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Abide_Sleep_Stories_-_Unchanging_Jesus(M4A_128K) · Abide Meditation App

• 0:16
  Speaker 1: Hello, and welcome to this sleep story from Abide. I'm Loneane.
• 0:23
  Speaker 1: Thanks for joining me tonight for the unchanging Jesus. Tonight,
• 0:30
  Speaker 1: you will travel to explore the tiny island of Malta
• 0:33
  Speaker 1: in the Mediterranean Sea that de seeped in biblical history.
• 0:39
  Speaker 1: As you see this country in the modern.
• 0:41
  Speaker 2: Day, you will.
• 0:43
  Speaker 1: Hear about the first century world experienced by the Apostle Paul.
• 0:50
  Speaker 1: As you see the world of the first century Christians
• 0:54
  Speaker 1: in the Apostle Paul, you will be reminded that all
• 0:58
  Speaker 1: the days turn slow into centuries. The words of Hebrews thirteen,
• 1:04
  Speaker 1: verse eight remain true throughout it all. Jesus Christ is
• 1:11
  Speaker 1: the same yesterday and today and forever. The same God
• 1:18
  Speaker 1: that the Apostle Paul worshiped and proclaimed wherever he went
• 1:23
  Speaker 1: is the same God that you worship today. And you
• 1:28
  Speaker 1: will be reminded of those days of old as you
• 1:31
  Speaker 1: walk the very cobblestone streets that Paul walked, all the
• 1:36
  Speaker 1: while experiencing the wonder of the beautiful island nation. This
• 1:45
  Speaker 1: country of Malta is one you've likely never heard of,
• 1:49
  Speaker 1: and were you to attempt to find it on a
• 1:51
  Speaker 1: digital map, you would have to zoom, zoom, and zoom
• 1:57
  Speaker 1: a little more before finally spotting it just south of Sicily,
• 2:03
  Speaker 1: right in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea. Your travel
• 2:10
  Speaker 1: is planned, meaning your experience would be much different than
• 2:14
  Speaker 1: the apostle Paul's, who once found himself on the island
• 2:18
  Speaker 1: unexpectedly after poor weather caused a shipwreck while he was
• 2:23
  Speaker 1: a prisoner on his way to Rome. But like Paul,
• 2:30
  Speaker 1: you will experience the kindness of the nation's people as
• 2:34
  Speaker 1: you remember the unchanging character of Jesus Christ and the
• 2:38
  Speaker 1: unfailing love of God. Before we begin our journey, first,
• 2:46
  Speaker 1: take a few minutes to prepare yourself for a good
• 2:50
  Speaker 1: night of sleep. Turn off your lights and climb into bed,
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  Speaker 1: finding a comfort double position in which to lie. Close
• 3:05
  Speaker 1: your eyes and let your head sink into the pillow,
• 3:09
  Speaker 1: and point and flex your toes, feeling the stretch in
• 3:14
  Speaker 1: your legs and loosening your muscles. Allow the stretch to
• 3:22
  Speaker 1: make its way through your whole body, up to your
• 3:26
  Speaker 1: shoulders and through your neck. Turn your head slightly back
• 3:35
  Speaker 1: and forth, sinking a little more into your pillow, allowing
• 3:42
  Speaker 1: the weight and pressure you have carried through the day
• 3:46
  Speaker 1: to dissipate. Now take a slow, deep breath, inhaling slowly
• 3:59
  Speaker 1: through your nose, in pausing a moment before exhaling slowly
• 4:05
  Speaker 1: through your mouth. Take a moment to acknowledge that this
• 4:12
  Speaker 1: day has come to a close. There is nothing more
• 4:17
  Speaker 1: for you to produce, nothing left for you to do
• 4:22
  Speaker 1: but to rest fully and the confidence that the Lord
• 4:25
  Speaker 1: your God is in control as we prepare to experience
• 4:33
  Speaker 1: the world of the Apostle. Paul rest in his words
• 4:39
  Speaker 1: inspired by the Holy Spirit in Philippians four, verses six
• 4:43
  Speaker 1: and seven, do not be anxious about anything, but in
• 4:49
  Speaker 1: everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving. Let your requests
• 4:55
  Speaker 1: be made known to God, and the peace of God,
• 5:00
  Speaker 1: which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds.
• 5:06
  Speaker 1: In Christ Jesus, surrender any anxieties from your day, any
• 5:14
  Speaker 1: worries or concerns, lay them at the feet of Jesus,
• 5:20
  Speaker 1: and receive the gift of rest. Tonight, take one more
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  Speaker 1: moment to reflect on your day and surrender both the
• 5:32
  Speaker 1: joys and struggles to your heavenly Father, who cares so
• 5:37
  Speaker 1: deeply for you. Let's pray, good and gracious God, our
• 5:49
  Speaker 1: loving Heavenly Father, thank you for this precious child of yours.
• 5:56
  Speaker 1: I know you love them so much and you are
• 6:00
  Speaker 1: so proud of them. Thank you for carrying them through
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  Speaker 1: another day, and for walking beside them through all of
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  Speaker 1: their joys and through each of their sorrows. I know
• 6:15
  Speaker 1: that as they lie down to sleep tonight, there is
• 6:19
  Speaker 1: likely much on their mind fighting for their attention, and
• 6:24
  Speaker 1: so I ask that you would give them the gift
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  Speaker 1: of peace tonight. Allow them to fully trust in you,
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  Speaker 1: embracing the gift of rest that you are giving them tonight.
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  Speaker 1: Remind them of your goodness and kindness. Let them feel
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  Speaker 1: the depths of your love and rest in that promise. Tonight, God,
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  Speaker 1: I give you thanks for the promise that Jesus Christ
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  Speaker 1: is the same. Yes, Yes, today and today and forever.
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  Speaker 1: Thank you that in Him we have salvation, comfort, and
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  Speaker 1: the truest friend. I pray that your beloved child would
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  Speaker 1: find rest in that friendship tonight as they sleep.
• 7:23
  Speaker 2: Amen.
• 7:28
  Speaker 1: Now take another deep breath, and get ready to experience
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  Speaker 1: the wonder of a present day country seeped in biblical history,
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  Speaker 1: a place where you can walk where the apostle Paul walked,
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  Speaker 1: and see how a tiny island nation has transformed over
• 7:53
  Speaker 1: centuries and yet remains filled with relics of the past.
• 8:02
  Speaker 1: You think again of the words recorded by Luke, a
• 8:06
  Speaker 1: follower of Jesus, in the Book of Acts. He tells
• 8:09
  Speaker 1: the story of the apostle Paul's life in the many
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  Speaker 1: journeys he took, including one trip when he had been
• 8:17
  Speaker 1: arrested by men who wanted to stop the message of
• 8:20
  Speaker 1: Christ from spreading. In this story found at the end
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  Speaker 1: of Acts, we learned that their ship encountered rough seas
• 8:29
  Speaker 1: and ended in a shipwreck. You imagine what Paul must
• 8:35
  Speaker 1: have been thinking. Paul never planned on being a prisoner
• 8:41
  Speaker 1: and shipwrecked on a small island. Surely could not have
• 8:45
  Speaker 1: made that trip better. You find comfort in the consistency
• 8:52
  Speaker 1: of Christ's character. You know the words of Hebrews are true,
• 8:58
  Speaker 1: that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever,
• 9:06
  Speaker 1: and in God's goodness, he had a greater purpose in
• 9:10
  Speaker 1: the midst of the unexpected changes to Paul's travels, and
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  Speaker 1: so he has a purpose for you. When your plans
• 9:19
  Speaker 1: are interrupted, or when your life isn't going as you
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  Speaker 1: hoped or imagined it would, you can find rest and
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  Speaker 1: the promise that indeed Jesus Christ is the same yesterday
• 9:34
  Speaker 1: and today and forever. Now, let your imagination wander, allowing
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  Speaker 1: your mind to get lost in the story as I
• 9:48
  Speaker 1: take you on a journey to this tiny Mediterranean island.
• 9:54
  Speaker 1: You arrive on this beautiful island by plane in the
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  Speaker 1: early morning hours of an autumn day. As you disembark,
• 10:04
  Speaker 1: you smile at the flight attendant and pilot standing by
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  Speaker 1: the exit door and offer your thanks a smile in return,
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  Speaker 1: wishing you a good day and cheery but thick European accents.
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  Speaker 1: You easily make your way off the jet bridge and
• 10:25
  Speaker 1: through the airport, where are greeted by a tour guide
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  Speaker 1: and a small group of fellow travelers who share your
• 10:32
  Speaker 1: excitement for the upcoming adventure. Learning that you are the
• 10:40
  Speaker 1: last arrival, the tour guide instructs the group to follow
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  Speaker 1: her outside, leading you through the large open air concourse
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  Speaker 1: and outside to a bright orange fifteen passenger van with
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  Speaker 1: the name and logo of the tour company scripted in
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  Speaker 1: a font.
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  Speaker 2: That catches your eye. As soon as you step.
• 11:06
  Speaker 1: Outside the airport, you feel the warm, humid air. Despite
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  Speaker 1: summer being over an autumn well on its way, This
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  Speaker 1: Mediterranean country has the humidity of an island nation. Consequently,
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  Speaker 1: it's not long before you feel a gentle breeze against
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  Speaker 1: your skin. You marvel at the joy of a small
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  Speaker 1: island where you can feel both the warm sunshine and
• 11:34
  Speaker 1: the cool autumn breeze at the same time. You climb
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  Speaker 1: inside the bright orange van, sliding toward the window in
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  Speaker 1: the first row of seats. The other tourists climb in,
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  Speaker 1: filling in the rose, and the guide makes her way
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  Speaker 1: to the driver's seat. As the van turns on, the
• 11:59
  Speaker 1: air conditioning immediately starts blowing, reverting throughout the vehicle. The
• 12:05
  Speaker 1: air quickly turns cool, and as you feel the burst
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  Speaker 1: of air on your cheeks, you took a deep breath
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  Speaker 1: of gratitude. Think back to Ax, the collection of stories
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  Speaker 1: from the leaders of the Early Church. In one of
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  Speaker 1: these stories, near the end of the Book of Acts,
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  Speaker 1: Paul was taken as a prisoner, but while they were
• 12:31
  Speaker 1: on board, an unexpected storm took them off course. While
• 12:39
  Speaker 1: trying to find their bearings, their ship broke apart oft
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  Speaker 1: an unknown island. Verses one in two of chapter twenty
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  Speaker 1: eight in the Book of Acts, read Once safely on shore,
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  Speaker 1: we found out that the island was called Malta. The
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  Speaker 1: islanders showed us unusual kindness. They built a fire and
• 13:02
  Speaker 1: welcomed us all because it was raining and cold. Just
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  Speaker 1: like the Apostle Paul, you learn that the island on
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  Speaker 1: which you have landed is called Malta, and it is here,
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  Speaker 1: surrounded by the beauty of the Mediterranean Sea, that you
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  Speaker 1: will walk the same streets once walked by the Apostle
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  Speaker 1: and his companions. Your final destination is Saint Paul's Catacombs,
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  Speaker 1: a relic of first century history located beneath the streets
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  Speaker 1: of Malta. But first you will get to experience the
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  Speaker 1: sights and culture of this beautiful country. Even in this
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  Speaker 1: simple way of transportation, you consider how very different your
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  Speaker 1: experiences from that of Paul. You arrive by plane and
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  Speaker 1: climbing to a vehicle, whereas he arrived by a boat
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  Speaker 1: and explored the island by foot. There are so many
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  Speaker 1: things that are different, and yet one thing stays the same.
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  Speaker 1: Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
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  Speaker 1: The bright orange tour van takes you from the airport
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  Speaker 1: straight to the coast, which doesn't take long at all.
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  Speaker 1: As she drives, your tour guide shares her knowledge of
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  Speaker 1: the island, and you learn that Malta is one of
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  Speaker 1: the smallest countries in the world, at just over one
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  Speaker 1: hundred and twenty two square miles. The shore drive leads
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  Speaker 1: you to Marshaeschlock, a small fishing village on the southeast
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  Speaker 1: corner of Malta, tucked along the Mediterranean Sea. You climb
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  Speaker 1: out of the van and the humidity hits you again,
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  Speaker 1: warm upon your skin. This time you not only feel
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  Speaker 1: the Mediterranean and the humid air, but you can almost
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  Speaker 1: see it. You walk toward the shore, looking around to
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  Speaker 1: admire this small village. There are modest homes that line
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  Speaker 1: the street, but you instinctively walk toward the noise and commotion,
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  Speaker 1: wondering what could be happening by the water. As you
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  Speaker 1: round the corner, finally catching sight of the sea, you
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  Speaker 1: stop in your tracks. You now know what the commotion was.
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  Speaker 1: As your eyes start back and forth from table exhibits
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  Speaker 1: to the boats littering the harbor, they lock on the water,
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  Speaker 1: where you see dozens, got hundreds of small boats anchored
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  Speaker 1: near the shore and bobbing up and down in the Mediterranean.
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  Speaker 1: As the water ebbs and flows. You are not only
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  Speaker 1: struck by the number of boats in the sea, but
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  Speaker 1: by the brilliance of the colors and the uniqueness of
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  Speaker 1: their design. You walk closer to the shore, mesmerized by
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  Speaker 1: what you see in the water. Walking as closely as
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  Speaker 1: you can to the water, you simply admire this scene
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  Speaker 1: before you. The sun is still making its way to
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  Speaker 1: its eneth, but it's already warm upon your skin. The
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  Speaker 1: coolness of the day has yet to turn to heat,
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  Speaker 1: and you enjoy the breeze that blows naturally.
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  Speaker 2: Off the sea.
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  Speaker 1: Lost in the moment, you don't hear the tour guide
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  Speaker 1: walking over, but when you turn you find your standing
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  Speaker 1: next to you. Before you have a chance to ask,
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  Speaker 1: she is already speaking. These boats are called lutsus. Malta
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  Speaker 1: is famous for them. The small boats that fill the
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  Speaker 1: harbor are all of similar design. They're small, perhaps only
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  Speaker 1: big enough to hold two or three fishermen. They are
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  Speaker 1: carvel built wooden boats with a distinct point at the
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  Speaker 1: bow and the stern. The coloring of the boats is
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  Speaker 1: all the same, with only slight variations differentiating one from another.
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  Speaker 1: The bottom third of the boat is a light blue
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  Speaker 1: that nearly blends in with the sea, especially as it
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  Speaker 1: ebbs with the way. The middle third of the boats
• 18:05
  Speaker 1: is all a bright yellow, with a thin white edge
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  Speaker 1: between it and the blue below. There's another thin white
• 18:14
  Speaker 1: edge at the top of the yellow coloring, with the
• 18:17
  Speaker 1: final top portion of the boats as a brownish red color.
• 18:25
  Speaker 1: Some of the boats have the brownish color in the
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  Speaker 1: middle and the yellow on top, while others still have
• 18:32
  Speaker 1: a brighter red instead of the brown in color. Somewhere
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  Speaker 1: on nearly every boat you see bright green paint. Some
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  Speaker 1: have just a line between two of the other colors,
• 18:45
  Speaker 1: while others have just a tip painted where the rope
• 18:49
  Speaker 1: ties it to the dock. Regardless of the placement of
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  Speaker 1: each of the colors, they are each bright and enticing,
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  Speaker 1: collectively turning the harbor into a place of joy, and
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  Speaker 1: the light the sun shines upon them, making them sparkle
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  Speaker 1: as the water glistens on the harbor. You think of
• 19:18
  Speaker 1: how many things have changed from the time that Paul
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  Speaker 1: walked on this island to the time in which you
• 19:25
  Speaker 1: now stand. While much has changed, you find comfort in
• 19:30
  Speaker 1: the one thing that stays the same. Jesus Christ is
• 19:35
  Speaker 1: the same yesterday and today and forever. You turn with
• 19:44
  Speaker 1: your guide and begin walking up the sidewalk from the
• 19:47
  Speaker 1: edge of the water, back toward the crowd, You find
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  Speaker 1: yourself at a weekend market in the Marsha Slock Harbor.
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  Speaker 1: There are small tables set up along the sidewalk, lining
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  Speaker 1: either side of the pedestrian walkway. Each offer a different
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  Speaker 1: array of artisan gifts and fresh fruits and vegetables. You
• 20:15
  Speaker 1: walk to the first table to admire the jewelry, colorful
• 20:19
  Speaker 1: woven bracelets, and handmade stoneeerings in an array of shapes
• 20:23
  Speaker 1: and styles. You smell the next table before you see it,
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  Speaker 1: and after walking a little further, you see a table
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  Speaker 1: filled with a wide array of fish and signs indicating
• 20:40
  Speaker 1: that it was just caught overnight. Also on the table
• 20:44
  Speaker 1: as an assortment of fresh fruits and vegetables, there are
• 20:52
  Speaker 1: hundreds of peaches, with the crisp yellow color fading into
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  Speaker 1: a deep red. You reach out and pick one up,
• 21:01
  Speaker 1: feeling the slight fuzze of the skin beneath your fingers.
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  Speaker 1: Beside the peaches is a line of pears right on
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  Speaker 1: verge of ripeness, with their greenish skin beginning to yellow.
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  Speaker 1: Next to the pears, you see a row of plums
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  Speaker 1: with their deep bluish purple coloring. Beside the plums are
• 21:23
  Speaker 1: small baskets with tomatoes on the vine, each basket containing
• 21:28
  Speaker 1: five or six ripe red tomatoes. Just looking at the
• 21:36
  Speaker 1: fresh fruits brings their taste to your mind. The sweetness
• 21:41
  Speaker 1: of the peach and the tartness of the pear. You
• 21:46
  Speaker 1: think of the gift of food that comes from the earth,
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  Speaker 1: and it makes you wonder with the apostle Paul might
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  Speaker 1: have eaten on his time here so long ago. Have
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  Speaker 1: the fruits and vegetables grown here day the same as
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  Speaker 1: the soil changed over time, lending farmers to favor a
• 22:06
  Speaker 1: different crop. No matter what is changed, one thing has
• 22:13
  Speaker 1: stayed the same. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and
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  Speaker 1: today and forever. You continue wandering and exploring the artisan
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  Speaker 1: crafts and the offerings of both the farmers and the fishermen,
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  Speaker 1: And after exploring the market, you make your way back
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  Speaker 1: to the group.
• 22:38
  Speaker 2: As you leave the.
• 22:39
  Speaker 1: Martian Schlock Market, you take one more look back at
• 22:42
  Speaker 1: the harbor. The sun glistening off the water and the
• 22:46
  Speaker 1: bright colors of the lute's boats brings a smile to
• 22:49
  Speaker 1: your face. Climbing back into your seat on the bright
• 22:56
  Speaker 1: orange van, you look out the window as you ride along,
• 23:01
  Speaker 1: noticing the whitewashed buildings that remind you of photos you've
• 23:05
  Speaker 1: seen of Greece. There are people walking all about as
• 23:09
  Speaker 1: you pass parks and markets in playgrounds filled with children.
• 23:15
  Speaker 1: After a short drive, your guide parks and you get
• 23:19
  Speaker 1: off the bus with the others. You walk toward a
• 23:25
  Speaker 1: building that reminds you of a state capitol or an
• 23:29
  Speaker 1: old museum. The building is a sandy brown color with
• 23:33
  Speaker 1: countless thin cracks, reminding you that it has stood in
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  Speaker 1: this place for thousands of years. There's an iron crate
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  Speaker 1: painted a beige color, and it stands open, creating a
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  Speaker 1: walkway welcoming you to the entrance. Two tall pillars stand
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  Speaker 1: on either side of the iron gate, and on the
• 23:59
  Speaker 1: left you see a stone sign with the engraved words
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  Speaker 1: Museum Department, Saint Paul's Catacombs. You walk through the gate
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  Speaker 1: and into the ancient building. Once inside, you learn that
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  Speaker 1: the catacombs are ancient underground tombs, once used by the
• 24:22
  Speaker 1: Romans for hundreds of years. You're allowed to walk underground,
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  Speaker 1: taking a dim, dusty staircase downstairs. This underground air is
• 24:36
  Speaker 1: musty and cool. The ceiling is low and you have
• 24:40
  Speaker 1: to duck just slightly. But once you are underground you
• 24:45
  Speaker 1: see how vast, indeed the space is. There are dozens
• 24:49
  Speaker 1: of stone cut arched hallways going down ten or twenty yards.
• 24:57
  Speaker 1: As you stand underground in this a catacomb, you are
• 25:01
  Speaker 1: struck once more the passing of time and the way
• 25:06
  Speaker 1: things come and go. What is now new will someday
• 25:14
  Speaker 1: be old, and what is now old will soon be ancient.
