th us using that approach. From our perspective, it would seem to be a proportionate to the correction that needed to happen, which was essentially a bullet point number change. It did not change anything fundamental within the legislation. It was a simple typo. We think that this is a proportionate way to make that change, particularly when we have the pressing deadline of 1 April to implement the act. I do not know, Ruth, whether you want to add any more, but we think that it is a proportionate response to the error that was made. Given the timing that we need to make sure that the regs are granted, we need to make sure that we have your agreement. However, if they have passed, that enables us to move on to implementing the act, as agreed, in 2016. I echo the minister's comments on that. It was regarded as a minor error that did not affect the ability to interpret the instrument as it is meant to be interpreted. There has been no issue taking with the printers as far as progressing in that way, and I believe that that is in progress at the moment. I appreciate the explanation. I think that it is important, clearly, for this committee and for Parliament to have correctly drafted instruments coming before us and that every measure should be taken to ensure that errors of that kind do not happen. We have had, I think, now three in the past few weeks where we have had issues of that kind, and, clearly, we are very keen to see that address. Okay. Convener, we will certainly take that point on board, because I think that nobody wants there to be mistakes in legislation, regardless of whether it is a simple typo error or whether there is something more fundamental. I will take that point on board, because that is something that will certainly make sure that the wider Government understands that it needs to be looked at. I am grateful. Thank you very much. We now move on to agenda item 5, which is the debate on those items. As before, simply an opportunity to take part in the debate, but no further questions will be permitted. Can I invite the minister to move the motion S5M-10889? That formally moved. Thank you very much. Can I invite any members who wish to contribute to the debate on that motion and on the negative instruments that are associated with them? There are being none. Can I therefore put the question to the committee? My apologies. Sorry, just to clarify, convener, we are debating the affirmative instrument as well. It is the affirmative instrument that is not due to the debate. I would like to make a brief comment about May. I will not vote against the passage of these affirmative instruments, if it were to come to vote, because I do not want to unnecessarily uphold the uplift of payments. However, I want to put a marker down that I think that when, whilst I accept that there is a standard model for increasing these payments along a line with inflation, I think that that is a good thing. But when there is an exceptional shift. Excuse me, sorry, Mike. Is that relating to the deflator? That is what I am asking about. Because that was the previous one? Yes. Do we have… Oh, I have missed the bill on that. I am grateful for your vigilance, minister. I failed to notice that the member was repeating that. Alex, that is fine. Yes. This item, to be clear, the motion the minister has just moved relates to the adult carers and young carers identification of outcomes and need for sport regulations 2018 in draft that they be approved. If there are no further contributions on that specific piece of legislation, can I now ask whether the motion S5M-10889 from the minister is approved? Are we all agreed? Thank you very much. We now have the negative instruments, which the minister made comment on, but which are negative instruments and where I simply need to seek your approval. Can I say on each of these instruments that there has been no motion to annull and in four of the five cases there has been no comment from the Delegated Power and Law Reform Committee, with exception being regulation 33 of 2018, which I mentioned in my final question to the minister and you have heard the minister's response to the comments made by the committee on that. Can I invite any comments from members of the committee? If there are no comments, are we agreed that the committee should make no recommendations on any of these instruments? That is agreed. Thank you very much. I think that that concludes that item of the agenda. I thank the minister and her officials for their attendance. I move into private session. We have two brief items to discuss.


Mother, is Maxwell House the best coffee in the whole world? Well, your father says so, and your father knows best. This is Father Knows Best, transcribed in Hollywood, starring Robert Young's father. A half-hour visit with your neighbors, the Anderson's, brought to you by Maxwell House, the coffee that's bought and enjoyed by more people than any other brand of coffee at any price. Maxwell House, always good to the last drop. Here, 1867, a man named Christopher Shoal sat down at a typewriter in Milwaukee and pecked out that immortal sentence, now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of the party. Naturally, he wasn't thinking of Springfield at the time, but if ever a party needed being come to the aid of, it's the Christmas Branigan being arranged for the country club by the Anderson's and their friends. And if you've never heard a welcome ring, you ought to hear what's going on in the living room of the White Frame House on Maple Street. As a matter of fact, you can, like this. She's only a bird in a guild. A beautiful sight to see. She's happy and free from care. But... Hey, bud. Wait a minute, fellas. Now, what's the matter? Well, how come you get to sing all the words? Well, that's the way you're supposed to do it. Who said so? My father said so. You mean all we're ever going to get to sing is... Ah, let him sing it, Joe. What's the difference? Yeah, we don't have to remember so much. I want to sing more than hmm. It's monotonous. But that's how they do it on the Jack Benny program.  