100:00:00,000 –> 00:00:07,640For every one of us, in some way and in some degree, has wounds.200:00:07,640 –> 00:00:13,020You cannot go through life in this world without being wounded in some way.300:00:13,020 –> 00:00:21,379The great question is what are you going to do with your wounds.400:00:21,379 –> 00:00:25,500Welcome to Open The Bible with Pastor Colin Smith. I’m David Pick. I’m glad you could500:00:25,500 –> 00:00:29,040be with us today. And, Colin, as we think about the wounds we600:00:29,040 –> 00:00:33,880might suffer, today we’re really looking at family conflict, aren’t we?700:00:33,880 –> 00:00:40,520Yeah, one of the most tragic family conflicts in the Bible. Here’s David the king of Israel,800:00:40,520 –> 00:00:45,419and he has all the wealth and all the power that you could imagine. But, at the heart900:00:45,419 –> 00:00:51,639of his family, there’s a division. His own son rebels against him, and every person who1000:00:51,639 –> 00:00:58,959has known alienation and division within a family will know the extent of this pain.1100:00:58,959 –> 00:01:05,660David said, Oh, Absalom, Absalom my son, and he wept over the pain that he experienced1200:01:05,660 –> 00:01:10,900because of the path that his son chose. Isn’t it wonderful that the Bible addresses the1300:01:10,900 –> 00:01:16,760pain of a divided family, and that the greatest king in the Old Testament, the one who points1400:01:16,760 –> 00:01:21,919us to Jesus Christ, was right in the middle of that, knew what it was, and through the1500:01:22,360 –> 00:01:29,320wounds that he experienced discovered grace from God in the middle of, not only a fractured,1600:01:29,320 –> 00:01:35,540but a tragically divided family. This speaks right into our world and into our lives today.1700:01:35,540 –> 00:01:41,839So, as we begin our message today, Grow Through Your Wounds, join us if you can in the second1800:01:41,839 –> 00:01:44,099book of Samuel. Here’s Colin.1900:01:44,099 –> 00:01:49,699Now on these Sunday mornings we’re building a picture of what it will take to successfully2000:01:50,019 –> 00:01:57,019navigate your way through life. Like the Titanic, we live in dangerous waters.2100:01:57,820 –> 00:02:02,620We move through areas of life in which there are many places in which we could take a plunge2200:02:02,620 –> 00:02:09,220to disaster. And our aim on these Sunday mornings is that we identify them so that we can avoid2300:02:09,220 –> 00:02:15,679them. And over these weeks we’ve been building up a number of key strategies that are going2400:02:15,679 –> 00:02:22,440to be critical for you to avoid taking a plunge to disaster in life. The first that we saw2500:02:22,440 –> 00:02:29,440from the story of Cain was, deal with your anger. Then from the story of Esau we learned2600:02:29,440 –> 00:02:35,960that it’s important to establish true values. From Balaam’s story we learned, live what2700:02:35,960 –> 00:02:45,259you believe. From Cora, submit to authority. From Samson, cultivate self-control. From2800:02:45,479 –> 00:02:50,360And now today we come to this story of Absalom. And the principle that we are going to learn2900:02:50,360 –> 00:03:02,380is simply this, grow through your wounds. If you want to avoid a plunge to disaster,3000:03:02,380 –> 00:03:10,440then grow through your wounds. For everyone of us, in some way and in some degree, has3100:03:11,059 –> 00:03:19,479You cannot go through life in this world without being wounded in some way. The great question3200:03:19,479 –> 00:03:29,220is what are you going to do with your wounds? Now last week, we learned from the story of3300:03:29,220 –> 00:03:33,679a man whose passions were out of control. This week, we’re going to flip and look at3400:03:33,679 –> 00:03:42,600the other side of the story—what are you going to do if you are wounded