so they don't have to be the snack Giver /?

The one who has to play referee in the passenger seat, like

throw up your hearts because I we're onto you dad's.

I think that's really the plan, but it was happening.

It was chaos in my car and what I hear from the back seat is my

daughter. My oldest daughters voice

saying, the phrase at all of us parents know, all too.

Well, are we there yet? And I look over at my husband in

that moment and I see I am channeling his inner dad.

And he says the phrase that we probably have all heard from our

dads which is we're going to get there.

When we get there. You see in that moment.

My daughter wasn't so concerned with the destination as much as

she was concerned about this little thing called the

meantime, it's the space in between where we start and the

destination that we can all feel really anxious with.

And I think that we all need to focus right now on the fact that

we can actually have a lot of joy in the meantime, the

meantime can actually be the best Best time, I think,

sometimes we focus so much on the destination being the joy

that we forget that there's really a joy right now in the

meantime, and I think that's what God wants for us is the joy

in the meantime. And what if that Joy is found in

relationships. I'll be honest with you guys.

I have struggled over these last couple of weeks to find some joy

and just like you guys, my life got flipped-turned upside down,

and I'd like to take a minute, just sit right there.

I'm just kidding. I'll spare you guys my rapping

skills for today, but maybe if you guys put up enough Hearts,

maybe Sean. Let's have an epic rap rap.

Battle one day. I don't know.

But anyway, so it's hard to find joy in the season.

Right? I think some of us are focusing

so hard on that destination to find Joy there.

And in the meantime, we're still struggling.

We're still frustrated. We're still upset.

We're still down. We're still struggling with all

of these things and I want to encourage you today.

Is there someone in your life right now?

That's helping you to find joy. In the meantime.

Do you have relationships around you to help you find that Joy?

Who is that in your life right now?

Are you focusing on that conclusion?

Are you focusing on the End. Are you really focusing in on

that joy that God wants for us to have right.

Now. I think that there's a reason

that the word Joy is found in the fruits of the spirit

Galatians. 5 verses 22 through 23 says this.

Galatians 5:22–23

But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace,

long-suffering, kindness goodness, faithfulness,

gentleness and self-control. I control you see, Joy isn't a

feeling that we get from things or circumstances is a feeling

that we get from relationship with the holy spirit.

It's also a feeling that we get from relationship with others

and I think, Really what God wants for us.

There are so many times in the Bible that God brings up the

word joy. And I think like back to the

Book of James, I think about how he talks about.

We can have this Joy even in the midst of our circumstances in

our trials. Are you feeling that sense of

Joy? Are you leaning into the anxious

feeling? So in that moment that my

daughter said, are we there yet? We were able as a family to

really enjoy each other. To have that moment.

To play some games. We're able to play the look out

the window game to see what's happening.

And you guys know, we're in Kansas.

There's a whole lot of nothing happening, but we were able to

have joy in the meantime, you guys Guys, and I think about

like, marriage. What is marriage?

It's a lot of meantime, right, we say, I do and then till death

do us part and then what's in the middle?

A lot of meantime, I don't know about you guys, but I want to

have some joy in the meantime, Shameless life group plug.

I every single week on Saturdays, especially right.

Now during this pandemic. I look forward to my life group.

We're just a bunch of women who get together and we get to have

conversations with each other. We get to be vulnerable and real

pray for each other, just honestly go through life and

those moments. Together.

And what I find in these times is that that's what people want.

We want to be able to do life with people, right?

And at Real Life Church. I can tell you.

That's what we want for you. If you are not in a life group,

I don't know what you're waiting for because there's so many

blessings, waiting for you in that.

We want to go through the hard stuff with you.

We want to go through the tough stuff with you for the scary

stuff. Even the normal parts.

We want to be there through all of it with you because I'm

telling you guys. There's so much joy in the

meantime waiting for you. So what does this mean for us

Church? What does this mean?

You can we decide today that we're going to have some joy in

the meantime. We're not going to give in to

the voice of the enemy. We're not going to give in to

Temptations, like, being depressed, or sad or

complaining. And instead.

What we're going to do is we're going to lean in to those Godly

relationships. We're going to give in to those

moments with our kids. We're going to enjoy them a

little bit. We're going to focus on the joy

that God wants for us to have. In the meantime, you know, what

we're going to do. We're going to share that Joy

with other people because the meantime matters and I'm telling

you guys the meantime can Be the best time if we really let it

be. So I I can't wait till this

pandemic is over. I'm ready for the and I'm ready

for that conclusion. But I am so excited about the

joy that God wants for us to have in this.