Well, I know, but...  Well, sure, but... And why don't you stop arguing?  Well, so what? Neither were you. My father was. He was? What a dope. You didn't think he was born yesterday, did you? No, but... Gosh, I didn't know that. Boy, are you naive.  Oh. Well, now that we got that settled... Look, bud, my father told me... Wait a minute.  Yeah, where was he born? My father? Yeah. In Philadelphia?  Let's go, bud. Right, where were we? Let's start over. Okay. Hmm... It's only a bird in a gill. Full sight to see. She's happy and free from... What? Why don't we ask him again? Oh. Your father, he just got home. He did? Hiya, dad. Hello, bud. Well, what are you boys up to now? Hi, man. Were rehearsing our song for the country club party, dad? Would you like to hear it? Well, I... It won't be any trouble, Mr. Anderson. We're getting real good. Yeah. We're real humdingers. Me thinks I detect a slight note of bitterness. Something wrong, Joe? Mr.  Wait a minute. When... When I was what? Oh, I'm sorry, Mr. Anderson. When you were a child in the gay 90s. That's more like it. What about when I was a child in the gay 90s? Everybody's saying, hmm, didn't they, dad? No. I'd say it was more of a boop-boop-a-doop.  Well, we call them the gay 20s. And they sang boop-boop-a-doop? Oh, yes. Practically all day long. Wouldn't hmm be a lot easier?  I'm sorry, bud. I didn't mean to get you all confused. Oh, we aren't confused. Are we, Freddie? Who isn't? We aren't. There's only a burning candle that can't boop-boop-a-doop.  It doesn't sound like the gay anything. Boys, I, uh... I wouldn't count too heavily on the Christmas party if I were you. You wouldn't, holy cow, dad. I know you've been looking forward to it, but you see, certain things have come up and we may have to call the whole thing off. Call it off. Oh, but you can, Mr. Anderson. We've been practicing all afternoon. Well, there isn't anything definite about it.  She's in the den with Betty. Gosh, Mr. Anderson, you can't call off the Christmas party. Can you? Well, I don't want to, Joe, but you go ahead with your practicing and, uh, we'll see what happens. Do you think he means it about calling it off? I don't know. He certainly sounded like he meant it, didn't he, Freddie? Who? When I was a child in the gay 90s. Diamond Jim Anderson. That's me. Betty, your father won't stand for it and please, let's not have any arguments. What mother... What won't I stand for? Oh, hello, dear. We didn't hear you come in. Hi, father. Hello, daddy. Margaret, if you'll take those pins out of your mouth. I'm sorry, dear. Is that better? Much. Well... Lily and Russell as I live and breathe. Isn't it beautiful, father? Yes, sir. Bustle and all. That's quite a dress.  All right, Kathy. Well, that's what you said, isn't it? Just you wait. Margaret? We're not going to touch the shoulder straps, Jim. Jumping creepers. Ha-ha! But you've got to do something about Kathy. She's been impossible all day. Mommy! I'm sorry, Kathy, but you have. She's a disgrace to the entire family. I am not. You certainly are. What has she done now? I haven't done anything, daddy. Honest, I haven't. Besides, he pushed me first. Honey, don't you think this is something for you to... Well... I've got to get this hem pinned up, Jim. It'll never be done. I know, but... Betty, if you keep slouching like that, I'll never get it even. Pardon me. Margaret, I've had a very trying day and... Kathy, tell your father what you did. I didn't do anything. Anything much. Betty, please. I wasn't slouching. They were playing with boats at Jimmy Woody's, and Kathy pushed the poor child right into the bathtub. With his clothes on. Well, I should hope so. And she refuses. She refuses, mind you, to apologize. But he pushed me first. He pushed you into the bathtub? No, but he pushed me. Kathy... And why should I apologize when he pushed me first? Kitten, it isn't a question of who did it first. You want to be his friend, don't you? Well, sure, but... Then think how simple it is. You say, I'm sorry, and it's all over. But why shouldn't he say he's sorry first? Because he isn't as big as you are. He's bigger than I am. I don't mean that kind of big. I mean big in a sense of character and integrity. You're bigger that way. I am? You can be. You see, Kitten, if you've made a mistake and you acknowledge it, that's being big. If you have a very good friend and you've had some little misunderstanding, it doesn't matter whose fault it is. The big thing to do is to say, I'm sorry, pal. Let's forget the whole thing. Right, honey? Oh, dear, it's still higher on this side. See? That means your mother agrees with me. Daddy? Yes, Kitten? If I go over to apologize, will you go with me? I'll be glad to. As a matter of fact, we'll do it right now. And then I'll be bigger, and he is. You certainly will be. Margaret. Go ahead, dear. I'm listening. Kathy and I are going over to apologize. We're gonna be big. That's fine, dear. And, Jim, tell Lucille if Kathy ruined anything, we'll be glad to pay for it. Lucille? Half the way? Of course. What has she got to do with Jimmy Woody? Kathy, didn't you say... It was Jimmy Woody's bathtub, Daddy. But I pushed Brad half the way. Now, just a minute. You said... Jim, no matter what she said, it was Brad half the way who landed in the tub. Head first. The little monster seems proud of it. Betty, please. I'm going to apologize because I'm big. Aren't I, Daddy? You certainly are. But, uh, tell you what, Kitten, right after dinner, I'll drop you off at the Hathaway's on my way to the club. But I want to apologize now. We won't have the time, baby. After all, dinner is almost ready and... Dinner won't be ready for another hour, Jim. He might get the idea and then he'll come over here to apologize and then he'll be big. Well, what's wrong with that? I've got my hands full as it is. Kitten, look. Why don't you write a nice long