by someone3500:03:42,600 –> 00:03:49,979whose passions are out of control? Today, we’re going to follow a sensitive and a painful3600:03:49,979 –> 00:03:57,880story of abuse within a family. Our focus is not going to be on the person who committed3700:03:57,880 –> 00:04:04,059this terrible crime, but it’s going to be on those who were wounded by it.3800:04:04,059 –> 00:04:10,000Now I think that it’s important that we do this. We often in church speak about the sinner.3900:04:10,000 –> 00:04:16,320What do you do if you have sinned? But today I want to speak about those who have been4000:04:16,320 –> 00:04:26,799sinned against. What do you do when someone sins terribly against you? You begin to experience4100:04:26,820 –> 00:04:32,619deep pain, not because of your own actions, but because of somebody else’s actions. The4200:04:32,619 –> 00:04:39,420wounds are deep. And they can also be dangerous. And only God knows all of the wounds that4300:04:39,420 –> 00:04:48,119have been experienced and are even experienced now within this congregation. Some may have4400:04:48,119 –> 00:04:57,059been wounded within the family. Some have been wounded by a friend. Some have been wounded4500:04:57,059 –> 00:05:04,679in business. Some have been wounded by another believer. But however it has happened, there4600:05:04,679 –> 00:05:10,579has come some experience in your life where your trust has been betrayed, your confidence4700:05:10,779 –> 00:05:17,839has been broken and you feel that you have come face to face with evil itself.4800:05:17,839 –> 00:05:24,079Now I want to invite you to open your Bibles, then, 2 Samuel and chapter 13 as we follow4900:05:24,079 –> 00:05:35,019this story. 2 Samuel and chapter 13 and we’re going to go behind some closed doors this5000:05:35,019 –> 00:05:44,059morning. So come with me as you open your Bible, please, into the palace of King David.5100:05:44,059 –> 00:05:51,660It’s a magnificent home. David lives there with his large, blended family. He sinned5200:05:51,660 –> 00:05:59,500against God in that he had many wives. People walking past the palace where this large family5300:06:00,459 –> 00:06:05,899would have thought, how marvellous it would be to live there. I mean, think of it, this5400:06:05,899 –> 00:06:15,420large family, this magnificent home, plenty of money, just about everything you would imagine.5500:06:16,299 –> 00:06:20,859I mean, think about growing up in a home with these kinds of resources. I mean, this is a5600:06:20,859 –> 00:06:28,059dream isn’t it? Actually the reality was very different because behind the public face this5700:06:28,059 –> 00:06:34,459was a family in crisis. This was no dream. Behind closed doors, family life in the palace5800:06:35,260 –> 00:06:45,179was a nightmare. Amnon was David’s oldest son and he was having serious problems with his thought5900:06:45,179 –> 00:06:53,660life. He kept thinking about Tamar who was his step-sister, David’s daughter by another wife.6000:06:54,299 –> 00:07:03,420She was, the Bible tells us, a beautiful young woman and Amnon would watch her around the palace.6100:07:04,540 –> 00:07:12,859Soon his thoughts about her were out of control. And in 2 Samuel 13, we read that one day a6200:07:12,859 –> 00:07:21,100terrible thing happened. Amnon invited his step-sister into his room and he abused her.6300:07:21,100 –> 00:07:28,619Amnon came to give him a meal because she thought that he was ill, but he was6400:07:28,619 –> 00:07:33,579only pretending, and when she came close to feed him this food, he grabbed her6500:07:33,579 –> 00:07:43,019wrists and he would not let go. It’s a terrible story, and its in the Bible.6600:07:43,980 –> 00:07:53,940And you know why? Because terrible things like this happen in this sorry world. We6700:07:53,940 –> 00:07:59,880live, and if your eyes are