Meantime. So coronavirus, you will not

steal, our joy. Will you lean into that truth

with me today. Church coronavirus, you won't

create division Among Us, you know.

Why? Because our enemy prospers when

we are divided, that's like his main thing right there.

When he can get us off Mission off, focus off task for finding

people and just pouring into their lives.

With the love of Jesus and getting us out into the Weeds on

these things, that don't matter. Now.

I'm not saying that coronavirus doesn't matter.

It does. It's huge, right?

So it's like the number one thing.

We're all talking about and we can have opinions on how we're

going to react to it and how we feel.

Countries reacting to an all that stuff, but guys, I'm

telling you, man. It's on my heart.

This has been causing divisions, not just with everybody but

especially in the church. And so we're not going to let

that happen here at Real Life Church, you know, divisions

among Believers have been going on since the day they found the

empty tomb, right? We all interpret things our own

way. We all see the world through our

own experiences, and that's cool.

But when we let those things cause Us to look down on other

believers or hey, even worse. Look down on people who need

Jesus and need to hear that from us, man.

Our enemies win and every time, right?

So I think back this is probably my favorite example from of

division in the church from when I was a kid, I grew up Southern

Baptist, really traditional, loved my upbringing, right?

It's why I'm here today. I learned the good word and I

always joke with Sean, you know, when he talks about those

recovering Southern Baptists. I'm like man, I feel like you're

speaking right to me each time, but Okay, I'm glad where I am.

Right? So, you know, that cliche about

those churches that like argue about the color of the carpet,

man. That was real.

That was my church. I saw like my Sunday school

teacher and like the ushers and the deacons and the sweet little

old ladies getting like red or in the face.

And like even more mad is that meeting went on over the color

of the carpet. They were going to go with

hunter green because it was the 90s or like that deep like

maroonish red because it was the 90s.

Yes, and like they were arguing about.

It had nothing to do with getting people to find their

real life and purpose. So nowadays.

We're dealing with the whole nother Beast, right?

We can debate and argue all day, over religion, and politics

through social media. And we're not just debating with

people, we know, and love, and have that trust with weird

having these conversations and these fights online with like,

Gus and Albuquerque. I mean what the hey, man, and so

My next point is distractions, duplicate division.

So that's where the social media piece comes in it.

How easy is it for that phone to just zip there in your pocket

and you're open it up? And there's all Gus man, and

he's on the wrong side of the political aisle, and he wants to

wear a mask and I don't want to or vice versa and I got to tell

him why he's dumb. Hello, and I'm you know, I can

say that because that was my life.

You can ask Holly, right? She'll tell you.

That that was our nightly routine.

Was her looking at me over like this.

Can you believe this guy is crazy so that all changed for me

at Kentucky Trail, listening to Sean on stage is awesome,

message about distractions. And I remember at the very end.

He said get your phones out. Now, go in your settings and

turn off the notifications to all your social media and you,

you get into those apps on your terms and I'm telling you, I did

it right there. The message and it's changed my

life. So are we as members of

real-life? Are we turning people off to

Real Life Church? Are we turning people away from

their real life and purpose. By the things we are putting out

there into social media, your voice speaks, louder than you

think. You know, Jesus says this in

Luke 11 17, every Kingdom divided against itself is laid

waste and a It household Falls. I don't know about you guys.

But real life has been built up into something pretty special

here, in Cass County, and I don't want to see this household

fall, and I know you don't either.

So, I want to end with this, use your voice to be a witness.

Now. I feel like I've been doing a

lot of finger-pointing, you know, during this little six and

six and I've learned, you know, when one fingers pointing this

way, you got three pointing back.

So, from here on out, I'm going to start doing this.

So, I have to hold myself accountable.

Just kidding. Just kidding.

I'm talking to myself. Self just as much as I have you

here. Like I said, this has been me

our online cells, guys. That's our main witness during

the shutdown. Okay.

Our online witness. I see people in our community

groups all the time asking. Hey, I'm new to the area.

What's a good church to go to and you know what?

Every time we put up their real-life, come check us out.

We'd love to meet with you and stuff.

People, click on those names. They look at the profiles.

They're looking at our post history and they're seeing all

that. That stuff that we may or may

not be saying. And when my wife looked at me

and said, hey, you gotta quit arguing with people online.

Your opinion, doesn't matter as much as you think it does.

And at that point, I was calling will.

You also does when she said, hey people that want to come to real

life church and you're recommending it in those groups

and they're seeing the stuff you're putting out there that's

going to cause them not to man slap in the face.

So keep your beliefs and opinions being.

That's great. It is it It's what makes you who

you are, but never lose sight of that, real life.

And purpose that we only get through Jesus.