letter to Brad? Kathy. Kathleen. Yes, Mommy? Stop that. Yes, Mommy? And behave yourself. But I want to apologize and nobody will let me. Of course we will. You can go down to the Hathaway's and apologize for the next hour. By myself? Jim, I'm not going to have that child running around the neighborhood alone after dark. I didn't mean alone. Betty can go with it. Oh, I can't, Father. I'm full of pins. Well, there's no reason why Bud can't take her, is there? Bud! Jim. It'll do us all good, honey. Get that bird out of her cage for a while. Bud! You want me dead? Jim, will you please tell me one thing? Why don't you want to go to the Hathaway's? I did tell you. I've had a very trying day and I'm very tired. And I'd like to take a little nap before dinner, that's all. You're sure? Yes! Just a minute, Bud. Of course I'm sure. You certainly don't think... I mean... Yes? Honey, it isn't as though I... I'm not a child, Margaret, and I... Yes? Well, if you must know, Jim Hathaway and I aren't speaking.  Oh, no. He's just enjoying a difference of opinion. Well, that's too bad. But more often than not, we agree with our friends about things that are important to us. For example, when it comes to coffee, truly good coffee with a flavor you enjoy cup after cup, most families throughout America agree that means Maxwell House coffee. Indeed, more families buy and enjoy Maxwell House coffee than any other brand at any price. The reason, of course, is that wonderful good to the last drop flavor, a flavor that belongs to Maxwell House alone. And here's why that's true. You see, coffee grows in many parts of the world and there are all kinds of grades and varieties. But the Maxwell House people insist on the very choicest extra-flavor coffees. For example, fancy Manizales coffees are selected for fragrant mellowness, superb mellons for extra richness, choice Bucaramangas coffees for fine, full body. In fact, Maxwell House buys more of these superb premium coffees than anyone else. Then these wonderful extra-flavor coffees are blended with traditional Maxwell House skill in just the right proportions to create that one and only good to the last drop flavor. And believe me, that flavor is so good, so downright enjoyable cup after cup, that once you've tried Maxwell House, you'll never again be satisfied with any coffee but Maxwell House. The one coffee that's always good to the last drop. There's one thing about wives and children too for that matter. They just don't seem to understand that the things that happen to a husband or a father are, well, different. Arguments between children or women can be settled very easily because after all they're just foolish little misunderstandings, aren't they? Of course. But when there's a difference of opinion between men, well, that's another story like this. Honey, he was wrong and you know it. But you're both working for the same thing, aren't you? That has nothing to do with it. I was appointed chairman of the Christmas Party Committee and he had no right to interfere. I don't think he was trying to interfere, dear. He wasn't. Well, if it isn't interfering, I'd like to know what you call it. I think he was trying to help. But nobody asked him to help. That's the point. Just because he's the president of the club, he has no right to think he can run things to suit himself. The committee picked out the gay 90s theme and everybody was very happy with it. I know, dear. What right did he have to come up with a western theme? That's what I'd like to know. Well, Lucille explained the whole thing to me. She thought... Oh, she's the one. It isn't bad enough having the president interfere. Now it's his wife. Lucille was not interfering. She merely said... Next thing you know, she'll be running the Greens Committee. Jim, will you please listen? Of course. Go right ahead. See anything you please. All right. Lucille told me... After all, who am I? I'm only the chairman of the committee. That's all. They realize that. But Lucille told me... We spent hours discussing the best possible theme for the Christmas party. But you don't have to pay any attention to us. We're only the committee. Are you quite finished? I'm sorry. Go ahead. You seem to have forgotten one thing. Lucille told me... We discussed themes until we were blue in the face.  It took a lot of very careful thought. Jim, will you please be quiet? Uh-huh. Now, I'm not even allowed to have an opinion. I can be pushed around by Jim and Lucille Hathaway, and that's all right. But if I try to say one word, but one word... Well? Well, what? What did Lucille tell you? Oh, we're back to that old thing. Margaret, if you're going to tell me, tell me. Now? Of course. Well, if Steve Brody could jump off a bridge... Lucille Hathaway told me... Yes? Thank you. She spoke to at least a dozen wives. Now, look, honey, this happens to be a club run by and for a group of men.  And they thought that something else would be simpler and less expensive. There, I said it, and I'm glad. Margaret, you don't have to shout at me. No. Tell me one other way I can make you listen. Be like a man. Use logic. Oh, fiddle-dee-dee. Honey, profanity will get you nowhere. Jim, I... Oh, what's the use? I give up. Look, I don't want you to think I'm being stubborn. Of course not. But what right did Jim Hathaway have to go over our heads and ask that the theme of the party be changed? He thought he was acting for the good of the club. This happens to be a republic, not a dictatorship. And when one man takes it upon himself to defy the very principles of American democracy, then it's high time that the people... Oh, stop it. What?  Why, Margaret? The issue is perfectly simple and clear, but you won't face it. The issue is that Jim Hathaway had no right... Gay 90 costumes are very elaborate and very expensive, and no one is going to bother making them. Jim Hathaway had no right...  