• 25:23
  Speaker 1: Days turn into years, and years turn into centuries, and
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  Speaker 1: so much about nations and people and cultures will ebb
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  Speaker 1: and flow with change, just as their lutes boats ebb
• 25:38
  Speaker 1: and flow in the Mediterranean Sea. And with all of
• 25:42
  Speaker 1: this change, one thing stays the same. Jesus Christ is
• 25:48
  Speaker 1: the same yesterday and today and forever, and the love
• 25:57
  Speaker 1: of Christ has indeed stayed the same. Jesus came and
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  Speaker 1: lived a life that you could not, and he died
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  Speaker 1: the death that you deserved, and he did it out
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  Speaker 1: of a deep love for you, that you might come
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  Speaker 1: to know and experience his love. Whether you walk the
• 26:21
  Speaker 1: streets of your hometown or travel to the tiny island
• 26:25
  Speaker 1: of Malta to walk the streets once walked by the
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  Speaker 1: Apostle Paul, there is but one unchanging constant in your life,
• 26:34
  Speaker 1: the promise of Hebrews thirteen, verse eight. Jesus Christ is
• 26:40
  Speaker 1: the same yesterday and today and forever. Lean into the
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  Speaker 1: unchanging love of Christ and find your comfort and peace
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  Speaker 1: to Him as you rest tonight. Gracious Heavenly Father, we
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  Speaker 1: are so grateful that you stay the same despite the
• 27:05
  Speaker 1: many things that shift and change throughout our lives. We
• 27:10
  Speaker 1: find such comfort in the promise that Jesus Christ is
• 27:15
  Speaker 1: the same yesterday and today and forever. I pray that
• 27:22
  Speaker 1: your beloved child would rest in this great promise as
• 27:27
  Speaker 1: they remember your faithfulness. You are good, and we will
• 27:32
  Speaker 1: give you all honor and praise in the name of Jesus.
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  Speaker 1: I pray amen. No matter where the Apostle Paul ended up,
• 27:45
  Speaker 1: whether intentionally or unexpectedly, he was sharing the message of
• 27:51
  Speaker 1: Jesus Christ, for Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and
• 27:56
  Speaker 1: today and forever. Whether you walk the streets of your
• 28:03
  Speaker 1: hometown or travel to the tiny island of Malta to
• 28:07
  Speaker 1: walk the streets once walked by the Apostle Paul, there
• 28:11
  Speaker 1: is but one unchanging constant in your life, the promise
• 28:17
  Speaker 1: of Hebrews thirteenth verse eight. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday,
• 28:23
  Speaker 1: and today and forever. Let's listen again to this sleep
• 28:30
  Speaker 1: story touring the island of Malta. As you recognize that
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  Speaker 1: Jesus Christ never changes, take another deep breath and get
• 28:43
  Speaker 1: ready to experience the wonder of a present day country
• 28:48
  Speaker 1: seeped in biblical history, a place where you can walk
• 28:55
  Speaker 1: where the Apostle Paul walked, and see how Chiney Island
• 29:00
  Speaker 1: nation has transformed over centuries and yet remains filled with
• 29:07
  Speaker 1: relics of the past. You think again of the words
• 29:14
  Speaker 1: recorded by Luke, a follower of Jesus, in the Book
• 29:19
  Speaker 1: of Acts. He tells the story of the Apostle Paul's
• 29:22
  Speaker 1: life in the many journeys he took, including one trip
• 29:27
  Speaker 1: when he had been arrested by men who wanted to
• 29:29
  Speaker 1: stop the message of Christ from spreading. And this story
• 29:34
  Speaker 1: found at the end of Acts, we learned that their
• 29:37
  Speaker 1: ship encountered rough seas and ended in a shipwreck. You
• 29:44
  Speaker 1: imagine what Paul must have been thinking. Paul never planned
• 29:50
  Speaker 1: on being a prisoner and shipwrecked on a small island.
• 29:55
  Speaker 1: Surely could not have made that trip better. You find
• 30:01
  Speaker 1: comfort in the consistency of Christ's character. You know the
• 30:06
  Speaker 1: words of Hebrews are true, that Jesus Christ is the
• 30:10
  Speaker 1: same yesterday and today and forever, and in God's goodness,
• 30:19
  Speaker 1: he had a greater purpose in the midst of the
• 30:21
  Speaker 1: unexpected changes to Paul's travels, and so he has a
• 30:27
  Speaker 1: purpose for you. When your plans are interrupted, or when
• 30:31
  Speaker 1: your life isn't going as you hoped or imagined it would,
• 30:36
  Speaker 1: you can find rest and the promise that indeed Jesus
• 30:42
  Speaker 1: Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Now,
• 30:51
  Speaker 1: let your imagination wander, allowing your mind to get lost
• 30:57
  Speaker 1: in the story, as I take you on a journey
• 31:00
  Speaker 1: to this tiny Mediterranean island. You arrive on this beautiful
• 31:07
  Speaker 1: island by plane in the early morning hours of an
• 31:10
  Speaker 1: autumn day. As you disembark, you smile at the flat
• 31:16
  Speaker 1: attendant and pilot standing by the exit door, then offer
• 31:21
  Speaker 1: your thanks a smile in return, wishing you a good
• 31:25
  Speaker 1: day and cheery but thick European accents. You easily make
• 31:33
  Speaker 1: your way off the jet bridge and through the airport,
• 31:37
  Speaker 1: where you are greeted by a tour guide and a
• 31:40
  Speaker 1: small group of fellow travelers who share your excitement for
• 31:44
  Speaker 1: the upcoming adventure. Learning that you are the last arrival,
• 31:52
  Speaker 1: the tour guide instructs the group to follow her outside,
• 31:57
  Speaker 1: leading you through the large open air concord and outside
• 32:01
  Speaker 1: to a bright orange fifteen passenger van with the name
• 32:06
  Speaker 1: and logo of the tour company scripted in a font
• 32:10
  Speaker 1: that catches your eye. As soon as you step outside
• 32:17
  Speaker 1: the airport, you feel the warm, humid air. Despite summer
• 32:23
  Speaker 1: being over an autumn well on its way, this Mediterranean
• 32:27
  Speaker 1: country has the humidity of an island nation. Consequently, it's
• 32:33
  Speaker 1: not long before you feel a gentle breeze against your skin.
• 32:38
  Speaker 1: You marvel at the joy of a small island where
• 32:41
  Speaker 1: you can feel both the warm sunshine and the cool
• 32:45
  Speaker 1: autumn breeze at the same time. You climb inside the
• 32:52
  Speaker 1: bright orange van, sliding toward the window in the first
• 32:56
  Speaker 1: row of seats. The other tourists climb in, filling in
• 33:00
  Speaker 1: the rose, and the guide makes her way to the
• 33:03
  Speaker 1: driver's seat. As the van turns on, the air conditioning
• 33:10
  Speaker 1: immediately starts blowing, reverting throughout the vehicle. The air quickly
• 33:17
  Speaker 1: turns cool, and as you feel the burst of air
• 33:20
  Speaker 1: on your cheeks, you take a deep breath of gratitude.
• 33:28
  Speaker 1: Think back to as the collection of stories from the
• 33:31
  Speaker 1: leaders of the early Church. In one of these stories,
• 33:36
  Speaker 1: near the end of the Book of Acts, Paul was
• 33:39
  Speaker 1: taken as a prisoner. But while they were on board,
• 33:43
  Speaker 1: an unexpected storm took them off course. While trying to
• 33:50
  Speaker 1: find their bearings, their ship broke apart oft an unknown
• 33:54
  Speaker 1: island Verses one in two of chapter twenty eight in
• 33:58
  Speaker 1: the Book of Acts, read Once safely on shore, we
• 34:04
  Speaker 1: found out that the island was called Malta. The islanders
• 34:08
  Speaker 1: showed us unusual kindness. They built a fire and welcomed
• 34:13
  Speaker 1: us all because it was raining and cold. Just like
• 34:19
  Speaker 1: the Apostle Paul, you learn that the island on which
• 34:23
  Speaker 1: you have landed is called Malta, and it is here,
• 34:28
  Speaker 1: surrounded by the beauty of the Mediterranean Sea, that you
• 34:32
  Speaker 1: will walk the same streets once walked by the Apostle
• 34:35
  Speaker 1: and his companions. Your final destination is Saint Paul's Catacombs,
• 34:45
  Speaker 1: a relic of first century history located beneath the streets
• 34:50
  Speaker 1: of Malta. But first you will get to experience the
• 34:54
  Speaker 1: sites and culture of this beautiful country. Even in this
• 35:00
  Speaker 1: simple way of transportation, you consider how very different your
• 35:04
  Speaker 1: experiences from that of Paul. You arrive by plane and
• 35:10
  Speaker 1: climb into a vehicle, whereas he arrived by boat and
• 35:14
  Speaker 1: explored the island by foot. There are so many things
• 35:21
  Speaker 1: that are different, and yet one thing stays the same.
• 35:25
  Speaker 1: Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today and forever.
• 35:34
  Speaker 1: The bright orange tour van takes you from the airport
• 35:37
  Speaker 1: straight to the coast, which doesn't take long at all.
• 35:41
  Speaker 1: As she drives, your tour guide shares her knowledge of
• 35:45
  Speaker 1: the island, and you learn that Malta is one of
• 35:49
  Speaker 1: the smallest countries in the world, at just over one
• 35:53
  Speaker 1: hundred and twenty two square miles. Your drive leads you
• 36:01
  Speaker 1: to Marsha Schlock, a small fishing village on the southeast
• 36:05
  Speaker 1: corner of Malta, tucked along the Mediterranean Sea. You climb
• 36:11
  Speaker 1: out of the van and the humidity hits you again,
• 36:15
  Speaker 1: warm upon your skin. This time you not only feel
• 36:20
  Speaker 1: the Mediterranean and the humid air, but you can almost
• 36:23
  Speaker 1: see it. You walk toward the shore, looking around to
• 36:31
  Speaker 1: admire this small village. There are modest homes that line
• 36:36
  Speaker 1: the street, but you instinctively walk toward the noise and commotion,
• 36:42
  Speaker 1: wondering what could be happening by the water. As you
• 36:50
  Speaker 1: round the corner, finally catching sight of the sea, you
• 36:55
  Speaker 1: stop in your tracks. You now know what the commotion was.
• 36:59
  Speaker 1: As eyes start back and forth from table exhibits to
• 37:04
  Speaker 1: the boats littering the harbor, they lock on the water,
• 37:09
  Speaker 1: where you see dozens, if not hundreds, of small boats
• 37:14
  Speaker 1: anchored near the shore and bobbing up and down in
• 37:18
  Speaker 1: the Mediterranean. As the water ebbs and flows, you are
• 37:25
  Speaker 1: not only struck by the number of boats in the sea,
• 37:28
  Speaker 1: but by the brilliance of the colors and the uniqueness
• 37:32
  Speaker 1: of their design. You walk closer to the shore, mesmerized
• 37:38
  Speaker 1: by what you see in the water. Walking as closely
• 37:42
  Speaker 1: as you can to the water, you simply admire this
• 37:49
  Speaker 1: scene before you. The sun is still making its way
• 37:54
  Speaker 1: towards Eneth, but it's already warm upon your skin. The
• 38:00
  Speaker 1: coolness of the day has yet to turn to heat,
• 38:03
  Speaker 1: and you enjoy the breeze that blows naturally off the sea.
• 38:10
  Speaker 1: Lost in the moment, you don't hear the tour guide
• 38:13
  Speaker 1: walking over, but when you turn you find your standing
• 38:17
  Speaker 1: next to you. Before you have a chance to ask,
• 38:23
  Speaker 1: she is already speaking. These boats are called Lutsus. Malta
• 38:29
  Speaker 1: is famous for them. The small boats that fill the
• 38:35
  Speaker 1: harbor are all of similar design. They're small, perhaps only
• 38:41
  Speaker 1: big enough to hold two or three fishermen. They are
• 38:44
  Speaker 1: carvel built wooden boats with a distinct point at the
• 38:48
  Speaker 1: bow and the stern. The coloring of the boats is
• 38:55
  Speaker 1: all the same, with only slight variations differentiating one from another.
• 39:02
  Speaker 1: The bottom third of the boat is a light blue
• 39:04
  Speaker 1: that nearly blends in with the sea, especially as it
• 39:09
  Speaker 1: ebbs with the waves. The middle third of the boats
• 39:16
  Speaker 1: is all a bright yellow, with a thin white edge
• 39:19
  Speaker 1: between it and the blue below. There's another thin white
• 39:24
  Speaker 1: edge at the top of the yellow coloring, with the
• 39:27
  Speaker 1: final top portion of the boats has a brownish red color.
• 39:35
  Speaker 1: Some of the boats have the brownish color in the
• 39:38
  Speaker 1: middle and the yellow on top, while others still have
• 39:42
  Speaker 1: a brighter red instead of the brown and color. Somewhere
• 39:48
  Speaker 1: on nearly every boat you see bright green paint. Some
• 39:52
  Speaker 1: have just a line between two of the other colors,
• 39:56
  Speaker 1: while others have just a tip painted where the rope
• 39:59
  Speaker 1: ties it to the dock. Regardless of the placement of
• 40:07
  Speaker 1: each of the colors, they are each bright and enticing.
• 40:12
  Speaker 1: Collectively turning the harbor into a place of joy.
• 40:16
  Speaker 2: And the light.
• 40:18
  Speaker 1: The sun shines upon them, making them sparkle. As the
• 40:22
  Speaker 1: water glistens on the harbor. You think of how many
• 40:29
  Speaker 1: things have changed from the time that Paul walked on
• 40:32
  Speaker 1: this island to the time in which you now stand.
• 40:37
  Speaker 1: While much has changed, you find comfort in one thing
• 40:41
  Speaker 1: that stays the same. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday,
• 40:47
  Speaker 1: and today and forever. You turn with your guide and
• 40:56
  Speaker 1: begin walking up the sidewalk from the edge of the
• 40:59
  Speaker 1: water back toward the crowd. You find yourself at a
• 41:03
  Speaker 1: weekend market in the Marshaslock Harbor. There are small tables
• 41:12
  Speaker 1: set up along the sidewalk lining either side of the
• 41:16
  Speaker 1: pedestrian walkway. Each offer a different array of artisan gifts
• 41:22
  Speaker 1: and fresh fruits and vegetables. You walk to the first
• 41:26
  Speaker 1: table to admire the jewelry, colorful woven bracelets and handmade
• 41:32
  Speaker 1: stone earrings, and an array of shapes and styles. You
• 41:39
  Speaker 1: smell the next table before you see it, and after
• 41:42
  Speaker 1: walking a little further, you see a table filled with
• 41:45
  Speaker 1: a wide array of fish and signs indicating that it
• 41:50
  Speaker 1: was just caught overnight. Also on the table as an
• 41:55
  Speaker 1: assortment of fresh fruits and vegetables. There are hundreds of
• 42:03
  Speaker 1: peaches with the crisp yellow color fading into a deep red.
• 42:09
  Speaker 1: You reach out and pick one up, feeling the slight
• 42:13
  Speaker 1: fuzz of the skin beneath your fingers. Beside the peaches
• 42:18
  Speaker 1: is a line of pears, right on verge of ripeness,
• 42:22
  Speaker 1: with their greenish skin beginning to yellow. Next to the pears,
• 42:26
  Speaker 1: you see a row of plums with their deep bluish
• 42:30
  Speaker 1: purple coloring. Beside the plums are small baskets with tomatoes
• 42:35
  Speaker 1: on the vine, each basket containing five or six ripe
• 42:41
  Speaker 1: red tomatoes. Just looking at the fresh fruits brings their
• 42:49
  Speaker 1: taste to your mind. The sweetness of the peach and
• 42:53
  Speaker 1: the tartness of the pear. You think of the gift
• 42:57
  Speaker 1: of food that comes from the earth, and it makes
• 43:01
  Speaker 1: you wonder with the Apostle Paul might have ean on
• 43:04
  Speaker 1: his time here so long ago. Have the fruits and
• 43:09
  Speaker 1: vegetables grown here stayed the same as the soil changed
• 43:13
  Speaker 1: over time, lending farmers to favor a different crop. No
• 43:21
  Speaker 1: matter what is changed, one thing has stayed the same.
• 43:26
  Speaker 1: Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
• 43:36
  Speaker 1: You continue wandering and exploring the artisan crafts in the
• 43:40
  Speaker 1: offerings of both the farmers and the fishermen, and after
• 43:44
  Speaker 1: exploring the market, you make your way back to the group.
• 43:48
  Speaker 1: As you leave the Martis Shlock Market, you take one
• 43:52
  Speaker 1: more look back at the harbor. The sun glistening off
• 43:55
  Speaker 1: the water and the bright colors of the lute's boats
• 43:59
  Speaker 1: brings a smile to your face. Climbing back into your
• 44:05
  Speaker 1: seat on the bright orange van, you look out the
• 44:09
  Speaker 1: window as you ride along, noticing the white washed buildings
• 44:14
  Speaker 1: that remind you of photos you've seen of Greece.
• 44:18
  Speaker 2: There are people.
• 44:19
  Speaker 1: Walking all about as you pass parks and markets in
• 44:23
  Speaker 1: playgrounds filled with children. After a short drive, your guide
• 44:28
  Speaker 1: parks and you get off the bus with the others.
• 44:35
  Speaker 1: You walk toward a building that reminds you of a
• 44:37
  Speaker 1: state capitol or an old museum. The building is a
• 44:42
  Speaker 1: sandy brown color with countless thin cracks, reminding you that
• 44:47
  Speaker 1: it has stood in this place for thousands of years.
• 44:55
  Speaker 1: There's an iron crate painted a beige color, and it
• 44:59
  Speaker 1: stands open, creating a walkway welcoming.
• 45:03
  Speaker 2: You to the entrance.
• 45:05
  Speaker 1: Two tall pillars stand on either side of the iron
• 45:08
  Speaker 1: gate and on the left, you see a stone sign
• 45:12
  Speaker 1: with the engraved words Museum Department, Saint Paul's Catacombs. You
• 45:19
  Speaker 1: walk through the gate and into the ancient building. Once inside,
• 45:26
  Speaker 1: you learn that the catacombs are ancient underground tombs, once
• 45:31
  Speaker 1: used by the Romans for hundreds of years. You're allowed
• 45:36
  Speaker 1: to walk underground, taking a dim, dusty staircase downstairs. This
• 45:45
  Speaker 1: underground air is musty and cool. The ceiling is low,
• 45:50
  Speaker 1: and you have to duck just slightly. But once you
• 45:54
  Speaker 1: are underground you see how fast, indeed the space is.
• 45:59
  Speaker 1: There are dozens of stone cut arched hallways going down
• 46:03
  Speaker 1: ten or twenty yards. As you stand underground in this
• 46:10
  Speaker 1: ancient catacomb, you are struck once more the passing of
• 46:14
  Speaker 1: time and the way things come and go. What is
• 46:22
  Speaker 1: now new will someday be old, and what is now
• 46:27
  Speaker 1: old will soon be ancient. Days turn into years, and
• 46:36
  Speaker 1: years turn into centuries, and so much about nations and
• 46:41
  Speaker 1: people and cultures will ebb and flow with change, just
• 46:46
  Speaker 1: as the Lutz boat's ebb and flow in the Mediterranean Sea.
• 46:52
  Speaker 1: And with all of this change, one thing stays the same.
• 46:57
  Speaker 1: Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever,
• 47:07
  Speaker 1: and the love of Christ has indeed stayed the same.
• 47:11
  Speaker 1: Jesus came and lived a life that you could not,
• 47:15
  Speaker 1: and he died the death that you deserved, and he
• 47:19
  Speaker 1: did it out of a deep love for you, that
• 47:23
  Speaker 1: you might come to know and experience his love. Whether
• 47:31
  Speaker 1: you walk the streets of your hometown or travel to
• 47:34
  Speaker 1: the tiny island of Malta to walk the streets once
• 47:37
  Speaker 1: walked by the Apostle Paul, there is but one unchanging
• 47:42
  Speaker 1: constant in your life, the promise of Hebrews thirteen, verse eight.
• 47:49
  Speaker 1: Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
• 47:59
  Speaker 1: Lean into the unchanging love of Christ and find your
• 48:03
  Speaker 1: comfort and peace in Him as you rest tonight. Gracious
• 48:10
  Speaker 1: Heavenly Father, we are so grateful that you stay the same.
• 48:15
  Speaker 1: Despite the many things that shift and change throughout our lives.
• 48:21
  Speaker 1: We find such comfort and the promise that Jesus Christ
• 48:26
  Speaker 1: is the same yesterday and today and forever. I pray
• 48:33
  Speaker 1: that your beloved child would rest in this great promise
• 48:37
  Speaker 1: as they remember your faithfulness. You are good, and we
• 48:42
  Speaker 1: will give you all honor and praise in the name
• 48:46
  Speaker 1: of Jesus. I pray Amen, no matter where the Apostle
• 48:54
  Speaker 1: Paul ended up. Whether intentionally or unexpectedly, I was sharing
• 49:00
  Speaker 1: the message of Jesus Christ. For Jesus Christ is the same,
• 49:05
  Speaker 1: yesterday and today and forever. Whether you walk the streets
• 49:13
  Speaker 1: of your hometown or travel to the tiny island of
• 49:17
  Speaker 1: Malta to walk the streets once walked by the Apostle Paul,
• 49:21
  Speaker 1: there is but one unchanging constant in your life, the
• 49:26
  Speaker 1: promise of Hebrews thirteenth, verse eight. Jesus Christ is the same,
• 49:32
  Speaker 1: yesterday and today and forever. Let's listen again to this
• 49:39
  Speaker 1: sleep story touring the island of Malta. As you recognize
• 49:44
  Speaker 1: that Jesus Christ never changes, take another deep breath and
• 49:53
  Speaker 1: get ready to experience the wonder of a present day
• 49:57
  Speaker 1: country seeped in biblically history, a place where you can
• 50:05
  Speaker 1: walk where the Apostle Paul walked and see how a
• 50:09
  Speaker 1: tiny island nation has transformed over centuries and yet remains
• 50:16
  Speaker 1: filled with relics of the past. You think again of
• 50:23
  Speaker 1: the words recorded by Luke, a follower of Jesus, in
• 50:28
  Speaker 1: the Book of Acts. He tells the story of the
• 50:31
  Speaker 1: Apostle Paul's life in the many journeys he took, including
• 50:36
  Speaker 1: one trip when he had been arrested by men who
• 50:39
  Speaker 1: wanted to stop the message of Christ from spreading. In
• 50:43
  Speaker 1: this story found at the end of Acts, we learned
• 50:47
  Speaker 1: that their ship encountered rough seas and ended in a shipwreck.