Jesus brings us together, man. He's what's going to heal this

country and heal our souls. So let's show the people of Cass

County are love coronavirus. You won't cause division among

us because we are united in our real life and purpose.

I love you guys, Kelvin. You won't keep me from climbing

when I was a kid. I loved to climb trees.

Let's be honest. I'm just a shade over 20 and I

still like to climb trees, like to climb trees for the

adventure. The first thing you have to

start. You just have to reach up and

the lowest branch and grab hold of it and pull yourself up.

And then the best part is just at that plan your path.

There's only so many trees you can and limbs, you can grab

ahold of. You have to weave your way up

through and plan your path. The last thing you have to do is

learn. The limbs and limbs can be

tricky, you know, you got to find the perfect lamb to one

that you can grab, and put your hand around, and really pull

yourself up because some of them are just so big.

Can't get your hands on and then sometimes sometimes you put your

foot on the limb that you think looks like a good limb, and it's

actually a rotten one and you'll fall.

And you know, the biggest rule of climbing, don't ever look

down. Don't ever look down because

you'll freeze in fear. And so as you climb these trees,

that's when you gets real, when you get to the top.

That's when it gets real. It's safe to say that a top, the

tree. It's brighter up there.

There's less leaves to the block out the sunlight, just brighter,

the top, the top of the tree. You can see farther than anybody

else in the ground can see. Just the view is a magnificent

at the top of the tree. It's quiet and peaceful.

I love love just to be there and just sit and just think about

what God created. I believe we can learn a lot

from climbing trees. And if you want to hear that be

willing to tear that give me some like likes or hearts or

something like that. So yeah.

All right. Let's go.

Here we go. If climbing is tree is like a

journey in life. And that's where we're trying to

get to the top and that's where success is at.

That's where our heavenly father is at.

Let me try to explain some of you are at the base of the tree.

And all you have to do. You haven't even started

Journey, but we just need you to reach up.

It's fair to say that with your feet on the ground.

You don't know what the view at the top is like.

This is you, but you have to put trust in the Lord.

You have to reach your hand up, grab that low limb, and pull

yourself up. Begin your climb, trust.

God, trust each other, trust is mentioned, 281 times in the

Bible 281 times. I'm pretty sure it's an

important word and so, like in Proverbs 3:5 and 6, is says,

Proverbs 3:5

trust the Lord, your God, with all your heart and don't lean on

your own understanding, and he will direct your paths to help

you climb your tree to the top. Maybe that's you.

But but maybe just a short time ago.

Things were good. You were climb your tree from

Branch to Branch. Kind of shimmy.

Nip, through people like man. You're doing great.

And then one day you hit that limb that you thought was a

sturdy lamp and it stops you in your tracks hit paralyze you and

fear and much. The same way in March, many of

us were enjoying our first world amenities, you know, going to

church going to our life groups, going out and eat afterwards

movie. Theaters, going just where we

wanted. You name it and we were enjoying

it. And then March hit and covid.

Covid comes along. And just like, when we hit that

brand, so we didn't know those going to hold us.

We were frozen. Our schools think about it.

Kids were losing proms spring Sports.

We don't have the Royals. We do have the NBA.

Yeah. Now I have to resort to the

Michael Jordan at the last damp. It dense episodes.

Those are kind of a good thing but seriously are climb we hit

that bad Limb and we just froze in fear.

So this is what I'm saying. Don't freeze up.

What? God doesn't want us to do?

His don't freeze up. Don't freeze up, but look up.

Don't have faith in fear, but have faith in our father said,

again, don't have faith in fear that have faith in our father.

And even in times of uncertainty and and fear, we have to press

on, you know, Paul writes in the letter to the Philippi.

He says in Philippians, 3:14. I press on toward the goal to

win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Jesus

Christ. He's calling us to keep climate.

It's might be dark times. We may not know the future.

We have to press on. Ask God for wisdom in your

climb. Proverbs. 3:18 says, wisdom is a

Proverbs 3:18

tree of life. For those who Embrace her, happy

are those who are called? Hold on to her type.

Ask God for wisdom in your claim.

We need to know which branch to grab the path to reach the top.

We need that wisdom from God. Some of your Sam is cut my

current situation. My tree is not a good way to

climb. I don't have a job.

My finances are a mess. You know, it's my, I think the

tree that I was on is actually supposed to client is actually

falling and I would say, trust, trust the tree that you thought

you were supposed to climb. Trust God.

So, maybe, just maybe the tree that you were supposed to climb.

You're actually supposed to cross cross.

The tree that you were thought. You were supposed to climb.

And on the other side, God has bigger trees for you.

God has taller trees for you. God has stronger trees for you.

