 Good afternoon pastor David. It is welcome everybody to unfiltered a random moment with pastor David Pastor today is a big day Tuesday, and it's marking the 41st anniversary of our church And you know pastor it there's some significance in my part because at one time and it's not where the church began Yet at one time You were hosting a study at my parents house Where it things from well even before that started to evolve to where? Calvary Chapel Chino Valley is at today, so for myself There's some significance Even though I probably can't remember a whole lot at six or you can't you're too busy. Yeah mess it around your own Six or so at that time. I can barely remember things at my age now It's a little but you know pastor 41 years, I mean that's a long time. So the 41 years, but how long have you been teaching the word of God? I tried to learn to teach God's word In 1973 in September, I believe of 1973 and so I started to Have Bible studies teaching Attempting to teach When I had just turned 23 years old so this upcoming September I'll celebrate 49 years of Trying to learn to communicate the word of God. I mean what if Though that many years and then coupled with the 41 years of our church's anniversary, you know Looking back at all those years. I mean some of the people that are watching probably aren't even 41 years old Looking back one of the scriptures that that pop up have there ever been times In the 41 years, and I'm sure there has been where discouragement has set in Yet when you look at the overall picture of but I'm doing what God has called me to do It overshadows that and you're able to continue because Jesus says something interesting in John chapter 6 verse 67 As he's people are starting to leave him because he was referencing The eating of my flesh and the drinking of my blood and people were like well getting weird and people started leaving And he turns to his disciples and says do you also want to leave? In all the 41 years that you've been ministering here at the church or shepherding our church I'm sure there's been many times where you've asked yourself the same question. Oh, there's I think in every minister's life There are always going to be times Maybe several maybe maybe one or two, but there will be times where they begin to question Whether or not it's time for them to just close the door and to move somewhere else. Yeah so I've had that kind of Excuse me that kind of question An internal question more than once here. Yeah, and and obviously you're still here So the internal question had always been answered by the Holy Spirit because it's what's driven you to be it would seem to be that There's only been a couple times That I have really considered Really one in particular that I've considered it may be time for me to to move on but it was for other ministry there was a church that was that had a pastor who resigned and This particular fellowship is You know in an area of memory and I we like, you know, we we were in the San Bernardino County, but my Times that I enjoy myself or in Orange County And so the church was opened up in Orange County It was a church that I've gone to and taught at that time many times and their senior pastor had Begun to resign his position and I was I was a board member and I knew that if I were to cast my hand into the ring That that church could have been handed to me. I knew that and That's the only time I ever felt a real sense of Dividing of my heart because I had gone so many times. I had developed relationships with the staff and Relationships with members of the church. I had taught there so often and It was it was a very healthy church It was a church that was in an area that Marie and I would have loved to lived in and that's the only time I've ever seriously Considered whether or not it was time for me to close the door here to move somewhere else, but obviously the spirit of the Lord did not lead me in that direction and so So we we remained here and so that would have been 15 plus years ago And so yeah, there are times when I have as a pastor. I've been given, you know a sense of You know whether or not I should leave for that kind of reason There have been other times when I have as a pastor. I felt that I'm I'm failing. I'm not succeeding in My call people leave for reasons John over the years I've had people leave our fellowship not because I was a bad bad teacher or because the church was in the loving place or Not because worship was just just not inspiring, but because people have lied about me and one person in particular made it a two-year project to destroy me and Hundreds of people from our fellowship believed his lie and That was a time when I started asking myself. Is it time for me to move on? because if these people are are believing these lies so easily then Then is it really worth it is it really worth Hurting so much is it really worth seeing my children go through so much. So so yeah, there have been times when I've had people who have Who have been used of the enemy kind of like when Paul said Alexander the coppersmith has done me much harm But he went on to save me the Lord reward him according to his words so I I've had my my my Periods, you know when people find another church down the road that they think is more