• 50:54
  Speaker 1: You imagine what Paul must have been thinking. Paul never
• 50:59
  Speaker 1: planned on being a prisoner and shipwrecked on a small island.
• 51:05
  Speaker 1: Surely could not have made that trip better. You find
• 51:11
  Speaker 1: comfort in the consistency of Christ's character. You know the
• 51:16
  Speaker 1: words of Hebrews are true, that Jesus Christ is the
• 51:20
  Speaker 1: same yesterday and today and forever, and in God's goodness,
• 51:29
  Speaker 1: he had a greater purpose in the midst of the
• 51:31
  Speaker 1: unexpected changes to Paul's travels, and so he has a
• 51:37
  Speaker 1: purpose for you. When your plans are interrupted, or when
• 51:42
  Speaker 1: your life isn't going as you hoped or imagined it would,
• 51:46
  Speaker 1: you can find rest in the promise that indeed Jesus
• 51:52
  Speaker 1: Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Now,
• 52:01
  Speaker 1: let your imagination wander, allowing your mind to get lost
• 52:07
  Speaker 1: in the story as I take you on a journey
• 52:10
  Speaker 1: to this tiny Mediterranean island. You arrive on this beautiful
• 52:17
  Speaker 1: island by plane in the early morning hours of an
• 52:20
  Speaker 1: autumn day. As you disembark, you smile at the flight
• 52:26
  Speaker 1: attendant and pilot standing by the exit door and offer
• 52:31
  Speaker 1: your thanks. I smile in return, wishing you a good
• 52:35
  Speaker 1: day and cheery but thick European accents. You easily make
• 52:43
  Speaker 1: your way off the jet bridge and through the airport,
• 52:47
  Speaker 1: where you are greeted by a tour guide and a
• 52:50
  Speaker 1: small group of fellow travelers who share your excitement for
• 52:54
  Speaker 1: the upcoming adventure. Learning that you are the last arrival,
• 53:02
  Speaker 1: the tour guide instructs the group to follow her outside,
• 53:07
  Speaker 1: leading you through the large open air concourse and outside
• 53:11
  Speaker 1: to a bright orange fifteen passenger van with the name
• 53:16
  Speaker 1: and logo of the tour company scripted in a font
• 53:20
  Speaker 1: that catches your eye. As soon as you step outside
• 53:27
  Speaker 1: the airport, you feel the warm, humid air. Despite summer
• 53:33
  Speaker 1: being over an autumn well on its way, this Mediterranean
• 53:38
  Speaker 1: country has the humidity of an island nation. Consequently, it's
• 53:44
  Speaker 1: not long before you feel a gentle breeze against your skin.
• 53:48
  Speaker 1: You marvel at the joy of a small island where
• 53:51
  Speaker 1: you can feel both the warm sunshine and the cool
• 53:55
  Speaker 1: autumn breeze at the same time. You climb inside the
• 54:02
  Speaker 1: bright orange van, sliding toward the window in the first
• 54:06
  Speaker 1: row of seats. The other tourists climb in, filling in
• 54:10
  Speaker 1: the rose, and the guide makes her way to the
• 54:13
  Speaker 1: driver's seat. As the van turns on, the air conditioning
• 54:20
  Speaker 1: immediately starts blowing, reverting throughout the vehicle. The air quickly
• 54:27
  Speaker 1: turns cool, and as you feel the burst of air
• 54:30
  Speaker 1: on your cheeks, you took a deep breath of gratitude.
• 54:38
  Speaker 1: Think back to as the collection of stories from the
• 54:41
  Speaker 1: leaders of the Early Church. In one of these stories,
• 54:46
  Speaker 1: near the end of the Book of Acts, Paul was
• 54:49
  Speaker 1: taken as a prisoner. But while they were on board,
• 54:53
  Speaker 1: an unexpected storm took them off course. Trying to find
• 55:00
  Speaker 1: their bearings, their ship broke apart, often unknown island. Verses
• 55:06
  Speaker 1: one and two of chapter twenty eight in the Book
• 55:09
  Speaker 1: of Acts read, Once safely on shore, we found out
• 55:14
  Speaker 1: that the island was called Malta. The islanders showed us
• 55:18
  Speaker 1: unusual kindness. They built a fire and welcomed us all
• 55:23
  Speaker 1: because it was raining and cold. Just like the apostle Paul,
• 55:31
  Speaker 1: you learn that the island on which you have landed
• 55:34
  Speaker 1: is called Malta, and it is here, surrounded by the
• 55:39
  Speaker 1: beauty of the Mediterranean Sea, that you will walk the
• 55:42
  Speaker 1: same streets once walked by the Apostle and his companions.
• 55:51
  Speaker 1: Your final destination is Saint Paul's Catacombs, a relic of
• 55:56
  Speaker 1: first century history located beneath the streets of Malta. But
• 56:02
  Speaker 1: first you will get to experience the sights and culture
• 56:06
  Speaker 1: of this beautiful country. Even in this simple way of transportation,
• 56:12
  Speaker 1: you consider how very different your experiences from that of Paul.
• 56:18
  Speaker 1: You arrive by plane and climb into a vehicle, whereas
• 56:22
  Speaker 1: he arrived by a boat and explored the island by foot.
• 56:29
  Speaker 1: There are so many things that are different, and yet
• 56:33
  Speaker 1: one thing stays the same. Jesus Christ is the same
• 56:37
  Speaker 1: yesterday and today and forever. The bright orange tour van
• 56:45
  Speaker 1: takes you from the airport straight to the coast, which
• 56:49
  Speaker 1: doesn't take long at all. As she drives, your tour
• 56:53
  Speaker 1: guide shares her knowledge of the island, and you learn
• 56:57
  Speaker 1: that Malta is one of the smallest countries in the world,
• 57:02
  Speaker 1: at just over one hundred and twenty two square miles.
• 57:09
  Speaker 1: The short drive leads you to Marsha Schlock, a small
• 57:13
  Speaker 1: fishing village on the southeast corner of Malta, tucked along
• 57:18
  Speaker 1: the Mediterranean Sea. You climb out of the van and
• 57:22
  Speaker 1: the humidity hits you again, warm upon your skin. This
• 57:28
  Speaker 1: time you not only feel the Mediterranean and the humid air,
• 57:32
  Speaker 1: but you can almost see it. You walk toward the shore,
• 57:40
  Speaker 1: looking around to admire this small village. There are modest
• 57:45
  Speaker 1: homes that line the street, but you instinctively walk toward
• 57:50
  Speaker 1: the noise and commotion, wondering what could be happening by
• 57:54
  Speaker 1: the water. As you round the corner, finally catching sight
• 58:03
  Speaker 1: of the sea, you stop in your tracks. You now
• 58:07
  Speaker 1: know what the commotion was. As your eyes start back
• 58:11
  Speaker 1: and forth from table exhibits to the boats littering the harbor,
• 58:17
  Speaker 1: they lock on the water, where you see dozens, have
• 58:20
  Speaker 1: not hundreds, of small boats anchored near the shore and
• 58:25
  Speaker 1: bobbing up and down in the Mediterranean. As the water
• 58:30
  Speaker 1: ebbs and flows, you are not only struck by the
• 58:36
  Speaker 1: number of boats in the sea, but by the brilliance
• 58:40
  Speaker 1: of the colors and the uniqueness of their design. You
• 58:45
  Speaker 1: walk closer to the shore, mesmerized by what you see
• 58:49
  Speaker 1: in the water. Walking as closely as you can to
• 58:53
  Speaker 1: the water, you simply admire this before you. The sun
• 59:03
  Speaker 1: is still making its way to its eneth, but it's
• 59:06
  Speaker 1: already warm upon your skin. The coolness of the day
• 59:11
  Speaker 1: has yet to turn to heat, and you enjoy the
• 59:15
  Speaker 1: breeze that blows naturally off the sea. Lost in the moment,
• 59:22
  Speaker 1: you don't hear the tour guide walking over, but when
• 59:25
  Speaker 1: you turn you find your standing next to you. Before
• 59:31
  Speaker 1: you have a chance to ask, she is already speaking.
• 59:36
  Speaker 1: These boats are called lutsus. Malta is famous for them.
• 59:44
  Speaker 1: The small boats that fill the harbor are all of
• 59:47
  Speaker 1: similar design. They're small, perhaps only big enough to hold
• 59:52
  Speaker 1: two or three fishermen. They are carvel built wooden boats
• 59:57
  Speaker 1: with a distinct point at the bow in the stern.
• 1:00:04
  Speaker 1: The coloring of the boats is all the same, with
• 1:00:07
  Speaker 1: only slight variations differentiating one from another. The bottom third
• 1:00:13
  Speaker 1: of the boat is a light blue that nearly blends
• 1:00:16
  Speaker 1: in with the sea, especially as it ebbs with the waves.
• 1:00:24
  Speaker 1: The middle third of the boats is all a bright yellow,
• 1:00:28
  Speaker 1: with a thin white edge between it and the blue below.
• 1:00:33
  Speaker 1: There's another thin white edge at the top of the
• 1:00:35
  Speaker 1: yellow coloring, with the final top portion of the boats
• 1:00:40
  Speaker 1: as a brownish red color. Some of the boats have
• 1:00:46
  Speaker 1: the brownish color in the middle and the yellow on top,
• 1:00:51
  Speaker 1: while others still have a brighter red instead of the
• 1:00:55
  Speaker 1: brown in color. Somewhere on nearly every boat you see
• 1:01:00
  Speaker 1: bright green paint. Some have just a line between two
• 1:01:04
  Speaker 1: of the other colors, while others have just a tip
• 1:01:08
  Speaker 1: painted where the rope ties it to the dock. Regardless
• 1:01:16
  Speaker 1: of the placement of each of the colors, they are
• 1:01:19
  Speaker 1: each bright and enticing, collectively turning the harbor into a
• 1:01:24
  Speaker 1: place of joy, and the light the sun shines upon them,
• 1:01:30
  Speaker 1: making them sparkle. As the water glistens on the harbor.
• 1:01:38
  Speaker 1: You think of how many things have changed from the
• 1:01:40
  Speaker 1: time that Paul walk on this island to the time
• 1:01:44
  Speaker 1: in which you now stand. While much has changed, you
• 1:01:50
  Speaker 1: find comfort in one thing that stays the same. Jesus
• 1:01:54
  Speaker 1: Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. You
• 1:02:04
  Speaker 1: turn with your guide and begin walking up the sidewalk
• 1:02:08
  Speaker 1: from the edge of the water back toward the crowd.
• 1:02:12
  Speaker 1: You find yourself at a weekend market in the Marshslock Harbor.
• 1:02:21
  Speaker 1: There are small tables set up along the sidewalk lining
• 1:02:25
  Speaker 1: either side of the pedestrian walkway. Each offer a different
• 1:02:30
  Speaker 1: array of artisan gifts and fresh fruits and vegetables. You
• 1:02:35
  Speaker 1: walk to the first table to admire the jewelry, colorful
• 1:02:40
  Speaker 1: woven bracelets and handmade stone earrings, and an array of
• 1:02:43
  Speaker 1: shapes and styles. You smell the next table before you
• 1:02:50
  Speaker 1: see it, and after walking a little further, you see
• 1:02:54
  Speaker 1: a table filled with a wide array of fish and
• 1:02:58
  Speaker 1: signs indicating that it was just caught over night. Also
• 1:03:04
  Speaker 1: on the table is an assortment of fresh fruits and vegetables.
• 1:03:12
  Speaker 1: There are hundreds of peaches with the crisp yellow color
• 1:03:16
  Speaker 1: fading into a deep red. You reach out and pick
• 1:03:20
  Speaker 1: one up, feeling the slight fuzz of the skin beneath
• 1:03:25
  Speaker 1: your fingers. Beside the peaches is a line of pears
• 1:03:30
  Speaker 1: right on verge of ripeness, with their greenish skin beginning
• 1:03:34
  Speaker 1: to yellow. Next to the pears, you see a row
• 1:03:37
  Speaker 1: of plums with their deep bluish purple coloring. Beside the
• 1:03:43
  Speaker 1: plums are small baskets with tomatoes on the vine, each
• 1:03:47
  Speaker 1: basket containing five or six ripe red tomatoes. Just looking
• 1:03:57
  Speaker 1: at the fresh fruits brings their taste to your mind.
• 1:04:01
  Speaker 1: The sweetness of the peach and the tartness of the
• 1:04:05
  Speaker 1: pear you think of the gift of food that comes
• 1:04:08
  Speaker 1: from the earth, and it makes you wonder with the
• 1:04:12
  Speaker 1: apostle Paul might have ean on his time here so
• 1:04:16
  Speaker 1: long ago. Have the fruits and vegetables grown here stayed
• 1:04:20
  Speaker 1: the same as the soil changed over time, lending farmers
• 1:04:26
  Speaker 1: to favor a different crop. No matter what is changed,
• 1:04:33
  Speaker 1: one thing has stayed the same. Jesus Christ is the
• 1:04:37
  Speaker 1: same yesterday and today and forever. You continue wandering and
• 1:04:48
  Speaker 1: exploring the artisan crafts and the offerings of both the
• 1:04:51
  Speaker 1: farmers and the fishermen, and after exploring the market, you
• 1:04:56
  Speaker 1: make your way back to the group. As you leave
• 1:04:59
  Speaker 1: the Marsiah Market, you take one more look back at
• 1:05:03
  Speaker 1: the harbor. The sun glistening off the water and the
• 1:05:06
  Speaker 1: bright colors of the Lute's boats brings a smile to
• 1:05:10
  Speaker 1: your face. Climbing back into your seat on the bright
• 1:05:17
  Speaker 1: orange van, you look out the window as you ride along,
• 1:05:22
  Speaker 1: noticing the whitewashed buildings that remind you of photos you've
• 1:05:26
  Speaker 1: seen of Greece. There are people walking all about as
• 1:05:30
  Speaker 1: you pass parks and markets in playgrounds filled with children.
• 1:05:36
  Speaker 1: After a short drive, your guide parks and you get
• 1:05:40
  Speaker 1: off the bus with the others. You walk toward a
• 1:05:46
  Speaker 1: building that reminds you of a state capitol or an
• 1:05:49
  Speaker 1: old museum. The building is a sandy brown color with
• 1:05:54
  Speaker 1: countless thin cracks, reminding you that it has stood in
• 1:05:58
  Speaker 1: this place for thousands of years. There's an iron crate
• 1:06:06
  Speaker 1: painted a beige color, and it stands open, creating a
• 1:06:11
  Speaker 1: walkway welcoming you to the entrance. Two tall pillars stand
• 1:06:16
  Speaker 1: on either side of the iron gate, and on the
• 1:06:19
  Speaker 1: left you see a stone sign with the engraved words
• 1:06:24
  Speaker 1: Museum Department, Saint Paul's Catacombs. You walk through the gate
• 1:06:30
  Speaker 1: and into the ancient building. Once inside, you learn that
• 1:06:37
  Speaker 1: the catacombs are ancient underground tombs, once used by the
• 1:06:42
  Speaker 1: Romans for hundreds of years. You're allowed to walk underground,
• 1:06:48
  Speaker 1: taking a dim, dusty staircase downstairs. This underground air is
• 1:06:57
  Speaker 1: musty and cool. The ceiling is low, oh, and you
• 1:07:01
  Speaker 1: have to duck just slightly. But once you are underground
• 1:07:05
  Speaker 1: you see how vast, indeed the space is. There are
• 1:07:09
  Speaker 1: dozens of stone cut arched hallways going down ten or
• 1:07:13
  Speaker 1: twenty yards. As you stand underground in this ancient catacomb,
• 1:07:22
  Speaker 1: you are struck once more. The passing of time and
• 1:07:26
  Speaker 1: the way things come and go. What is now new
• 1:07:34
  Speaker 1: will someday be old, and what is now old will
• 1:07:38
  Speaker 1: soon be ancient. Days turn into years, and years turn
• 1:07:47
  Speaker 1: into centuries, and so much about nations and people and
• 1:07:51
  Speaker 1: cultures will ebb and flow with change, just as air lutes,
• 1:07:57
  Speaker 1: boats ebb and flow in the Mediterranean. See. And with
• 1:08:02
  Speaker 1: all of this change, one thing stays the same. Jesus
• 1:08:07
  Speaker 1: Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. And
• 1:08:18
  Speaker 1: the love of Christ has indeed stayed the same. Jesus
• 1:08:22
  Speaker 1: came and lived a life that you could not, and
• 1:08:25
  Speaker 1: he died the death that you deserved, and he did
• 1:08:30
  Speaker 1: it out of a deep love for you, that you
• 1:08:34
  Speaker 1: might come to know and experience his love. Whether you
• 1:08:41
  Speaker 1: walk the streets of your hometown or travel to the
• 1:08:44
  Speaker 1: tiny island of Malta to walk the streets once walked
• 1:08:48
  Speaker 1: by the Apostle Paul, there is but one unchanging constant
• 1:08:53
  Speaker 1: in your life, the promise of Hebrews thirteen, verse eight.
• 1:08:59
  Speaker 1: Jesus Christrist is the same yesterday and today and forever.
• 1:09:09
  Speaker 1: Lean into the unchanging love of Christ, and find your
• 1:09:13
  Speaker 1: comfort and peace to Him as you rest tonight. Gracious,
• 1:09:20
  Speaker 1: heavenly Father, we are so grateful that you stay the
• 1:09:24
  Speaker 1: same despite the many things that shift and change throughout
• 1:09:29
  Speaker 1: our lives. We find such comfort and the promise that
• 1:09:34
  Speaker 1: Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
• 1:09:41
  Speaker 1: I pray that your beloved child would rest in this
• 1:09:45
  Speaker 1: great promise as they remember your faithfulness. You are good,
• 1:09:52
  Speaker 1: and we will give you all honor and praise in
• 1:09:56
  Speaker 1: the name of Jesus. I pray Amen. No matter where
• 1:10:04
  Speaker 1: the Apostle Paul ended up, whether intentionally or unexpectedly, he
• 1:10:10
  Speaker 1: was sharing the message of Jesus Christ. For Jesus Christ
• 1:10:15
  Speaker 1: is the same yesterday and today and forever. Whether you
• 1:10:22
  Speaker 1: walk the streets of your hometown or travel to the
• 1:10:26
  Speaker 1: tiny island of Malta to walk the streets once walked
• 1:10:29
  Speaker 1: by the Apostle Paul, there is but one unchanging constant
• 1:10:34
  Speaker 1: in your life, the promise of Hebrews thirteenth, verse eight.
• 1:10:40
  Speaker 1: Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
• 1:10:48
  Speaker 1: Let's listen again to this sleep story touring the island
• 1:10:52
  Speaker 1: of Malta. As you recognize that Jesus Christ never changes,
• 1:11:00
  Speaker 1: make another deep breath and get ready to experience the
• 1:11:05
  Speaker 1: wonder of a present day country seeped in biblical history,
• 1:11:13
  Speaker 1: a place where you can walk where the Apostle Paul
• 1:11:16
  Speaker 1: walked and see how a tiny island nation has transformed
• 1:11:23
  Speaker 1: over centuries and yet remains filled with relics of the past.
• 1:11:32
  Speaker 1: You think again of the words recorded by Luke, a
• 1:11:36
  Speaker 1: follower of Jesus, in the Book of Acts. He tells
• 1:11:40
  Speaker 1: the story of the apostle Paul's life in the many
• 1:11:43
  Speaker 1: journeys he took, including one trip when he had been
• 1:11:47
  Speaker 1: arrested by men who wanted to stop the message of
• 1:11:50
  Speaker 1: Christ from spreading. And this story found at the end
• 1:11:55
  Speaker 1: of Acts. We learned that their ship encountered rough seas
• 1:11:59
  Speaker 1: and ended in a shipwreck. You imagine what Paul must
• 1:12:06
  Speaker 1: have been thinking. Paul never planned on being a prisoner
• 1:12:12
  Speaker 1: and shipwrecked on a small island. Surely could not have
• 1:12:16
  Speaker 1: made that trip better. You find comfort in the consistency
• 1:12:23
  Speaker 1: of Christ's character. You know the words of Hebrews are true,
• 1:12:28
  Speaker 1: that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever,
• 1:12:37
  Speaker 1: and in God's goodness, he had a greater purpose in
• 1:12:41
  Speaker 1: the midst of the unexpected changes to Paul's travels, and
• 1:12:45
  Speaker 1: so he has a purpose for you. When your plans
• 1:12:50
  Speaker 1: are interrupted, or when your life isn't going as you
• 1:12:53
  Speaker 1: hoped or imagined it would, you can find rest and
• 1:12:58
  Speaker 1: the promise that indeed Jesus Christ is the same yesterday,
• 1:13:04
  Speaker 1: and today and forever. Now, let your imagination wander, allowing
• 1:13:15
  Speaker 1: your mind to get lost in the story, as I
• 1:13:19
  Speaker 1: take you on a journey to this tiny Mediterranean island.