Cross the tree. That God, thought you thought

you were supposed to climb and good, things are ahead of you.

I know covid. Given me a new perspective on

life. We need to be there for each

other. If you haven't begun your climb,

your Journey with God, climb, climb be there for the people

and real life church are there for you.

Don't do life alone. If you're if you're climbing

that tree, you need people around you rally around each

other. We have a church in which we can

rally around. Okay, whatever.

Wherever you are in your journey.

God is right there with you. Trust God reach for him.

Climb your tree. Let's be there for each other

covid. You won't keep me from climate.

Coronavirus you won't make me a spiritual slacker.

Now. My definition of a spiritual

slacker is someone who is not spiritually engaged, someone

who's disconnected and someone who waits around to be told what

to do with their spiritual life. And today, real life.

We're not going to be spiritual Slackers.

We're going to be spiritual leaders, our world, and our

community need relief and restoration more than ever now.

And now is not the time to be slacking relief.

Is that temporary It helped to reduce suffering during and

after a crisis. Wow, restoration happens through

long-term relationships, which rebuilds people families and

communities back to their God designed purpose.

And wholeness in the Bible, the story of Esther is about a young

Jewish girl who becomes queen of Persia and with her uncle's help

needs to win the affection in the favor of the king, in order

to stop a plot to kill. The Jews.

Now, esther is the Jews only. Hope she is the only person.

One who can get close enough to the king to stand before him to

make such a request. And even though she's Queen, she

can risk her life in doing so but she pushes past her fear and

does what God calls her to do and in doing so she saves her

entire nation. And Esther 413 Mordecai tells

her, don't think for a moment that because you were in the

palace, you will escape. While the Jews will be killed,

if you keep quiet at a time like this, deliverance and relief,

will arise. From another part for the Jews.

But you and your family will die.

Perhaps, maybe that you were made Queen for this moment for

such a time as this such a time as this.

Maybe we're in the middle of a pandemic, for such a time as

this. Maybe you're stuck at home in

your workplace, in your neighborhood or whatever

position. God has you in for such a time

as this God is opening up. Teas to optimize his purpose and

use us as spiritual leaders to help those around us.

God took the time to make a special all with unique talents.

He has prepared individual plans and He has he tried again.

He has prepared individual plans and projects for our lives.

He may feel absent. Like he's not working in the

details of her lives, but he is. He did it for Esther and he'll

do it for you too. He will accomplish his will

through our good are. Bad are happy.

And even our most painful days reminds me of our friends and

use year that God is using for such a time as this.

They had to make that difficult decision.

Should they stay in Asia are, or should they go back to Romania?

There's a lot of pressure to leave since all the other

missionaries were leaving too, and there's great risk in

staying for if they were to get sick.

There is no proper medical treatment or care in the area.

Now, Nisha is one of the poorest countries in the world and they

already struggle with food insecurities, but because of

this current situation, it's even worse.

People are getting so desperate that they're climbing, these

tall trees with these large Thorns just to pick the bitter

leaves. To feed to their family, so they

don't feel as hungry. Now.

Our friends were heartbroken by this, but they also saw an

opportunity to use your blessings, their connections,

their talents, and their resources to give relief and

restoration to those around them who are in need.

There are partnering with the Nigerian friend and they are

passing out. 55 pound bags of rice to these families.

Some of the biggest tragedies are being blessed and not

knowing the purpose of her blessings and also missing that

opportunity to give relief and restoration to those in need

around us because we are so focused on ourselves or so

focused on our own problems and our own lives, but Esther she

stepped up as a spiritual leader.

She wasn't a spiritual slacker. She put aside her needs her

fears, and her Ambitions and in doing.

So she said that entire nation. How many people could find

relief? And restoration, how many people

could find Hope? How many people could find

Jesus? If we step up to the call to

serve, even if it involves risk and sacrifice?

We are just like my friend and he's year and we are just like

Esther we two were made for such a time as this we're not going

to miss the blessings. We're not going to miss those

opportunities and we're not going to miss the call to serve.

There are so many ways. You can serve especially here at

real life. You can donate to the covid

relief fund, you can so masks, you can do the Hope boxes.

You can serve at Heart and Hand, you can donate blood, you could

donate to our friends in. As year, you could do something

as simple as Talking to your neighbors that you've lived next

to for years. And never said one word to

before in Romans 12 11 13. It says, never be lazy.

But work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically rejoice in our

confident. Hope be patient in trouble and

keep praying. When God's people are in need be

ready to help them. Always be eager to practice

Hospitality. We have no excuses to be

slacking off. Off.

Let's not be spiritual Slackers. What is it?

