Weight Loss (Part 4)

The journalist look to the newscaster and say it. I never got started.

It sound like anybody here.

January first look truly exciting

you were going to make some changes. Things were going to change this year.

But I have to tell you. No matter what changes you want in your lies. No matter how much you want the best for you.

Nothing will happen until you start the process.

You cannot wish change in your life.

How even go a step further that that you can't just say, but Pastor I've been praying. For James says faith without works. Is dead.

You you you can talk about it, but until you make the changes. Until you commit cash. Nothing in your immediate world is going to change. You got to start. somewhere

I'm concluding this this sermon series weight loss recipe for success of that from Reading Hebrew as gracefully read each Sunday the portion of the text that I wanted us to focus on. Because I found four suggestions for living your best life in 2019.

But there are not brainstorms, but they are I think what all of us need to know if you want a better 2019 that is different from 2018. You're going to have to do some stuff that's different.

He's in there and you're going to have to do it for the long run.

Aren't you tired of just doing them diet for about three weeks and you share it maybe 2 hours and then you said which is next week.

when I read Hebrews chapter 12 great book of the Bible. It says for things in the air in those first three verses and I've been telling you this all week. It's the first one was you need to surround yourself with former contestants. And if you don't know that it means surround yourself with people who have done what you were trying to do. Do not do not take information from somebody who knows nothing about what you're trying to achieve. But I love them. They're such a good friend of mine. I love them and they just mean a lot to me. Don't listen to them about your friendship. You want somebody who has the experience?

New England Patriots do not want to get rid of belly check today. Yellow, no, no, no, no, no. No. No, you cannot get rid of Tom Brady. Not today. Not tomorrow. They might get somebody out. But not today. You're not going to bring somebody into the big game who does not know how to play the game now, that's what they say is against the LA Rams Rams ain't been in a Superbowl in about 16 years, but I do need you to know that just because you don't mean God is not going to raise you, but but but but but but but I think you should hear me. Stop saying you want to achieve this or that? And you keep going around May Sayers.

Find somebody who either has to do what you want to do or is doing. What you want to do? Secondly I said from these three versus there are some things you're going to have to reject. We as a people are normally Hoarders.

I know none of y'all but in other churches that some folks of Hoarders. And they keep their Buffet. I think Hebrews 12 said get rid of things thoughts or people who robbed you from making progress. I'ma say it again get rid of things and some of you got a problem with sayings. And those things are pulling you some of you are bombarded by thoughts. You wake up in the morning, and it's already a bad that you get up and it's bad.

How many you are surrounded by people who don't bring added value? to your life I like saying it but sometimes you got to get by.

What's the girl one? Bye Felicia?

It has a Pookie and there's a police you need to think about you either the Pookie or you need to say bye to Felicia. Bye Felicia because Felicia is not value your life Alicia. It's raining you always bumming off of you. Eventually. You ain't going to have nothing poopy ain't going to have nothing and poop will leave you. So it's best to cut the ties with Pookie and Felicia come outside with me poop Felicia this year.

barely You got to know how to run this race. I love this because just doing life. Will not bring you to a good solution. You do not reach. A success are win by doing it willy-nilly I don't care what it is. If you're going to achieve you've got to put all in.

You got to move away from that but it was a good thought. I think I wanted to be a cook that I don't want to be a cook. My wife wants me to be a good but I don't want to be a cook. I tell you over and over it if I get in the kitchen, I ain't going to do it wholeheartedly. I ain't going to touch raw meat. It just bothers me. I don't like battle on my hands it bothers me, but she wants to come in the kitchen and be with me. I'm coming and be with you, but I'm not going to touch that stuff. I'm just there's no reason for me to give her the impression that I'm really interested in it because I know.

You got to you got to know how to run your race and all I'm talking about is how to do life. My brothers and my sisters stop giving people permission to direct your life.

Some of you are allowing people to tell you how to beat a friend when to buy this when not to buy this where not to go a tell you. What to do let me tell you if you give people your your mind if you give them your heart do you not know they're never going to do what you want them to do with it. So you got to take control of your life and run your race not somebody else's. Don't do like willy-nilly. Set your eyesight on I'm going to run to prepare for this race. I'm going to get ready for life. I'm going to do the best life. I can't I will say this you do not just fall into a good life.

