Harvest with Pastor Greg Laurie

Greg Laurie - A Rush of Hope (Part 1)

February 6, 2025 | S25:E32

Join Pastor Greg Laurie for a time of encouragement, worship, and Bible study.

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Harvest with Pastor Greg Laurie | Greg Laurie - A Rush of Hope (Part 1) | February 6, 2025

...
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Greg laurie: hey, i'm greg laurie,
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And welcome to a special edition of "harvest, greg laurie."
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We're gonna show you what we call a cinematic crusade
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That we titled "a rush of hope."
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♪ this is the day, ♪
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♪ the day when life begins. ♪
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♪ this is the day, ♪
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♪ the day when life begins. ♪♪
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♪♪♪
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Greg: our life is like a movie.
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It has a beginning middle, and end,
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Full of surprises, the twists and turns,
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The storm clouds of darkness--
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♪♪♪
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Greg: --but beauty and light still exists.
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We all have questions about this movie that we're in.
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Is this movie a tragedy?
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Is it a love story?
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Is it a comedy, even?
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Greg: do we win in the end?
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I'm greg laurie, and my story has followed all the plot twists
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Of the greatest movies.
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We see ourselves in these stories.
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I'm gonna take you on a journey through three incredible movies.
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You'll hear from some of my favorite artists.
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So join me as we explore the meaning of life
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And what happens after we die.
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We all need a rush of hope.
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Greg: mass unemployment, a pandemic, social unrest.
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It seems like hatred is at an all-time high,
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And you might ask, "has it ever been like this before?"
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♪♪♪
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Greg: the bible says, "there's nothing new
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Under the sun."
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Racism, anger, frustration, division, hatred,
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It's always been with us.
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So what is the answer?
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A close parallel to our time was in the late '60s,
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Early '70s, and the epicenter of racial tension was alabama.
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Schools were using forced busing.
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The governor called for segregation.
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The students and football team of woodlawn high school,
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They were at each other's throats.
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But something unusual happened: god showed up.
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Not only did it bring the team together,
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They started winning games too, and a star was born.
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Male: coach, i don't know what your players
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Are playing with, but i've never seen a team play like that.
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Greg: the coach was very suspicious of his players
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Getting religion, but the more he observed,
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The more he realized that their lives have been changed by god.
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Racial divides came down.
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They were coming together.
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They were a family.
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That coach realized it was because of the newfound
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Faith of his football team that this happened.
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Tandy gerelds: can i say a few words, please, sir?
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Preacher: come on in.
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Tandy: i wanted to come here today because my team,
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Almost my entire team, they gave themselves to love,
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A love that began to conquer hatred.
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But i want--i want whatever my players have.
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I believe, and i wanna be baptized.
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♪♪♪
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Greg: ultimately, the whole town was moved,
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And people prayed together even before football games.
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A spiritual awakening had started in the epicenter of
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Racial unrest, and guess what?
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That's what happens when god shows up.
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We need god to show up in america right now.
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We need to talk to each other.
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We need to forgive each other.
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We need to pray for each other.
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Our country is at a crossroads, and what we need right now
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Is a rush of hope.
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♪♪♪
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♪ this is for the busted hearts. ♪
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♪ this is for the question marks. ♪
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♪ this for the outcast soul, lost control, no one knows. ♪
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♪ sing it for the can't-go-back. ♪
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♪ sing it for the broken past. ♪
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♪ sing it for the just founds out, life is now upside down. ♪
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♪ if you're looking for hope tonight, ♪
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♪ raise your hand and if you feeling ♪
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♪ alone and don't understand. ♪
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♪ if you're fighting in the fight of your life, ♪
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♪ then stand. ♪
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♪ we're gonna make it through this hand in hand. ♪
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♪ and if we fall, we will fall together. ♪
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♪ together. ♪
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♪ male: tori kelly, everyone. ♪
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♪ oh, this is for the second chance. ♪
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♪ this is for the new romance. ♪
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♪ sing it for the loved in vain, overcame, ♪
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♪ it's not too late. ♪
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♪ if you're looking for hope tonight, raise your hand. ♪
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♪ if you feeling alone and don't understand. ♪
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♪ if you're fighting in the fight of your life, ♪
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♪ then stand. ♪
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♪ we're gonna make it through this hand in hand. ♪
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♪ oh, if we fall, we will fall together. ♪
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♪ together. ♪
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Male: help me stand.
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♪ and when we rise, we will rise together. ♪
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♪ we will rise together. ♪
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♪ together. ♪
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♪ together we are dangerous. ♪
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♪ together with our differences, ♪
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♪ together, we are bolder, braver, stronger. ♪♪
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♪♪♪
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Greg: you know, hope, it seems to be in short supply
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These days, doesn't it?