That may be keeping you from serving and keeping your focus

off of serving. Is it watching too much to

Netflix? Binge watching.

Tiger King anyone is it video games?

Is it wasting too much time on Tick-Tock?

Is it fear? What is it for you?

Let's step up as Leaders. Let's give generously, let's be

on fire for the church. Let's pray, fervently, and let's

serve at every opportunity. The offered.

If you need some ideas, I just gave you eight and don't wait

for someone else to step up and do this.

This is your time. And this is our time.

Let us be the spiritual leaders that you were made for such a

time. As this coronavirus.

You won't make us spiritual Slackers in this season.

Coronavirus. You won't defeat us with fear.

It was 2017. So only a few years ago, when a

therapist would later. Tell me that.

One of the one of any number of the things that were about to

happen, to me, would could impact somebody for the rest of

their life. It started off in the spring,

with a separation of my wife for 18 years.

By the time that it was over everything that I owned was

gone, including my house, my 401k, all my savings and even my

job that I ended up leaving and had been there for 20 years.

On top of the changes with my family and the losses.

There, my 16 year old daughter also passed away.

So there was moments during that time where Not only was It

difficult and hard to get through, but I wondered why

things weren't fair and what I could do to to fix it,

nightmares constantly. There was just uncertainty and

just lots of security that went with everything.

For the first time in my adult life.

I actually felt that I couldn't control anything happening to me

kind of like what's going on today, which is the the world is

putting a lot of craziness out there.

And a lot of things that we don't we just can't control and

your stuff just trying to do the best that you can.

Everything, pretty much sucked. I remember low points or what I

thought were the lowest points became high points and things.

Even got worse after that. I remember sitting at my work.

And getting another bill from the lawyer knowing that I

couldn't even pay. For a headstone from my kid.

And I thought, why am I even trying?

Not fair. I mean, what are you gonna do?

What's the point? I thought everything that I did

was right and pretty good and my friends would say.

Oh, it's okay, have faith, you know, you'll get through it.

I was sitting in a Pew on a Sunday and listening to the

Gathering message. And there was a verse that came

to my mind that I had heard first, when I was a kid in

Sunday School that said, when he calls out to me, I will answer

him. I will be with him in trouble.

I will rescue and honor him. Somewhere along the line.

I had forgot that through all the trouble and the Anxiousness

and anxiety I was going through but later that your god did

deliver a amazing incredible and God-fearing woman into my life.

That helped me become strong and she turned my prayers.

Actually. She turned my questions about

why me and what did I do to deserve it?

And how am I going to get through this?

And to thankfulness for what I did have and what I did

experience. A lifetime of church, our

lifetime going to church and still.

I needed to be reminded that God was with me and that it would be

okay. I needed to lean and Trust on

him today. I have, I can sense those same

feelings of anxiety and fear that I went through.

And some of those that I talked to whether it be in our life

groups, or just those that I interact with the Kaiser Family

Foundation actually said the report recently that 45 percent

of adults. Our have mentally are recognized

that they are negatively impacted mentally by what's

going on right now and 75% of them.

Think the worst is yet to come, anxiety, depression, suicide,

marriage, Strife, all those, those things reportedly On The

Rise that impact, our well-being, and our health.

And I'm sure that somewhere the devil's dancing over this just

like we was during my time. Fear is not more powerful than

God. The Bible remind us this as

well. And act 17:27.

When it says he is not far from any one of us and I think about

that with Believers and non-believers alike.

He's not far from any one of us being smart, safe and

responsible. As time goes on, doesn't mean we

have to be paralyzed with fear and there was a song that I

listen to a lot in 2017. That said, fear is a liar and

there's some lines from it that I think are very relevant.

He say when you told you, you're not strong enough.

To put up a good fight. When you told you you're not

worthy when he told you. You're not loved when he told

you. You're not beautiful that you'll

never be enough. When you told you, you could be

the one that Grace could never change.

He will rob your rest, steal your happiness, cast your fear

in the fire because fear he is a liar.

Everyday you persevere carry on and determine how you'll face.

Your fears will shape your future.

I think it's important for us to remember you're not alone.

You're not unloved and you're not defeated.

God's with you and fear. It's a liar.

One final verses phone Psalms 41 through three.

I waited patiently for the Lord. He turned to me and heard me

cry. He Lifted Me Out of the slimy

pit out of the mud and mire. He set my feet on a rock and

gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth.

A hymn of praise tour. A hymn of praise to our God.

Many will see and fear the lord and put their trust in him.

Do the same coronavirus. You're not going to defeat us

with fear. Coronavirus, you won't take away

my focus on God and His goodness.

