Biblical History Of The U.S. Government and Wounded Tiger

Where you hear from ordinary people instilled with an extraordinary passion together we explore the stories of men and women who love God, passion, kingdom pursuits now live your host more welcome to kingdom pursuits. God takes your passion and uses it to further his kingdom had no this isn't Robbie Gilmore. In case you couldn't tell, and I'm just I'm just going to ask Keith. I can hear myself keep them ion the Keith you there gait anyway and ion keys.

Just check in. Okay welcome, and Robbie is out this weekend and I am an alt and guesthouse. Even Robbie Delmore.

Robbie will be back next week with his riddles, ponds and inspiration. I'm sure you all know that Robbie Gilmore also has a show before this show called Christian car guy and I'm blessed to be part of the Christian car guy theater. Yes, it's really amazing in terms of being faithful in the little guy gives you power of a much in the spring of 2015, Robbie knew I done voices for adventures in Odyssey. So we stepped out in faith with just the two of us created Christian car guy theater in 2015 and we just finished the 44th episode of Christian car guy theater with this most amazingly wonderfully huge talented cast of actors and all of us volunteer, including myself, you know, is just I look at it as bouquets of gratitude to the Lord is just amazing. You know when we when we hear clear and obey God and step out in faith.

We go into what I call divine freefall and and when were faith on the little it's amazing God just can work wonders step-by-step.

He leads us all that old song which Monsanto you know we serve a God of impossible possibilities.

Ruth Graham said God will take care of the impossible is up to us to do the possible and the key I am. I'm fine anyways. Once you get that clear call from the Lord, and you have to sink it ethic. He batted through all the ups and downs but that's once you get that clear call you go into divine freefall and that is what I love about kingdom pursuits. I get so inspired by people on the show that I've heard who follow their passion their cough in the Lord and they don't give up. That's so important and I have two guests today who will be sharing their kingdom pursuits.

The first guest is going to be John priest and he works with the ministry among many other things that he had and I had a chance to talk in the studio before we went on and just marvelous things that he is doing and so he works at the ministry club called wall builders and my second guest will be Martyn Bennett who is the author of this marvelous book in future movie called wounded tiger. But let me tell you about John priest my first guest who is he is chaplain himself with Gideons, but he also works with wall builders and this ministry really inspires me because I have an ancestor who came over on the Mayflower. Stephen Hopkins and my mother and her sister were both members of the DAR daughters of the American Revolution, so that I think a little that's in my blood to the fact that wall builders is a national profamily organization that presents America's forgotten history and heroes with an emphasis on our moral, religious, and constitutional heritage really thrills me and I know David Barton was the founder of wall builders and I guess his son Timothy Barton is now president taking of the gauntlet and we have John priest to tell us more about how this marvelous ministry began an upcoming wall builders events May 27, 2019 in Lexington, North Carolina. Welcome John priest.

This is really a privilege to be here. You know is truly humbling to hear your kind words but also to recognize the fact that Jesus came here with the ministry to save the least, the last of the lost pieces all who speak my name, the Lord Jesus Christ will be saved. We recognize the fact that Jesus did not come to condemn the world with the worldwide be saved and therefore we look for opportunities just to promote this gospel in any humble and outgoing way that we possibly can. I know I know and and just from what you told me before we we went on the air notice to some of the things you've done in the past is just amazing how God like me. I came out new age and got saved in New York City in 1974 and you're a New Yorker we used to do Broadway stuff and all that and look how God has just taken both of our lives in channel the gifts he's given each of us you know in his ministry.

I bet you're a fun chaplain, you know, first of all, God will speak to lease the listing along similar circumstance. If I can sure just a bit of my testimony is that New Year's Eve 1983 I was actually at mass and a priest was quoting from Luke and he was quoting the Lord's prayer was most revealing that night as I listened know to God our father. Holy forgive trespasses. Thy kingdom forever and ever.

So we serve an eternal God is creator. He's our father is not my father's not your father.

He's available to all of us.

So the Holy Spirit spoke to my heart and said what if he's our father, then you must have something in common with other believers thought, but how do I know that I'm a believer. If there's an eternal kingdom and God said asked me in your heart and I'll do the rest so humbly that night. The priesthood no idea he wasn't preaching about how the Holy Spirit just open my heart said listen if you'll have me, I'll have you for the rest your life. So from that moment on.