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A famous cardiologist wrote these words,
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Quote, "hope is the medicine i use more than any other.
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Hope can cure nearly anything" end quote.
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Let me ask you a question: do you find yourself without hope
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For your life, for your future?
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It's been said that man can live 40 days without food,
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About 3 days without water, about 8 minutes without air,
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But only 1 second without hope.
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I have hope for the nation.
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I have hope for our world, and i have hope for you.
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Let me tell you another story now about a boy
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Who had no hope at all.
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Young bart millard was a dreamer.
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And so often is the case, he retreated to his imaginary
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World to escape the one he was born into,
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But his father, arthur, was an angry, abusive man.
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Arthur millard's personal dreams of being a successful football
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Player had been shattered, and he didn't want young bart
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To have any dreams of his own.
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Add to this, the fact that bart's mother walked out on him.
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Little bart millard was left alone with his abusive father.
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Bart millard: mama, mama? where's mama?
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Arthur millard: she's gone. bart: gone where?
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Arthur: she ran off. she ain't coming back.
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Just you and me now.
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Bart: when will she be back?
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Arthur: i told you, she run off.
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She don't want me no more, and she don't want you neither.
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Bart: what did you do?
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Arthur: are you bowin' up on me, boy?
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Bart: you hurt her, didn't you?
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You hurt her like you hurt me!
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Arthur: hey, listen!
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That's what i did--nothing!
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She didn't leave because of me.
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Bart: i'm sorry, mom! what did i do?
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Take me. mom, please, no!
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Greg: despite his father's discouragement,
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Bart never stopped dreaming.
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He left home and fulfilled his personal aspirations to become
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A professional musician and formed
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A successful band called mercyme.
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♪ trace your steps to where you were before. ♪♪
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Greg: it had been years since bart had seen his dad,
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So he decided to return home for a visit.
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Unbeknownst to bart, arthur millard had his life
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Dramatically changed and was trying to make things right
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With his son, bart, and he knew he had hurt so badly.
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Arthur: if god can forgive everybody else,
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Why can't he forgive me?
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Bart: god can forgive you. i can't.
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I can't believe i came back here.
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Arthur: can't you give me a chance?
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Bart: no!
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You just gotta give up on that dream, dad,
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'cause it keeps you from this, from knowing what's real.
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♪♪♪
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Greg: as bart tried to drive away,
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He suddenly realized what had happened to his dad.
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Arthur millard was dying of cancer and wanted
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To make things right with his son.
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It was time for bart to forgive and show some compassion
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To a broken man.
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♪♪♪
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Arthur: i was listening bart.
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I was listening to you on the radio 'cause you'd sing
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And i'd listen to every word, and son,
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You'd finish, and then i'd listen to what they were
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Talking about there at church.
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That's what saved me.
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I was real proud of you, was real proud.
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And you, you have a gift, real gift.
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Go chase your dream, and i want you to catch it.
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♪♪♪
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Bart: all i--all i ever wanted was my dad to change.
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You know, it's, i think, all i've ever wanted
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Was his approval and just to be proud of me,
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Even as a kid.
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But you know, you can only be hurt so many times,
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And so to get in that moment to see change taking place,
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It was like, "i don't buy it, i don't buy,"
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'cause, just, i had my guard up, you know?
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And like, i'm not sitting here because
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Of somebody's amazing sermon.
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I'm here because, like, i knew beyond a shadow of a doubt
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There's no way that my dad can be changed.
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Like, that was a part of my life,
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That it's, just, this is the way that it is,
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And i need to survive.
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And i know there are people out there that think the same thing:
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"well, you don't know my situation.
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There's no way.
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Like, i've written it off like there's no hope
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And that god's never gonna intervene."
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And what's crazy is, the moment that he does,
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You will never, ever, ever be the same.
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No matter how people try to convince you otherwise,
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It becomes unwavering and once i'd realize that,
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Yes, my father is truly transforming from a monster
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Into the dad and the man that i've always wanted him to
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Become, man, it sunk in, in a huge way, to where it's still
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The man and father that i wanna be when i grow up,
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I guess.
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Greg: bart said, "i guess i grew up thinking that,
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If the gospel could change that guy,
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It could change anybody.
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There was no denying it.
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Bart described his story as a rush of hope,
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And bart wrote a song about it, called "i could only imagine."
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Bar: this is for my dad.