open to any newspaper you will know it, in a world of6800:07:59,880 –> 00:08:05,940terrible abuse. We hear increasingly about abuse within the family. Our courts6900:08:05,940 –> 00:08:14,140are full of it. We hear about abuses that take place on a date. We need sexual7000:08:14,140 –> 00:08:21,540harassment policies at work. This is the world in which we live. It is terribly7100:08:21,540 –> 00:08:29,059sad, but I want you to know that God speaks to the world you live in. The7200:08:29,059 –> 00:08:33,700Bible is not a book about some kind of airy-fairy, fancy sort of world7300:08:33,739 –> 00:08:40,840up in heaven. It is a book in which God speaks about life as it is in this world,7400:08:40,840 –> 00:08:47,039in all of its pain, with all of its atrocities. And I’m glad it’s that way7500:08:47,039 –> 00:08:51,500because even to come to this passage of Scripture that we open today is a7600:08:51,500 –> 00:09:01,299reminder that God knows your deepest wounds, even if nobody else does. Tamar7700:09:01,419 –> 00:09:06,919came running from Amnon’s room, absolutely devastated. Verse 18,7800:09:06,919 –> 00:09:11,380she was wearing a richly ornamented robe, the kind of garment that the Virgin7900:09:11,380 –> 00:09:15,780Daughters of the King wore. She must have looked magnificent in this robe. Can you8000:09:15,780 –> 00:09:22,419imagine the princess in this beautiful, beautiful robe? But when she came running8100:09:22,419 –> 00:09:30,059from Amnon’s room it was so different. Verse 19, Tamar put ashes on her head. She8200:09:30,500 –> 00:09:35,200tore the ornamented robe she was wearing. She put her hand on her head and she8300:09:35,200 –> 00:09:47,000went away weeping aloud as she went. This happened 3000 years ago, but your heart8400:09:47,000 –> 00:09:53,640goes out to this woman even as we look at this story today, doesn’t it? Who can8500:09:53,640 –> 00:09:59,559describe the pain that she must have felt from what happened? You feel you8600:09:59,559 –> 00:10:06,520want to pause and just weep with her and embrace her if you could?8700:10:06,520 –> 00:10:15,219There was one person who did that. It was her brother Absalom. She ran straight to8800:10:15,219 –> 00:10:21,299him, as her full brother, she seemed to have an instinctive trust in him.8900:10:21,299 –> 00:10:27,440I don’t think that what he said to her was particularly helpful, the Bible9000:10:27,619 –> 00:10:31,960records what he said, it doesn’t particularly commend it, but what is9100:10:31,960 –> 00:10:38,539clear is that Absalom did care for his sister. He embraced her, he took her into9200:10:38,539 –> 00:10:44,380his home, he protected her, and she felt safe with him.9300:10:44,380 –> 00:10:52,500We don’t read any more about Tamar. The story that the Bible follows is the9400:10:52,919 –> 00:10:59,919story of how this affected Absalom, and what he did with his wounds. And that’s9500:11:01,140 –> 00:11:05,799the story that we’re going to follow through the Bible this morning.9600:11:05,799 –> 00:11:09,460You’re listening to Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith in a message called9700:11:09,460 –> 00:11:14,500Grow through Your Wounds. And it’s a part of our series, Deck Chairs on the9800:11:14,500 –> 00:11:19,460Titanic How to Avoid Plunging to Disaster. And if you’ve missed any of the9900:11:19,859 –> 00:11:23,359series so far, don’t forget you can always catch up or go back and listen again10000:11:23,359 –> 00:11:29,359online at our website openingbible.org.uk. Back to the message now, we’re in10100:11:33,260 –> 00:11:41,260Absalom was absolutely furious about what happened. But he didn’t say a word10200:11:41,979 –> 00:11:49,979to anybody. Deep in his heart, he as the older brother determined that he was10300:11:52,260 –> 00:11:58,260going to get revenge. Verse 22, Absalom never