• 1:13:25
  Speaker 1: You arrive on this beautiful island by plane in the
• 1:13:29
  Speaker 1: early morning hours of an autumn day. As you disembark,
• 1:13:34
  Speaker 1: you smile at the flight attendant and pilot standing by
• 1:13:38
  Speaker 1: the exit door and offer your thanks. The smile in return,
• 1:13:45
  Speaker 1: wishing you a good day and cheery but thick European accents.
• 1:13:53
  Speaker 1: You easily make your way off the jet bridge and
• 1:13:56
  Speaker 1: through the airport, where you are greeted by a tour
• 1:13:59
  Speaker 1: guide and a small group of fellow travelers who share
• 1:14:03
  Speaker 1: your excitement for the upcoming adventure. Learning that you are
• 1:14:10
  Speaker 1: the last arrival, the tour guide instructs the group to
• 1:14:14
  Speaker 1: follow her outside, leading you through the large open air
• 1:14:19
  Speaker 1: concourse and outside to a bright orange fifteen passenger van
• 1:14:25
  Speaker 1: with the name and logo of the tour company scripted
• 1:14:29
  Speaker 1: in a font that catches your eye. As soon as
• 1:14:36
  Speaker 1: you step outside the airport, you feel the warm, humid air.
• 1:14:42
  Speaker 1: Despite summer being over an autumn well on its way,
• 1:14:47
  Speaker 1: This Mediterranean country has the humidity of an island nation. Consequently,
• 1:14:53
  Speaker 1: it's not long before you feel a gentle breeze against
• 1:14:57
  Speaker 1: your skin. You marvel at the joint of a small
• 1:15:00
  Speaker 1: island where you can feel both the warm sunshine and
• 1:15:04
  Speaker 1: the cool autumn breeze at the same time. You climb
• 1:15:11
  Speaker 1: inside the bright orange van, sliding toward the window in
• 1:15:15
  Speaker 1: the first row of seats. The other tourists climb in,
• 1:15:20
  Speaker 1: filling in the rose, and the guide makes her way
• 1:15:23
  Speaker 1: to the driver's seat. As the van turns on, the
• 1:15:30
  Speaker 1: air conditioning immediately starts blowing, reverting throughout the vehicle. The
• 1:15:36
  Speaker 1: air quickly turns cool, and as you feel the burst
• 1:15:40
  Speaker 1: of air on your cheeks, you take a deep breath
• 1:15:43
  Speaker 1: of gratitude. Think back to Acts, the collection of stories
• 1:15:51
  Speaker 1: from the leaders of the early Church. In one of
• 1:15:55
  Speaker 1: these stories, near the end of the Book of Acts,
• 1:15:58
  Speaker 1: Paul was taken as a prey, but while they were
• 1:16:02
  Speaker 1: on board, an unexpected storm took them off course. While
• 1:16:10
  Speaker 1: trying to find their bearings, their ship broke apart, often
• 1:16:14
  Speaker 1: unknown island Verses one and two of Chapter twenty eight
• 1:16:18
  Speaker 1: in the Book of Acts. Read Once safely on shore,
• 1:16:23
  Speaker 1: we found out that the island was called Malta. The
• 1:16:27
  Speaker 1: islanders showed us unusual kindness. They built a fire and
• 1:16:32
  Speaker 1: welcomed us all because it was raining and cold. Just
• 1:16:39
  Speaker 1: like the Apostle Paul, you learn that the island on
• 1:16:43
  Speaker 1: which you have landed is called Malta, and it is here,
• 1:16:48
  Speaker 1: surrounded by the beauty of the Mediterranean Sea, that you
• 1:16:52
  Speaker 1: will walk the same streets once walked by the Apostle
• 1:16:56
  Speaker 1: and his companions. Your final destination is Saint Paul's Catacombs,
• 1:17:05
  Speaker 1: a relic of first century history located beneath the streets
• 1:17:10
  Speaker 1: of Malta. But first you will get to experience the
• 1:17:15
  Speaker 1: sights and culture of this beautiful country. Even in this
• 1:17:20
  Speaker 1: simple way of transportation, you consider how very different your
• 1:17:25
  Speaker 1: experiences from that of Paul. You arrive by plane and
• 1:17:30
  Speaker 1: climb into a vehicle, whereas he arrived by a boat
• 1:17:34
  Speaker 1: and explored the island by foot. There are so many
• 1:17:40
  Speaker 1: things that are different, and yet one thing stays the same.
• 1:17:46
  Speaker 1: Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today, and forever.
• 1:17:54
  Speaker 1: The bright orange tour van takes you from the airport
• 1:17:57
  Speaker 1: straight to the coast, which doesn't take long at all.
• 1:18:01
  Speaker 1: As she drives, your tour guide shares her knowledge of
• 1:18:05
  Speaker 1: the island, and you learn that Malta is one of
• 1:18:09
  Speaker 1: the smallest countries in the world, at just over one
• 1:18:13
  Speaker 1: hundred and twenty two square miles. The short drive leads
• 1:18:21
  Speaker 1: you to Marsha Schlock, a small fishing village on the
• 1:18:25
  Speaker 1: southeast corner of Malta, tucked along the Mediterranean Sea. You
• 1:18:31
  Speaker 1: climb out of the van and the humidity hits you again,
• 1:18:35
  Speaker 1: warm upon your skin. This time you not only feel
• 1:18:40
  Speaker 1: the Mediterranean in the humid air, but you can almost
• 1:18:43
  Speaker 1: see it. You walk toward the shore, looking around to
• 1:18:51
  Speaker 1: admire this small village. There are modest homes that line
• 1:18:56
  Speaker 1: the street, but you instinctively walk toward the noise and commotion,
• 1:19:03
  Speaker 1: wondering what could be happening.
• 1:19:04
  Speaker 2: By the water.
• 1:19:09
  Speaker 1: As you round the corner, finally catching sight of the sea,
• 1:19:15
  Speaker 1: you stop in your tracks. You now know what the
• 1:19:18
  Speaker 1: commotion was. As your eyes start back and forth from
• 1:19:23
  Speaker 1: table exhibits to the boats littering the harbor, they lock
• 1:19:28
  Speaker 1: on the water where you see dozens, if not hundreds,
• 1:19:32
  Speaker 1: of small boats anchored near the shore and bobbing up
• 1:19:37
  Speaker 1: and down in the Mediterranean. As the water ebbs and flows,
• 1:19:44
  Speaker 1: You are not only struck by the number of boats
• 1:19:47
  Speaker 1: in the sea, but by the brilliance of the colors
• 1:19:51
  Speaker 1: and the uniqueness of their design. You walk closer to
• 1:19:56
  Speaker 1: the shore, mesmerized by what you see in the w water.
• 1:20:01
  Speaker 1: Walking as closely as you can to the water, you
• 1:20:08
  Speaker 1: simply admire this scene before you. The sun is still
• 1:20:13
  Speaker 1: making its way to its enteth, but it's already warm
• 1:20:17
  Speaker 1: upon your skin. The coolness of the day has yet
• 1:20:21
  Speaker 1: to turn to heat, and you enjoy the breeze that
• 1:20:25
  Speaker 1: blows naturally off the sea. Lost in the moment, you
• 1:20:32
  Speaker 1: don't hear the tour guide walking over, but when you
• 1:20:35
  Speaker 1: turn you find your standing next to you. Before you
• 1:20:41
  Speaker 1: have a chance to ask, she is already speaking. These
• 1:20:46
  Speaker 1: boats are called lutsus. Malta is famous for them. The
• 1:20:54
  Speaker 1: small boats that fill the harbor are all of similar design.
• 1:20:59
  Speaker 1: They're small, perhaps only big enough to hold two or
• 1:21:02
  Speaker 1: three fishermen. They are carvel built wooden boats with a
• 1:21:07
  Speaker 1: distinct point at the bough in the stern. The coloring
• 1:21:14
  Speaker 1: of the boats is all the same, with only slight
• 1:21:17
  Speaker 1: variations differentiating one from another. The bottom third of the
• 1:21:23
  Speaker 1: boat is a light blue that nearly blends in with
• 1:21:26
  Speaker 1: the sea, especially as it ebbs with the waves. The
• 1:21:34
  Speaker 1: middle third of the boats is all a bright yellow,
• 1:21:38
  Speaker 1: with a thin white edge between it and the blue below.
• 1:21:43
  Speaker 1: There is another thin white edge at the top of
• 1:21:45
  Speaker 1: the yellow coloring, with the final top portion of the
• 1:21:49
  Speaker 1: boats as a brownish red color. Some of the boats
• 1:21:56
  Speaker 1: have the brownish color in the middle and the yellow
• 1:21:59
  Speaker 1: one top, while others still have a brighter red instead
• 1:22:05
  Speaker 1: of the brown and color. Somewhere on nearly every boat
• 1:22:10
  Speaker 1: you see bright green paint. Some have just a line
• 1:22:13
  Speaker 1: between two of the other colors, while others have just
• 1:22:18
  Speaker 1: a tip painted where the rope ties it to the dock.
• 1:22:26
  Speaker 1: Regardless of the placement of each of the colors, they
• 1:22:29
  Speaker 1: are each bright and enticing, collectively turning the harbor into
• 1:22:34
  Speaker 1: a place of joy, and the light the sun shines
• 1:22:39
  Speaker 1: upon them, making them sparkle. As the water glistens on
• 1:22:43
  Speaker 1: the harbor, you think of how many things have changed
• 1:22:50
  Speaker 1: from the time that Paul walk on this island to
• 1:22:54
  Speaker 1: the time in which you now stand. While much has changed.
• 1:23:00
  Speaker 1: You find comfort in one thing that stays the same.
• 1:23:04
  Speaker 1: Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today and forever.
• 1:23:13
  Speaker 1: You turn with your guide and begin walking up the
• 1:23:17
  Speaker 1: sidewalk from the edge of the water back toward the crowd.
• 1:23:22
  Speaker 1: You find yourself at a weekend market in the Marshaslock Harbor.
• 1:23:31
  Speaker 1: There are small tables set up along the sidewalk lining
• 1:23:35
  Speaker 1: either side of the pedestrian walkway. Each offer a different
• 1:23:40
  Speaker 1: array of artisan gifts and fresh fruits and vegetables. You
• 1:23:45
  Speaker 1: walk to the first table to admire the jewelry, colorful
• 1:23:50
  Speaker 1: woven bracelets and handmade stone earrings, and an array of
• 1:23:53
  Speaker 1: shapes and styles. You smell the next table before you
• 1:24:00
  Speaker 1: see it, and after walking a little further, you see
• 1:24:04
  Speaker 1: a table filled with a wide array of fish and
• 1:24:08
  Speaker 1: signs indicating that it was just caught overnight. Also on
• 1:24:14
  Speaker 1: the table is an assortment of fresh fruits and vegetables.
• 1:24:22
  Speaker 1: There are hundreds of peaches, with the crisp yellow color
• 1:24:26
  Speaker 1: fading into a deep red. You reach out and pick
• 1:24:31
  Speaker 1: one up, feeling the slight fuzz of the skin beneath
• 1:24:35
  Speaker 1: your fingers. Beside the peaches is a line of pears
• 1:24:40
  Speaker 1: right on verge of ripeness, with their greenish skin beginning
• 1:24:44
  Speaker 1: to yellow. Next to the pairs, you see a row
• 1:24:47
  Speaker 1: of plums with their deep bluish purple coloring. Beside the
• 1:24:53
  Speaker 1: plums are small baskets with tomatoes on the vine, each
• 1:24:58
  Speaker 1: basket containing five or six ripe red tomatoes. Just looking
• 1:25:07
  Speaker 1: at the fresh fruits brings their taste to your mind.
• 1:25:11
  Speaker 1: The sweetness of the peach and the tartness.
• 1:25:14
  Speaker 2: Of the pear.
• 1:25:16
  Speaker 1: You think of the gift of food that comes from
• 1:25:19
  Speaker 1: the earth, and it makes you wonder with the apostle
• 1:25:22
  Speaker 1: Paul might have eaten on his time here so long ago.
• 1:25:28
  Speaker 1: Have the fruits and vegetables grown here stayed the same
• 1:25:32
  Speaker 1: as the soil changed over time, lending farmers to favor
• 1:25:36
  Speaker 1: a different crop. No matter what is changed, one thing
• 1:25:43
  Speaker 1: has stayed the same. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday
• 1:25:49
  Speaker 1: and today and forever. You continue wandering and exploring the
• 1:25:58
  Speaker 1: artisan crafts and the offerings of both the farmers and
• 1:26:02
  Speaker 1: the fishermen. And after exploring the market, you make your
• 1:26:06
  Speaker 1: way back to the group. As you leave the marshas
• 1:26:10
  Speaker 1: Shlock Market, you take one more look back at the harbor.
• 1:26:14
  Speaker 1: The sun glistening off the water, and the bright colors
• 1:26:17
  Speaker 1: of the Lute's boats brings a smile to your face.
• 1:26:24
  Speaker 1: Climbing back into your seat on the bright orange van,
• 1:26:28
  Speaker 1: you look out the window as you ride along, noticing
• 1:26:32
  Speaker 1: the white washed buildings that remind you of photos you've
• 1:26:36
  Speaker 1: seen of Greece.
• 1:26:38
  Speaker 2: There are people.
• 1:26:39
  Speaker 1: Walking all about as you pass parks and markets in
• 1:26:43
  Speaker 1: playgrounds filled with children. After a short drive, your guide
• 1:26:49
  Speaker 1: parks and you get off the bus with the others.
• 1:26:55
  Speaker 1: You walk toward a building that reminds you of a
• 1:26:57
  Speaker 1: state capitol, ornold Museum. The building has a sandy brown
• 1:27:03
  Speaker 1: color with countless thin cracks, reminding you that it has
• 1:27:08
  Speaker 1: stood in this place for thousands of years. There's an
• 1:27:15
  Speaker 1: iron crate painted a beige color, and it stands open,
• 1:27:20
  Speaker 1: creating a walkway welcoming you to the entrance. Two tall
• 1:27:26
  Speaker 1: pillars stand on either side of the iron gate, and
• 1:27:29
  Speaker 1: on the left you see a stone sign with the
• 1:27:32
  Speaker 1: engraved words Museum Department, Saint Paul's Catacombs. You walk through
• 1:27:39
  Speaker 1: the gate and into the ancient building. Once inside, you
• 1:27:47
  Speaker 1: learn that the catacombs are ancient underground tombs once used
• 1:27:52
  Speaker 1: by the Romans for hundreds of years, you're allowed to
• 1:27:56
  Speaker 1: walk underground, taking a dim, dusty staircase downstairs. This underground
• 1:28:06
  Speaker 1: air is musty and cool. The ceiling is low, and
• 1:28:10
  Speaker 1: you have to duck just slightly. But once you are
• 1:28:15
  Speaker 1: underground you see how fast indeed the space is. There
• 1:28:19
  Speaker 1: are dozens of stone cut arched hallways going down ten
• 1:28:23
  Speaker 1: or twenty yards. As you stand underground in this ancient categom,
• 1:28:32
  Speaker 1: you are struck once more the passing of time and
• 1:28:36
  Speaker 1: the way things come and go. What is now new
• 1:28:44
  Speaker 1: will someday be old, and what is now old will
• 1:28:48
  Speaker 1: soon be ancient. Days turn into years, and years turn
• 1:28:57
  Speaker 1: into centuries, and so much about nations and people and
• 1:29:01
  Speaker 1: cultures will ebb and flow with change, just as a
• 1:29:06
  Speaker 1: Lutzbot's ebb and flow in the Mediterranean Sea. And with
• 1:29:12
  Speaker 1: all of this change, one thing stays the same. Jesus
• 1:29:17
  Speaker 1: Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever, and
• 1:29:28
  Speaker 1: the love of Christ has indeed stayed the same.
• 1:29:31
  Speaker 2: Jesus came and lived a life that.
• 1:29:34
  Speaker 1: You could not, and he died the death that you deserved,
• 1:29:39
  Speaker 1: and he did it out of a deep love for you,
• 1:29:43
  Speaker 1: that you might come to know and experience his love.
• 1:29:50
  Speaker 2: Whether you walk the.
• 1:29:51
  Speaker 1: Streets of your hometown or travel to the tiny island
• 1:29:55
  Speaker 1: of Malta to walk the streets once.
• 1:29:58
  Speaker 2: Walked by the Apostle Paul, there is but.
• 1:30:01
  Speaker 1: One unchanging constant in your life, the promise of Hebrews thirteen,
• 1:30:07
  Speaker 1: verse eight. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today
• 1:30:14
  Speaker 1: and forever. Lean into the unchanging love of Christ, and
• 1:30:23
  Speaker 1: find your comfort and peace to Him as you rest tonight.
• 1:30:30
  Speaker 1: Gracious Heavenly Father, we are so grateful that you stay
• 1:30:34
  Speaker 1: the same despite the many things that shift and change
• 1:30:38
  Speaker 1: throughout our lives. We find such comfort and the promise
• 1:30:44
  Speaker 1: that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
• 1:30:51
  Speaker 1: I pray that your beloved child would rest in this
• 1:30:56
  Speaker 1: great promise as they remember your faithfulness. You are good,
• 1:31:02
  Speaker 1: and we will give you all honor and praise in
• 1:31:06
  Speaker 1: the name of Jesus. I pray amen. No matter where
• 1:31:14
  Speaker 1: the Apostle Paul ended up, whether intentionally or unexpectedly, he
• 1:31:20
  Speaker 1: was sharing the message of Jesus Christ. For Jesus Christ
• 1:31:25
  Speaker 1: is the same yesterday and today and forever. Whether you
• 1:31:32
  Speaker 1: walk the streets of your hometown or travel to the
• 1:31:36
  Speaker 1: tiny island of Malta to walk the streets once walked
• 1:31:39
  Speaker 1: by the Apostle Paul. There is but one unchanging constant
• 1:31:45
  Speaker 1: in your life, the promise of Hebrews thirteenth, verse eight.
• 1:31:50
  Speaker 1: Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
• 1:32:01
  Speaker 1: Tonight you will travel to explore the tiny island of
• 1:32:05
  Speaker 1: Malta in the Mediterranean Sea that de seeped in biblical history.
• 1:32:12
  Speaker 1: As you see this country in the modern day, you
• 1:32:15
  Speaker 1: will hear about the first century world experienced by the
• 1:32:19
  Speaker 1: Apostle Paul. As you see the world of the first
• 1:32:25
  Speaker 1: century Christians in the Apostle Paul, you will be reminded
• 1:32:30
  Speaker 1: that all the days turn slowly into centuries. The words
• 1:32:35
  Speaker 1: of Hebrews thirteen, verse eight remain true throughout it all.
• 1:32:42
  Speaker 1: Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
• 1:32:49
  Speaker 1: The same God that the Apostle Paul worshiped and proclaimed
• 1:32:54
  Speaker 1: wherever he went is the same God that you worship today.
• 1:33:00
  Speaker 1: And you will be reminded of those days of old
• 1:33:03
  Speaker 1: as you walk the very cobblestone streets that Paul walked,
• 1:33:08
  Speaker 1: all the while experiencing the wonder of the beautiful island nation,
• 1:33:16
  Speaker 1: this country of Malta is one you've likely never heard of,
• 1:33:21
  Speaker 1: and were you to attempt to find it on a
• 1:33:23
  Speaker 1: digital map, you would have to zoom, zoom, and zoom
• 1:33:30
  Speaker 1: a little more before finally spotting it just south of Sicily,
• 1:33:35
  Speaker 1: right in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea. Your travel
• 1:33:42
  Speaker 1: is planned, meaning your experience would be much different than
• 1:33:47
  Speaker 1: the apostle Paul's, who once found himself on the island
• 1:33:51
  Speaker 1: unexpectedly after poor weather caused a shipwreck while he was
• 1:33:55
  Speaker 1: a prisoner on his way to Rome. But like Paul,
• 1:34:02
  Speaker 1: you will experience the kindness of the nation's people as
• 1:34:06
  Speaker 1: you remember the unchanging character of Jesus Christ and the
• 1:34:11
  Speaker 1: unfailing love of God. Before we begin our journey, first,
• 1:34:19
  Speaker 1: take a few minutes to prepare yourself for a good
• 1:34:22
  Speaker 1: night of sleep. Turn off your lights and climb into bed,
• 1:34:31
  Speaker 1: finding a comfortable position in which to lie, close your
• 1:34:37
  Speaker 1: eyes and let your head sink into the pillow, and
• 1:34:42
  Speaker 1: point and flex your toes, feeling the stretch in your
• 1:34:47
  Speaker 1: legs and loosening your muscles. Allow the stretch to make
• 1:34:55
  Speaker 1: its way through your whole body, up to your shoulders
• 1:35:00
  Speaker 1: and through your neck.