You don't. You don't fall. I say this you don't fall into a good relationship.

Turn around.

You don't fall into a good relationship. You want a better relationship? You can have to put the time in. I don't care how much you look at Jay-Z. What queen bee Beyonce? Oh, I want to be like Beyonce and Jay-Z.

You don't they didn't just wake Beyonce did just wake up queen bee. At what time did she went out on her own but you got to put the time in you got to build something with your life. You got to build a relationship that relationship does not just happen. I don't just trust somebody because they've been married for 10 years.

Now you need to see the fruit of their labor.

life is not about just doing it you if you pee.

Man, the things that you want you're going to have to get ready to endure the good and the bad. You must run the race with your eyes Focus. and then last I just want to add to this as we close this out not only much you run a good race. You must know what it is. You're running for. What are you looking to?

I love my wife and I don't mean to bash your butt cuz I love her and I'm not back and I ain't said nothing that I that you wouldn't let me say.

But but but I told you I don't go to bike ride with her. Got my wife rides about 3 miles an hour if you just got this, she just looked at her head look like a radar.

He just rides and pedals and look down the flowers and all behind it with your way. That's my wife, you know, so you ain't never going to get where you want to ride with her. So would you got somewhere to go don't ride with her, but if you got time to blow Dan ride with her. You're just like my friends. If you're going to run it, you're going to have your best raise your best life. You got to focus in on something. You got to know what the prize is. You got to know what you running for. You. Got to know what you're running to.

if not You won't get to where you really want to be. Focus hope this series have been on those for those four suggestions So I'm going to just going to wrap this up today. Show my age when I was growing up in the 50s in the 60s. There was a CBS. popular game show it was called to tell the truth.

Any of y'all remember that? To tell the truth. I think there's a virgin has come back now. What is called to tell the tree with call to tell the truth boy? We used to gather round black and white TV that little big TV with the long antennas on it. TV and you better not walk in front of the TV you can get

but we will watch to tell the truth in the temperature if it's about three Challengers who are introduced claiming to be the the central character. All three of them say they are that person typically ask the challengers who are standing side-by-side. What is your name? Each Challenger States for Tampa Bay all three of them. My name is Elvis Presley. Number to what's my name? Is Elvis Presley and then the third one would say?

Is Elvis Presley and the celebrity panelists? What will listen as they mean presented with a document about this Elvis Presley and once he's done the panelists get to ask each contestant some questions trying to determine if they are the real person. So at the end they all make that suggestion where they're all stay there almonds. Do you ask for one?

have Been given an active been given a chance to determine. Who are they? What is the host? Who brings home the best answer the best question once all the votes are in? the host will ask Will the real? And this situation Elvis Presley? please what is it stand up?

Addams Family the real Elvis Presley or the real central figure will stand up

I thought it was today.

Why would I share the story this morning?

Because I'm not sure.

By the way, we live. by the way, we Act That everybody knows who the real Jesus is.

I'm afraid. As I grow older.

Thinking about church in a different light than my own finiteness in my own role. I'm not all the way convinced that everybody who speaks about Jesus. nose Jesus

I want to show you some pictures of who we might think Jesus is number one Ray.

Y'all remember that Jesus? I grew up with that was in the Big Wall. It was about it was huge.

And what we walk into the church, we see that. And you get free.

Now y'all got to take into account. where I was raised I'm look at some about that simmer for a minute. I was raised in the Inner City. all black fitted

I was raised in a pot of Cincinnati where It was called Lincoln Heights. It was all black town all the churches of black all the people with black all the women with black men with black cats and black dogs.

Everything was black.

But when we went in the church.

Images that you can see is blue eyes.

So when we would praise and sang I grew up with that image. That that's Jesus. Even when I was in Africa, Debbie and I are going to welcome some other people from some other countries. I had to go to Kenya and I went into a orphanage with

Izumi's is dark black now, please but he's adapted to his natural condition. He's he's black. Yeah, see her when she say it, Y'all didn't hear that.

In in in the people of color racism knows I'm talking about African-American something about Haitians. I'm talking about Jamaicans. I'm talking about Brazilians, dammit. Ocala hello people who high yellow

You would get people who midday.