I'm reading from John 16 Verse 33, where Jesus was talking to

John 16:33

his disciples and he said I've told you these things.

So that in me you may have peace in this world.

You will have trouble, but take heart, I have overcome the

world. Jesus warned his disciples of

things to come and he did that so that they could have peace

and be forewarned. You know, the old expression

says forewarned is forearmed trouble, will come friends, but

we, they could take heart because he overcame the world

for us. In the world, you're going to

have, you're going to get cut off in traffic in the world.

People are going to be mean in the world.

People are going to say things that might discourage you,

especially if you're young person trying to figure out your

life going to college that you have a dream.

Some people will say some mean things that might hurt you.

In fact, those people may be very close to you even in the

world. You're going to have people who

they say that hurt. People hurt other people, and

you're going to have Folks who are going to do some things, you

can have children, that there are go astray.

They don't respect their parents and parents are worried about

them. You're going to have loved ones,

who do some you know, strange things of walk away and you

can't talk to them no matter what you say.

They don't listen nothing seems to help but you know, we can

take heart in the fact that we have God.

We have God in Our Lives who comes and helps us and guides us

and leads us and we can come to him, you know, friends, if God.

Was a Fairytale yours, truly my wife, and I we'd be history

because I'm here to tell you that he was real in our lives,

you know, our journey started back in 1979 and by then we were

already. We were raised in the Catholic

church. We were raised in what they call

Boston, catechism in the east coast and that was different.

This is very different. We didn't understand about

reading the Bible for ourselves. We didn't know a lot about what

was available to us, when we On time and reading the Bible

walking. And talking with God though.

There were people that they tried to do a good job and

teaching us some things, but it was very regimental in our lives

very regimented. And it wasn't until later on in

our in our walk that we started to see that there was a God who

heard us that talked to us in many different ways.

He talked to us in situations. He opened doors where you know,

it seems like things weren't going to happen.

All of a sudden seems like things did you know and little

by little God was Being us through a path and I thank God,

you know, we my wife and I were talking about that the other

day. I thank God that together.

We heard from God. We saw God's word and

individually, we started growing in our Christian walk.

My wife started going to Bible study with a lady friend of

hers. One of our neighbors.

I started hearing the word from different sources or radio TV.

Again, this is back, you know, late 70s, early 80s when some of

these radio Ministries were starting to explode.

And so we heard a lot of God's word.

And we started going forward, and some of the things of God.

I remember my daughter was all about six years old.

I was a young dad, and I remember when she came to me,

and she was crying big tears in her eyes.

And I was, you know, it struck me.

And I was like, honey, what's wrong?

What's the matter? She came to me with her broken

and she came to me with her broken Barbie doll, you know,

for me, Dad. It was no big deal.

I just snap that head back on and there's nothing to it, but

you It's one of those, what they call, aha moments.

My daughter came to me with her Brokenness.

She came to dad with her broken and she trusted me that I would

help her with her problems. And the enormity of that moment

just hit me like a ton of bricks and I got to tell you, I started

crying and my wife came to me. She goes, what's wrong?

Everything? Okay, and I told her, I said

well. You know, I just had a God

moment. I just had an aha Revelation

about God's daddys love, you know, 2007.

The doctors came with the prognosis by then.

We have been Christians for a few years by then.

We saw a lot of wonderful things happen in a lot of lives

including our own. We saw God do Miracles.

We had seen Miracle healings. We didn't need a radio TV

minister to tell us about God's goodness and Miracle working

power. We seen it for ourselves.

We had experienced a lot of things, and I was kind of

frankly, when the Came and told me, he said, you know, you've

got prostate cancer and I got angry.

I actually got angry and I was yeah, I was scared, we were

scared, but I got to tell you that, you know, it came to a

point after a little bit of thinking and praying through

that. I realize I'm going to live

until I die. I made a decision.

I'm going to live until I die. And I've decided that I'm going

to make life work and gods going to help me or if I have to go

with God. If it's time, so So be it, I

realized that I and I understood its he's the author and the

finisher of our faith when he starts something.

He finishes it when Jesus hung on the cross and said it is

finished. His work was done hours began.

He's not looking for Our advice friends.

He's not looking for our Council.

He's looking for our cooperation when he says it's up to us.

Now. It's our move.

It's our move. And I got to tell you that, you

know, we need to not let coronavirus or anything else.

Be the focus of Our Lives. We need not let fear be the

focus of Our Lives. Coronavirus.

You won't take away. My you won't take away our focus

on God and His goodness. God bless.

Everybody give it up for everybody.

Just spoke man. What an incredible word.

There's so much leadership behind that made covid-19, man.