That's all there is to it. May I please say something? Pray do. Thank you. Jim Hathaway had no right... Jim Hathaway had nothing to do with it. Margaret, I was there when he came in. And if you must know, the western idea was mine. Honey, how could you do a thing like that to me? I'm sorry, Angel. But do you realize how much work is involved in making gay 90 costumes for five people? You made one for Betty, and it looked beautiful. That happens to be her new evening gown, and I was merely shortening it. Oh, I thought you bought her a new evening gown? With a bustle? Bustles are back. Well, that's the logical place for them. Last week you said she didn't need a new evening gown. And this week I decided she did. Any questions? I'm all mixed up. The committee decided that... Jim, a western theme is so much more informal and practical. Everyone agrees that it's a much more sensible idea. They do? Yes, dear. They didn't like the gay 90's idea. They liked it, sweetheart. But it just isn't worth all the effort. But the committee decided that the gay 90's... Dad! The committee would have decided something else if you'd asked a few women. Besides, we've ordered $50 worth of decorations. Say, Dad, would you like to hear something? Come on in, fellas. But we're very busy right now. This will only take a minute, Dad. Boon it, fellas. Ah! We changed the whole arrangement, like you said, and it sounds great, doesn't it, Joe? Yeah. It's real keen. But I just told you... Line up, fellas, and we'll do it for him. But... It's no use, dear. We might as well hear it. You'll love it, Mom.  That'll be nice.  You bet, Dad. Ready, fellas? Yeah. Okay, here we go. She's all in our guilt. She seems to be... What on earth? I'll tell you about it later.  It's sad when you think... Boop! Think about that Western idea. What? Yes, dear. Everything's fine. Boys were singing! What's the matter with her? Bud, what would you and the other boys think of a Western theme for the Christmas party? Western? That's right. No, cowboys, Indians, that sort of thing. Did they sing about a bird in a gilded cage? They did not. Well, then how could we sing? I think the Western theme is a very good idea. Fellas, let's go back to the living room. What for? I've got an idea about how we can do Home on the Range. With or without boobs. Yeah, that's a good idea. We'll see you later. Take your time, boys. There's no hurry.  I was only kidding them, you know that. And what was that boo-boo-padoop business? Oh, I didn't know they were going to take me seriously. They asked me how we used to sing in the good old gay nighting. Kathy! Kathy, what is it? Daddy, it's Mr. Hathaway and Brad. Well, why get all excited? But Brad's going to apologize and then he'll be big. Margaret. I'll take care of it, dear. Come along, Kathy. Mommy, don't let him apologize to me. Jim, not interrupting anything, am I? Of course not. Come on in. Thank you. Sit down. Thank you. That was a nice night, isn't it? Yes. Yes, it's, uh, uh, where's Brad? He went into the kitchen for a drink. Oh. Uh, nice night, isn't it? Yes. Say Jim. I guess we ought to take turns. Yeah, it certainly looks that way. Jim. This is getting to be a habit. Look, I just want you to know that I'm sorry about, well, our little misunderstanding. So am I. It was pretty silly, wasn't it? It sure was.  Wait a minute. You had no right to do that. Well, why not? I've decided you were right and we ought to have the Western theme. But we can't. Why not? I've already told the committee. You had no right to tell the committee. I'm the chairman. Now look, Jim.  And if you think that I... I don't care if she bought 12 of them. You had no right going over my head. But the gay 90s was your idea. And the Western was yours. I'm the president.  We'll have the Western. Gay 90s. Western. Father, you've got to stop them. It's terrible. What's the matter? Kathy and Brad, they're fighting. What? I thought Kathy wanted to apologize. They both do and they're fighting about it. Well, we'll just see about that. Come on, Jim. But don't think we're not going to have the gay 90s. Father, hurry. We're going to have the Western. Gay 90s. Western. Gay 90s. Western. Let's have another cup of coffee.  And in most families throughout America, the coffee that fills the cups is Maxwell House coffee, chosen above all others for its superb good to the last drop flavor. That's why I say start serving our coffee to your family. There's such hearty good cheer in every fragrant cup of Maxwell House coffee. You'll say it has the best flavor you've ever tasted. Then just count all the truly good cups you get from each pound. You'll agree that Maxwell House is today's coffee buy. And remember, Maxwell House coffee comes in three grinds, regular, drip and pulverized, one exactly suited to the way you make coffee. So look for the sign of good coffee, the big white cup and drop on the familiar blue tin. Take home Maxwell House, the one coffee that's always good to the last drop. It's sometime later and the Christmas party at the Springfield Country Club is mercifully a thing of the past. Now it's after midnight and the Andesons are on their way home, happy and definitely exhausted, like this. Well, that was quite a party, wasn't it? Yes, it sure was. Best party we've ever had, that's what it was.  How about a little close harmony, honey? Mom's asleep, Dad. Oh. Benny? She is too, in South Catholic. Well, looks like we're the only live wires in the crowd. You said it. Now let's try Down By The Old Mill stream. Okay? Okay. Here we go. Down By The Old. It doesn't sound right if we both take the harmony. Tell you what we'll do. I'll carry the melody the first time through and you'll take the harmony. Then we'll try it again and we'll switch parts, okay? Here we go. Down By The Old. That isn't... Oh, well. Down By The Old. You were going to take the kids to see Santa? I did. Well, then how'd you find time to make this gorgeous dessert? Jello's easy to make. Mmm, sure is delicious, so fruit rich. Might easy on the grocery bill too. That's a help with Christmas gifts to buy. Let's have it often. Sure, six delicious flavors to choose from and lots of easy, thrifty ways to fix them up. That's Jello for Red Letter Desserts. Always good to the last drop. Father Knows Best was transcribed in Hollywood and written by Ed James. Mr. Keen Tracer of Lost Persons brings you mystery tonight on NBC.