And then I had a free would you call him midnight? Because we coming all of them, shades.

But when wet when I grew up seeing this picture, that was the image. I was told this is what Jesus looks like. When we were in Sudan, I was at a orphanage and they had this picture with about seventy Sudanese orphans. And on the wall. That was a picture of this and this is our Lord. What are Rey's little heck about that? They probably won't have me back. I probably can't go back but I'm going if you show that picture to kids who are never going to. understand that There is a false pretense you may put up on them. I wasn't trying to be funny. I was just trying to show and then decided they had what they called The Holy Family they had a white male a white female and two little white kids. And I go they'll never grow up to look like that family.

This is how what race has done to us? Race has taught us that we are those who are of this. Pigmentation are better than this pigmentation. And so Michelangelo painted the first picture that we know of Jesus, so that's why we infect. Even today in this world. We think of Beauty from flowing from a European. What Miss America Miss Universe can never be someone of color? Because we often told people if you are color. You're not good enough. Don't be quiet. but when we look at what we thought Jesus must look like and I think about where he from

not just me, but we don't have no pictures. And so that was the first picture that many people grew up with in that Jesus. To let me show you. How are how else we should look at Jesus Jesus was this and when we talk about Calvary and we talk about the crucifixion. Do you see how nice that process is? I wish somebody would just open up the eyes is a nice cross. I'm big I'm big I'm being funny, but look how nice that do CrossFit. Again, that's deceptive. It's only make him to be pale.

I wish I was never a great band of of that movie by The Passion of Christ. I almost got pulled out of the Minnesota Association here because I had me into a crying grown man crying. when I think about his pay

show me pictures like this.

offended When I think about the cross when I think about crucifixion that does not come up to me that does not register. Supercross was not convenient. Norwood Jesus trying to make a physical statement Matter fact it was so it was so hideous that the scriptures write that for the joy. He did that but we don't see we don't see them really the totality of the power of the crucifix on race. We see race as dying at the cross. Oh y'all don't like that, but it's I saw that one does not that's me is how some people worship Jesus and I'm going maybe and then the third one.

Course we have to have us a black Jesus.

It's so that mess with my fee ology Brewing up. Because I had been trained to think of the white Jesus. And so even now when we talk about the black Jesus people get angry people get mad because they can hold it hold it. Hold it.

Let's bring it home yet, but noticed you don't show your kids black Santa Claus. There's a Reason by

little girls play with white dolls black dolls not colored dolls I need you to know the Insidious. power of sin and race We have brought the race into the church as if it is true that God has separated us by race. I need you to know you are not separated by a human, but we were broke my God by our diversity we are so do you you need that? It said I loved you in such a way. I made you the way you are you are you needing someone that Jesus? Many of us are stuck on these pictures. Yes, you are. I just want you to know where you can take that off cuz I wanted. He doesn't look like that nor does he look like one and what does he look like to and this may read some of you when you go home today? You won't have to take the bit by telling you what you see is a construct of a man, but what the writer of Hebrews says, let us fix our eyes on Jesus the author and the Perfecter of our faith. We must deal with the question. Who is the real Jesus we better deal with that who is the Jesus we must fix our eyes on I guess the question that's what gives it when you say I love Jesus when the person I love Jesus. He's my savior. What Jesus are you talkin about? My printer ran the best race in life. The writer says something has to be done with Jesus. I don't think the writer of Hebrews says in order to run this race. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus. Matter fact, I think you sent text me on Jesus. Does this mean that you need to choose picture number one? A picture number to a picture number three. I say no to all three of the pictures. I say the word sent me to look to under strict. At least it means maybe clearly took a look at something in your mind to think about it in the recesses of your soul.

When's the last time you thought about Jesus? other than today

everyone down the church so we can feel Jesus e

we want to feel Jesus.

I started coming to church and I love y'all and I know you you're cool people.

What you give yourself up for about 2 hours cuz you know passing might be wrong. When did they sing? You? Keep yourself up? I didn't have to leave I hate you cuz what about You want another just say stupid stuff to another it's as if Jesus is not with you.

Have you did you ask yourself this week how please it is my behavior to Jesus?