• 1:35:04
  Speaker 2: Turn your head.
• 1:35:05
  Speaker 1: Slightly back and forth, sinking a little more into your pillow,
• 1:35:14
  Speaker 1: allowing the weight and pressure you have carried through the
• 1:35:17
  Speaker 1: day to dissipate. Now, take a slow, deep breath inhaling
• 1:35:30
  Speaker 1: slowly through your nose and pausing a moment before exhaling
• 1:35:37
  Speaker 1: slowly through your mouth. Take a moment to acknowledge that
• 1:35:44
  Speaker 1: this day has come to a close. There is nothing
• 1:35:49
  Speaker 1: more for you to produce, nothing left for you to
• 1:35:53
  Speaker 1: do but to rest fully in the confidence that the
• 1:35:57
  Speaker 1: Lord your God is in control as we prepare to
• 1:36:05
  Speaker 1: experience the world of the Apostle. Paul rest in his
• 1:36:10
  Speaker 1: words inspired by the Holy Spirit in Philippians four, verses
• 1:36:15
  Speaker 1: six and seven, do not be anxious about anything, but
• 1:36:21
  Speaker 1: in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving. Let your
• 1:36:26
  Speaker 1: requests be made known to God, and the Peace of God,
• 1:36:32
  Speaker 1: which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds.
• 1:36:38
  Speaker 1: In Christ Jesus, surrender any anxieties from your day, any
• 1:36:47
  Speaker 1: worries or concerns, lay them at the feet of Jesus,
• 1:36:53
  Speaker 1: and receive the gift of rest. Tonight, take one more
• 1:36:59
  Speaker 1: moment to reflect on your day and surrender both the
• 1:37:04
  Speaker 1: joys and struggles to your heavenly Father, who cares so
• 1:37:10
  Speaker 1: deeply for you. Let's pray, good and gracious God, our
• 1:37:21
  Speaker 1: loving heavenly Father, thank you for this precious child of yours.
• 1:37:28
  Speaker 1: I know you love them so much and you are
• 1:37:32
  Speaker 1: so proud of them. Thank you for carrying them through
• 1:37:38
  Speaker 1: another day, and for walking beside them through all of
• 1:37:42
  Speaker 1: their joys and through each of their sorrows. I know
• 1:37:48
  Speaker 1: that as they lie down to sleep tonight, there is
• 1:37:52
  Speaker 1: likely much on their mind fighting for their attention, and
• 1:37:57
  Speaker 1: so I ask that you would give them the gift
• 1:38:01
  Speaker 1: of peace tonight. Allow them to fully trust in you,
• 1:38:07
  Speaker 1: embracing the gift of rest that you are giving them tonight.
• 1:38:13
  Speaker 1: Remind them of your goodness and kindness. Let them feel
• 1:38:19
  Speaker 1: the depths of your love and rest in that promise. Tonight, God,
• 1:38:27
  Speaker 1: I give you thanks for the promise that Jesus Christ
• 1:38:31
  Speaker 1: is the same yesterday and today and forever. Thank you
• 1:38:39
  Speaker 1: that in Him we have salvation, comfort, and the truest friend.
• 1:38:46
  Speaker 1: I pray that your beloved child would find rest in
• 1:38:51
  Speaker 1: that friendship tonight as they sleep. Amen, Now take another
• 1:39:02
  Speaker 1: deep breath and get ready to experience the wonder of
• 1:39:08
  Speaker 1: a present day country seeped in biblical history, a place
• 1:39:16
  Speaker 1: where you can walk where the Apostle Paul walked, and
• 1:39:20
  Speaker 1: see how a tiny island nation has transformed over centuries
• 1:39:27
  Speaker 1: and yet remains filled with relics of the past. You
• 1:39:34
  Speaker 1: think again of the words recorded by Luke, a follower
• 1:39:38
  Speaker 1: of Jesus, in the Book of Acts. He tells the
• 1:39:42
  Speaker 1: story of the apostle Paul's life in the many journeys
• 1:39:46
  Speaker 1: he took, including one trip when he had been arrested
• 1:39:50
  Speaker 1: by men who wanted to stop the message of Christ
• 1:39:53
  Speaker 1: from spreading. And this story found at the end of Acts.
• 1:39:58
  Speaker 1: We learned that their ship in encountered rough seas and
• 1:40:02
  Speaker 1: ended in a shipwreck. You imagine what Paul must have
• 1:40:08
  Speaker 1: been thinking. Paul never planned on being a prisoner and
• 1:40:14
  Speaker 1: shipwrecked on a small island. Surely could not have made
• 1:40:18
  Speaker 1: that trip better. You find comfort in the consistency of
• 1:40:25
  Speaker 1: Christ's character. You know the words of Hebrews are true,
• 1:40:30
  Speaker 1: that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever,
• 1:40:39
  Speaker 1: and in God's goodness, he had a greater purpose in
• 1:40:42
  Speaker 1: the midst of the unexpected changes to Paul's travels, and
• 1:40:47
  Speaker 1: so he has a purpose for you when your plans
• 1:40:51
  Speaker 1: are interrupted or when your life isn't going as you
• 1:40:55
  Speaker 1: hoped or imagined it would. You can find rest and
• 1:41:00
  Speaker 1: the promise that indeed Jesus Christ is the same yesterday,
• 1:41:06
  Speaker 1: and today and forever. Now let your imagination wander, allowing
• 1:41:16
  Speaker 1: your mind to get lost in the story as I
• 1:41:20
  Speaker 1: take you on a journey to this tiny Mediterranean island.
• 1:41:27
  Speaker 1: You arrive on this beautiful island by plane in the
• 1:41:30
  Speaker 1: early morning hours of an autumn day. As you disembark,
• 1:41:36
  Speaker 1: you smile at the flight attendant and pilot standing by
• 1:41:40
  Speaker 1: the exit door and offer your thanks a smile in return,
• 1:41:46
  Speaker 1: wishing you a good day and cheery but thick European accents.
• 1:41:54
  Speaker 1: You easily make your way off the jet bridge and
• 1:41:57
  Speaker 1: through the airport. Are greeted by a tour guide and
• 1:42:01
  Speaker 1: a small group of fellow travelers who share your excitement
• 1:42:05
  Speaker 1: for the upcoming adventure. Learning that you are the last arrival,
• 1:42:14
  Speaker 1: the tour guide instructs the group to follow her outside,
• 1:42:18
  Speaker 1: leading you through the large open air concourse and outside
• 1:42:23
  Speaker 1: to a bright orange fifteen passenger van with the name
• 1:42:28
  Speaker 1: and logo of the tour company scripted in a font
• 1:42:32
  Speaker 1: that catches your eye. As soon as you step outside
• 1:42:39
  Speaker 1: the airport, you feel the warm, humid air. Despite summer
• 1:42:45
  Speaker 1: being over an autumn well on its way. This Mediterranean
• 1:42:49
  Speaker 1: country has the humidity of an island nation. Consequently, it's
• 1:42:55
  Speaker 1: not long before you feel a gentle breeze against your skin.
• 1:43:00
  Speaker 1: You marvel at the joy of a small island where
• 1:43:03
  Speaker 1: you can feel both the warm sunshine and the cool
• 1:43:07
  Speaker 1: autumn breeze at the same time. You climb inside the
• 1:43:13
  Speaker 1: bright orange van, sliding toward the window in the first
• 1:43:18
  Speaker 1: row of seats. The other tourists climb in, filling in
• 1:43:22
  Speaker 1: the rose, and the guide makes her way to the
• 1:43:25
  Speaker 1: driver's seat. As the van turns on, the air conditioning
• 1:43:32
  Speaker 1: immediately starts blowing, reverting throughout the vehicle. The air quickly
• 1:43:39
  Speaker 1: turns cool, and as you feel the burst of air
• 1:43:42
  Speaker 1: on your cheeks, you took a deep breath of gratitude.
• 1:43:49
  Speaker 1: Think back to Axe, the collection of stories from the
• 1:43:53
  Speaker 1: leaders of the early Church. In one of these stories,
• 1:43:57
  Speaker 1: near the end of the Book of Acts, Paul was
• 1:44:01
  Speaker 1: taken as a prisoner, but while they were on board,
• 1:44:05
  Speaker 1: an unexpected storm took them off course. While trying to
• 1:44:12
  Speaker 1: find their bearings, their ship broke apart. Often unknown island.
• 1:44:18
  Speaker 1: Verses one and two of chapter twenty eight in the
• 1:44:20
  Speaker 1: Book of Acts read Once safely on shore, we found
• 1:44:26
  Speaker 1: out that the island was called Malta. The islanders showed
• 1:44:30
  Speaker 1: us unusual kindness. They built a fire and welcomed us
• 1:44:35
  Speaker 1: all because it was raining and cold. Just like the
• 1:44:41
  Speaker 1: Apostle Paul, you learn that the island on which you
• 1:44:45
  Speaker 1: have landed is called Malta, and it is here, surrounded
• 1:44:50
  Speaker 1: by the beauty of the Mediterranean Sea, that you will
• 1:44:54
  Speaker 1: walk the same streets once walked by the Apostle and
• 1:44:57
  Speaker 1: his companions. Your final destination is Saint Paul's Catacombs, a
• 1:45:07
  Speaker 1: relic of first century history located beneath the streets of Malta.
• 1:45:13
  Speaker 1: But first you will get to experience the sights and
• 1:45:17
  Speaker 1: culture of this beautiful country. Even in this simple way
• 1:45:22
  Speaker 1: of transportation, you consider how very different your experience is
• 1:45:27
  Speaker 1: from that of Paul. You arrive by plane and climb
• 1:45:32
  Speaker 1: into a vehicle, whereas he arrived by a boat and
• 1:45:36
  Speaker 1: explored the island by foot. There are so many things
• 1:45:42
  Speaker 1: that are different, and yet one thing stays the same.
• 1:45:47
  Speaker 1: Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
• 1:45:56
  Speaker 1: The bright orange tour van takes you from the airport
• 1:45:59
  Speaker 1: straight to the coast, which doesn't take long at all.
• 1:46:03
  Speaker 1: As she drives, your tour guide shares her knowledge of
• 1:46:07
  Speaker 1: the island, and you learn that Malta is one of
• 1:46:11
  Speaker 1: the smallest countries in the world, at just over one
• 1:46:15
  Speaker 1: hundred and twenty two square miles. The short drive leads
• 1:46:23
  Speaker 1: you to Marsha Schlock, a small fishing village on the
• 1:46:26
  Speaker 1: southeast corner of Malta, tucked along the Mediterranean Sea. You
• 1:46:32
  Speaker 1: climb out of the van and the humidity hits you again,
• 1:46:37
  Speaker 1: warm upon your skin. This time you not only feel
• 1:46:42
  Speaker 1: the Mediterranean and the humid air, but you can almost
• 1:46:45
  Speaker 1: see it. You walk toward the shore, looking around to
• 1:46:53
  Speaker 1: admire this small village. There are modest homes that line
• 1:46:58
  Speaker 1: the street, but if you instinctively walk toward the noise
• 1:47:03
  Speaker 1: and commotion, wondering what could be happening by the water.
• 1:47:11
  Speaker 1: As you round the corner, finally catching sight of the sea,
• 1:47:16
  Speaker 1: you stop in your tracks. You now know what the
• 1:47:20
  Speaker 1: commotion was. As your eyes start back and forth from
• 1:47:25
  Speaker 1: table exhibits to the boats littering the harbor, they lock
• 1:47:30
  Speaker 1: on the water, where you see dozens, if not hundreds,
• 1:47:34
  Speaker 1: of small boats anchored near the shore and bobbing up
• 1:47:38
  Speaker 1: and down in the Mediterranean as the water ebbs and flows,
• 1:47:46
  Speaker 1: you are not only struck by the number of boats
• 1:47:49
  Speaker 1: in the sea, but by the brilliance of the colors
• 1:47:53
  Speaker 1: and the uniqueness of their design. You walk closer to
• 1:47:58
  Speaker 1: the shore, arise by what you see in the water.
• 1:48:03
  Speaker 1: Walking as closely as you can to the water, you
• 1:48:10
  Speaker 1: simply admire this scene before you. The sun is still
• 1:48:15
  Speaker 1: making its way to its enneth, but it's already warm
• 1:48:19
  Speaker 1: upon your skin. The coolness of the day has yet
• 1:48:23
  Speaker 1: to turn to heat, and you enjoy the breeze that
• 1:48:27
  Speaker 1: blows naturally off the sea. Lost in the moment, you
• 1:48:34
  Speaker 1: don't hear the tour guide walking over, but when you
• 1:48:37
  Speaker 1: turn you find your standing next to you. Before you
• 1:48:43
  Speaker 1: have a chance to ask, she is already speaking. These
• 1:48:48
  Speaker 1: boats are called lutsus. Malta is famous for them. The
• 1:48:56
  Speaker 1: small boats that fill the harbor are all of similar design.
• 1:49:00
  Speaker 1: They're small, perhaps only big enough to hold two or
• 1:49:04
  Speaker 1: three fishermen. They are carvel built wooden boats with a
• 1:49:09
  Speaker 1: distinct point at the bough in the stern. The coloring
• 1:49:16
  Speaker 1: of the boats is all the same, with only slight
• 1:49:19
  Speaker 1: variations differentiating one from another. The bottom third of the
• 1:49:25
  Speaker 1: boat is a light blue that nearly blends in with
• 1:49:28
  Speaker 1: the sea, especially as it ebbs.
• 1:49:31
  Speaker 2: With the waves.
• 1:49:36
  Speaker 1: The middle third of the boats is all a bright yellow,
• 1:49:39
  Speaker 1: with a thin white edge between it and the blue below.
• 1:49:45
  Speaker 1: There is another thin white edge at the top of
• 1:49:47
  Speaker 1: the yellow coloring, with the final top portion of the
• 1:49:51
  Speaker 1: boats as a brownish red color. Some of the boats
• 1:49:58
  Speaker 1: have the brownish color in the middle and the yellow
• 1:50:01
  Speaker 1: on top, while others still have a brighter red instead
• 1:50:06
  Speaker 1: of the brown and color. Somewhere on nearly every boat
• 1:50:11
  Speaker 1: you see bright green paint. Some have just a line
• 1:50:15
  Speaker 1: between two of the other colors, while others have just
• 1:50:19
  Speaker 1: a tip painted where the rope ties it to the dock.
• 1:50:28
  Speaker 1: Regardless of the placement of each of the colors, they
• 1:50:31
  Speaker 1: are each bright and enticing, collectively turning the harbor into
• 1:50:36
  Speaker 1: a place of joy, and the light the sun shines
• 1:50:41
  Speaker 1: upon them, making them sparkle as the water glistens on
• 1:50:45
  Speaker 1: the harbor. You think of how many things have changed
• 1:50:52
  Speaker 1: from the time that Paul walk on this island to
• 1:50:56
  Speaker 1: the time in which you now stand has changed. You
• 1:51:01
  Speaker 1: find comfort in one thing that stays the same. Jesus
• 1:51:06
  Speaker 1: Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. You
• 1:51:15
  Speaker 1: turn with your guide and begin walking up the sidewalk
• 1:51:19
  Speaker 1: from the edge of the water back.
• 1:51:22
  Speaker 2: Toward the crowd.
• 1:51:24
  Speaker 1: You find yourself at a weekend market in the Marshaslock Harbor.
• 1:51:32
  Speaker 1: There are small tables set up along the sidewalk lining
• 1:51:37
  Speaker 1: either side of the pedestrian walkway. Each offer a different
• 1:51:42
  Speaker 1: array of artisan gifts and fresh fruits and vegetables. You
• 1:51:47
  Speaker 1: walk to the first table to admire the jewelry, colorful
• 1:51:51
  Speaker 1: woven bracelets and handmade stone earrings, and an array of
• 1:51:55
  Speaker 1: shapes and styles. You smell the next table before you
• 1:52:02
  Speaker 1: see it, and after walking a little further, you see
• 1:52:06
  Speaker 1: a table filled with a wide array of fish and
• 1:52:10
  Speaker 1: signs indicating that it was just caught overnight. Also on
• 1:52:16
  Speaker 1: the table is an assortment of fresh fruits and vegetables.
• 1:52:24
  Speaker 1: There are hundreds of peaches with the crisp yellow color
• 1:52:27
  Speaker 1: fading into a deep red. You reach out and pick
• 1:52:32
  Speaker 1: one up, feeling the slight fuzz of the skin beneath
• 1:52:36
  Speaker 1: your fingers. Beside the peaches is a line of pears
• 1:52:42
  Speaker 1: right on verge of ripeness, with their greenish skin beginning
• 1:52:46
  Speaker 1: to yellow. Next to the pears, you see a row
• 1:52:49
  Speaker 1: of plums with their deep bluish purple coloring. Beside the
• 1:52:54
  Speaker 1: plums are small baskets with tomatoes on the vine, each
• 1:53:00
  Speaker 1: containing five or six ripe red tomatoes. Just looking at
• 1:53:09
  Speaker 1: the fresh fruits brings their taste to your mind. The
• 1:53:13
  Speaker 1: sweetness of the peach and the tartness of the pear.
• 1:53:18
  Speaker 1: You think of the gift of food that comes from
• 1:53:20
  Speaker 1: the earth, and it makes you wonder the apostle Paul
• 1:53:25
  Speaker 1: might have eaten on his time here so long ago.
• 1:53:30
  Speaker 1: Have the fruits and vegetables grown here stayed the same
• 1:53:34
  Speaker 1: as the soil changed over time, lending farmers to favor
• 1:53:38
  Speaker 1: a different crop. No matter what is changed, one thing
• 1:53:45
  Speaker 1: has stayed the same. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday
• 1:53:51
  Speaker 1: and today and forever. You continue wandering, exploring the artisan
• 1:54:01
  Speaker 1: crafts and the offerings of both the farmers and the fishermen,
• 1:54:06
  Speaker 1: And after exploring the market, you make your way back
• 1:54:09
  Speaker 1: to the group. As you leave the marshas Shlock Market,
• 1:54:13
  Speaker 1: you take one more look back at the harbor, the
• 1:54:16
  Speaker 1: sun glistening off the water, and the bright colors of
• 1:54:19
  Speaker 1: the lute's boats brings a smile to your face. Climbing
• 1:54:27
  Speaker 1: back into your seat on the bright orange van, you
• 1:54:30
  Speaker 1: look out the window as you ride along, noticing the
• 1:54:34
  Speaker 1: whitewashed buildings that remind you of photos you've seen of Greece.
• 1:54:40
  Speaker 2: There are people.
• 1:54:40
  Speaker 1: Walking all about as you pass parks and markets in
• 1:54:45
  Speaker 1: playgrounds filled with children. After a short drive, your guide
• 1:54:50
  Speaker 1: parks and you get off the bus with the others.
• 1:54:57
  Speaker 1: You walk toward a building that reminds you of a
• 1:54:59
  Speaker 1: state capital or an old museum. The building is a
• 1:55:04
  Speaker 1: sandy brown color with countless thin cracks, reminding you that
• 1:55:09
  Speaker 1: it has stood in this place for thousands of years.
• 1:55:16
  Speaker 1: There's an iron crate painted a beige color, and it
• 1:55:21
  Speaker 1: stands open, creating a walkway welcoming you to the entrance.
• 1:55:27
  Speaker 1: Two tall pillars stand on either side of the iron gate,
• 1:55:31
  Speaker 1: and on the left you see a stone sign with
• 1:55:34
  Speaker 1: the engraved words Museum Department, Saint Paul's Catacombs. You walk
• 1:55:41
  Speaker 1: through the gate and into the ancient building. Once inside,
• 1:55:48
  Speaker 1: you learn that the catacombs are ancient underground tombs once
• 1:55:53
  Speaker 1: used by the Romans for hundreds of years. You're allowed
• 1:55:58
  Speaker 1: to walk underground, taking a dim, dusty staircase downstairs. This
• 1:56:07
  Speaker 1: underground air is musty and cool. The ceiling is low,
• 1:56:12
  Speaker 1: and you have to duck just slightly. But once you
• 1:56:16
  Speaker 1: are underground you see how fast indeed the space is.
• 1:56:21
  Speaker 1: There are dozens of stone cut arched hallways going down
• 1:56:24
  Speaker 1: ten or twenty yards. As you stand underground in this
• 1:56:32
  Speaker 1: ancient catacom, you are struck once more the passing of
• 1:56:36
  Speaker 1: time and the way things come and go. What is
• 1:56:44
  Speaker 1: now new will someday be old, and what is now
• 1:56:49
  Speaker 1: old will soon be ancient. Days turn into years, and
• 1:56:58
  Speaker 1: years turn into centuries, and so much about nations and
• 1:57:02
  Speaker 1: people and cultures will ebb and flow with change, just
• 1:57:08
  Speaker 1: as R. Lutzbot's ebb and flow in the Mediterranean Sea.