said a word to Amnon, either good10400:12:01,239 –> 00:12:07,239or bad. He hated Amnon because he had disgraced his sister, Tamar. Now talk10500:12:08,239 –> 00:12:13,299about a dysfunctional family. I mean, as we take a look behind these closed10600:12:13,299 –> 00:12:16,280doors, this terrible thing has happened in the family and nobody is saying a10700:12:16,280 –> 00:12:21,200word about it. Absalom will not speak to Amnon, won’t say anything to him,10800:12:26,280 –> 00:12:32,280either good or bad. If Amnon walks in the room, Absalom walks out. You could10900:12:32,440 –> 00:12:38,880feel the hatred, but nobody addressed the problem. And that was how it was, the11000:12:38,880 –> 00:12:46,700Bible says, for two full years. Then one day Absalom was out shearing his sheep.11100:12:46,700 –> 00:12:51,359Or at least supervising the shearers who were doing that work. And when the11200:12:51,359 –> 00:12:54,280sheep-shearing was finished, Absalom thought that it was time for a11300:12:54,280 –> 00:12:58,820celebration. So he persuaded all of the King’s sons11400:12:59,039 –> 00:13:06,520to come and to join him, including Amnon. Then we read in verse 28,11500:13:06,520 –> 00:13:14,559Absalom ordered his men, listen when Amnon is in high spirits from drinking11600:13:14,559 –> 00:13:23,359wine and I say to you strike Amnon down, then kill him. Don’t be afraid,11700:13:23,359 –> 00:13:27,820have I not given you the order, be strong and be brave. And that’s exactly11800:13:27,820 –> 00:13:33,700what happened, Absalom’s men did what he ordered, and then we’re told the rest of11900:13:33,700 –> 00:13:41,900the king’s sons jumped on their mules and fled. Now there are two things to12000:13:41,900 –> 00:13:48,460notice at this point in the story. The first is that nobody was surprised at12100:13:48,460 –> 00:13:53,659what happened. Look at verse 32, where Jonadab a servant comes back and reports12200:13:53,659 –> 00:13:59,219what has happened to the king. He says, This has been Absalom’s expressed12300:13:59,219 –> 00:14:07,020intention ever since the day Amnon raped his sister Tamar. Notice that he says it12400:14:07,020 –> 00:14:13,080was Absalom’s expressed intention. That means he talked about it.12500:14:13,080 –> 00:14:21,020That means that he made threats. He never said a word to Amnon, but everybody12600:14:21,159 –> 00:14:26,200around the palace knew that Absalom was determined to get him and one day he12700:14:26,200 –> 00:14:33,700would. So nobody was surprised. The second thing to notice is that when Amnon was12800:14:33,700 –> 00:14:35,000killed,12900:14:35,000 –> 00:14:42,140all the king’s sons fled. Look at verse 29, As soon as the king’s son saw what13000:14:42,960 –> 00:14:51,020happened, all the king’s sons jumped on their mule’s and fled. Now why did they do13100:14:51,020 –> 00:14:56,900that? I think one very simple reason and that is that they were quite certain13200:14:56,900 –> 00:15:04,659they were next. Amnon, after all, was the king’s oldest son. And Absalom, we know13300:15:04,659 –> 00:15:12,059for the rest of the story, had his eye in a very determined way on the throne. And13400:15:12,059 –> 00:15:15,960one way to make sure that he would get to the throne was very simply to get rid13500:15:15,960 –> 00:15:23,059of his brothers. Amnon was the first, Absalom was the third in line, take out13600:15:23,059 –> 00:15:28,739Amnon and you move up one place in the line of order. The other brothers knew13700:15:28,739 –> 00:15:33,500what Absalom was about and very rightly deduced that if they didn’t get out of13800:15:33,500 –> 00:15:39,859there quickly, the rest of them would be next. So you see what has happened here?13900:15:40,260 –> 00:15:46,479As we followed the story of dysfunction within the family over a period of14000:15:46,479 –> 00:15:53,559years, the