You don't answer.

somebody driving in front of you

That was your mother signs. But I don't need direct y'all this morning.

death of Jesus me today in my relationship How do I treat my spouse I treat my best friend? worker Timberland on Oprah First Baptist of Jesus The question in chapter 12. Why does he say fix your eyes on Jesus? When did you look in chapter 11. I read a chapter 11 of the book of Heroes Hebrews is often referred to as the book of Heroes and sheroes.

Why did Mariah sit instead of looking to Jesus? Why didn't he said let us fix our eyes on Adam?

Fix your eyes on it. Fix your eyes on Enoch Noah or Abraham Isaac, Jacob. Joseph are Gideon on checked up on David Perry or Samuel.

he say looking unto Jesus or fixing our eyes on Jesus the author and the Perfecter of our faith. Why didn't he say major characters of faith? He didn't. And if we want to ride it today. Why would why would some of us a why not fix our eyes on, Washington? 1 Lincoln are Kennedy Allegiant

Shirley Shirley Chisholm surely surely Miss parks Maybe Chavis maybe Conde. On all these great historical preaches fix your eyes on science. Set your eyes on technology. Fix your eyes on power. why don't we a picture of Education

my friends the writer in chapter 11 chapter 12 1 2 and 3 really throughout the last of the whole chapter of God says it's all about Jesus. The author and the Perfecter of our faith which simply means the Trailblazer. The Greek word for perfector is Trailblazer. The Greek word for author is Trailblazer the person who begins I would life. The real Jesus before y'all leave here. Is what is needed today?

We do not need a Jesus of compromise. A Jesus that can redeem nobody. We don't need a water down Jesus. Some of you have found saved it in a watered-down Jesus anything. I do will go. I don't have to be a committed. I don't have to be in my work. I don't have to be in the word of God. I don't have to go to church. I don't have to be a good neighbor. I don't water down Jesus Jesus a power to assemble because all of us, which is black because Jesus did not love everybody. I wish I had time to get ugly. Austin was chased the Harry called him a fox 1 days until I don't know good. That's what he's doing is wrong season does not love everybody in order to follow Jesus. Do what you just doing.

Yah, yah. Yah. Yah. Yah. Yah and coultas. Some of you are serving in them and importantly Jesus.

Because you have scholarly because you have academically formed in your head. You have made Jesus the way you need him.

That you've become Highly Educated. You become highly articulate. You become highly dipped in your careers. And so now you have formed a Jesus that will identify two you remember image Industries Tech. It opens up. Let us make man in our own image so that God makes Man In His Image what we've done to Jesus Jesus Jesus died because we want Jesus to do everything we can go over there. That's what you've done, but it may not need a real Jesus.

Finally, we made a cut and paste Jesus.

Can you cut and paste it wherever you want him to be?

We got a we want a Jesus who will fix our boo boos.

Jesus I'm hurting. They hurting me. Please Jesus get them.

We want a Jesus who? Kisses are boo-boos. It's brakes are human endeavors. It's RC. Scroll scroll who says what we need is the Jesus name by God himself as an infant. Jesus means the Lord saying somebody needs to say that you can't say Jesus and just walk away with it. Jesus name itself means Warren who sings warm through the Lord said, he's not my name don't mean that and that's the last I heard my name is David related in in in the land Isabel of one, but but but but but but I don't have a name that says I saved anybody I don't have a name that says I can fix I can help I can strip anybody. I may work for the church, but I don't have the power of the church. I'm a wonderful God but I don't have the power of God and they talked about Jesus but I don't have the power of Jesus. Jesus is the only one that says. Oh, I wish I had a witness when he's the only one who can save anybody from me. That's fine. commercial Jesus have saved people from some crazy stuff.

I was watching a Sunday morning this morning and appreciate it. There's the mayor of Leavenworth, Kansas Been something like in 15 years in prison. I hate you take a camera man down the street and he says to the camera man. He says you see all them houses right there. That's why I was so dope.

Cameron got it right on it. He says that house that house that house that house I sold dope. And so the cameraman say and today you the mayor. Leavenworth politician seeing go to jail

and now you a politician, you know what the guy said? He said it took me to go to jail to get right with God. I wish I had a witness here and it didn't want to walk bottom that Jesus came by Jesus chase me from selling drugs. I'm not trying to help them drugs.