To set up this idea we're going to step into a encounter Jesus had which is well known to us in John 5 1 to 15 I'll read to you from to set up this idea from this particular Passage here and it says some time later Jesus went up to Jerusalem for a feast of the Jews now there in Jerusalem Was the pool which in Aramaic is called Bethesda, which is surrounded by five covered colonnades Remember that statement five covered colonnades. I'll come back to that with you He had a great number of disabled people used to lie the blind the lame the paralyzed One who was there had been an invalid for 38 years When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time He asked him do you want to get well? Not the kind of question that you'd want to be asking a disabled person I Imagine the tone. It's difficult sometimes, isn't it because you know one of the worst things you can do in a regular mailing Relationship is to assume a tone in the mail The moment you decide there's a tone here all the males from there go downhill And so sometimes because the Bible leaves you to decide the tone I think it's worth us being imaginative and being thoughtful about the way in which he said that because it sounds rude It sounds offensive. It sounds not very politically correct to say to an invalid Do you want to get well? And I think what I want to see it you from that is if God is asking you something obvious Something not obvious is going on Like Adam, where are you when God said Adam? Where are you? It's not because God couldn't find him You know God is omniscient and he's not struggling to find one individual on the earth When God said where are you it's not because God couldn't find him. It's because Adam couldn't find himself So there's something going on here that is there is certainly beneath the surface And it's my job to try and find out what that is because there's something very very significant happening here So the man replied to him I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred while I'm trying to get in Someone else goes down ahead of me then Jesus said to him get up Pick up your mat and walk at once the man was cured picked up his mat and walked The title of this message and I work hard on my titles because the a good title like a good title of a movie or a book or a TV show or a song or a sermon The the title is good if when you recall the title a week from now a month from now I meet people around the world that say to me I remember you preached a message and they go back 20 30 years and That's why I'm committed to good titles You know in my masterclass this week with your teaching stuff and so on I said a bad title is fellowship week three I think I'll stay home next week if it's fellowship week for is what we say to ourselves It's worth investing in a good title a good title is one that when you recall the title The entire concept of the message is gathered up in the title So you don't have to think about what did he speak about the title? Effortlessly recalls what that person spoke about so this title is called step out of stock step out of stock These wellingtons as we call them in England you may not be from here and around the world They call different things but you get the idea gum boots or just boots I suppose but Wellingtons my point is there's as much below the surface there as there is above the surface in those Two-stuck boots there in that terrible mud and and the idea I want to bring to you here is from this man's life Because there's a place called Bethesda. Okay, Bethesda apparently is a place where there was a pool of water And apparently an angel occurred occasionally came and stirred that water wherever that meant The first sick person into that water got a miracle now We don't know whether or not anybody actually ever had got a miracle We don't know of anybody in scripture that had that experience at Bethesda But when you're desperate the rumor is enough to make you spend your life there waiting for your turn These are people who are so sick and so ill and so disabled That they have no other option But to physically be parked up in one space because this is the days remember now before prosthetics before wheelchairs in these days and still in many cultures of the world if you are Disabled to the point where you couldn't move then your life's options of movement and mobility are over Here in the Western world a disability is not the end of movement because we can assist people This man lives in a time and an era and a culture what it's not an option We read earlier didn't we there were many people possibly hundreds of disabled people for whom this was the point of no return This was the last chance they had at getting their life into a better place and hundreds of them Was stationary because that's all they could be around this pool of Bethesda. It's fabled Apparently it has been told that if you are the first into the water when an angel stirs it you will get a miracle And so this man has been there longer than anyone else the people at Bethesda You have to think must have known about Jesus Any place that was involved in the miraculous where people are waiting for a miracle that came from heaven in the form of an angel They must have known about this guy Jesus, but the problem is they can't go to where he is Unless he comes to where they are they'll never have an encounter with him Jesus obviously knew about Bethesda because he's in the same business I suppose as these people are looking towards so he enters Bethesda and He walks in and I guess Jesus made inquiries about what's happening around here And he made inquiries about this one and that one and someone said to him you see that guy there Jesus He has been here longer than anybody else. This guy has been here 25 possibly 30 years This guy has been here decades and typical of Jesus. He picks the worst case scenario He walks up to this man that has been lying there for possibly decades and asks in this Ridiculous question, but as I said what seems to be going on is not what's going on Jesus asks him Do you want to get well after finding out? He has not got well for decades. He asks him Do you want to get well? What's interesting is the man didn't say yes So something is going on here in this man's mind and heart and life that's to do with this Idea this man is not just stuck physically he is stuck mentally and Emotionally and Circumstantially and he stuck relationally this man and all the rest of them around Bethesda are totally Stuck and I want you to see tonight.  