issue has moved. At one point there was a terrible unspeakable14100:15:53,559 –> 00:16:01,460atrocity within the family. Absalom determined that he would take revenge14200:16:01,460 –> 00:16:07,099but in the process of his determined pursuit of revenge, he sees another14300:16:07,099 –> 00:16:15,200opportunity. Take out Amnon, and I not only avenge Tamar, but I get myself one14400:16:15,200 –> 00:16:21,520step nearer the throne. So the rest of the King’s sons know exactly what he’s14500:16:21,520 –> 00:16:24,840on about. He’s been talking about this kind of thing making threats for a long14600:16:24,840 –> 00:16:31,119time. So they jump on their mules and immediately they flee for their lives.14700:16:31,140 –> 00:16:36,080Now all of this then leaves Absalom absolutely alienated from the King. He14800:16:36,140 –> 00:16:41,659himself has to flee. Verse 34. And I don’t want to focus on the rest of the story14900:16:41,659 –> 00:16:45,580but just so that you know what it ends, because it’s very frustrating to get15000:16:45,580 –> 00:16:53,020half a story, David eventually invited Absalom back, and that was a big mistake15100:16:53,020 –> 00:16:57,780because he invited him back without ever dealing with the issue that had caused15200:16:57,780 –> 00:17:05,959him to go. Absalom then began to build a popular support and eventually he15300:17:06,119 –> 00:17:11,199raised a rebellion against his own father, the king. David was forced to15400:17:11,199 –> 00:17:17,400retreat from his home in Jerusalem, and what followed was a civil war between15500:17:17,400 –> 00:17:23,859the loyalists to Absalom and the loyalists to David. In the end, the15600:17:23,859 –> 00:17:30,459rebellion failed and Absalom was killed in battle. At the end of all of that,15700:17:30,760 –> 00:17:32,880David was brokenhearted. In 2 Samuel 18 and15800:17:33,959 –> 00:17:37,619in verse 33, some very famous words. He pours out15900:17:37,619 –> 00:17:44,300the pain of his heart, O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom, if only I had16000:17:44,300 –> 00:17:56,699died instead of you. O Absalom, my son, my son. David weeps over a son who has taken16100:17:56,699 –> 00:18:03,219a plunge to disaster. Now you cannot help but feel for David at this point16200:18:03,219 –> 00:18:08,260because over a period of years, tragedy has multiplied in his family. His16300:18:08,260 –> 00:18:14,540daughter has been terribly abused. Now two of his sons are dead and the whole16400:18:14,540 –> 00:18:18,540of God’s glorious kingdom that has been entrusted to him16500:18:18,540 –> 00:18:27,800has been utterly and completely divided. It’s a story of immense tragedy. Of16600:18:27,800 –> 00:18:33,900course Absalom wanted to make things right, but all he did in the16700:18:33,900 –> 00:18:41,060process of his action was to multiply pain and bloodshed and we’re gonna have16800:18:41,060 –> 00:18:44,619to think about that for a moment this morning because when you are wounded16900:18:44,619 –> 00:18:51,199there will be something within you that will want to make another person pay and17000:18:51,199 –> 00:19:00,260sometimes it’s not easy to tell the difference between justice and vengeance.17100:19:00,339 –> 00:19:05,660The tragedy of this story is that Absalom multiplied pain and division and17200:19:05,660 –> 00:19:13,060bloodshed among God’s people that’s all he did. He would have said of course I’m17300:19:13,079 –> 00:19:19,939pursuing justice, but the truth was that it all got mixed up much more with his17400:19:19,939 –> 00:19:26,219own ambitions to claim a throne. And I want you to think about that and for us17500:19:26,219 –> 00:19:31,339to remember that whenever we find ourselves in situations of conflict. You17600:19:31,339 –> 00:19:36,459see, as you follow the story it isn’t about Tamar