Now y'all y'all y'all y'all still don't get it, but it says we need to Jesus. That means he says. That he alone has the credentials to offer atonement. He alone can jump over death. He alone can reconcile people to people and to God. Republicans and Democrats are nuts and data, but I'm just crazy and now the independent is that where we going to come and fix it. I don't care what part is I don't care who you put a human deliver. We have gotten to this place and somebody needs to have to question. What kind of wash me white as snow nothing but the wrong. I wish I had off win yesterday.

. Here here is where it comes to the Grits before y'all get out of here and you think I'm playing with you? What you ultimately got to deal with when it comes to Jesus is what do I do about my own sin?

You know what, you know, you don't have to ask yourself that. You get happy cool. Thank you Jesus.

We got to ask the question. What do I do about my sin?

It ain't Reggie is what did you do about you'll see.

You know. There are very few people who say they don't see and they may not use the term. Very few people will say the world is a prison perfect condition.

The world that you and I live in is filled with Brokenness. How do I know so because we violate each other daily?

We live in a world where it's okay to violate each other. The me-too movement is just a snippet of how powerful and how bad seed has gotten. We think the me-too movement is just now bring it to the Forefront that women for ages have been abused. Boys and girls, did it just start? They were abusing women in Jesus day. They were abusing women in Moses's day.

What is a tenuous that we have this great seeing dick? We are sold each other regularly.

animal go into detail

you didn't have to lie you could have went to the truth. But that's because you don't really feel that Jesus is real. Jesus is it really that come in that moment you can buy. We are people who are wrecked by Syd look at the wars we have. We could just fighting in Afghanistan, but that Wars all over this world constantly overpower somebody. Bixby

man, something is wrong with us. Just believe that we can smoke one another we can violate the each other. We contaminate the world supposed to take care of it. Genocide we killed thousands of people. Every time I see someone blowing up a truck that has explosive that killing groups of people. It kills me how powerful you don't even have to believe in God to Jesus, but I want you to answer me what makes us that way.

We are greeted people. greedy I'll take from you because I want it. That's the scene are human depravity. We must come to grips that we are a people of dreadful turmoil. I look at our relationship. I'm marriages have a boyfriend and girlfriend. I look at how we deal with each other. How bad Have We Become. And yet we come to church and smile, but you wouldn't you show me is you have told yourself that veggies. Are you sure there's not seeing you when you leave this place when I just stopped by to tell you that he's alive and doing well God is a type of person who sent his son not buy a postal Snail Bob 4 Photo, but Jesus is ever with us by his spirit and environment Spirits really learn how to deal with most recent iPhones. Consider what your face is based on. think about Who your Jesus is?

Ended life boys and girls you need more than Sunday love. Remember that song Sunday Monday Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday Friday. I'm sorry Google home with you. You need a Jesus who speaks into you. You need a Jesus all for Jesus in the morning when the sun is going down. You need a Jesus who can be referred to as a Healer because you cannot think you need her.

You need a Jesus who's bigger than your answers?

He's got to be bigger than my eyes and your answers. You see if our answers could fix us we be pretty good, huh?

I noticed that we have the smartest people over in this church. Y'all good. But I don't know found out you can't fix a whole lot of stuff. We need a Jesus we can meet you right where you are.

Broly statue the only thing we know about Jesus.

The only true thing we know about Jesus. comes from the New Testament

everything else that we read every commentary. every lexicon

every dictionary encyclopedia every greek. Latin German All of it is speaking about Jesus.

second nature It's all a conception of Jesus. The only way we read Jesus is from the first century Prophets. And disciples the first century disciples and Prophets and writers Matthew Luke and Mark and Peter Bartholomew Paul wrote in the first century about their initial contact with Jesus. That's why I said they were the witnesses to Jesus. Everybody else is second nature to anything else you're reading right now. I don't care what the title is It's only an idea about what the first century writers wrote. So if you want to know Jesus you stop going on here and they are going to this go back to the New Testament and began to read how it was born. Where was going who is Michael Woods? Who is Daddy Wants What It Did to keep left work in Black Ops with back in the revelations and he's coming back. That's all we know about Jesus and he said that until I come

The reason why you don't know the real Jesus cuz you don't know the New Testament.