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♪♪♪
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♪ i can only imagine ♪
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♪ what it will be like when i walk by your side. ♪
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♪ i can only imagine what my eyes will see ♪
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♪ when your face is before me. ♪
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♪ i can only imagine. ♪
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♪♪♪
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♪ surrounded by your glory, what will my heart feel? ♪
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♪ will i dance for you, jesus, or in awe of you, be still? ♪
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♪ will i stand in your presence, or to my knees, will i fall? ♪
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♪ will i sing hallelujah, will i be able to speak at all? ♪
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♪ i can only imagine. ♪
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♪ i can only imagine. ♪
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♪ i can only imagine when that day comes, ♪
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♪ and i find myself standing in the sun. ♪
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♪ i can only imagine when all i will do is forever, ♪
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♪ forever worship you. ♪
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♪ i can only imagine, yeah. ♪
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♪ i can only imagine. ♪
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♪ surrounded by your glory, what will my heart feel? ♪
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♪ will i dance for you, jesus, or in awe of you be still? ♪
00:16:31.213 --> 00:16:37.152
♪ will i stand in your presence, or to my knees, will i fall? ♪
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♪ will i sing hallelujah? ♪
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♪ will i be able to speak at all? ♪
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♪ i can only imagine, yeah. ♪
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♪ i can only imagine, yeah. ♪
00:16:54.803 --> 00:17:01.577
♪ surrounded by your glory, what will my heart feel? ♪
00:17:01.577 --> 00:17:07.182
♪ will i dance for you, jesus, or in awe of you, be still? ♪
00:17:07.182 --> 00:17:13.255
♪ will i stand in your presence, or to my knees, will i fall? ♪
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♪ will i sing hallelujah? ♪
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♪ will i be able to speak at all? ♪
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♪ i can only imagine, yeah. ♪
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♪ i can only imagine, yeah, yeah. ♪
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♪ i can only imagine, yeah-yeah. ♪
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♪ i can only imagine. ♪
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♪ i can only imagine, yeah. ♪
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♪ i can only imagine. ♪
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♪ i can only imagine when all i will do is forever, ♪
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♪ forever worship you. ♪
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♪ i can only imagine. ♪
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♪♪♪
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Greg: so i have one more story to tell you.
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This one's a love story.
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Two young people found each other,
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And their names were jeremy and melissa.
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Melissa was at a concert when she first laid her eyes
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On the man she would marry.
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♪♪♪
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Greg: and it was love at first sight,
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Especially when jeremy pulled out his guitar
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And began to sing.
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♪ we didn't count on suffering. ♪
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♪ we didn't count on pain. ♪♪
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Greg: melissa knew, "this is the one," for her.
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♪♪♪
00:19:24.186 --> 00:19:30.559
Greg: and if the story ended here,
00:19:30.559 --> 00:19:32.060
It would be just perfect like a fairy tale,
00:19:32.060 --> 00:19:34.630
And they lived happily ever after.
00:19:34.630 --> 00:19:39.401
Melissa camp: ready? jeremy camp: yeah.
00:19:39.401 --> 00:19:40.769
Melissa: okay, one, two, three.
00:19:40.769 --> 00:19:50.812
Greg: but life is not a fairy tale, is it?
00:19:52.514 --> 00:19:54.750
Tragically, melissa found out that she had cancer.
00:19:54.750 --> 00:19:57.419
♪♪♪
00:19:57.419 --> 00:20:06.495
Melissa: if one person's life is changed
00:20:06.495 --> 00:20:09.164
By what i go through, it'll all be worth it.
00:20:09.164 --> 00:20:15.304
Greg: with faith in god, melissa and jeremy
00:20:15.304 --> 00:20:17.839
Fought it together, and they believed that god would heal
00:20:17.839 --> 00:20:20.642
Her, but things sadly went from bad to worse.
00:20:20.642 --> 00:20:26.081
Jeremy: help.
00:20:26.081 --> 00:20:28.016
Somebody, help. somebody, help.
00:20:28.016 --> 00:20:30.919
Male: nurse will bring you a wheelchair.
00:20:30.919 --> 00:20:33.588
[heart monitor beeping]
00:20:33.588 --> 00:20:44.666
Greg: well, jeremy, at the age of 21,
00:20:48.537 --> 00:20:50.405
Your wife melissa went to heaven.
00:20:50.405 --> 00:20:53.575
She died tragically of cancer.
00:20:53.575 --> 00:20:56.478
And then, years after that, my son christopher died
00:20:56.478 --> 00:20:58.980
In an automobile accident.
00:20:58.980 --> 00:21:00.782
It connected us in a different way because,
00:21:00.782 --> 00:21:04.519
You know, we experienced tragedy firsthand,
00:21:04.519 --> 00:21:08.323
But the lord gave you this amazing song
00:21:08.323 --> 00:21:11.293
"i still believe," which has touched people
00:21:11.293 --> 00:21:13.862
Literally around the world.