appealing because it speaks to them In a different way or perhaps They're just tired of being here. Whatever. Yeah, you do begin to To think about it. I remember we saw about a thousand members leave In a very short period of time because I had asked the church to hold hands and pray before I teach And could you hold hands and pray after I teach that God will bring this About that will do these things and people left the church because they they didn't like praying with other people John I've seen so many things that would cause a lot of people to lose lose their heart in their ministry and and yet Those are things I've weathered in the Lord and learned lessons in the Lord and I've never lost my desire here to to cease teaching and caring for these sheep Covid had its made its way through here We we have seen quite a number of people over the last two and a half years or so succumb to Covid die In Covid related deaths. We've seen that we've as a church buried a number of people who died of Covid and and You know at one period of time you know this you were part of this people were coming into the parking lot on on Sunday during the closing down But I was here and Marie was here several of us including you were here on Sunday because in case somebody would come and need Ministry we were here for that, but I didn't put it on the internet. I didn't put it in social media I didn't have pictures of me standing in front, you know because some did you know look at me I'm here doing this and some boasting that that they've been faithful all along and have never closed their doors when in fact they had While we didn't make a big deal out of it, we just simply did what we do But I had people who were calling me one person in particular who spoke of the pastors in this area as being cowards Except for one who was very brave apparently But we had opened up the doors to this church a month before any other church was doing that We just didn't advertise it because I don't thumb my nose that authority at the same time I'm here to minister to the people who show up and that's what we did you were part of that I didn't put that or post that I just did it for the the honor of the Lord And you know that which is done in secret shall be rewarded openly I know the one who rewards and he rewards based on faithfulness, but then we have someone saying there's only one Brave pastor in the area on this and that and and those are the kinds of things That are the little fox that ruined the vine those are the little Comments that are are made to to to me and I have a lot of them over the years that would make you discouraged and say to yourself These these people are ungrateful. These these people are very difficult I've said it before sheep are not necessarily dangerous, but they have teeth and a lot of times they do bite but I'm still here because the Lord has never Told me it's time to go he will and when that day comes I purrfully will obey his leading and go the way he led me in he will also lead me out But until that day I want to remain faithful and I want to hear the the words well done my faithful servant and so 41 years today, you know We had our first Bible study and and 41 years later We're still going strong John and you look back across all those 41 years and and yes There's a times of difficult disappointments and difficulties but also of great joy and love and You know, what was that passage in this group in the Bible pastor? It says what are what are those scars on your arms? And it's from it's the wounds that I received in the house of my friends Yeah, every shepherd has wounds on their arms every shepherd will if you asked to see the forearm of a shepherd There are always wounds from from the the wolves and sometimes even from the sheep, you know, but I love what we do. I love the stories I hear of people whose lives have been transformed because of the gospel We've been here as said many years We've we've ministered to too many many multiple thousands of people over the years and And purrfully will continue doing so for a little while and pastor on it and really quick Where I'm at today as a result of our of the ministry here. Don't blame me I You know, I came out as there but people know I came out strong and I came here and it's And it's a result of this ministry. So pastor. Thank you. Have Calvary Chapel Chino Valley. Happy 41 years Pastor, thank you for being faithful to our our congregation for 41 years I mean if you were to put 40 well 41 years all the Bible studies I wonder how many hours that he multiple thousands many many thousands. I mean that's talking conferences Bible studies Wednesday, Sunday, Sunday nights. Yeah, you know, so well, thank you pastor And and we have a great reason to celebrate 41 years church family And thank you for being a part of our church family and and pastor Thank you so much from their church family to you. Thank you and Marie my joy our joy Yes, yes, and so thank you so much. I do want to invite you guys to come out for a Wednesday evening service Seven o'clock and and we invite you guys to come on out So come join us and we do look forward you to even join us on Sunday at 8 30 and 10 45 so thank you guys for tuning in God bless you and Happy 41st anniversary Calvary Chapel Chino Valley