How close

Stories told about a poor guy. Who needed a job?

You walk into the country. Came up on this farm and house. We went and knocked on the door. And he asked the farmer he says anyway you could do. Use a handyman. Reborns for sale

Okay. I said come on in and I'll give you a trial. So the first thing I told you. Oak hope for man was he said he'll got when I struck all the firewood packed it up. Got it done it record-breaking time.

Give you something else. So the farm without the man. I need you to plow the field. I don't have nobody to try to feel that I need to get it ready for planting it so I can do it Farm.

Pharmacyte Ellen accept me and I don't run up on a Superman. But it was the third test at the farm at Old Dominion. He said and final what is it? He took him into the barn and in the barn there was this large pile of potatoes. I told him and he's out what I want you to I want you to separate them into two piles. He said one time I want you to have it for the good potatoes. And in the other pile I wanted to be the bad potatoes. That's okay farmer left.

I will pass 2 hours pass. We always pad.

I got to go out here to this boy doing. He went out went into the barn and seen a man sitting in one pile and a bad pile. There was two potatoes. and a good pal There was three potatoes. boys that key to Palm off

you put that would make me sleep. You plant the field. And I give you a simple task of separating the good potatoes from the back tees. What's wrong? Why you moving so slow? man's face look defeated

begin to wipe his face shook his head He threw up his hands and reply to the farmer. It's the decisions in life. That are difficult. I want y'all to catch this. It ain't the things that we know how to do. Is the decisions? in life That are difficult. Shut up, you know how to do things. if you want to tell yourself, I know because I don't brothers and sisters did Jesus talk about in the decisions of life that are difficult that you do not have a preset answer that you do not know what the outcome is going to be that you're not sure if you make that decision how it's going to turn out the real Jesus had I'm with you. I will stay with you happy and no matter what time or goes I'm with you trust no decision, but trust higher Jesus is with you. You need a better Jesus a real Jesus. Stand up.

When you leave here today?

I hate to tell you you ain't leaving Jesus over here.

Jesus is not behind the pulpit even though he is.

When you walk out of that door. And get into your car.

Maybe you should tell yourself. Is that my buckle up?

Shirley kubica.

Okay, you buckle up.

Felicia you buckle up.

But then you need to say Jesus Jesus you try to go places on Friday and Saturday with Jesus can't go on you want to slide in the South with them green crosses over but you just can't go up if you want to go behind the back, but she just can't go I got news for you. I was right there for me like he's walking with you. He said he knows

Fix your eyes on Jesus.

Stop fooling yourself.

Imma, Do It My Way?

Diesel still there. I'ma fix it I'ma make it I'll start off like I started off until you start with Jesus. It ain't going right.

That's the best if you talking.

Nesta answers of the ages start off wrong this year.

And try to convince yourself you won't turn it around. If you could turn it around you would have turned around in 2018. Figured that out. If you going to turn it around Yoda done it and 17. Is it in my truck in with me? If you don't could have turned it around at that shoulder by 15? I know somebody looking at me, like I'm stupid if we could have turned it around when it took it to turn it around when the towers fell, you know, when the power came down we go. We don't get them. We don't tell them we don't get them when we still been trying to get them no matter what we do. We still hang out them.

Y'all better wake up. Freedom I said you better ask somebody.

if you could Change the trajectory of your life. You would have already done it.

But only Jesus can. And I'm not talk about pitching no more number one.

I don't know picture no more. You need more than picture no more. I'm at home. Picture number to go. Did you go to?

You need to Jesus when you don't no cross no more. Some of us we keep singing that start with music.

Shake Weight anymore Tina cross for those of you who need a color cross of Jesus.

I got afro. I need a Jesus with afro.

I need a Latino Jesus.

Jesus my friend is what you need is a heifer that Jesus Jesus who comes down and love me or text me up at eight times me around and it hurts my feet on Solid Rock. He called me that I'm his old friends of me.

commotion with me

you don't need a cute Jesus.

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith. I want you to walk out of here going. I need to start thinking about Jesus.

You do. If you were here today.