It is a place that promises something that it is failing to deliver It is a place that is rigged for failure whilst promising those that are there a miracle But the miracle is never coming So when Jesus says to him do you want to get well? Jesus is probing. He's inquiring for how much damage has Bethesda done to you He's why he's asking him. Do you want to get well?  I don't say that to artificially make this message Seem more relevant than it is. I know this because statistically around the world And this is a very recent message for me around the world whenever I have asked the people to stand for prayer If they're comfortable to do that as I will do tonight who feel stuck Hundreds in a service of this size stand. So stuck people are in every service And I wonder what do we have to say to them? I wonder what do we have for them?   This isn't a I Have been stuck in my life at different times Didn't know I was Because the problem with Bethesda is Bethesda is a good place apparently Bethesda is a place where miracles happen.  It draws you in with the promise of breakthrough and the promise of change Bethesda over promises actually And it promises that could be your turn next and yet because it promises good things can happen And because apparently good things do happen and because miracles happen You don't suspect anything here could possibly be negative and this is what Jesus is trying to show us from Bethesda Because when he says to the man, do you want to get well? Here's what he said to Jesus Here's what he must have said in his mind for his answer to be what it was. Well, clearly you must be new around here Let me explain to you how things work He didn't say to him. Yes, lay your hand on me. I've heard about you. I'm glad you came didn't say that You would think someone as desperate at him would have would have said, yes, I want to get well help me He didn't he simply said to Jesus, let me educate you About what happens around here and he said to Jesus once a year an angel stirs the water And one of us once a year gets in the water and the first one in gets a miracle and see my problem is Jesus I am so far back from the pool and I don't have friends that will hi-hat with me 24-7 to assist me when the angel randomly appears it could be midnight It could be three in the morning and and if I can't get to the pool by myself and I can't I'm never gonna get into the pool Some people that have been here for years to have friends and family that take shifts and been here with them Just in case when the angel comes they're gonna make sure their loved one gets in the pool first I kind of don't have connections like that So I'm limited in it being my turn and so I suppose next to the pool Where all these people that was so close to the pool like the Germans with their towels on the beaches You thought you got up early to beat the crowd and they're already there It's like a conveyor belt at the airport You can't see your backs because everybody's like you're waiting for theirs. I suppose was the poolside So we couldn't even see the water let alone think of planning a route to it if the angel stirred it So he says to Jesus you see I've been here a long time and the reason I'm not healed is because when the angel comes I have no one to help me to get into the water in other words He said to Jesus here we have a system and the system works that way And as he's telling this to Jesus instead of saying yes, I want to get healed He said to Jesus we have a system in other words When you get a system when you're stuck in us when you're stuck in us becomes subject to a system a system Organizes your stuckness This man is in highly organized stuckness and so are some of you Because when God says to you when someone says to you and asks you your friends your family your loved ones who know You're stuck when they ask you a simple question You're almost offended at how simplistic they seem to think your problem is so often we do what this man does We answer people in a complicated way to a simple question as if we're saying to them You know what I wish it was that easy. It's just not let me tell you how difficult my life is Let me tell you how complicated my stuckness is. This is what the man did Do you want to get well? There's a system here and some of you have a system and the system Organizes your problem and some of you have highly organized problems Didn't start that way But the longer this problem persists in your life and becomes embedded in your personality and Embedded in your habits of life.  Because to Jesus it's a simple question and a simple answer. Some of you have highly organized worry Some of you have highly organized stress Some of you have highly organized shame Some of you have highly organized regret and fear and guilt and failure Some of you have highly organized drama in your life Some of you have highly organized financial problems that are negatively Destroying and eating away at your life. It's when it becomes a system a system Organizes your problem and this man's disability is stuck internally and externally because he surrendered it to a System when Jesus said get up and walk.  