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[77.14 --> 79.40] that when we lose connection, |
[79.40 --> 82.02] faith fades. |
[85.24 --> 88.22] Perhaps you've heard of the theory |
[88.22 --> 89.98] that you can be connected |
[89.98 --> 92.22] to anybody on this planet |
[92.22 --> 95.46] by six social associations. |
[95.70 --> 96.54] You ever heard of that theory? |
[97.82 --> 99.28] By six steps, |
[99.46 --> 102.56] you could connect with anybody, |
[102.68 --> 103.72] even across the world, |
[103.86 --> 105.02] somebody you don't even know. |
[105.02 --> 107.78] So some time ago, |
[107.96 --> 111.16] a German newspaper wanted to test that theory. |
[112.74 --> 116.16] So they took a fellow by the name of Salah Bengali. |
[116.68 --> 119.32] He was an Iraqi immigrant living in Germany |
[119.32 --> 120.78] selling falafels. |
[122.38 --> 124.94] But Salah Bengali wanted to be connected |
[124.94 --> 126.42] to Marlon Brando. |
[126.54 --> 127.66] So the newspaper said, |
[127.76 --> 129.16] all right, we'll connect you. |
[129.16 --> 131.14] And they did. |
[131.88 --> 135.10] And they did it in six social steps. |
[135.28 --> 135.98] Here's how it went. |
[137.38 --> 140.70] Salah Bengali had a friend in California |
[140.70 --> 144.20] who works in the same company as Ken Carson. |
[144.86 --> 148.16] Ken Carson was the boyfriend of Michelle Bevan. |
[149.06 --> 151.52] Michelle Bevan was the sorority sister |
[151.52 --> 152.82] to Christina Kutzer. |
[153.34 --> 156.70] Christina Kutzer was the daughter of Patrick Palmer, |
[156.70 --> 159.30] the producer of Don Juan DeMarco, |
[159.42 --> 162.62] the movie in which Marlon Brando starred. |
[164.02 --> 165.46] In six steps, |
[166.24 --> 168.02] Salah Bengali, Iraqi immigrant, |
[168.32 --> 170.42] was connected to Marlon Brando. |
[171.70 --> 174.72] Unfortunately, Marlon Brando never returned |
[174.72 --> 176.80] any of Salah Bengali's calls. |
[178.10 --> 179.70] Now, you might understand that |
[179.70 --> 182.34] because all of these social associations |
[182.34 --> 185.20] seem rather flimsy, in fact. |
[185.20 --> 187.66] And so you go, well, that's not surprising. |
[187.92 --> 188.26] Why? |
[188.82 --> 191.38] Why would Marlon Brando pay attention? |
[192.66 --> 194.86] And yet, a lot of times, |
[195.22 --> 199.86] that's how we depend on our connection to God. |
[200.16 --> 203.24] Simply by easy social associations. |
[204.12 --> 206.12] I mean, going to church can even be |
[206.12 --> 208.98] that kind of easy social association. |
[209.22 --> 210.22] Am I connected to God? |
[210.36 --> 211.72] Yeah, I went to church on Sunday. |
[211.72 --> 215.72] Or, I'm connected to God. |
[216.12 --> 218.30] I watched the service on TV. |
[221.50 --> 223.14] In chapter 5, |
[223.52 --> 224.78] James offers, |
[225.10 --> 226.68] at the conclusion of his letter, |
[227.40 --> 229.76] James, after instructing the people |
[229.76 --> 232.48] on integrating their faith |
[232.48 --> 235.20] with the entirety of their lives, |
[235.20 --> 237.62] then at the end of his letter, |
[238.00 --> 241.20] James concludes with two ways |
[241.20 --> 244.44] in which we need to stay connected to God. |
[244.58 --> 248.58] And those two ways serve as roots |
[248.58 --> 252.24] that build a bridge to God. |
[252.24 --> 256.90] The first that James talks about |
[256.90 --> 260.68] is learning to live in the light of eternity. |
[263.02 --> 265.70] And so James writes, |
[266.74 --> 268.18] at the end of his letter, |
[268.84 --> 270.82] James chapter 5, verse 7 and 8, |
[270.82 --> 297.62] It's amazing encouragement, really. |
[297.62 --> 302.08] Amazing encouragement even for us in this time. |
[302.76 --> 304.58] The Christians to whom James was writing |
[304.58 --> 308.08] were confronting and facing |
[308.08 --> 310.18] a lot of trial and hardship. |
[312.98 --> 316.64] And so we find ourselves in new circumstances as well |
[316.64 --> 317.18] that we say, |
[317.34 --> 319.72] Wow, life hasn't been this difficult for us |
[319.72 --> 321.62] in a long time, or if ever. |
[321.62 --> 324.64] And in a sense, |
[325.06 --> 326.92] what James is doing here |
[326.92 --> 328.44] at the end of his letter |
[328.44 --> 330.64] is returning to the beginning of his letter |
[330.64 --> 332.84] where he makes this outrageous statement. |
[332.98 --> 334.42] This is how he begins his letter. |
[334.54 --> 334.94] He says, |
[335.58 --> 337.38] Consider it pure joy, |
[337.46 --> 338.54] my brothers and sisters, |
[340.18 --> 342.60] whenever you face trials of many kinds. |
[343.26 --> 344.38] Whatever we're facing, |
[345.16 --> 346.92] consider it pure joy |
[346.92 --> 350.30] because it strengthens our faith |
[350.30 --> 352.20] through that perseverance |
[352.20 --> 353.28] that is required, |
[353.50 --> 357.24] that kind of prevailing with God |
[357.24 --> 358.98] to pursue faith. |
[362.18 --> 364.56] Our connection with God |
[364.56 --> 366.98] is sustained then |
[366.98 --> 369.40] not by our circumstances, |
[370.04 --> 372.02] which is why James can say, |
[372.22 --> 373.66] consider it pure joy |
[373.66 --> 375.10] in the midst of any hardship |
[375.10 --> 376.36] that you face. |
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