You won't stop us. Incredible message of Hope and

encouragement. And we do this on a prayer for

you guys and just ask God to bless this time and just lead

you into a God's constitute father come before you got.

Thank you so much God that this coronavirus is going to stop.

Our joy. Guy's not going to turn our

courage as I take our Focus away from your goodness and your

passion. So I can keep us from climbing.

The thanks in front of us here and push towards you.

You got one, I can be spiritual Slackers and be leaders in this

season. And Governor.

I can Paralyzed by fear of going to be full of Hope in this

season and want to talk to somebody right now is they're

praying, man. That is let the coronavirus stop

them in their tracks. Maybe you today been Paralyzed

by fear. Maybe you've let Satan take this

season little bit. Maybe you've been discouraged.

Maybe you just been living in fear of the future.

Maybe. Just forgot about the goodness

of God, in the season. But today, you know what?

I want to start of the things of God.

I'm not gonna stop me. I'm going to start the things.

God, if that's you down and pray for you today, right now,

father, come before you got to ask that, you just strengthen us

as the church gathered. Be the body of Christ be unified

together. Govern a cast-off, every weight

around us that slows us down for pursuing your mission.

Got are made for a season just like this.

You put us in this moment in time on purpose.

So God, we're thankful. We're full of joy.

Got thank you for the words of faith.

God. We're going to be moving

forward, on the faith of other people.

Got just encouraged today. Got that you're with us in this

season, and we're not going to slow down.

We're not. To shut up or not.

Going to stop doing the things for you because of the

coronavirus, got going to pursue you full on educating and

praying. I want to, I want to ask you

guys a question. Have you had an aha moment?

Like Victor talk about with Jesus?

The aha moment, you realize that God's grace is good, that he

loves you. That he's pursued you, maybe

today. You need the aha moment with

Jesus where he will. You have to relationship with

him. They know he's brought you and

he's formed you. He's purpose to you and he's

gifted you and today, maybe that moment is your day that you're

gonna have to Aha. Moment today with Jesus, who is

Jesus? Jesus is God's perfect son.

He sent here. He came to our world into our

coronavirus into this place, and he took upon all of our sin on

that cross. Bala says, he became sin for us

and is nailed to the cross. He became everything wrong in

our life. In exchange, all of his

goodness, for all of our wrongs. And now we have relationship

with him. The Bible says anybody calls on

name of Jesus will be saved and made new.

Maybe today is your aha moment. The Bible says today is the day

of salvation and so on. Encourage you, if you need

Jesus, if you need forgiveness, if you need faith, if you need a

joy, if you need strength, if you need to overcome this

season, you have best friend, your daddy that loves you today.

You can call them at Jesus and be saved and made new.

And so, if that's you today, you'll say yes to Jesus.

Then I would encourage you to pray this prayer with me today.

So father God, thank you so much for sending Jesus to die on the

cross. For me.

God. This is my aha moment.

I realized that made life on myself.

I've been stopped in my tracks and I'm focusing on all these

things arise with guys, Senior Week.

Story together and you sent your son Jesus died for me.

So God put my faith in you. Y'all want to follow?

You gotta leave me. I'll do this.

If you commit to go wherever you go and got, you can have my life

to take it and use it how you want to.

And I praise in Jesus name. Amen.

Come on, get it for every came to Christ Day.

Come on, show us some love. Give some hearts man, God's

using you guys six and six. Thank you so much for that word

of encouragement. And what an amazing day today,

man. That's a powerful morning and a

powerful word and prayer and that prayer that you just prayed

is not the end of a journey, but it is beginning.

Of a journey of your steps with Jesus and I want to encourage

you. If you've taken that step today

or in the recent future and the recent past, you can text me,

the recent future. I've got to stop, you're about

to pray that prayer the reason future upcoming but know you can

text RL next 297 000. That's going to connect you to

some amazing resources. Get you connected to the Bible

app. Get you started on that Journey

with Jesus. It's just an incredible way to

really dive in to that Journey with Jesus and I want to

encourage you. If you are.

New, or if you've been coming for a while and you haven't

gotten connecting our life groups.

This is your chance today is your day get online on our

website Real Life Church kc.com. Click on a group check it out.

You're not gonna want to miss out and you want to know why the

main thing about our life groups there.

So many reasons but our life groups are fun here at real

life. One of our core values is to

have fun and our groups do an incredible job doing that.

I was thinking back, like, in our group, we always start with

an icebreaker and it's come down to like random times where we

had to, you know, seeing Drops of Jupiter with Sean.

Sean. And, you know, rap battles, I

mean it's all about my size by group decreased.