How are you? You think don't ask me how I am I'm so tired of saying how I am or becomes a prescription and your symptoms and how did you sleep? What did the doctor say? What did the specialist say and your whole life becomes a conversation about your sickness and your symptoms? And you hate it But what happens is eventually the longer this goes on and that could be like for three or four weeks imagine 30 years Imagine Imagine spending all your life In this position because this is these people These people these people were never upright probably these people were never on their feet Because their disability meant that all they could do was lie down imagine spending decades of your life in this position Only relating to people that also Were trapped in that position Imagine what that must do to your to your psychology to your physiology To your limbs to your mind to your emotions that you are stuck in this position And you roll over and speak to the other people that are also in the same trap as you and all your Relationships all your culture that you do life with the people you do life with are just as stuck as you every day We just talk about how stuck we are about when our turn will come about will the angel come today What will happen if he does people were dying every single day around him many these friends were not there anymore They passed away years earlier whilst waiting he's resigned to this fate for himself So not only is he in a system that organizes his problem He has a cultural support group and when you have a cultural support group not only are you organized in your worry Now your support group is supporting your problem Many of you have a supported problem because the longer you stay in your problem the more you screen out people who try to help you Because you see them as an irritation And you get used to talking about it and you presume and assume that people's interest in your problem is sympathy and empathy And actually it's contributing to you keeping stuck You long for a conversation that doesn't include your stuckness But you eventually finish up creating a group of friends that are as stuck as you are and now we have friends that we worry with It's group worry Now we are friends that when you tell them how stressed you are they say are you kidding? That's nothing listen to my week because misery loves company and So now you have a cultural support group everybody's behaving That's what culture is culture is the way that we behave and so everybody's behaving the same way That's who you do life with so this man's stuckness is because he's stuck in a system that organizes his Disability and his stuckness now he has a cultural support group that are supporting his problem every single day And he's supporting theirs not only that But he is also stuck structurally Remember the five colonnades Now because I don't think colonnades has been a recent part of any of your discussions I was thinking about colonnades today were you know Colonnades is not a contemporary word and there would therefore not be a common conversation So you may not know what a colonnade is so I've got a picture of one You'll recognize this is part of the ancient architecture all across Europe and the Middle East you'll see these Colonnades were the modern-day equivalent of air conditioning Colonnades were built for shade in an outdoor life community because this is where you had your coffee Met your friends hung out Met with took out family and friends did business commerce you did it in these colonnades colonnades were built for shade They were a genius piece of architecture because wherever the Sun was in the day a part of this would always be in shade You'd move through the colonnade to stay in the shaded part if you had to do life outdoors And of course, this is an outdoor world. There was no indoor option for cooling like we have now So colonnades were shade and protection. It's a structure to offer shade So think with me now this guy's at Bethesda his disability is highly organized in a system It's supported by the people around him who were stuck as he is not only that but a 5th covered colonnades The colonnades are offering shade while you wait They are making your weight uncomfortable The colonnades are saying to you you can stay here long term. We are built for long-term purpose We are built so people like you don't get sunstroke Don't get burnt and so around this water are these beautiful colonnades So this man is not only trapped in a system and trapped in a culture He is trapped in a structure that is sheltering his problem Sheltering his disability sheltering his stockness and many of us have colonnades in the mind Some of us have structural stuckness Once it becomes structural stuckness It becomes a whole part of how you think it becomes a mindset and a belief system And in many parts of the world those mindsets and belief systems go further and become policy and become rule of law like apartheid apartheid was a structural Establishing of what first of all was a system then it was a culture supported by Whites in South Africa that were oppressed in the blacks and then eventually it becomes policy and legislation It's backed by law and government now. It's a structure That's shading that wrong thing that's shading and protecting that wrong thing that should never have happened This is true all across the world where there are structures that are established all around the world that are destroying people's lives But these governments are abusing and dictating and locking up their people. This is where Syria came from Because the Syrian people the Millennials in Syria and in Egypt and in and in Libya All these North African countries in the Arab Spring of 2011 said we've had enough of a structure that's killing us We no longer want leaders who do not serve us And so they went to the streets and protested and hundreds of thousands of them Lost their lives because they realized it is not only a system and the culture It is now a structural Established idea in those countries to oppress them and some of us have these Structures in our minds and the church is full of these structures churches that have structures that shelter and protect our religiosity the protect our Sacred cows the protect our narrow-mindedness and protect our judge mentalness and our finger wagging at the world and protect our Fragility and how threatened we are by difference churches all around the world have a theology once your structure gets a theology You feel it's God Then we wonder why 98% of our country are not in church Because we have built structures.  