It's never been easy, but has been extremely rewarding. I can tell you that I wouldn't do anything differently than look for every opportunity to tell people about Jesus Christ our Lord. And now I hear you and got doesn't God just open it. We were talking that when my faith a little.

He opens up most amazing doors and then working all things are good.

I member that old saying if you're confused.

Think how the enemy feels in out and having it's like he has plans and he takes is the circuitous routes that drive you nuts. And then you know one of the things about having the privilege of promoting wall builders because in all honesty we're here right now and have been voided. Tim Barton, the CEO, Chief Executive Officer of wall builders who come and join us for two days and so I was actually sharing the gospel with our minute side seating.

I'm a chaplain there and one of the folks who get to share the gospel and we were talking about our nation is one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all yeah and I've been reading in Deuteronomy and Exodus and then Ecclesiastes as I'm reading these passages I began to understand that our nation truly was built by folks. Another Bible chapter in verse is a matter of fact our congressman used to meet for up to three hours before they convened to hammer out the details. The premium amble to go over our Bill of Rights and to establish and writer Constitution. So as I go talking about this Mr. sized took me aside and said hey priest, one should take a look at wall builders.

I said or love to you said you know about them.

I said no but as I got into wall builders are beginning to understand David Barton and Tim Barton are about one item in one element our nation has a strong biblical history behind it and that's what we are promoting well. I mean, I'm so impressed with this and I can only imagine that wall built builders is an organization that in recent years has been seriously attacked and undermined, to say the least.

Right. I mean I can't even imagine. That's how you know you're in ministry gathers your confirmation. Yeah. Oh yes, there yet it's getting worse but did the Lord warned us about that while you know absolute because Jesus Christ himself, you know, in Luke 23 to 3939 through 43.

He's hanging on the cross yeah and he's actually attacked and denied and blasphemed by a man on the cross next to him in the tomb and Nexium are both criminals. Jesus was found guilty for a crime he didn't commit, but absolutely he meets the needs and the very last minute for the last breath for that man. He is saying to him, man blessings, Jesus says really are the Christ, save yourself from down from his cross's offices. Jesus serve this. Jesus responds this very day you amen and we'll come back and hear more about all know there is John talking with John priest, who is a chaplain for Gideons, but he is also representative of wall builders, which is founded by David Barton and is now the his son Tim Barton is is the president that John and I were talking about how God has his ways of humbling us is that the trip is about a brother, but we would decide about George Washington you have a great quote here but tell tell them what you you just said so tomb Barton actually describes the passion of George Washington for our Lord and Savior and George is a young soldier with the British are fighting the French and Indian to keep our nation together in Washington is approached 10 times by the chief of the Indian tribe who is very capable of exact securing death when he's accurate.

The man is dead, but Washington survives Canada champs Turnbull is Grace's hair is called two of his horses were killed but never Washington and finally the great Indian word chief is quoted as saying I stopped trying to kill Washington because it was clear that the great Spirit has protected him. Praise God is an amazing and I remember a quote that Washington said Congress.

And that's what we have to say today with like this ministry, but wall builders ministry as you said, Gideon or Evan everything every it in every which way that we can know make Jesus Christ down because Washington said Congress is anybody there. Does anybody care and folks, we have got a care in these last days, we are entering a time as never before in this country and all all we can do is fast and pray and turn this country managed George Washington said in accord with what was so accurately stated by George Washington. We believe that the propitious favorable smiles of Heaven can never be expected on a nation which disregards the eternal rules of order and right which Heaven itself has ordained and wall builders is doing that and you are doing and we are all doing that those of us that take that take the chance to pray outside clinics at all is that all the sort of thing. You name not tell me, tell me about wall builders and tell me about the two events coming out her May 27 that are well first of all, so I have two organization side seating and Faith Church of Midway and by the way, both have websites. Faith Church of Midway.com and passion for business.org and you can see the event so May 26 were going to have Mr. Tim Barton, CEO, and proclaim the biblical history of our US government at our 10:15 AM service and our 6 PM service in its Faith Church of Midway on the corner of Gumtree and chauffeur roads as Northern Davidson County and by the way, we absolutely uphold God's perfect word Faith Church it is holy. It stayed it's true it's infallible and secondly were going to go second way with this at side seating or have a little bit of a festival.