After that. It was we just have fun laugh

together. I was talking with the leaders

of our empty nester group and they actually went out to eat at

the Jiggy Pig and everybody brought their lawn chairs, so

they could all sit six feet apart in a field and just

connect with each other eat dinner together from afar and

have fun, you know, our trivia night group always has a crazy

time of you know, whether or not I Mike is going to have a shirt

on or not. And what background?

He's gonna be at that day. They have so much fun.

Sounds crazy, but good thing Mike's a good looking guy, I

guess. So, it's a lot of fun though.

Me and every time I talk to some of our life group leaders.

They're just laughing their loving staying connected with

each other. Are, you know, parenting group

is like every time they let all those kids get on there on to

the zoo meeting. You never know what is going to

happen. They just crack up.

They have a great time getting together.

So I want to encourage you and this season that can be lonely,

can be distant. You want to take this

opportunity to connect to have fun.

I promise you, you're going to have a great time and you're not

going to regret getting connected to one of our groups.

Yeah, you saw theme today six and six over and over again.

I mean Carriere and Victor true. I mean everybody was pushing in

the same direction man who are doing life with a man.

Who's that voice? That brings you back to God.

Like Aaron talked about that your life group.

These are people who are doing life with, doesn't have your

spouse. I mean, mostly can be, but in

this season manage your life. Group is the voice of wisdom.

When a marriage is falling apart.

All these things around you and you have this pressure to pursue

God. Now, I think it's amazing.

So get in a group. It's incredible and you know

your car that actually I don't oh, Those people that you just

mentioned this talk to they are all life group leaders.

And so life, great leader. You really latched onto it.

One of them said, find their group online, enjoying it.

That's a good point. I like that.

She's tearing up. He'll encourage.

You guys also to be generous in the season.

I can't thank you enough. Your generosity is absolutely

mind-blowing in the season that we were kind of like, man,

what's going to happen and you guys have just done exceedingly

more than we ever thought or imagined in the season.

So thank you so much for your generosity.

O, say, thank you for the first time donors.

Thank you guys for faithful in the season even things are

unsure or they're not stable. Well, but you're like, hey,

look, I'm gonna give the thing that's given back to me.

I'm going to give the thing. This honoring God, and making a

difference in this season. This week.

We got to go out and do food distribution with heart and

hands. We have a blood drive.

We're doing in the near future on May 12th.

You guys be a part of that. We've got about 20 more slots to

fill and share this post, it and sign up and it makes a huge

difference. You can save three lives just by

donating blood we've got so much that's going on behind the

scenes. So many different things that

you guys are part of making a difference.

Every Single day in our community, people are being

changed. Only say, thank you for your,

thank you for generosity. I would encourage you guys are

three ways. You can give, you can give

online and reflectors kc.com. You can text any mouth, eight,

four, three, two, one, or you can send it by mail in this

season, man. Thank you guys so much for your

faithfulness. And your asset e-mail.

Let's worship God, one more time with the song.

Come on. Let's give him our best, man.

God gave us some gold today and we're going to get back to him.

Come on. Let's lift your hands and

praise. Let's give Jesus our best.

The the mound the fountain I drink from oh, he is my king of

my heart, be the shadow. The ransom for my light.

Oh, he is my son. You are good.

You are good. You are good.

You are good. You're good.

You are you're gonna be the wind inside my cells.

The air tanker in the way of my heart, be the far inside.

My veins, the end of my days, all he is my son.

Let the king of my heart be the wind inside my cells.

The a finger in the waves. All he is my son.

Let the king of my heart be the Fire Inside My Bed.

You do? You never gonna

You're never gonna learn. You Never Gonna Let Me Down,

You're Never Gonna Let You, Never Gonna Let Me Down.

You're never gonna learn. You're never gonna let me down.

Let me down with you. You know, me, don't let me down.

You're gonna, you know. I love that song.

It's a great reminder that God is never going to let us down,

no matter how we feel or what we're experiencing in a moment.

And just the, the messages today that the stories were just a

great reminder. We can't always choose our

circumstances, but we can choose our reaction to, and God has

called us to fight from Faith because we have a hope and that

hope has a name. That name is Jesus.

So if you find your spot your place and you need some help

today, I encourage you to text are all hope to 97,000.

We would love to extend some hope to you today.

So I want to encourage you don't turn the channel and Few short

moments. We're going to have a great real

life kids worship service and this isn't anything

second-class. This is something that kids can

worship Jesus and we love just to see your kids on social media

every week. So, everybody's invited hang

out. They have a message activities

that the kids will love. We would love to see you guys

there in a short moment, hang out with you guys in my group

this week. We can't wait to see you there.

And remember whoever finds Jesus discovers real life on purpose.