It's rigged against you. That's even if you are next to the pool is rigged against you one person once a year So when Jesus said you want to get well, and he said here's the system.   I want you to get some of that I'm so fed up of this thing I'm so you got to find some of that guys this guy's got to find it I want you to find some aggression some assertiveness some strength some I have I have had enough Listen, don't look for big things I got sick and tired of praying for people in the prayer line Who came for a problem and the problem was only the tip of the iceberg of their stuckness?  You're sinking Step out get out of there and you'd say to me. I can't can't you see I'm stuck Why are you saying to me get out of there?  You don't realize listen to me.   I can't step out of my boots my boots are my protection my Insulation from the problem, but your boots are the problem And so you have to be willing Jesus said take up your mat.  What's that channel starts there? You're gonna say I'm not I'm done with it. I'm not doing that anymore.  I'm sick of it. I'm not doing it It starts there. It starts with not returning the phone call this week When that person calls you who wants to vent and rant at you starts there Starts with you taking a little bit a little bit just a little bit if you could just take one little step that first little step It's not dramatic.  Do something a little thing say I've had enough. No, you know We sing don't we tell the devil not today?   Come on devil The Bible says resist the devil and he'll flee from you.  Don't you and Jesus says I know it's not you I know it's not you. I know it's them Maybe we should have services Maybe should have services to live it to deliver demons from Christians.  I want you this week to be rude.   Don't talk to me. Don't come round anymore. I'm gonna have to risk that get get some of that Get some of that energy in you this week find your strength Find that find that module that you lost find that that aggressiveness find that no not me Not now not today just a little bit just even a little thing that you can do if you do one thing tonight One thing tomorrow one thing the next day if you every day this week do one little thing that gets you unstuck I promise you a few weeks from now Your life before the end of this year your life will get free from your Bethesda And you are totally set up for the next level for this new coming year, but God can't do it for you And so God is saying to you tonight. God is saying to you Do you want to get well don't say to him? I'm in a system. Excuse me Say to him. Yeah, I want to get well.  What's the first thing that happens? He meets a Pharisee who says to me. Oh, it's the Sabbath Here comes another system boom You just got free of a 30 year system Cutting his mat. Here comes a religious person saying to him. That's not allowed on the Sabbath put that mat down Who told you to do that?  Watch for it Expect it because people people that have a vested interest in you not getting free If they see you getting free and they're afraid they will not have the same place in your life They're afraid they were not of the same influence over you. They're scared of you getting free.  Guy says I don't know the guy's name. I never even told me this guy's got a miracle after decades Jesus never said by the way, here's my name. Here's my card come to my church next week. I'll put you on camera It'll increase our offering Of course Jesus Then it says later Jesus finds him in the temple and says to him listen heads up Let me help you go and sin no more in case something worse happens. Whoa. Hang on. Hang on Go and sin no more for crying out loud. The guy is a cripple. What kind of sins has he been up to? It's not exactly the man about town. Is he he's not going around gambling drug dealing sleeping around the guy is an invalid What do you mean sin no more? Remember if something obvious has been said something not obvious is going on Perhaps the greatest sin of that man on of us is Surrendering your life to a system that steals your future and steals your freedom Maybe that's the sin that he said don't do that anymore Don't surrender your life any more to people and systems and cultures that rob you of your future Let's stand together. Come on. We're gonna go. Let's stand when you all across the room Just where you are just all across the room If you feel tonight, this is me I just I feel I'm stuck and I want to make a decision tonight to get unstuck.  We need you free Father I pray for every person here lift in a hand those later listening to this podcast that also feels stuck I pray for we pray for all of you that from this moment on which you will find the courage the strength the tenacity The goal the audacity to take a step away from your Bethesda I pray tonight will be a beginning That never ever stops that you will take a step that will never stop that you will take step After step after step this week Turn your back on Bethesda turn your back on your stuckness. I pray that from tonight You will begin to step out of your stuckness in the name of Jesus Do it do it tonight do it with all of your heart and step into a whole new Beginning for your life and for your future in the name of Jesus step out of stuff. Amen Come on. Let's welcome this decision of these people. We honor you. We salute you. It's not easy, but we pray for you