So about 7 AM will be opening the gate, and there will be a variety of Christian vendors. Christian missionaries grow program Christian business people were there.

We will have a veteran colorguard were going to have the Heath brothers young recording artists out of Thomasville come and sing the national anthem and the Mr. Tim Barton is going to tell us again. The biblical history of our US government affect I want to quote second Chronicles 7 if my people, which are get called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land and we are so tired of Christians being told where we can't pray and where we can't take Bibles right where we can express our faith in the fact of the matter is our founding fathers gave their very lives. Yes, our congressmen and senators and those wrote the Constitution paid for their own travel, transportation and lodging as a nation we absolutely have the opportunity to speak up. This is our way to say look come to Faith Church on May 26 at 1015 and 6 PM and hear the gospel here. The biblical history of our country come to side seating breather after 7 AM on the 27th Memorial Day. Listen you'll have your morning and you be so filled and sold in impasse for this and also Diana Nelson in the second grade in 1962. Remember my second grade teacher Mrs. Richardson saying to me, John. We can no longer pray in public school and I remember 1973. Being a senior Bishop blood in high school in Syracuse, New York that Roe versus Wade was past. These are lies from the pit of hell.

This is a matter of fact we as Christians today have every opportunity to stand up but so many of us just don't know our biblical history. Our founding fathers sacrificed and serviced and did it out of the love for the Bible so that we could be, and still are one nation under God liberty with justice for all. So side seating and Faith Church are going to step out in faith were inviting the public to come to these events. May 26 1015 and 6 PM at Faith Church of Midway Gumtree and chauffeur roads in Midway and then side seating 1010 American Way, Lexington, NC, and at 7 AM and please come bring a lawn chair will have food for time for picnics after the seven they have the morning they inspired. I love it and wanted to give because nobody's good and have been able to write down all that sure but give a good source from which they at the website for weld all builders or any other thing that you're so wall builders live has their own website a while builders.net.org.com pastors for business.org is available for the information side seating in Faith Church of Midway.com has the detail information and we have flyers up in the community and the flowers are also posted with video on our websites. That's Faith Church of the middle of Midway. Yes that's in Midway North Carolina right and that Lexington Iowa is one of the Kentucky is Lexington North North Carolina North Carolina just send in wall builders wall builders.com is that is that there is a website that will be on there to but it's so worth we have to do it. I agree so much with that you're saying John is that we've got to take a stand. We gotta stop being you know such pathetic. You know the cowards. Basically it and and I so admire those that go in and pray in on front of these abortion clinics and so on and and but take back America and and sadly the younger people that are being raised in these universities and and schools are just that. God bless and are just ignorant and I was when I was younger you know so you know something, and this is probably close with this about the fact of the matter is that we don't have to be afraid yeah absolutely, America is still built on those that believe that Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior. Our Judeo-Christian heritage is still very much alive today and their people to believe it but the fact of the matters we have to go the next level and understand what our biblical Constitution, 53% of the company. 91% of our Constitution is based on Bible verses and 52/53. The ruptured of the representatives signed the Constitution new Jesus Christ praise God, I mean we cannot forget that we have to we have to not be shy about taking back our country, the Christ. It you know all we can describe as try cry and try I mean it. It is, and we have to you know we have to do it we have to give it our all we have to wherever God has placed each of us is just as you were saying he's he has been he has me in a certain place now. I'm a nanny and he had known of the Lord is so is like we do it we must that he places us in the most unusual circumstances. To do that but we can't take a stand.

So guys if you can wall those.com go on that site and find out these these these events coming up and and also the wet the church again Faith Church of Midway.com and pastors are business.org in wall builders.org is also available. And here's the thing you know, actually it is enjoying the privilege to be called a Christian today and as long as we know and understand the Jesus suffered, he said in this world you have tribulation, so what is the gospel. Yeah, we have every opportunity. We are commanded not suggested not prefer we are commanded to go ensure the gospel.

How will people know unless they hear and I will do here unless we tell we wanted to soak it in like a sponge. Shame on us. We have this opportunity were so grateful for the Truth Network for these organizations.

Stepping up to the plate to let us know as Christians, we have a strong, proud heritage, and we have every opportunity to stand on their faith in Jesus Christ, amen, I say thank you. John praised and be sure to go to these events may 27th of a walk for a while, builders, and so on, and I am now going to go to my next guest. The know before you. Usually John and and thank you so much you have been so inspiring wishing.