• 1:57:14
  Speaker 1: And with all of this change, one thing stays the same.
• 1:57:19
  Speaker 1: Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever,
• 1:57:29
  Speaker 1: and the love of Christ has indeed stayed the same.
• 1:57:33
  Speaker 1: Jesus came and lived a life that you could not,
• 1:57:37
  Speaker 1: and he died the death that you deserved, and he
• 1:57:41
  Speaker 1: did it out of a deep love for you that
• 1:57:45
  Speaker 1: you might come to know and experience his love. Whether
• 1:57:52
  Speaker 1: you walk the streets of your hometown or travel to
• 1:57:56
  Speaker 1: the tiny island of Malta to walk the streets once.
• 1:57:59
  Speaker 2: Walk by the Apostle Paul, there is but.
• 1:58:02
  Speaker 1: One unchanging constant in your life, the promise of Hebrews thirteen,
• 1:58:09
  Speaker 1: verse eight. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today
• 1:58:16
  Speaker 1: and forever. Lean into the unchanging love of Christ, and
• 1:58:24
  Speaker 1: find your comfort and peace to Him as you rest tonight.
• 1:58:31
  Speaker 1: Gracious Heavenly Father, we are so grateful that you stay
• 1:58:36
  Speaker 1: the same despite the many things that shift and change
• 1:58:40
  Speaker 1: throughout our lives. We find such comfort and the promise
• 1:58:46
  Speaker 1: that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
• 1:58:53
  Speaker 1: I pray that your beloved child would rest in this
• 1:58:57
  Speaker 1: great promise as they rem your faithfulness. You are good,
• 1:59:04
  Speaker 1: and we will give you all honor and praise in
• 1:59:08
  Speaker 1: the name of Jesus, I pray amen. No matter where
• 1:59:15
  Speaker 1: the Apostle Paul ended up, whether intentionally or unexpectedly, he
• 1:59:22
  Speaker 1: was sharing the message of Jesus Christ, for Jesus Christ
• 1:59:26
  Speaker 1: is the same yesterday and today and forever. Whether you
• 1:59:34
  Speaker 1: walk the streets of your hometown or travel to the
• 1:59:38
  Speaker 1: tiny island of Malta to walk the streets once walked
• 1:59:41
  Speaker 1: by the Apostle Paul, there is but one unchanging constant
• 1:59:46
  Speaker 1: in your life, the promise of Hebrews thirteen, verse eight.
• 1:59:52
  Speaker 1: Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today and forever.
• 2:00:00
  Speaker 1: Let's listen again to this sleep story touring the island
• 2:00:04
  Speaker 1: of Malta. As you recognize that Jesus Christ never changes,
• 2:00:12
  Speaker 1: take another deep breath and get ready to experience the
• 2:00:18
  Speaker 1: wonder of a present day country seeped in biblical history,
• 2:00:26
  Speaker 1: a place where you can walk where the Apostle Paul
• 2:00:29
  Speaker 1: walked and see how a tiny island nation has transformed
• 2:00:35
  Speaker 1: over centuries and yet remains filled with relics of the past.
• 2:00:44
  Speaker 1: You think again of the words recorded by Luke, a
• 2:00:49
  Speaker 1: follower of Jesus, in the Book of Acts. He tells
• 2:00:52
  Speaker 1: the story of the Apostle Paul's life in the many
• 2:00:56
  Speaker 1: journeys he took, including one trip when he had been
• 2:01:00
  Speaker 1: arrested by men who wanted to stop the message of
• 2:01:03
  Speaker 1: Christ from spreading. And this story found at the end
• 2:01:07
  Speaker 1: of Acts, we learned that their ship encountered rough seas
• 2:01:12
  Speaker 1: and ended in a shipwreck. You imagine what Paul must
• 2:01:18
  Speaker 1: have been thinking. Paul never planned on being a prisoner
• 2:01:24
  Speaker 1: and shipwreck on a small island. Surely could not have
• 2:01:28
  Speaker 1: made that trip better. You find comfort in the consistency
• 2:01:35
  Speaker 1: of Christ's character. You know the words of Hebrews are true,
• 2:01:40
  Speaker 1: that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever,
• 2:01:49
  Speaker 1: and in God's goodness, he had a greater purpose in
• 2:01:53
  Speaker 1: the midst of the unexpected changes to Paul's travels, and
• 2:01:57
  Speaker 1: so he has a purpose for you. When your plans
• 2:02:02
  Speaker 1: are interrupted, or when your life isn't going as you
• 2:02:06
  Speaker 1: hoped or imagined it would, you can find rest and
• 2:02:11
  Speaker 1: the promise that indeed Jesus Christ is the same yesterday
• 2:02:17
  Speaker 1: and today and forever. Now let your imagination wander, allowing
• 2:02:27
  Speaker 1: your mind to get lost in the story as I
• 2:02:31
  Speaker 1: take you on a journey to this tiny Mediterranean island.
• 2:02:37
  Speaker 1: You arrive on this beautiful island by plane in the
• 2:02:41
  Speaker 1: early morning hours of an autumn day. As you disembark,
• 2:02:47
  Speaker 1: you smile at the flight attendant and pilot standing by
• 2:02:51
  Speaker 1: the exit door and offer your thanks. They smile in return,
• 2:02:57
  Speaker 1: wishing you a good day and cheery but fit European accents.
• 2:03:05
  Speaker 1: You easily make your way off the jet bridge and
• 2:03:08
  Speaker 1: through the airport. We are greeted by a tour guide
• 2:03:12
  Speaker 1: and a small group of fellow travelers who share your
• 2:03:15
  Speaker 1: excitement for the upcoming adventure. Learning that you are the
• 2:03:23
  Speaker 1: last arrival, the tour guide instructs the group to follow
• 2:03:27
  Speaker 1: her outside, leading you through the large open air concourse
• 2:03:33
  Speaker 1: and outside to a bright orange fifteen passenger van with
• 2:03:37
  Speaker 1: the name and logo of the tour company scripted in
• 2:03:41
  Speaker 1: a font that catches your eye. As soon as you
• 2:03:49
  Speaker 1: step outside the airport, you feel the warm, humid air,
• 2:03:54
  Speaker 1: despite summer being over, an autumn well on its way.
• 2:03:59
  Speaker 1: This Meditran country as the humidity of an island nation. Consequently,
• 2:04:06
  Speaker 1: it's not long before you feel a gentle breeze against
• 2:04:09
  Speaker 1: your skin. You marvel at the joy of a small
• 2:04:13
  Speaker 1: island where you can feel both the warm sunshine and
• 2:04:17
  Speaker 1: the cool autumn breeze at the same time. You climb
• 2:04:23
  Speaker 1: inside the bright orange van, sliding toward the window in
• 2:04:27
  Speaker 1: the first row of seats. The other tourists climb in,
• 2:04:32
  Speaker 1: filling in the rose, and the guide makes her way
• 2:04:35
  Speaker 1: to the driver's seat. As the van turns on, the
• 2:04:42
  Speaker 1: air conditioning immediately starts blowing, reverting throughout the vehicle. The
• 2:04:48
  Speaker 1: air quickly turns cool, and as you feel the burst
• 2:04:52
  Speaker 1: of air on your cheeks. You take a deep breath
• 2:04:55
  Speaker 1: of gratitude. Think back to as the collection of stories
• 2:05:03
  Speaker 1: from the leaders of the Yearly Church. In one of
• 2:05:07
  Speaker 1: these stories, near the end of the Book of Acts,
• 2:05:10
  Speaker 1: Paul was taken as a prisoner. But while they were
• 2:05:14
  Speaker 1: on board, an unexpected storm took them off course. While
• 2:05:22
  Speaker 1: trying to find their bearings, their ship broke apart, often
• 2:05:26
  Speaker 1: unknown island. Verses one and two of chapter twenty eight
• 2:05:30
  Speaker 1: in the Book of Acts read, Once safely on shore,
• 2:05:36
  Speaker 1: we found out that the island was called Malta. The
• 2:05:39
  Speaker 1: islanders showed us unusual kindness. They built a fire and
• 2:05:44
  Speaker 1: welcomed us all because it was raining and cold. Just
• 2:05:51
  Speaker 1: like the Apostle Paul, you learned that the island on
• 2:05:55
  Speaker 1: which you have landed is called Malta, and it is here,
• 2:06:00
  Speaker 1: surrounded by the beauty of the Mediterranean Sea, that you
• 2:06:04
  Speaker 1: will walk the same streets once walked by the Apostle
• 2:06:08
  Speaker 1: and his companions. Your final destination is Saint Paul's Catacombs,
• 2:06:18
  Speaker 1: a relic of first century history located beneath the streets
• 2:06:22
  Speaker 1: of Malta. But first you will get to experience the
• 2:06:27
  Speaker 1: sights and culture of this beautiful country. Even in this
• 2:06:32
  Speaker 1: simple way of transportation, you consider how very different your
• 2:06:37
  Speaker 1: experiences from that of Paul. You arrive by plane and
• 2:06:42
  Speaker 1: climb into a vehicle, whereas he arrived by a boat
• 2:06:46
  Speaker 1: and explored the island by foot. There are so many
• 2:06:53
  Speaker 1: things that are different, and yet one thing stays the same.
• 2:06:58
  Speaker 1: Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
• 2:07:06
  Speaker 1: The bright orange tour van takes you from the airport
• 2:07:09
  Speaker 1: straight to the coast, which doesn't take long at all.
• 2:07:14
  Speaker 1: As she drives, your tour guide shares her knowledge of
• 2:07:17
  Speaker 1: the island, and you learn that Malta is one of
• 2:07:21
  Speaker 1: the smallest countries in the world, at just over one
• 2:07:26
  Speaker 1: hundred and twenty two square miles. The short drive leads
• 2:07:33
  Speaker 1: you to Marshaeschlock, a small fishing village on the southeast
• 2:07:38
  Speaker 1: corner of Malta, tucked along the Mediterranean Sea. You climb
• 2:07:43
  Speaker 1: out of the van and the humidity hits you again,
• 2:07:47
  Speaker 1: warm upon your skin. This time you not only feel
• 2:07:52
  Speaker 1: the Mediterranean and the humid air, but you can almost
• 2:07:55
  Speaker 1: see it. You walk toward the shore, looking around to
• 2:08:03
  Speaker 1: admire this small village. There are modest homes that line
• 2:08:08
  Speaker 1: the street, but you instinctively walk toward the noise and commotion,
• 2:08:15
  Speaker 1: wondering what could be happening by the water. As you
• 2:08:22
  Speaker 1: round the corner, finally catching sight of the sea, you
• 2:08:27
  Speaker 1: stop in your tracks. You now know what the commotion was.
• 2:08:32
  Speaker 1: As your eyes start back and forth from table exhibits
• 2:08:37
  Speaker 1: to the boats littering the harbor, they lock on the water,
• 2:08:41
  Speaker 1: where you see dozens, if not hundreds, of small boats
• 2:08:46
  Speaker 1: anchored near the shore and bobbing up and down in
• 2:08:50
  Speaker 1: the Mediterranean. As the water ebbs and flows, you are
• 2:08:57
  Speaker 1: not only struck by the number of boats in the sea,
• 2:09:01
  Speaker 1: but by the brilliance of the colors and the uniqueness
• 2:09:05
  Speaker 1: of their design. You walk closer to the shore, mesmerized
• 2:09:11
  Speaker 1: by what you see in the water. Walking as closely
• 2:09:15
  Speaker 1: as you can to the water, you simply admire this
• 2:09:22
  Speaker 1: scene before you. The sun is still making its way
• 2:09:27
  Speaker 1: to its zenith, but it's already warm upon your skin.
• 2:09:32
  Speaker 1: The coolness of the day has yet to turn to heat,
• 2:09:36
  Speaker 1: and you enjoy the breeze that blows naturally off the sea.
• 2:09:43
  Speaker 1: Lost in the moment, you don't hear the tour guide
• 2:09:46
  Speaker 1: walking over, but when you turn you find your standing
• 2:09:50
  Speaker 1: next to you. Before you have a chance to ask,
• 2:09:56
  Speaker 1: she is already speaking. These boats are called lutsus. Malta
• 2:10:02
  Speaker 1: is famous for them. The small boats that fill the
• 2:10:08
  Speaker 1: harbor are all of similar design. They're small, perhaps only
• 2:10:13
  Speaker 1: big enough to hold two or three fishermen. They are
• 2:10:17
  Speaker 1: carvel built wooden boats with a distinct point at the
• 2:10:21
  Speaker 1: bow and the stern. The coloring of the boats is
• 2:10:27
  Speaker 1: all the same, with only slight variations differentiating one from another.
• 2:10:34
  Speaker 1: The bottom third of the boat is a light blue
• 2:10:37
  Speaker 1: that nearly blends in with the sea, especially as it
• 2:10:41
  Speaker 1: ebbs with the waves. The middle third of the boats
• 2:10:48
  Speaker 1: is all a bright yellow, with a thin white edge
• 2:10:52
  Speaker 1: between it and the blue below. There is another thin
• 2:10:56
  Speaker 1: white edge at the top of the yellow coloring, with
• 2:10:59
  Speaker 1: the vinyl top portion of the boats as a brownish
• 2:11:03
  Speaker 1: red color. Some of the boats have the brownish color
• 2:11:10
  Speaker 1: in the middle and the yellow on top, while others
• 2:11:14
  Speaker 1: still have a brighter red instead of the brown and color.
• 2:11:20
  Speaker 1: Somewhere on nearly every boat you see bright green paint.
• 2:11:24
  Speaker 1: Some have just a line between two of the other colors,
• 2:11:28
  Speaker 1: while others have just a tip painted where the rope
• 2:11:32
  Speaker 1: ties it.
• 2:11:33
  Speaker 2: To the dock.
• 2:11:38
  Speaker 1: Regardless of the placement of each of the colors. They
• 2:11:42
  Speaker 1: are each bright and enticing, collectively turning the harbor into
• 2:11:47
  Speaker 1: a place of joy, and the light the sun shines
• 2:11:51
  Speaker 1: upon them, making them sparkle as the water glistens on
• 2:11:55
  Speaker 1: the harbor. You think of how many things have changed
• 2:12:02
  Speaker 1: from the time that Paul walked on this island to
• 2:12:06
  Speaker 1: the time in which you now stand. While much has changed,
• 2:12:12
  Speaker 1: you find comfort in one thing that stays the same.
• 2:12:16
  Speaker 1: Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today and forever.
• 2:12:26
  Speaker 1: You turn with your guide and begin walking up the
• 2:12:29
  Speaker 1: sidewalk from the edge of the water, back toward the crowd.
• 2:12:34
  Speaker 1: You find yourself at a week end market in the
• 2:12:37
  Speaker 1: Marshaslock Harbor. There are small tables set up along the
• 2:12:45
  Speaker 1: sidewalk lining either side of the pedestrian walkway. Each offer
• 2:12:52
  Speaker 1: a different array of artisan gifts and fresh fruits and vegetables.
• 2:12:57
  Speaker 1: You walk to the first table to admire the jewelry,
• 2:13:01
  Speaker 1: colorful woven bracelets and handmade stone earrings, and an array
• 2:13:05
  Speaker 1: of shapes and styles. You smell the next table before
• 2:13:13
  Speaker 1: you see it, and after walking a little further, you
• 2:13:17
  Speaker 1: see a table filled with a wide array of fish
• 2:13:20
  Speaker 1: and signs indicating that it was just caught overnight. Also
• 2:13:26
  Speaker 1: on the table is an assortment of fresh fruits and vegetables.
• 2:13:34
  Speaker 1: There are hundreds of peaches with the crisp yellow color
• 2:13:38
  Speaker 1: fading into a deep red. You reach out and pick
• 2:13:43
  Speaker 1: one up, feeling the slight fuzz of the skin beneath
• 2:13:47
  Speaker 1: your fingers. Beside the peaches is a line of pears
• 2:13:53
  Speaker 1: right on verge of ripeness, with their greenish skin beginning
• 2:13:56
  Speaker 1: to yellow. Next to the pears, you see a row
• 2:14:00
  Speaker 1: of plums with their deep bluish purple coloring. Beside the
• 2:14:05
  Speaker 1: plums are small baskets with tomatoes on the vine, each
• 2:14:10
  Speaker 1: basket containing five or six ripe red tomatoes. Just looking
• 2:14:19
  Speaker 1: at the fresh fruits brings their taste to your mind.
• 2:14:23
  Speaker 1: The sweetness of the peach and the tartness of the pear.
• 2:14:28
  Speaker 1: You think of the gift of food that comes from
• 2:14:31
  Speaker 1: the earth, and it makes you wonder with the apostle
• 2:14:34
  Speaker 1: Paul might have eaten on his time here so long ago.
• 2:14:40
  Speaker 1: Have the fruits and vegetables grown here stayed the same
• 2:14:44
  Speaker 1: as the soil changed over time, lending farmers to favor
• 2:14:49
  Speaker 1: a different crop no matter what is changed, One thing
• 2:14:56
  Speaker 1: has stayed the same. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday
• 2:15:01
  Speaker 1: and today and forever. You continue wandering and exploring the
• 2:15:11
  Speaker 1: artisan crafts and the offerings of both the farmers and
• 2:15:14
  Speaker 1: the fishermen, and after exploring the market, you make your
• 2:15:19
  Speaker 1: way back to the group. As you leave the Marsha
• 2:15:22
  Speaker 1: Shlock Market, you take one more look back at the harbor.
• 2:15:26
  Speaker 1: The sun glistening off the water and the bright colors
• 2:15:29
  Speaker 1: of the Lute's boats brings a smile to your face.
• 2:15:37
  Speaker 1: Climbing back into your seat on the bright orange van,
• 2:15:41
  Speaker 1: you look out the window as you ride along, noticing
• 2:15:45
  Speaker 1: the whitewashed buildings that remind you of photos you've seen
• 2:15:49
  Speaker 1: of Greece. There are people walking all about as you
• 2:15:52
  Speaker 1: pass parks and markets in playgrounds filled with children. After
• 2:15:59
  Speaker 1: a short drive, your guide parks and you get off
• 2:16:03
  Speaker 1: the bus with the others. You walk toward a building
• 2:16:09
  Speaker 1: that reminds you of a state capitol or an old museum.
• 2:16:13
  Speaker 1: The building is a sandy brown color with countless thin cracks,
• 2:16:18
  Speaker 1: reminding you that it has stood in this place for
• 2:16:22
  Speaker 1: thousands of years. There's an iron crate painted a beige color,
• 2:16:31
  Speaker 1: and it stands open, creating a walkway welcoming you to
• 2:16:35
  Speaker 1: the entrance. Two tall pillars stand on either side of
• 2:16:40
  Speaker 1: the iron gate, and on the left you see a
• 2:16:43
  Speaker 1: stone sign with the engraved words Museum Department, Saint Paul's Catacombs.
• 2:16:51
  Speaker 1: You walk through the gate and into the ancient building.
• 2:16:57
  Speaker 1: Once inside, you learn that the catacombs are ancient underground tombs,
• 2:17:03
  Speaker 1: once used by the Romans for hundreds of years.
• 2:17:08
  Speaker 2: You're allowed to walk.
• 2:17:09
  Speaker 1: Underground, taking a dim, dusty staircase downstairs. This underground air
• 2:17:19
  Speaker 1: is musty and cool. The ceiling is low and you
• 2:17:23
  Speaker 1: have to duck just slightly. But once you are underground
• 2:17:28
  Speaker 1: you see how fast, indeed the space is. There are
• 2:17:32
  Speaker 1: dozens of stone cut arched hallways going down ten or
• 2:17:36
  Speaker 1: twenty yards. As you stand underground in this ancient catacomb,
• 2:17:44
  Speaker 1: you are struck once more the passing of time and
• 2:17:48
  Speaker 1: the way things come and go. What is now new
• 2:17:56
  Speaker 1: will someday be old, and what is now old will
• 2:18:00
  Speaker 1: soon be ancient. Days turn into years, and years turn
• 2:18:09
  Speaker 1: into centuries, and so much about nations and people and
• 2:18:14
  Speaker 1: cultures will ebb and flow with change, just as a
• 2:18:19
  Speaker 1: Lutzbot's ebb and flow in the Mediterranean Sea. And with
• 2:18:24
  Speaker 1: all of this change, one thing stays the same. Jesus
• 2:18:30
  Speaker 1: Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever, And
• 2:18:40
  Speaker 1: the love of Christ has indeed stayed the same. Jesus
• 2:18:44
  Speaker 1: came and lived a life that you could not, and
• 2:18:47
  Speaker 1: he died the death that you deserved, and he did
• 2:18:52
  Speaker 1: it out of a deep love for you, that you
• 2:18:56
  Speaker 1: might come to know and experience his love. Whether you
• 2:19:03
  Speaker 1: walk the streets of your hometown or travel to the
• 2:19:07
  Speaker 1: tiny island of Malta to walk the streets once walked
• 2:19:10
  Speaker 1: by the Apostle Paul, there is but one unchanging constant
• 2:19:15
  Speaker 1: in your life, the promise of Hebrews thirteen, verse eight.