now.17700:19:36,459 –> 00:19:43,479It’s about Absalom getting the throne. It’s about who gets the wealth of the17800:19:43,479 –> 00:19:51,260palace. It’s about money. It’s about winning and it’s about power. And you17900:19:51,260 –> 00:19:56,459see that’s what happens time and time and time again in conflict. We begin by18000:19:56,459 –> 00:20:02,459trying to put something that was wrong right. Then it develops into a passion to18100:20:02,459 –> 00:20:04,660destroyed another person.18200:20:04,959 –> 00:20:11,339Finally, it ends up in the tragedy of a person saying what can I get out of this?18300:20:13,839 –> 00:20:22,939Something terrible happened in Absalom’s family but he spent the rest of his life18400:20:22,939 –> 00:20:32,060hating, fighting, destroying, dividing God’s kingdom.18500:20:32,660 –> 00:20:37,819He lived with clenched fists.18600:20:37,819 –> 00:20:41,959He was eaten up by a consuming desire for revenge,18700:20:41,959 –> 00:20:49,619and all he did was take a personal plunge to disaster18800:20:49,619 –> 00:20:54,800leaving a trail of pain and brokenness in his wake.18900:20:55,400 –> 00:20:59,920I have read this story and been moved by19000:20:59,920 –> 00:21:04,660how many times its pattern is repeated today.19100:21:04,660 –> 00:21:07,800And I have asked the question,19200:21:07,800 –> 00:21:16,760how then can you avoid Absalom’s plunge to disaster?19300:21:16,839 –> 00:21:22,060How are you going to deal with your wounds?19400:21:23,060 –> 00:21:26,300That will be one of the critical questions19500:21:26,300 –> 00:21:31,599that will determine the outcome and impact of your life.19600:21:32,239 –> 00:21:34,739You have been listening to Open the Bible19700:21:34,739 –> 00:21:36,099with Pastor Colin Smith19800:21:36,099 –> 00:21:39,260and a message called Grow through your wounds.19900:21:39,260 –> 00:21:42,420We can really understand Absalom’s outrage.20000:21:42,420 –> 00:21:45,459It’s really important that we learn how to respond20100:21:45,459 –> 00:21:48,699in a way that doesn’t lead to more destruction20200:21:48,699 –> 00:21:51,739and that is what today’s message is all about.20300:21:52,180 –> 00:21:55,099It’s part of our series Deck Chairs on the Titanic20400:21:55,099 –> 00:21:57,300and if you’ve missed any of the series20500:21:57,300 –> 00:22:00,420you can always catch up or go back and listen again online20600:22:00,420 –> 00:22:04,219at our website openthebible.org.uk.20700:22:04,540 –> 00:22:08,260I wonder if you or your church have anything planned this Easter?20800:22:08,260 –> 00:22:10,619Open the Bible’s Amanda Cunningham20900:22:10,619 –> 00:22:13,939is here to talk about something special from Open the Bible.21000:22:14,099 –> 00:22:17,420How will you reach out to your local community this Easter21100:22:17,420 –> 00:22:19,420with the good news of the Gospel?21200:22:19,420 –> 00:22:21,420How will you inspire awe21300:22:21,579 –> 00:22:24,420in your church family at the Wonder of the Cross21400:22:24,420 –> 00:22:26,420when the story is familiar?21500:22:26,819 –> 00:22:29,859Open the Bible UK would love to help you.21600:22:30,060 –> 00:22:33,300We filmed a one actor, one hour performance21700:22:33,300 –> 00:22:34,979of Colin’s well-known book21800:22:34,979 –> 00:22:38,819Heaven How I Got Here, the story of the thief on the cross.21900:22:39,140 –> 00:22:41,099It’s a powerful gospel message22000:22:41,099 –> 00:22:44,020and we’re making the film available to you for free.22100:22:44,420 –> 00:22:49,060Alongside it, we have also created a complete Easter resource pack22200:22:49,060 –> 00:22:52,060including event artwork and an event guide22300:22:52,260 –> 00:22:55,020designed as an easy evangelistic event22400:22:55,020 –> 00:22:57,859for inviting friends or the local community22500:22:57,859 –> 00:23:01,619especially