It has been a blessing. I can tell you and I pray God's anointing over these events and that it'll just and go out about people you know make your ear. Each of us. It counts in a we each of us counts, so we will have voter registration side seating. There will have a variety of community services so that Christians can know and understand or something they can do with this knowledge.

As a result of attending side seating in Faith Church and hearing wall builders live. Praise God, thank you, John visited so much and now I would like to introduce my friend Martin then at least will get in on it that the the beginning of the for the beginning of the next to after the next break. Thanks, John and I met Martin through a mutual friend on Facebook. In 2011 when I found out that Martin had been the right-hand man of one of my heroes Keith Green in the last days ministry. I really wanted to talk to him and then I was thrilled when I heard he had a screenplay for a Japanese film because I also had a screenplay for Japanese-American film in both of our films are based on Christian true stories was such a thrill to talk to a kindred spirit who not only was a strong Christian, but also had a burden for Japan, and a passion for his project in Martin. Let me read a screenplay. I was honestly and totally enthralled with this true story. The script is stunning.

The subsequent book was just also amazing and I do not exaggerate.

In fact, before I officially entered his Martin I'm going to and I want introduce them to the next segment that IIIV knew what well-known authors speak of Ravi Zacharias · Mark you'll hear about it. On the other side says stay tuned. You will be so inspired by Martin Bennetts amazing testimony and one is kingdom and I was just telling you about Martin Bennett in his marvelous book called wounded tiger and I'm just about to read Ravi Zacharias and what he had to say that Martin's book and I can tell you just for my own personal experience it stunning and it is such I'm not just gushing, it's true.

It's amazing, but Ravi said wounded tiger is an amazing, enthralling story of how the once obscure lives of an Oregon farmhand and a young coed intersected with a Japanese pilot who led the attack on Pearl Harbor with cultural insight and deep pathos. Martin Bennett brings to life is powerful true chronicle of hatred surrender and transformation wounded tiger and reveals how ordinary lives lived out faithfully to their calling can impact the destiny of a people and an Haitian. I wholeheartedly recommend Martin's work and no that you will find it equally compelling. So without further ado. Finally, welcome Martin Bennett I know. And so we got kinda off to a rough start in terms of getting on the phone and that is that is are bad, but there are a whatever that I'm just so glad to be talking to you and and I just want to hear all about all things wounded tiger.

How did you come across it. Why you spend so much time on it. Tell tell us to journey because as a friend. I have seen you, Martin plow through the moat. Though the ups and downs in a talk about going through it to get to it like no one.

I honestly have never known really like true stories. I gravitated true stories I read biographies and registered where the law required me and as time went on I came across a story of its roof, which you know the guy who lit the attack on Pearl Harbor. He was hand-picked by Adm. Yamamoto. Probably the most famous commander of the Japanese Navy and I knew a lot of history and a lot of World War II stuff and being a Christian.

I heard a lot of tremendous testimonies but I never heard a single word about this guy.

Sorry I came across a used book from a defunct publisher about his life and I had very low expectations because I figured it just about bones, planes and ships and then somewhere before he goes to church becomes a Christian like that. So as I started going through this book.

It was nothing like that whatsoever. And I thought oh my goodness, this would make an incredible film and who would be very broadly appealing.

It's extremely interesting. I'd already spent years of researching and writing out another screenplay on the life of a man who was in the transmitter slave trade could've died. On many occasions it actually was in chains in Africa among Blacks is a white man in chains as a slave in Africa could've died, nobody would ever hurt him. Ultimately he wrote the most recorded sewing history. Of course, which is amazing Grace should elect John Newton. So having done research and uncompleted of feature-length screenplay. I knew what I was looking for source I was going through the store up at all.

Whoa… This would be tremendous if the Lord are you telling me you want to do the filming or is that what you're telling me before I could really get the words out of my mouth and I just felt listed get it done Martin do it very tough.

Yeah so I spent three years on research. My read thousands of pages I went to Japan. I met with some of the world's leading experts.