00:21:13.862 --> 00:21:16.098
It's an amazing story of how god can work
00:21:16.098 --> 00:21:19.101
In the midst of tragedy.
00:21:19.101 --> 00:21:20.435
Jeremy: amen.
00:21:20.435 --> 00:21:21.770
Greg: jeremy, i know this is hard to talk about,
00:21:21.770 --> 00:21:23.705
But after melissa died, you went through a hard time
00:21:23.705 --> 00:21:27.109
Of depression, didn't you?
00:21:27.109 --> 00:21:28.443
Jeremy: yeah, i mean, reality was i actually thought
00:21:28.443 --> 00:21:31.380
For sure she was gonna be healed.
00:21:31.380 --> 00:21:35.183
Jeremy: i remember i prayed and prayed in this room
00:21:35.183 --> 00:21:40.122
For josh to be born healthy.
00:21:40.122 --> 00:21:44.826
It didn't happen.
00:21:44.826 --> 00:21:48.630
And you prayed for so long for your ministry--
00:21:48.630 --> 00:21:54.102
Still, nothing.
00:21:54.102 --> 00:21:55.904
Jeremy: and so i went through a time of,
00:21:55.904 --> 00:21:57.606
You know, really, even though i said i still believe,
00:21:57.606 --> 00:21:59.875
That still was there, but i still questioned,
00:21:59.875 --> 00:22:02.411
"god, are you good?
00:22:02.411 --> 00:22:03.912
God, do you care about me in that deep, intimate way?"
00:22:03.912 --> 00:22:08.784
Jeremy: dad, i begged god to heal melissa.
00:22:08.784 --> 00:22:16.858
What am i supposed to do with that?
00:22:16.858 --> 00:22:19.127
Jeremy: and so there was times i threw my bible across
00:22:19.127 --> 00:22:20.896
The room, times of just being angry and upset.
00:22:20.896 --> 00:22:24.099
It was reality because i really thought that god let me down.
00:22:24.099 --> 00:22:27.536
Tom camp: are you asking if josh's disabilities
00:22:27.536 --> 00:22:31.139
Were disappointing?
00:22:31.139 --> 00:22:34.009
Yes, they are.
00:22:34.009 --> 00:22:39.080
Did i have big dreams that didn't come true?
00:22:39.080 --> 00:22:41.516
Sure.
00:22:41.516 --> 00:22:45.921
Tom: do i understand why melissa isn't here anymore?
00:22:45.921 --> 00:22:52.327
No, son, i don't.
00:22:52.327 --> 00:22:57.799
Tom: i'm sorry. but i know my life is full.
00:22:57.799 --> 00:23:05.574
I feel rich, and i'm proud of this family.
00:23:05.574 --> 00:23:11.513
Honestly, at the time, i didn't agree with what you did.
00:23:11.513 --> 00:23:15.183
I didn't understand it.
00:23:15.183 --> 00:23:19.387
You chose willingly to walk into the fire with her,
00:23:19.387 --> 00:23:23.892
Right beside her, all the way till the end.
00:23:23.892 --> 00:23:28.864
But then, that's exactly what i would do for your mom
00:23:28.864 --> 00:23:33.068
And you boys.
00:23:33.068 --> 00:23:37.339
That's what love is.
00:23:37.339 --> 00:23:39.641
♪♪♪
00:23:39.641 --> 00:23:44.212
Tom: and i got to watch my son do that for his wife.
00:23:44.212 --> 00:23:51.753
That was a privilege.
00:23:51.753 --> 00:23:54.956
I don't know the answers to your questions,
00:23:54.956 --> 00:23:59.394
But i do know this: if my life is not full in spite of the
00:23:59.394 --> 00:24:05.066
Disappointments, it's full because of them.
00:24:05.066 --> 00:24:12.774
Jeremy: you know, what's amazing about the lord
00:24:12.774 --> 00:24:14.743
Is that he's so long-suffering because it wasn't
00:24:14.743 --> 00:24:17.445
Like he was sayin', "okay, get over it.
00:24:17.445 --> 00:24:19.548
I'm here. i'll take care of you."
00:24:19.548 --> 00:24:21.416
He met me where i was, and i felt like that every little step
00:24:21.416 --> 00:24:24.886
I took, if i didn't feel i could take a big step,
00:24:24.886 --> 00:24:27.689
I would take a little baby step.
00:24:27.689 --> 00:24:29.157
It's "i got you, i got you," and i think that,
00:24:29.157 --> 00:24:30.692
For me, you know, all the promises in god's word
00:24:30.692 --> 00:24:34.429
Became even more real to me.