• 2:19:21
  Speaker 1: Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
• 2:19:31
  Speaker 1: Lean into the unchanging love of Christ and find your
• 2:19:36
  Speaker 1: comfort and peace to Him as you rest tonight. Gracious
• 2:19:42
  Speaker 1: Heavenly Father, we are so grateful that you stay the same.
• 2:19:47
  Speaker 1: Despite the many things that shift and change throughout our lives.
• 2:19:53
  Speaker 1: We find such comfort and the promise that Jesus Christ
• 2:19:58
  Speaker 1: is the same yesterday and today and forever.
• 2:20:04
  Speaker 2: I pray that your.
• 2:20:05
  Speaker 1: Beloved child would rest in this great promise as they
• 2:20:10
  Speaker 1: remember your faithfulness. You are good, and we will give
• 2:20:15
  Speaker 1: you all honor and praise in the name of Jesus.
• 2:20:19
  Speaker 1: I pray Amen. No matter where the Apostle Paul ended up,
• 2:20:28
  Speaker 1: whether intentionally or unexpectedly, he was sharing the message of
• 2:20:33
  Speaker 1: Jesus Christ. For Jesus Christ is the same, yesterday and
• 2:20:39
  Speaker 1: today and forever. Whether you walk the streets of your
• 2:20:46
  Speaker 1: hometown or travel to the tiny island of Malta to
• 2:20:50
  Speaker 1: walk the streets once walked by the Apostle Paul, there
• 2:20:54
  Speaker 1: is but one unchanging constant in your life, the promise
• 2:20:59
  Speaker 1: of Hebrews thirteenth, verse eight. Jesus Christ is the same,
• 2:21:04
  Speaker 1: yesterday and today and forever. Let's listen again to this
• 2:21:12
  Speaker 1: sleep story touring the island of Malta. As you recognize
• 2:21:16
  Speaker 1: that Jesus Christ never changes, take another deep breath and
• 2:21:25
  Speaker 1: get ready to experience the wonder of a present day
• 2:21:29
  Speaker 1: country seeped in biblical history, a place where you can
• 2:21:37
  Speaker 1: walk where the Apostle Paul walked, and see how a
• 2:21:42
  Speaker 1: tiny island nation has transformed over centuries and yet remains
• 2:21:49
  Speaker 1: filled with relics of the past. You think again of
• 2:21:55
  Speaker 1: the words recorded by Luke, a follower of Jesus, in
• 2:22:01
  Speaker 1: the Book of Acts he tells the story of the
• 2:22:03
  Speaker 1: apostle Paul's life in the many journeys he took, including
• 2:22:08
  Speaker 1: one trip when he had been arrested by men who
• 2:22:11
  Speaker 1: wanted to stop the message of Christ from spreading. In
• 2:22:15
  Speaker 1: this story found at the end of Acts, we learned
• 2:22:19
  Speaker 1: that their ship encountered rough seas and ended in a shipwreck.
• 2:22:27
  Speaker 1: You imagine what Paul must have been thinking. Paul never
• 2:22:32
  Speaker 1: planned on being a prisoner and shipwreck on a small island.
• 2:22:37
  Speaker 1: Surely could not have made that trip better. You find
• 2:22:43
  Speaker 1: comfort in the consistency of Christ's character. You know the
• 2:22:48
  Speaker 1: words of Hebrews are true, that Jesus Christ is the
• 2:22:52
  Speaker 1: same yesterday and today and forever. In God's goodness, he
• 2:23:02
  Speaker 1: had a greater purpose in the midst of the unexpected
• 2:23:05
  Speaker 1: changes to Paul's travels, and so he has a purpose
• 2:23:10
  Speaker 1: for you. When your plans are interrupted, or when your
• 2:23:14
  Speaker 1: life isn't going as you hoped or imagined it would,
• 2:23:19
  Speaker 1: you can find rest and the promise that indeed Jesus
• 2:23:24
  Speaker 1: Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Now
• 2:23:34
  Speaker 1: let your imagination wander, allowing your mind to get lost
• 2:23:39
  Speaker 1: in the story, as I take you on a journey
• 2:23:42
  Speaker 1: to this tiny Mediterranean island. You arrive on this beautiful
• 2:23:50
  Speaker 1: island by plane in the early morning hours of an
• 2:23:53
  Speaker 1: autumn day. As you disembark, you smile at the flight
• 2:23:58
  Speaker 1: attendant and pilot standing by the exit door and offer
• 2:24:03
  Speaker 1: your thanks. A smile in return, wishing you a good
• 2:24:08
  Speaker 1: day and cheery but thick European accents. You easily make
• 2:24:16
  Speaker 1: your way off the jet bridge and through the airport.
• 2:24:20
  Speaker 1: We are greeted by a tour guide and a small
• 2:24:22
  Speaker 1: group of fellow travelers who share your excitement for the
• 2:24:26
  Speaker 1: upcoming adventure. Learning that you are the last arrival, the
• 2:24:35
  Speaker 1: tour guide instructs the group to follow her outside, leading
• 2:24:39
  Speaker 1: you through the large open air concourse and outside to
• 2:24:44
  Speaker 1: a bright orange fifteen passenger van with the name and
• 2:24:49
  Speaker 1: logo of the tour company scripted in a font that
• 2:24:53
  Speaker 1: catches your eye. As soon as you step outside the airport,
• 2:25:01
  Speaker 1: you feel the warm, humid air. Despite summer being over
• 2:25:06
  Speaker 1: an autumn while on its way, this Mediterranean country has
• 2:25:11
  Speaker 1: the humidity of an island nation. Consequently, it's not long
• 2:25:16
  Speaker 1: before you feel a gentle breeze against your skin. You
• 2:25:21
  Speaker 1: marvel at the joy of a small island where you
• 2:25:24
  Speaker 1: can feel both the warm sunshine and the cool autumn
• 2:25:28
  Speaker 1: breeze at the same time. You climb inside the bright
• 2:25:34
  Speaker 1: orange van, sliding toward the window in the first row
• 2:25:38
  Speaker 1: of seats. The other tourists climb in, filling in the rose,
• 2:25:44
  Speaker 1: and the guide makes her way to the driver's seat.
• 2:25:50
  Speaker 1: As the van turns on, the air conditioning immediately starts blowing,
• 2:25:55
  Speaker 1: reverting throughout the vehicle. The air quickly turns quo, and
• 2:26:01
  Speaker 1: as you feel the burst of air on your cheeks,
• 2:26:04
  Speaker 1: you took a deep breath of gratitude. Think back to
• 2:26:11
  Speaker 1: as the collection of stories from the leaders of the
• 2:26:14
  Speaker 1: Early Church. In one of these stories, near the end
• 2:26:19
  Speaker 1: of the Book of Acts, Paul was taken as a prisoner.
• 2:26:23
  Speaker 1: But while they were on board, an unexpected storm took
• 2:26:27
  Speaker 1: them off course. While trying to find their bearings, their
• 2:26:34
  Speaker 1: ship broke apart. Often Unknown Island Verses one in two
• 2:26:39
  Speaker 1: of chapter twenty eight in the Book of Acts, read
• 2:26:43
  Speaker 1: Once safely on shore, we found out that the island
• 2:26:47
  Speaker 1: was called Malta. The islanders showed us unusual kindness. They
• 2:26:53
  Speaker 1: built a fire and welcomed us all because it was
• 2:26:56
  Speaker 1: raining and cold, Just like the Apostle Paul. You learn
• 2:27:04
  Speaker 1: that the island on which you have landed is called Malta,
• 2:27:09
  Speaker 1: and it is here, surrounded by the beauty of the
• 2:27:12
  Speaker 1: Mediterranean Sea, that you will walk the same streets once
• 2:27:17
  Speaker 1: walked by the Apostle and his companions. Your final destination
• 2:27:25
  Speaker 1: is Saint Paul's Catacombs, a relic of first century history
• 2:27:31
  Speaker 1: located beneath the streets of Malta. But first you will
• 2:27:36
  Speaker 1: get to experience the sites and culture of this beautiful country.
• 2:27:41
  Speaker 1: Even in this simple way of transportation, you consider how
• 2:27:46
  Speaker 1: very different your experiences from that of Paul. You arrive
• 2:27:51
  Speaker 1: by plane and climb into a vehicle, whereas he arrived
• 2:27:55
  Speaker 1: by a boat and explored the island by foot. There
• 2:28:02
  Speaker 1: are so many things that are different, and yet one
• 2:28:05
  Speaker 1: thing stays the same. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday
• 2:28:11
  Speaker 1: and today and forever. The bright orange tour van takes
• 2:28:18
  Speaker 1: you from the airport straight to the coast, which doesn't
• 2:28:22
  Speaker 1: take long at all. As she drives, your tour guide
• 2:28:26
  Speaker 1: shares her knowledge of the island, and you learn that
• 2:28:30
  Speaker 1: Malta is one of the smallest countries in the world,
• 2:28:34
  Speaker 1: at just over one hundred and twenty two square miles.
• 2:28:42
  Speaker 2: The shore.
• 2:28:42
  Speaker 1: Drive leads you to Marsha Schlock, a small fishing village
• 2:28:47
  Speaker 1: on the southeast corner of Malta, tucked along the Mediterranean Sea.
• 2:28:53
  Speaker 1: You climb out of the van and the humidity hits
• 2:28:56
  Speaker 1: you again, warm upon your skin. This time you not
• 2:29:01
  Speaker 1: only feel the Mediterranean and the humid air, but you
• 2:29:05
  Speaker 1: can almost see it. You walk toward the shore, looking
• 2:29:13
  Speaker 1: around to admire this small village. There are modest homes
• 2:29:18
  Speaker 1: that line the street, but you instinctively walk toward the
• 2:29:22
  Speaker 1: noise and commotion, wondering what could be happening by the water.
• 2:29:32
  Speaker 1: As you round the corner, finally catching sight of the sea,
• 2:29:37
  Speaker 1: you stop in your tracks. You now know what the
• 2:29:41
  Speaker 1: commotion was. As your eyes start back and forth from
• 2:29:45
  Speaker 1: table exhibits to the boats littering the harbor, they lock
• 2:29:50
  Speaker 1: on the water, where you see dozens, if not hundreds,
• 2:29:54
  Speaker 1: of small boats anchored near the shore and bobbing up
• 2:29:59
  Speaker 1: and down and the Mediterranean. As the water ebbs and flows,
• 2:30:07
  Speaker 1: you are not only struck by the number of boats
• 2:30:09
  Speaker 1: in the sea, but by the brilliance of the colors
• 2:30:14
  Speaker 1: and the uniqueness of their design. You walk closer to
• 2:30:18
  Speaker 1: the shore, mesmerized by what you see in the water.
• 2:30:23
  Speaker 1: Walking as closely as you can to the water, you
• 2:30:31
  Speaker 1: simply admire this scene before you. The sun is still
• 2:30:36
  Speaker 1: making its way to its eneth, but it's already warm
• 2:30:40
  Speaker 1: upon your skin. The coolness of the day has yet
• 2:30:44
  Speaker 1: to turn to heat, and you enjoy the breeze that
• 2:30:48
  Speaker 1: blows naturally off the sea. Lost in the moment, you
• 2:30:55
  Speaker 1: don't hear the tour guide walking over, but when you
• 2:30:58
  Speaker 1: turn you find your stet to you. Before you have
• 2:31:04
  Speaker 1: a chance to ask, she is already speaking. These boats
• 2:31:09
  Speaker 1: are called lutsus. Malta is famous for them. The small
• 2:31:17
  Speaker 1: boats that fill the harbor are all of similar design.
• 2:31:21
  Speaker 1: They're small, perhaps only big enough to hold two or
• 2:31:25
  Speaker 1: three fishermen. They are carvel built wooden boats with a
• 2:31:29
  Speaker 1: distinct point at the bow in the stern. The coloring
• 2:31:37
  Speaker 1: of the boats is all the same, with only slight
• 2:31:40
  Speaker 1: variations differentiating one from another. The bottom third of the
• 2:31:45
  Speaker 1: boat is a light blue that nearly blends in with
• 2:31:49
  Speaker 1: the sea, especially as it ebbs with the waves. The
• 2:31:56
  Speaker 1: middle third of the boats is all a bright yellow,
• 2:32:00
  Speaker 1: the thin white edge between it and the blue below.
• 2:32:05
  Speaker 1: There is another thin white edge at the top of
• 2:32:08
  Speaker 1: the yellow coloring, with the final top portion of the
• 2:32:11
  Speaker 1: boats has a brownish red color. Some of the boats
• 2:32:19
  Speaker 1: have the brownish color in the middle and the yellow
• 2:32:22
  Speaker 1: on top, while others still have a brighter red instead
• 2:32:27
  Speaker 1: of the brown in color. Somewhere on nearly every boat
• 2:32:32
  Speaker 1: you see bright green paint. Some have just a line
• 2:32:36
  Speaker 1: between two of the other colors, while others have just
• 2:32:40
  Speaker 1: a tip painted where the rope ties it to the dock.
• 2:32:48
  Speaker 1: Regardless of the placement of each of the colors, they
• 2:32:52
  Speaker 1: are each bright and enticing, collectively turning the harbor into
• 2:32:57
  Speaker 1: a place of joy, and the light the sun shines
• 2:33:01
  Speaker 1: upon them, making them sparkle as the water glistens on
• 2:33:05
  Speaker 1: the harbor. You think of how many things have changed
• 2:33:12
  Speaker 1: from the time that Paul walked on this island to
• 2:33:16
  Speaker 1: the time in which you now stand. While much has changed,
• 2:33:22
  Speaker 1: you find comfort in one thing that stays the same.
• 2:33:26
  Speaker 1: Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
• 2:33:36
  Speaker 1: You turn with your guide and begin walking up the
• 2:33:39
  Speaker 1: sidewalk from the edge of the water back.
• 2:33:42
  Speaker 2: Toward the crowd.
• 2:33:45
  Speaker 1: You find yourself at a weekend market in the Marshaslock Harbor.
• 2:33:53
  Speaker 1: There are small tables set up along the sidewalk lining
• 2:33:58
  Speaker 1: either side of the pedestrian walkway. Each offer a different
• 2:34:03
  Speaker 1: array of artisan gifts and fresh fruits and vegetables. You
• 2:34:08
  Speaker 1: walk to the first table to admire the jewelry, colorful
• 2:34:12
  Speaker 1: woven bracelets and handmade stone earrings, and an array of
• 2:34:16
  Speaker 1: shapes and styles. You smell the next table before you
• 2:34:23
  Speaker 1: see it, and after walking a little further, you see
• 2:34:27
  Speaker 1: a table filled with a wide array of fish and
• 2:34:30
  Speaker 1: signs indicating that it was just caught overnight. Also on
• 2:34:36
  Speaker 1: the table as an assortment of fresh fruits and vegetables,
• 2:34:44
  Speaker 1: there are hundreds of peaches with the crisp yellow color
• 2:34:48
  Speaker 1: fading into a deep red. You reach out and pick
• 2:34:53
  Speaker 1: one up, feeling the slight fuzz of the skin beneath
• 2:34:57
  Speaker 1: your fingers. Besides the peaches is a line of pears
• 2:35:03
  Speaker 1: right on verge of ripeness, with their greenish skin beginning
• 2:35:06
  Speaker 1: to yellow. Next to the pears, you see a row
• 2:35:10
  Speaker 1: of plums with their deep bluish purple coloring. Beside the
• 2:35:15
  Speaker 1: plums are small baskets with tomatoes on the vine, each
• 2:35:20
  Speaker 1: basket containing five or six ripe red tomatoes. Just looking
• 2:35:29
  Speaker 1: at the fresh fruits brings their taste to your mind,
• 2:35:33
  Speaker 1: the sweetness of the peach and the tartness.
• 2:35:37
  Speaker 2: Of the pear.
• 2:35:38
  Speaker 1: You think of the gift of food that comes from
• 2:35:41
  Speaker 1: the earth, and it makes you wonder with the apostle
• 2:35:45
  Speaker 1: Paul might have eaten on his time here so long ago.
• 2:35:50
  Speaker 1: Have the fruits and vegetables grown here stayed the same
• 2:35:54
  Speaker 1: as the soil changed over time, lending farmers to favor
• 2:35:59
  Speaker 1: a different crop. No matter what is changed, one thing
• 2:36:06
  Speaker 1: has stayed the same. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday
• 2:36:11
  Speaker 1: and today and forever. You continue wandering and exploring the
• 2:36:21
  Speaker 1: artisan crafts and the offerings of both the farmers and
• 2:36:24
  Speaker 1: the fishermen. Then, after exploring the market, you make your
• 2:36:29
  Speaker 1: way back to the group. As you leave the Martia
• 2:36:32
  Speaker 1: Shlock Market, you take one more look back at the harbor.
• 2:36:36
  Speaker 1: The sun glistening off the water and the bright colors
• 2:36:39
  Speaker 1: of the Lute's boats brings a smile to your face.
• 2:36:47
  Speaker 1: Climbing back into your seat on the bright orange van,
• 2:36:51
  Speaker 1: you look out the window as you ride along, noticing
• 2:36:55
  Speaker 1: the whitewashed buildings that remind you of photos you've seen
• 2:36:59
  Speaker 1: of Greece.
• 2:37:00
  Speaker 2: There are people.
• 2:37:01
  Speaker 1: Walking all about as you pass parks, and markets in
• 2:37:05
  Speaker 1: playgrounds filled with children. After a short drive, your guide
• 2:37:11
  Speaker 1: parks and you get off the bus with the others.
• 2:37:17
  Speaker 1: You walk toward a building that reminds you of a
• 2:37:20
  Speaker 1: state capitol or an old museum. The building is a
• 2:37:25
  Speaker 1: sandy brown color with countless thin cracks, reminding you that
• 2:37:30
  Speaker 1: it has stood in this place for thousands of years.
• 2:37:37
  Speaker 1: There is an iron crate painted a beige color, and
• 2:37:41
  Speaker 1: it stands open, creating a walkway welcoming you to the entrance.
• 2:37:47
  Speaker 1: Two tall pillars stand on either side of the iron gate,
• 2:37:51
  Speaker 1: and on the left you see a stone sign with
• 2:37:54
  Speaker 1: the engraved words Museum Department, Saint Paul's Catacombs. You walk
• 2:38:02
  Speaker 1: through the gate and into the ancient building. Once inside,
• 2:38:09
  Speaker 1: you learn that the catacombs are ancient underground tombs, once
• 2:38:14
  Speaker 1: used by the Romans for hundreds of years. You're allowed
• 2:38:18
  Speaker 1: to walk underground, taking a dim, dusty staircase downstairs. This
• 2:38:28
  Speaker 1: underground air is musty and cool. The ceiling is low
• 2:38:33
  Speaker 1: and you have to duck just slightly. But once you
• 2:38:37
  Speaker 1: are underground you see how vast, indeed the space is.
• 2:38:41
  Speaker 1: There are dozens of stone cut arched hallways going down
• 2:38:45
  Speaker 1: ten or twenty yards. As you stand underground in this
• 2:38:52
  Speaker 1: ancient catacomb, you are struck once more the passing of
• 2:38:57
  Speaker 1: time and the way things come and go. What is
• 2:39:05
  Speaker 1: now new will someday be old, and what is now
• 2:39:09
  Speaker 1: old will soon be ancient. Days turn into years, and
• 2:39:18
  Speaker 1: years turn into centuries, and so much about nations and
• 2:39:23
  Speaker 1: people and cultures will ebb and flow with change, just
• 2:39:28
  Speaker 1: as their Lutzbot's ebb and flow in the Mediterranean Sea.
• 2:39:34
  Speaker 1: And with all of this change, one thing stays the same.
• 2:39:39
  Speaker 1: Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever,
• 2:39:50
  Speaker 1: And the love of Christ has indeed stayed the same.
• 2:39:53
  Speaker 1: Jesus came and lived a life that you could not,
• 2:39:57
  Speaker 1: and he died the death that you did served, and
• 2:40:01
  Speaker 1: he did it out of a deep love for you,
• 2:40:06
  Speaker 1: that you might come to know and experience his love.
• 2:40:13
  Speaker 1: Whether you walk the streets of your hometown or travel
• 2:40:16
  Speaker 1: to the tiny island of Malta to walk the streets once.
• 2:40:20
  Speaker 2: Walked by the apostle Paul, there is.
• 2:40:23
  Speaker 1: But one unchanging constant.
• 2:40:25
  Speaker 2: In your life, the.
• 2:40:27
  Speaker 1: Promise of Hebrews thirteen, verse eight. Jesus Christ is the
• 2:40:33
  Speaker 1: same yesterday and today and forever. Lean into the unchanging
• 2:40:43
  Speaker 1: love of Christ, and find your comfort and peace to
• 2:40:47
  Speaker 1: Him as you rest tonight. Gracious Heavenly Father, we are
• 2:40:55
  Speaker 1: so grateful that you stay the same despite the many
• 2:40:59
  Speaker 1: things that shift and change throughout our lives. We find
• 2:41:04
  Speaker 1: such comfort in the promise that Jesus Christ is the
• 2:41:08
  Speaker 1: same yesterday and today and forever. I pray that your
• 2:41:16
  Speaker 1: beloved child would rest in this great promise as they
• 2:41:20
  Speaker 1: remember your faithfulness. You are good, and we will give
• 2:41:25
  Speaker 1: you all honor and praise in the name of Jesus.