I want to family members attend a screenplay went through several versions finally going to answer some film people who wanted to option it knows really excited. This only three years after I began it and I thought all great work and was gonna be a problem was, as you know, an actor and screenwriters will if you option your screenplay. They take full creative control to do anything they want with that they could put Bozo the clown and that she can take the word Jesus and turn it into a higher power to see this that when I tried to get a fellow who is in a Christian university to do places that he said I love the script. He said if you take out the gospel problem so I declined the offer and the guy was very professional and he was not pushy. I respect your decision. I understand. But you taken the hoarder through the roof so I have an entertainment attorney was a believer going Hollywood for 30+ years, and he said you go to put together a development fund in order to make attachments of producer director, actors make a budget and then once that packaging of those attachments then you can bring to the bigger investors, etc. promise. It takes money to do that. So in the meantime looking for potential investors for the film. I decided to take a screenplay novelist book form.

Figure and a lot of people would prefer the book of things you can do about you can't do a film thing to do a film In the book had not written a book before I read on long material on how to write a book, but I have natural knack for so I I had that I couldn't do publishing deal. I did a kick starter thing with it than to the second edition.

That second edition was released on the 75th anniversary of the Pearl Harbor attack and I was interviewed by Dr. James Dobson on the show who is a World War II buff and then the book you know when to the top of the charts on Amazon.

I subsequently spoke of the year award is the highest five-star rating getting novel on Amazon least I can find in one number one bestseller status in four categories without exaggeration I dozens of people and see this is the most inspiring story I've ever read were to ever World War II story and things like that that sound like they just got over the top but the fact is I didn't create the story. I'm just telling the story. It is an astounding story of people who were not interested in faith or anything like that whatsoever have still love the story freckles which unit was not looking for God in any way. She and the so that's kind of the nuts and bolts of how I came across it but I'm I'm in talk now with four potential investors who could come on board, but we really want to get the first round in looking for $3 million. Once we have that will launch a national campaign this year in the United States and then a book campaign in Japan in 2020 with a book translated into Japanese because the summer 2020 will be the 75th anniversary of the end of the Pacific works also one 2020 Summer Olympics will be hosted in Tokyo Japan will have the eyes, ears and attention of the world with the folks on Japanese culture and history to be perfect time to bring the story and I've already gotten feedback from people in Japan. Both believers and especially nonbelievers who read the book and make thought it was fantastic. They loved it and really cannot wait to see the film is seriously the best.

It is the most magnificent piece when I I first met the screenplay and you know before I got into the book is even published the book at that point that I just was so enthralled and now what about Japanese nationals.

They lost the war. Why would they be interested? Tired through the Japanese lost the war there. Shame-based culture so things that are shameful. They don't even talk about. I met with a couple of people purchasing their English and they want to volunteer, and sorry I met with these two men are in their 30s businessmen here in the Nashville area and they want to practice during this course I want ask them questions but Japan so we hung up about two hours really great time together before the questions I asked him and was heard this before but I want to confirm from the mouth of someone who actually grew up in Japan.

I said when you studied World War II in your textbook.

How much material did you read in this one guy. He kind of smiled, shook his head and hung his head and he looked up at me and he said to pages two pages so the fact is they don't talk about, but the story wanted Tiger is not a story of shame is story of friendship between Japan and the United States soaked Skype which unit who was highly anti-American live detective Pearl Harbor and killed thousands of innocent people over the course of his career in the war.

Once things started changing and those other two stores of the sky in in Oregon named Jake to Caesar and this young lady named Peggy Covell. These other two plot lines are running parallel computer but there's nothing do with it finally comes together in a way that is just was fiction, it wouldn't work because the odds would be millions to well I happen to some nasal for the Japanese people. It's not a condemnation of them. I just tell the story as poorly as possible.

Japanese people and low side. Every person I think right now but you nationals mean this to a $0.10 more than I vented about his book and marvelous screenplay and book wounded Tiger before I the fully get out of time here in this last segment I want to make sure that people can know where they can get you book anyone can get the book it wanted Tiger.com sample chapters. There is more quote for people who endorse story can also get on Amazon. It's available in hardcover and on Kindle yes and what is the website wounded Tiger.com that's an easy and what what what about the things I want to get into how things are in terms of the film. By the way any of you out there because you just never know who's going to be listening to this and I know I sound enthusiastic I am basically an enthusiastic, optimistic, encouraging type person. But I'll tell you something.