those hesitant about attending a church service.22600:23:01,979 –> 00:23:04,260It’s also perfect for small groups to watch22700:23:04,260 –> 00:23:06,300and discuss during Holy Week.22800:23:06,540 –> 00:23:11,420To find out more, go to openthebible.org.uk22900:23:11,660 –> 00:23:13,300Thanks so much, Amanda23000:23:13,459 –> 00:23:17,219I’m with Open the Bible’s Executive Director John Martin.23100:23:17,219 –> 00:23:21,420John, how can Open the Bible help local churches with this initiative?23200:23:21,420 –> 00:23:24,660We are really keen to see local churches23300:23:24,660 –> 00:23:26,699reaching out with The Good News of Jesus23400:23:26,780 –> 00:23:30,300and so if we’ve got resources we can put into the hands23500:23:30,300 –> 00:23:33,699accessibly for churches, we’re really really keen to do that23600:23:33,699 –> 00:23:36,660so we’ve designed this to be wherever possible23700:23:36,660 –> 00:23:38,500free, the film is free,23800:23:38,699 –> 00:23:41,780the resources to help you put the event on are free,23900:23:42,300 –> 00:23:45,060we’re doing the best we can to reduce the cost of the books24000:23:45,060 –> 00:23:47,099that go with it, if you want to give those away.24100:23:47,300 –> 00:23:49,819But you can signpost people to the website as well24200:23:49,819 –> 00:23:51,939so many of the resources are on there,24300:23:51,939 –> 00:23:53,819your guests can go and explore,24400:23:53,819 –> 00:23:57,420there’s questions that are there for people who are exploring faith24500:23:57,420 –> 00:23:59,060not just growing in faith24600:23:59,339 –> 00:24:02,939and so we just want to signpost people to resources that are helpful,24700:24:02,939 –> 00:24:05,500we are here to serve the local church,24800:24:05,780 –> 00:24:07,780we hope our resources help you do that.24900:24:07,979 –> 00:24:10,300There’s lots more information about this film,25000:24:10,300 –> 00:24:11,699Heaven, how I got here,25100:24:11,699 –> 00:24:15,859on our website openthebible.org.uk25200:24:16,819 –> 00:24:20,180Open the Bible is supported entirely by our listeners25300:24:20,180 –> 00:24:22,099that’s people just like you25400:24:22,099 –> 00:24:24,140and if that’s something you haven’t done to date25500:24:24,140 –> 00:24:25,979but if you’re thinking about doing it,25600:24:26,380 –> 00:24:28,739if you’re able to begin a new direct debit25700:24:28,739 –> 00:24:31,380in the amount of £5 per month or more25800:24:31,380 –> 00:24:34,140or a one off gift of £50 or more,25900:24:34,140 –> 00:24:36,500we’d love to thank you by sending you26000:24:36,500 –> 00:24:38,300a copy of Pastor Collins’s book,26100:24:38,300 –> 00:24:39,859Heaven, How I Got Here,26200:24:39,859 –> 00:24:41,739the story of the thief on the cross26300:24:42,060 –> 00:24:44,660and also a small booklet entitled26400:24:44,699 –> 00:24:45,900How can I be sure of heaven26500:24:47,020 –> 00:24:50,900along with an Open the Bible pen and bookmark.26600:24:51,020 –> 00:24:53,140These items are our gift to you26700:24:53,339 –> 00:24:56,619for beginning to support Open the Bible financially.26800:24:56,859 –> 00:25:00,020Full details, terms and conditions are on our website26900:25:00,020 –> 00:25:01,739and you can give online.27000:25:02,020 –> 00:25:04,739For Open the Bible and Pastor Collins Smith,27100:25:04,739 –> 00:25:05,900I’m David Pick27200:25:05,900 –> 00:25:07,780and I hope you’ll be able to join us again27300:25:07,780 –> 00:25:09,780next time on Open the Bible.27400:25:10,260 –> 00:25:13,660When you think about the emotional wounds you’ve suffered,27500:25:13,660 –> 00:25:16,180does someone’s face come to mind?27600:25:16,180 –> 00:25:18,300Discover why your greatest struggle27700:25:18,300 –> 00:25:20,780is not really with that person!27800:25:20,780 –> 00:25:23,459That’s next time on Open the Bible.