00:24:34.429 --> 00:24:37.132
I think about melissa when she was in the hospital,
00:24:37.132 --> 00:24:40.068
And i walked in for the first time when we found out
00:24:40.068 --> 00:24:42.203
She had cancer, and she said to me, you know,
00:24:42.203 --> 00:24:44.973
"i've been sitting here thinking that,
00:24:44.973 --> 00:24:46.474
If my life affects one person, and one person's life
00:24:46.474 --> 00:24:50.011
Is changed because of what i go through if i die,
00:24:50.011 --> 00:24:52.681
It's all worth it."
00:24:52.681 --> 00:24:54.015
And you know, when i look at that and i think
00:24:54.015 --> 00:24:57.419
About how she can say that, it's because she knew jesus,
00:24:57.419 --> 00:25:00.655
And so she knew the assurance that she was gonna be in heaven
00:25:00.655 --> 00:25:03.625
So that, if her life can even lead one person to jesus,
00:25:03.625 --> 00:25:06.695
It's all worth it.
00:25:06.695 --> 00:25:08.029
♪♪♪
00:25:08.029 --> 00:25:19.174
Greg: have you watched the news lately?
00:25:15.036 --> 00:25:20.709
It seems like the world is coming apart.
00:25:20.709 --> 00:25:23.578
War in the middle east, instability all around us.
00:25:23.578 --> 00:25:27.649
And i'm telling you right now, the bible predicted these things
00:25:27.649 --> 00:25:31.019
Would happen in the last days.
00:25:31.019 --> 00:25:32.954
But here's what you need to remember.
00:25:32.954 --> 00:25:34.723
Jesus said, "when you see these things begin to happen, look up
00:25:34.723 --> 00:25:38.960
For your redemption is drawing near."
00:25:38.960 --> 00:25:41.129
He didn't say, "freak out."
00:25:41.129 --> 00:25:42.530
He said, "look up."
00:25:42.530 --> 00:25:44.866
I want you to know that i've read the last page of the bible
00:25:44.933 --> 00:25:47.936
And we win in the end.
00:25:47.936 --> 00:25:49.671
We need hope in this crazy, hopeless world, in this world of
00:25:49.671 --> 00:25:53.608
Chaos and confusion.
00:25:53.608 --> 00:25:55.410
Jesus christ has everything you're looking for in a
00:25:55.410 --> 00:25:59.114
Relationship with him.
00:25:59.114 --> 00:26:01.516
I encourage you to call out to the lord and ask him to come
00:26:01.516 --> 00:26:05.253
Into your life.
00:26:05.253 --> 00:26:06.921
Let me send you at no charge, a bible to help you get started in
00:26:06.921 --> 00:26:11.660
Your new relationship with christ.
00:26:11.660 --> 00:26:16.164
Greg: hey, greg laurie here.
00:26:19.801 --> 00:26:21.136
As you probably know, we are being devastated in this state
00:26:21.136 --> 00:26:25.106
By a series of fires that are causing incredible damage.
00:26:25.106 --> 00:26:29.778
Power is out for thousands and thousands of people, people have
00:26:29.778 --> 00:26:33.381
Lost their home, thousands have been evacuated.
00:26:33.381 --> 00:26:36.885
Well, this is happening right in our backyard.
00:26:36.885 --> 00:26:39.220
Many of our people come from l.a.
00:26:39.220 --> 00:26:41.723
We have churches we've helped to plant up in los angeles as well,
00:26:41.723 --> 00:26:45.560
So we've established something called the harvest relief fund.
00:26:45.560 --> 00:26:49.597
If you would like to support our outreach efforts for those that
00:26:49.597 --> 00:26:53.401
Have been affected by these fires, just go to
00:26:53.401 --> 00:26:56.004
Harvest.org/relief.
00:26:56.004 --> 00:26:59.307
I'm reminded of the story of nehemiah, where the walls of
00:26:59.307 --> 00:27:02.444
Jerusalem were lying in charred rubble.
00:27:02.444 --> 00:27:05.480
Nehemiah came up with a plan, and they started to build, and
00:27:05.480 --> 00:27:09.651
That's what's gonna happen.
00:27:09.651 --> 00:27:11.386
Homes are gonna be rebuilt, but most importantly, we wanna see
00:27:11.386 --> 00:27:15.457
Lives rebuilt.
00:27:15.457 --> 00:27:17.125
Thank you for anything you can do.
00:27:17.125 --> 00:27:17.125

Greg Laurie - A Rush of Hope (Part 1)

February 6, 2025 | S25:E32

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