This is the most amazing amazing story, and so well done and so he worked so hard on it is just I know it's all God's timing his time his way. But if you know anybody point them to wounded Tiger who might be a bring up a subject that will descriptions and film in general.

Yes, it's kind of sad to me that when people who say they do not believe in God we trust in themselves they do films that cost 50 $200 million.

Every week a film like that comes out and people who say they believe in the creator of the universe that Christians can only do movies across three to $5 million. Anything over that just can't be done. Got a email from a guy who was connected to a very wealthy guy and he just told me flat out Martin is impossible for any Christian to do a large film. It just can't be done why these root like the 12 spies who were sent to the prom and the said yet the great land but there's joints there. The walls acute that will never get in and Caleb and Joshua don't say that if God says go go and get gas so people who believe it can't be done, they will not do it. The people say no, we actually can do this. They are going to get it done the course, you can review people on the show because many people, both Christians and non-Christians, there's a way to make a bridge across the Bay of San Francisco and people said it could not be done ahead in business and know it can be done. Let's go and do it. So what's been interesting and again sadly interesting is people who are not believers in the film industry who read wounded Tiger told me point blank Martin is the tremendous film that got to be done, you're still in no probably will want to show it to Christians. They start scratch that head and man, no, no, no, this is this is way way way too big. You gotta think small you think tiny, you think, how can we make a DVD. We consulted Sunday school classes to get on my goodness this is more than on lines of Ben Hur and his is a epic film is broadly appealing a good many many people who hate religion don't go to church.

Read the story and some of told me with tears in eyes, they were deeply impacted by the story and they really really enjoyed it. They want to see it is the film so yeah so the first run is $3 million of had three different firms offer to put up money.

The last one want to put up the $425 million, but they wanted full creative control and they want to bring in some very far leftist producers who it would've been a train wreck and it wasn't a temptation to me, but all it displays people understand commercial films.

Yet this thing is actually going to make money we be look at 400 million to 800 million+ the range of we expect the film to gross in the international box office, but I need that first run a $3 million to light the match to get the kindling going and then how it all to God I now honestly I think God has created you with such determined spirit. I know it's wearying. Believe me I know that you know when you feel you had a call for so long, but I know God. I know God is going to get this movie done and it wills it will affect so many people so what it what's happening in 2020. I know you you closely don't have that much time but I just want to get in early in the program and 20 20th anniversary of the end of the Pacific war right we want to get the book out in Japan and Japanese. During that summer. It's also the Summer Olympics will be hosted in Japan, but this year I'm I'm focusing on a book campaign to launch the book United States first fall of this year to get a big of a charge when I was speaking with some people who specialize in book distribution Japan. They said hey listen American books just don't do very well in Japan, but this book has potential to do really great because it features a very very famous Japanese national I said so what we need to do to get this book really big in Japan.

He said it simple. Make it big in America.

It'll be big in Japan they like Levi's chocolate and a Coca-Cola enough to work yet. We love Japanese food, so it will work, but I need for another person to come on and on. The first round yes and definitely you know he may have been dishonored in their eyes in terms of the World War II missiles with cheetah that he that his transformation and that in itself is so stunning again.

I keep using that word and I only have about one minute last Martin that I'll tell you I know you can get this made and I would ask an appeal to the folks out there. I saw hang onto your own dream. Keep going, but I think yeah. Please pray for Mark Bennett wounded Tiger know anybody point them to my banking life something and thank you, my and my adventures alive on my website is hi HI from the sky, encouraging prayer, God offers to talk with him anytime about anything urgent prayer.

Dr. James is selling many other books on prayer provides weekly site help you learn to love and now urging. Talk about a tough topic.

That's what I think it may encourage you and that is how do you handle on answered prayers and a lot of us have struggled with James. I mean where you want to start with that you Robbie. I thought we would start with something you sometimes hear people say when prayers aren't answered and that is God always answers prayer. But sometimes the answer is no way. It's not always yes. So do you dream well you could probably tell by the way, I was thinking not exactly inferior yes, but it's a little bit too need of a box and God doesn't fit into our boxes.

For example, why is the answer. No, because of sinfulness in my life and I repent know be changed to a yes you see that happening in the Bible or, yes look entirely different than we thought would use you got to, for example, when Lazarus was sick and the family asked Jesus to come and then he didn't admin Jesus raised Lazarus from the dad's families prayers were answered.