• 2:41:29
  Speaker 1: I pray amen. No matter where the Apostle Paul ended up,
• 2:41:38
  Speaker 1: whether intentionally or unexpectedly, he was sharing the message of
• 2:41:43
  Speaker 1: Jesus Christ. For Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and
• 2:41:49
  Speaker 1: today and forever. Whether you walk the streets of your
• 2:41:56
  Speaker 1: hometown or travel to the tiny island of Malta to
• 2:42:00
  Speaker 1: walk the streets once walked by the Apostle Paul, there
• 2:42:04
  Speaker 1: is but one unchanging constant in your life, the promise
• 2:42:09
  Speaker 1: of Hebrews thirteenth, verse eight. Jesus Christ is the same
• 2:42:15
  Speaker 1: yesterday and today and forever. Let's listen again to this
• 2:42:22
  Speaker 1: sleep story.
• 2:42:23
  Speaker 2: Touring the island.
• 2:42:24
  Speaker 1: Of Malta, as you recognize that Jesus Christ never changes.
• 2:42:32
  Speaker 1: Take another deep breath, and get ready to experience the
• 2:42:38
  Speaker 1: wonder of a present day country seeped in biblical history,
• 2:42:46
  Speaker 1: a place where you can walk where the Apostle Paul walked,
• 2:42:50
  Speaker 1: and see how a tiny island nation has transformed over
• 2:42:56
  Speaker 1: centuries and yet remains filled with relics of the past.
• 2:43:05
  Speaker 1: You think again of the words recorded by Luke, a
• 2:43:09
  Speaker 1: follower of Jesus, in the Book of Acts. He tells
• 2:43:12
  Speaker 1: the story of the apostle Paul's life in the many
• 2:43:16
  Speaker 1: journeys he took, including one trip when he had been
• 2:43:20
  Speaker 1: arrested by men who wanted to stop the message of
• 2:43:23
  Speaker 1: Christ from spreading. In this story found at the end
• 2:43:27
  Speaker 1: of Acts, we learned that their ship encountered rough seas
• 2:43:32
  Speaker 1: and ended in a shipwreck. You imagine what Paul must
• 2:43:38
  Speaker 1: have been thinking. Paul never planned on being a prisoner
• 2:43:44
  Speaker 1: and shipwrecked on a small island. Surely could not have
• 2:43:48
  Speaker 1: made that trip better. You find comfort in the consistency
• 2:43:55
  Speaker 1: of Christ's character. You know the words of Hebrews are true,
• 2:44:01
  Speaker 1: that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever,
• 2:44:09
  Speaker 1: and in God's goodness. He had a greater purpose in
• 2:44:13
  Speaker 1: the midst of the unexpected changes to Paul's travels, and
• 2:44:18
  Speaker 1: so he has a purpose for you. When your plans
• 2:44:22
  Speaker 1: are interrupted, or when your life isn't going as you
• 2:44:26
  Speaker 1: hoped or imagined it would, you can find rest and
• 2:44:31
  Speaker 1: the promise that indeed Jesus Christ is the same yesterday
• 2:44:37
  Speaker 1: and today and forever. Now, let your imagination wander, allowing
• 2:44:47
  Speaker 1: your mind to get lost in the story. As I
• 2:44:51
  Speaker 1: take you on a journey to this tiny Mediterranean island.
• 2:44:57
  Speaker 1: You arrive on this beautiful island by plane in the
• 2:45:01
  Speaker 1: early morning hours of an autumn day. As you disembark,
• 2:45:07
  Speaker 1: you smile at the flight attendant and pilot standing by
• 2:45:11
  Speaker 1: the exit door and offer your thanks a smile in return,
• 2:45:17
  Speaker 1: wishing you a good day and cheery but thick European accents.
• 2:45:25
  Speaker 1: You easily make your way off the jet bridge and
• 2:45:28
  Speaker 1: through the airport, where are greeted by a tour guide
• 2:45:32
  Speaker 1: and a small group of fellow travelers who share your
• 2:45:35
  Speaker 1: excitement for the upcoming adventure. Learning that you are the
• 2:45:43
  Speaker 1: last arrival, the tour guide instructs the group to follow
• 2:45:47
  Speaker 1: her outside, leading you through the large open air concourse
• 2:45:53
  Speaker 1: and outside to a bright orange fifteen passenger van with
• 2:45:58
  Speaker 1: the name and logo of the tour company scripted in
• 2:46:01
  Speaker 1: a font that catches your eye. As soon as you
• 2:46:09
  Speaker 1: step outside the airport, you feel the warm, humid air.
• 2:46:14
  Speaker 1: Despite summer being over an autumn well on its way,
• 2:46:19
  Speaker 1: This Mediterranean country has the humidity of an island nation. Consequently,
• 2:46:26
  Speaker 1: it's not long before you feel a gentle breeze against
• 2:46:29
  Speaker 1: your skin. You marvel at the joy of a small
• 2:46:33
  Speaker 1: island where you can feel both the warm sunshine and
• 2:46:37
  Speaker 1: the cool autumn breeze at the same time. You climb
• 2:46:43
  Speaker 1: inside the bright orange van, sliding toward the window in
• 2:46:48
  Speaker 1: the first row of seats. The other tourists climb in,
• 2:46:52
  Speaker 1: filling in the rose, and the guide makes her way
• 2:46:55
  Speaker 1: to the driver's seat. As the van turns on, the
• 2:47:02
  Speaker 1: air conditioning immediately starts blowing, reverting throughout the vehicle. The
• 2:47:08
  Speaker 1: air quickly turns cool, and as you feel the burst
• 2:47:12
  Speaker 1: of air on your cheeks, you took a deep breath
• 2:47:15
  Speaker 1: of gratitude. Think back to Ax, the collection of stories
• 2:47:23
  Speaker 1: from the leaders of the Yearly Church. In one of
• 2:47:27
  Speaker 1: these stories, near the end of the book of Acts,
• 2:47:31
  Speaker 1: Paul was taken as a prisoner but while they were
• 2:47:34
  Speaker 1: on board, an unexpected storm took them off course. While
• 2:47:42
  Speaker 1: trying to find their bearings, their ship broke apart oft
• 2:47:46
  Speaker 1: an unknown island Verses one and two of Chapter twenty
• 2:47:50
  Speaker 1: eight in the Book of Acts read Once safely on shore,
• 2:47:56
  Speaker 1: we found out that the island was called Malta. The
• 2:47:59
  Speaker 1: island showed us unusual kindness. They built a fire and
• 2:48:05
  Speaker 1: welcomed us all because it was raining and cold. Just
• 2:48:11
  Speaker 1: like the Apostle Paul, you learn that the island on
• 2:48:15
  Speaker 1: which you have landed is called Malta, and it is here,
• 2:48:20
  Speaker 1: surrounded by the beauty of the Mediterranean Sea, that you
• 2:48:24
  Speaker 1: will walk the same streets once walked by the Apostle
• 2:48:28
  Speaker 1: and his companions. Your final destination is Saint Paul's Catacombs,
• 2:48:38
  Speaker 1: a relic of first century history located beneath the streets
• 2:48:42
  Speaker 1: of Malta. But first you will get to experience the
• 2:48:47
  Speaker 1: sites and culture of this beautiful country. Even in this
• 2:48:52
  Speaker 1: simple way of transportation, you consider how very different your
• 2:48:57
  Speaker 1: experiences from that of Paul. You arrive by plane and
• 2:49:02
  Speaker 1: climb into a vehicle, whereas he arrived by a boat
• 2:49:06
  Speaker 1: and explored the island by foot. There are so many
• 2:49:13
  Speaker 1: things that are different, and yet one thing stays the same.
• 2:49:18
  Speaker 1: Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today and forever.
• 2:49:26
  Speaker 1: The bright orange tour van takes you from the airport
• 2:49:29
  Speaker 1: straight to the coast, which doesn't take long at all.
• 2:49:34
  Speaker 1: As she drives, your tour guide shares her knowledge of
• 2:49:37
  Speaker 1: the island, and you learn that Malta is one of
• 2:49:41
  Speaker 1: the smallest countries in the world, at just over one
• 2:49:46
  Speaker 1: hundred and twenty two square miles. The short drive leads
• 2:49:53
  Speaker 1: you to Marsheschlock, a small fishing village on the southeast
• 2:49:58
  Speaker 1: corner of Malta, tucked along the Mediterranean Sea. You climb
• 2:50:03
  Speaker 1: out of the van and the humidity hits you again,
• 2:50:07
  Speaker 1: warm upon your skin. This time you not only feel
• 2:50:12
  Speaker 1: the Mediterranean and the humid air, but you can almost
• 2:50:16
  Speaker 1: see it. You walk toward the shore, looking around to
• 2:50:23
  Speaker 1: admire this small village. There are modest homes that line
• 2:50:28
  Speaker 1: the street, but you instinctively walk toward the noise and commotion,
• 2:50:35
  Speaker 1: wondering what could be happening by the water. As you
• 2:50:42
  Speaker 1: round the corner, finally catching sight of the sea, you
• 2:50:47
  Speaker 1: stop in your tracks. You now know what the commotion was.
• 2:50:52
  Speaker 1: As your eyes start back and forth from table exhibits
• 2:50:57
  Speaker 1: to the boats littering the harbor. They lock on the water,
• 2:51:01
  Speaker 1: where you see dozens, if not hundreds, of small boats
• 2:51:06
  Speaker 1: anchored near the shore and bobbing up and down in
• 2:51:10
  Speaker 1: the Mediterranean. As the water ebbs and flows, you are
• 2:51:17
  Speaker 1: not only struck by the number of boats in the sea,
• 2:51:21
  Speaker 1: but by the brilliance of the colors and the uniqueness
• 2:51:25
  Speaker 1: of their design. You walk closer to the shore, mesmerized
• 2:51:31
  Speaker 1: by what you see in the water. Walking as closely
• 2:51:35
  Speaker 1: as you can to the water, you simply admire this
• 2:51:42
  Speaker 1: scene before you. The sun is still making its way
• 2:51:47
  Speaker 1: to its eneth, but it's already warm upon your skin.
• 2:51:52
  Speaker 1: The coolness of the day has yet to turn to heat,
• 2:51:56
  Speaker 1: and you enjoy the breeze that blows naturally off the sea.
• 2:52:03
  Speaker 1: Lost in the moment, you don't hear the tour guide
• 2:52:06
  Speaker 1: walking over, but when you turn you find your standing
• 2:52:10
  Speaker 1: next to you. Before you have a chance to ask,
• 2:52:16
  Speaker 1: she is already speaking. These boats are called lusus. Malta
• 2:52:22
  Speaker 1: is famous for them. The small boats that fill the
• 2:52:28
  Speaker 1: harbor are all of similar design. They're small, perhaps only
• 2:52:33
  Speaker 1: big enough to hold two or three fishermen. They are
• 2:52:37
  Speaker 1: carvel built wooden boats with a distinct point at the
• 2:52:41
  Speaker 1: bow in the stern. The coloring of the boats is
• 2:52:48
  Speaker 1: all the same, with only slight variations differentiating one from another.
• 2:52:54
  Speaker 1: The bottom third of the boat is a light blue
• 2:52:57
  Speaker 1: that nearly blends in with the sea, especially as it
• 2:53:01
  Speaker 1: ebbs with the waves. The middle third of the boats
• 2:53:08
  Speaker 1: is all a bright yellow, with a thin white edge
• 2:53:12
  Speaker 1: between it and the blue below. There is another thin
• 2:53:16
  Speaker 1: white edge at the top of the yellow coloring, with
• 2:53:19
  Speaker 1: the final top portion of the boats as a brownish
• 2:53:23
  Speaker 1: red color. Some of the boats have the brownish color
• 2:53:30
  Speaker 1: in the middle and the yellow on top, while others
• 2:53:34
  Speaker 1: still have a brighter red instead of the brown in color.
• 2:53:40
  Speaker 1: Somewhere on nearly every boat you see bright green paint.
• 2:53:44
  Speaker 1: Some have just a line between two of the other colors,
• 2:53:48
  Speaker 1: while others have just a tip painted where the rope
• 2:53:52
  Speaker 1: ties it to the dock. Regardless of the placement of
• 2:54:00
  Speaker 1: each of the colors, they are each bright and enticing,
• 2:54:05
  Speaker 1: collectively turning the harbor into a place of joy, and
• 2:54:09
  Speaker 1: the light the sun shines upon them, making them sparkle.
• 2:54:14
  Speaker 1: As the water glistens on the harbor. You think of
• 2:54:21
  Speaker 1: how many things have changed from the time that Paul
• 2:54:24
  Speaker 1: walks on this island to the time in which you
• 2:54:28
  Speaker 1: now stand. While much has changed, you find comfort in
• 2:54:33
  Speaker 1: one thing that stays the same. Jesus Christ is the
• 2:54:38
  Speaker 1: same yesterday, and today and forever. You turn with your
• 2:54:47
  Speaker 1: guide and begin walking up the sidewalk from the edge
• 2:54:51
  Speaker 1: of the water back toward the crowd. You find yourself
• 2:54:56
  Speaker 1: at a week end market in the Marshallslock Harbor. There
• 2:55:03
  Speaker 1: are small tables set up along the sidewalk lining either
• 2:55:08
  Speaker 1: side of the pedestrian walkway. Each offer a different array
• 2:55:13
  Speaker 1: of artisan gifts and fresh fruits and vegetables. You walk
• 2:55:18
  Speaker 1: to the first table to admire the jewelry, colorful woven
• 2:55:22
  Speaker 1: bracelets and handmade stone earrings, and an array of shapes
• 2:55:26
  Speaker 1: and styles. You smell the next table before you see it,
• 2:55:34
  Speaker 1: and after walking a little further, you see a table
• 2:55:37
  Speaker 1: filled with a wide array of fish and signs indicating
• 2:55:42
  Speaker 1: that it was just caught overnight. Also on the table
• 2:55:47
  Speaker 1: as an assortment of fresh fruits and vegetables, there are
• 2:55:55
  Speaker 1: hundreds of peaches, with the crisp yellow color fading into
• 2:55:59
  Speaker 1: a deep red. You reach out and pick one up,
• 2:56:04
  Speaker 1: feeling the slight fuzz of the skin beneath your fingers.
• 2:56:09
  Speaker 1: Beside the peaches is a line of pears right on
• 2:56:13
  Speaker 1: verge of ripeness, with their greenish skin beginning to yellow.
• 2:56:18
  Speaker 1: Next to the pears you see a row of plums
• 2:56:21
  Speaker 1: with their deep bluish purple coloring. Beside the plums are
• 2:56:26
  Speaker 1: small baskets with tomatoes on the vine, each basket containing
• 2:56:31
  Speaker 1: five or six ripe red tomatoes. Just looking at the
• 2:56:39
  Speaker 1: fresh fruits brings their taste to your mind. The sweetness
• 2:56:44
  Speaker 1: of the peach and the tartness.
• 2:56:47
  Speaker 2: Of the pear.
• 2:56:49
  Speaker 1: You think of the gift of food that comes from
• 2:56:51
  Speaker 1: the earth, and it makes you wonder with the apostle
• 2:56:55
  Speaker 1: Paul might have ean on his time here so long ago.
• 2:57:00
  Speaker 1: Have the fruits and vegetables grown here stayed the same
• 2:57:04
  Speaker 1: as the soil changed over time, lending farmers to favor
• 2:57:09
  Speaker 1: a different crop. No matter what is changed, one thing
• 2:57:16
  Speaker 1: has stayed the same. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday
• 2:57:22
  Speaker 1: and today and forever. You continue wandering and exploring the
• 2:57:31
  Speaker 1: artisan crafts and the offerings of both the farmers and
• 2:57:34
  Speaker 1: the fishermen, And after exploring the market, you make your
• 2:57:39
  Speaker 1: way back to the group. As you leave the Martis
• 2:57:42
  Speaker 1: Shlock Market. You take one more look back at the harbor.
• 2:57:46
  Speaker 1: The sun glistening off the water and the bright colors
• 2:57:50
  Speaker 1: of the Lute's boats brings a smile to your face.
• 2:57:57
  Speaker 1: Climbing back into your seat on the bright orange face,
• 2:58:01
  Speaker 1: you look out the window as you ride along, noticing
• 2:58:05
  Speaker 1: the whitewashed buildings that remind you of photos you've seen
• 2:58:09
  Speaker 1: of Greece. There are people walking all about as you
• 2:58:13
  Speaker 1: pass parks and markets in playgrounds filled with children. After
• 2:58:19
  Speaker 1: a short drive, your guide parks and you get off
• 2:58:23
  Speaker 1: the bus with the others. You walk toward a building
• 2:58:29
  Speaker 1: that reminds you of a state capitol or an old museum.
• 2:58:34
  Speaker 1: The building has a sandy brown color with countless thin cracks,
• 2:58:39
  Speaker 1: reminding you that it has stood in this place for
• 2:58:42
  Speaker 1: thousands of years. There's an iron crate painted a beige
• 2:58:50
  Speaker 1: color and it stands open, creating a walkway welcoming you
• 2:58:55
  Speaker 1: to the entrance. Two tall pillars stand on either side
• 2:59:00
  Speaker 1: of the iron gate, and on the left you see
• 2:59:03
  Speaker 1: a stone sign with the engraved words Museum Department, Saint
• 2:59:09
  Speaker 1: Paul's Catacombs. You walk through the gate and into the
• 2:59:14
  Speaker 1: ancient building. Once inside, you learn that the catacombs are
• 2:59:21
  Speaker 1: ancient underground tombs, once used by the Romans for hundreds
• 2:59:26
  Speaker 1: of years. You're allowed to walk underground, taking a dim,
• 2:59:31
  Speaker 1: dusty staircase downstairs. This underground air is musty and cool.
• 2:59:41
  Speaker 1: The ceiling is low, and you have to duck just slightly.
• 2:59:46
  Speaker 1: But once you are underground you see how vast, indeed
• 2:59:50
  Speaker 1: the space is. There are dozens of stone cut arched
• 2:59:54
  Speaker 1: hallways going down ten or twenty yards. As you stand
• 3:00:01
  Speaker 1: underground in this ancient catacomb, you are struck once more
• 3:00:06
  Speaker 1: the passing of time and the way things come and go.
• 3:00:14
  Speaker 1: What is now new will someday be old, and what
• 3:00:19
  Speaker 1: is now old will soon be ancient. Days turn into years,
• 3:00:28
  Speaker 1: and years turn into centuries, and so much about nations
• 3:00:33
  Speaker 1: and people and cultures will ebb and flow with change,
• 3:00:38
  Speaker 1: just as or Lutzbot's ebb and flow in the Mediterranean Sea.
• 3:00:44
  Speaker 1: And with all of this change, one thing stays the same.
• 3:00:49
  Speaker 1: Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever,
• 3:01:00
  Speaker 1: and the love of Christ has indeed stayed the same.
• 3:01:03
  Speaker 1: Jesus came and lived a life that you could not,
• 3:01:07
  Speaker 1: and he died the death that you deserved. And he
• 3:01:12
  Speaker 1: did it out of a deep love for you, that
• 3:01:16
  Speaker 1: you might come to know and experience His love. Whether
• 3:01:23
  Speaker 1: you walk the streets of your hometown or travel to
• 3:01:27
  Speaker 1: the tiny island of Malta to walk the streets once
• 3:01:30
  Speaker 1: walked by the Apostle Paul, there is but one unchanging
• 3:01:35
  Speaker 1: constant in your life, the promise of Hebrews thirteen, verse eight.
• 3:01:41
  Speaker 1: Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
• 3:01:51
  Speaker 1: Lean into the unchanging love of Christ, and find your
• 3:01:56
  Speaker 1: comfort and peace in Him as you rest tonight. Gracious
• 3:02:03
  Speaker 1: Heavenly Father, we are so grateful that you stay the same,
• 3:02:07
  Speaker 1: despite the many things that shift and change throughout our lives.
• 3:02:13
  Speaker 1: We find such comfort in the promise that Jesus Christ
• 3:02:18
  Speaker 1: is the same yesterday and today and forever. I pray
• 3:02:25
  Speaker 1: that your beloved child would rest in this great promise
• 3:02:29
  Speaker 1: as they remember your faithfulness. You are good, and we
• 3:02:35
  Speaker 1: will give you all honor and praise in the name
• 3:02:39
  Speaker 1: of Jesus. I pray amen. No matter where the Apostle
• 3:02:47
  Speaker 1: Paul ended up, whether intentionally or unexpectedly, he was sharing
• 3:02:53
  Speaker 1: the message of Jesus Christ. For Jesus Christ is the
• 3:02:57
  Speaker 1: same yesterday and today and forever. Whether you walk the
• 3:03:05
  Speaker 1: streets of your hometown or travel to the tiny island
• 3:03:09
  Speaker 1: of Malta to walk the streets once walked by the
• 3:03:12
  Speaker 1: Apostle Paul, there is but one unchanging constant in your life,
• 3:03:18
  Speaker 1: the promise of Hebrews thirteenth, verse eight. Jesus Christ is
• 3:03:24
  Speaker 1: the same yesterday and today and forever