Sacred Faces - Jim Tuttle

Man, what a great blessing to be here. You have no idea how honored I am to be here to speak to you about-- well, first of all, I wanted to just say this. I've been a part of the equipped conference for the past two days, and we have invaded your space, OK? And so I would like for us as equipped conference attendees to show our appreciation to these amazing students who've been great host to us this week. [APPLAUSE] I think that's important. Now, it truly isn't honor for me to be able to speak. And about two years ago, two years in May, I moved to Texas. And so I've been there for two years, but for 33 years, I'm ministered in Lincoln, Nebraska. And so I love Nebraska. I love being here. We loved being here. So much of our life is here. And so-- and I got to do this kind of as I begin. So be patient with me. We do have something we really want to say. But I really-- I think what I'm about to say is going to lead in, hopefully, to something more important. But last yesterday, when I walked in here, I was just overwhelmed at 33 years of stories of people that I know and I've seen, you know, I set next to-- well, I'll set next to Jason Hawkins. That can be a bit of a problem. But anyway, I'm set next to Jason. I was set next to Shayna and Cole Franson. And I was there when Cole Franson had a surgery when he was like five years old. I mean, that's how long I've been around. And so I had these stories and these people that I see, like, well, like Sean and Dr. Darrell, which I'm really getting used to saying. But anyway, I mean, it's going to write down the line there, Les Miller. I mean, these people, these people are people that have been a part of my life for so long. I think if you're your interim president, Jared Stark, I knew Jared when he was a junior high student in Lincoln, Nebraska, and he had absolutely not a clue in his life, quite frankly. I mean, I think I'm giving him a compliment when I say that. And so can you just imagine-- put yourself, put yourself in my shoes, right? And so I see that. You see him grow and transform in your life. Just gets-- it's just amazing. So when I come here, when I come here, it's just so different than it used to be whenever I used to live here, because it's so precious. It's precious. These relationships-- relationships are different. Relationships are different when they are founded, formed, and clothed with the love of Jesus Christ. I mean, that's what makes this place so special. It is because this place is full of people who have a relationship with Christ, who are pouring into other people. And because of that, these relationships are different because of the love of Christ, am I right? I have my people. You have your people, right? You have your people. People have made a difference for you in your life. Mike Copeland was up here yesterday. By the way, thanks, Mike, for stealing everything I wanted to say today. Anyway, he was so fantastic. And he got up here and he said, he talked about these sacred places. Remember that? The sacred places where God works. There are sacred places. But there are also sacred faces of relationships and people that have made such a big difference in our lives. Now, if you look into Book of Philippians 1, Book of Philippians 1, Paul talks about this as he's writing to this church. So a picture, if you will, Paul's going to-- Paul's in prison. And he's writing to this church that he absolutely loves. And this church has supported him. This church has poured out into him. He spent time with him. And so it's just kind of like me coming back to New York College. When he thinks of it, he should fill up high. He says, man, I love that church. And so this is what he says. Some of you-- I don't know what you think of the Bible, but I'm going to tell you, and you think it may be just dry set of facts. I want you to see the emotion in this letter that Paul writes. He says this, verse 3, "Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God. Every time I think of you, whenever I pray, I make my request for all of you with great joy. Every time I think of you, every time I think of you, I give praise to God. I want to thank God." You see the emotion in that? You see the emotion in that? You see the love that he has in that? But know this, this emotion-- what I'm sharing today is not-- just is not just an anecdote for life. This is not some kind of tip I'm going to try to help you to have a better life. It is built upon something eternal. It's not just friendship. It's friendship, clothe, founded, informed, in the love of Jesus Christ. He says this. He says, I pray that I make my request for all of you with all joy. And then he says, you have been a part-- you've been partners in spreading the good news about Christ from the time you first heard about it till now. And now I am certain that God who began the good work within you will continue his work until it's finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. This love, this relationship, these people that I mentioned that means so much to me, they're more than just friends. These are people that are co-laborers in the love of Christ. And what God has started in us, he's going to complete all the way until he returns. That's what makes it special. And students, that's what makes York University special is those relationships, those places, those faces, those people. That's what makes this place great. So you think-- so that was my advertisement, kind of, for York College. So let me give you the rest of the story. I have two kids, have two children. They're not kids anymore. They're in their 30s. Christin and Carson, and they both came to York College. Both came to York College. And where's the administration? What about to say? Oh, it's Jared. I know him. It's not a big deal, OK? When our kids came to York College, Judy and I, we were disappointed. Hello? We were disappointed, because we were from here. We thought, man, go explore, spread your wings. Go do something. But we were kind of disappointed, but something happened here. There's someone like Clark Roush. You ever heard of that guy? Clark poured into both of our kids so much. He loved them, supported them in insecurities that we didn't even know, administered to them in a way that no, you know, it's just professor, right? But he poured into them. So Clark, every time I think of you, I thank God for what you've done. Every time I make requests for you, it's with great joy because of our relationship. I look at here, I see Aaron, DeHart, and Bobby. That isn't that kind of a, where's Bobby? Where's Bobby, DeHart, right? There he is, see, that's where he is. That is the perfect place for you. Kind of out of place in the corner, mocking the speaker. Both of my children, both of my children, were education majors, and both of this couple, man, even to this day, they are their mentors. They have strong relationships. They challenged them, they loved them. They're the first people they call. And both of my, so both of my kids both have jobs that pay and they're decent people. So it works, okay? So you guys have a chance, right? They're both married, you know, very happily. We're super blessed. It was because of you. Every time I think of you, Aaron, Bobby, I thank God for you, right? Not just because you were good friends to my kids, but you loved them with a love of Christ. Okay, so my two kids, Kristen, so every year, college used to be the university, does Mr. and Mr. and Ms. York College, York York University. They still do that. Okay, and so this button on by the staff and everybody. And so my daughter, I think it's in 2010, I may be wrong on the day. In 2010, my daughter was named Ms. York College. Isn't that great? Well, I thought I'd get a better response than that. I thought it was pretty good. Anyway, I was so proud of her. Oh no, no, no, it's fine. Way too late, insincere. Also, I'm bragging, so it's uncomfortable. I get it. Then the next year, the next year of my son, and let me just be honest with you, Kristen, probably won unanimously. Carson was a lot closer of both. Let me just tell you, a little controversy there, but anyway, someone gets that anyway. But he became Mr. York College the next year. So how do you explain that? The daughter, Mr. York College, the son, Mr. York College, how do you explain that? Well, good parenting. That's a, now, it's not it. The reason why is they came into an environment where the love of Christ minister to them. Now, it sounds like a really good thing about being part of a college, but the reality is the reason why that's so powerful is because it looks just like Jesus. That's the love of Christ. That's how Christ loves us. Christ invites us. That's what a relationship with Christ is. He invites us to his care, to his love, to his concern. He's our support. It's not transactional. We don't just get Jesus to be saved. We get Jesus to be with us and to be in us and to walk along with us everywhere we go. Every time I think of you, Jesus, I wanna praise and thank God. Every time I think of you, I pray for you to joy. For what you've done for me. Every time I think of you, I praise God. My hope and prayer, just for everyone here, is that you find the love of Christ, in Christ and in the people that are here, because it will absolutely, absolutely change your life. God bless you. Have a great day.