Not not just in the way they thought it would be so that answer wasn't just wait you know it was also no minute with yes because God was doing something entirely new, something entirely creative. Some folks this is starting to sound more complicated. But what I hear you saying is that God is limited to our way of doing things.

That's right, you know what one of the problems with yes or no overweight explanation for the way God answers prayers is that it leaves out a very important thing and that is relationship.

We shouldn't just see prayer is this formulaic yes or no kind of thing. Relationship is huge.

That's really true.

I can think about the times I've prayed about something and nothing in the situation changed but my heart changed because I'm in a relationship with Jesus and he gave me his peace. Help me to see things in a holding way.

That's one of the most beautiful things about prayer. It really is that whole relational aspect is so vital like I was moved by something or in first Samuel this past week.it had just told Samuel that he was sorry that he had made Saul king is one of six it just jumped out at me. Nothing interesting phrase in its own right. You see it in Samuel 1510, but the next verse 1511 says Samuel was so deeply moved when he heard this, that he cried out to the Lord all night while I mean really see the relationship there that looks like Samuel was asking God to keep Saul his kingdom really look that way to me but of course, nothing changed and got it rejected Saul, but there is Samuel crying out to got all night long and in what that shows me is that you and I can still go to God and were heartbroken and the answers don't come the way we want them to an end that shows us that God himself is the best answer to prayer. That's an interesting way to put it so what you're saying is that our relationship with God or with God really matters more than anything else right yes it's a way of keeping things in perspective, especially when other answers don't seem to come. We can run to God and cry out to him. Samuel did you know so many of the things that we pray about will one day be in the rearview mirror, so to speak, but God is forever in our relationship with him through Jesus is the greatest gift of all we need to keep our hearts and minds there. Stayed on that if you will and and and that's not always easy but that's how we can stay at peace with the world around us seems to be falling apart. I think of Job's words that are quite difficult, but it says you know in the Old Testament, though he slay me, yet I will trust him right and again there is relationship that you see right there that relationship matters more than life itself.

I mean it is life right now. Absolutely it is.

It absolutely is James. I really appreciate this because I think of so many people who haven't seen her prayers answered and the way they're hoping it became a real hardship in their relationship with God.

We've all been in that place where we ask why and where we can imagine what God is up to her why is allowed something to occur and are not denying any of that what you're saying is that God is more than the measure of the things that are happening to us, whether they're good or bad exactly right. And I want to say that carefully and tenderly, especially for the person who is hurting, or who's lost someone close to them.

Sometimes there just aren't easy answers. Again, like yes or no, overweight, and in all we can do is his fall at his feet and cry out to him or just cry with him on the night you know I I have to believe that sometimes heaven weeps with the beautiful thing is that he meets us there and that raw and difficult place. Indeed the ultimate example of this is is Jesus, when he when he cried out from the cross, my God, my God, why have you forsaken me what he's actually doing there is quoting the Psalm is quoting Psalm 22 right in and if you read that song from beginning to end. You see, it's absolutely prophetic about Jesus crucifixion describe someone who is thirsty and whose hands and feet are being pierced someone who's who, suffering, and afflicted.

But then it says God listens to him. You know God hears his cry in the way it ends takes my breath away and it it ends with a statement about generations being told about God and serving him, and then it says for he has done it. I mean, that sounds like it's finished Jesus last word from the cross.

That's exactly what I think of so here's the powerful thing. You and I can run to Jesus no matter what our situation and know that he gets sesame think of Jesus Lazarus to Jesus wept.

He understands even when we ask why, if he's been there. He's been in that place, and if we run to him. He has promised us he will never turn us away and he is risen and he is forever because he is he will lift us to him, and nothing will take us out of his hand. Thank you James, let's wrap this thing up with a prayer like that.

I think we are so grateful for so much bigger than the situation some things and that we can climb in your arms through prayer and relationship, and then maybe like Samuel spend all night crying out to you with the, the answer really is the relationship with you, Lord, I pray that you would grow that relationship with us to where we could be like Joe though we feel slave we can trust you. Knowing that you're doing all things working together for those of you called your purpose and we ask this in Jesus name, amen to hear more from Pastor James by visiting the website James Banks.org or by visiting these churches in Durham, North Carolina