Well, I want to thank the Staley Foundation for the lectureship that enabled me to come and then to the Bible department, especially that has hosted me and I've really enjoyed eating with them and getting to know them and for you to give me your ear on a sensitive and controversial topic. You've been very respectful. I appreciate that very much. And I feel like saying a word just about your campus here, not only the spiritual climate of warmth and camaraderie that I have felt folded into.

But the lay of the land here is really beautiful.

You may take it for granted. You may have grown up in these hills. It's pretty flat in Minnesota where I live.

And I stood up there by the telephone, no, what do you call it, the flagpole that's the telephone pole. That's where I live.

I was outside my house is a telephone. I stood by the flagpole and looked out over those hills and there's really a profound attraction to my

soul to those hills and I believe the Lord brought to my mind, Psalm 121. I lift up my eyes to the hills,

from whence does my help come? And then he stops and the answer is not my help comes from the

hills. He checks that and says no, my help comes from the Lord. And so I don't want to say that the hills are evil or that they are idolatrous, but I do want to say that my calling is to the city for now and your calling will be to leave

this place one of these days.

And I want you to be able to say when you leave these hills and maybe

go to some very faraway place that's not nearly as sweet and warm and beautiful as this place, either personally or visually, God is there.

Your help comes from the Lord, whether it's flat or hilly or rural or urban God is there.

Let's pray before we begin.

Oh Father in heaven, I praise you that you are everywhere that your people are in power.

You will never leave us or forsake us.

You have granted stunning gifts of beauty for our delights and you mean

for the beauties of this world to be a springboard into heavenly praise of your great glory.

And as we focus together now on this final issue

of being lovers of truth in a gender-leveling politically correct age.

I ask that you would manifest your presence here with open minds and open hearts and earnestness for your cause and

for your truth. I ask this in Jesus great name,

amen. I ask this in Jesus great name. Amen.

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