Hey everyone, it's so great to have you with us today on Pastor Rick's Daily Hope.

We are going to continue our very encouraging series today called Life's Healing Choices.

And in these lessons, Rick Warren will guide us through a deep biblical exploration of how to overcome the hurts, hang-ups, and habits that really hold us

back. So get ready for some practical insights and powerful truths that can lead to lasting change

and freedom in your life. So let's jump right in for part one of a message called The Growth Choice.

You know, a number of years ago, I made a list of up-and-coming pastors in America that I

thought I needed to be praying for. And if I mentioned the names of the guys in this list,

you'd know all the names. They're friends of mine, they're young guys who are the up-and-comers.

And I thought, you know, when I started Saddleback 30 years ago and I was 25, I had some

mentors, who many of them are now in heaven, who prayed for me and encouraged me. And I thought,

I need to be doing this for the young guys. So I made a list of popular, well-known pastors

across America, began praying for them.

I looked at that list the other day, and the sad thing is almost half of those guys are no longer in ministry.

They either got discouraged and gave up, or they burned out, or they flamed out financially or morally, or something caused

them to get out of the race and end up in the ditch. It made me think of a verse in Galatians.

And the Bible says this, it's on your screen, you were doing so well. Who made you stop obeying the truth? The message I want to share

with you this weekend may be one of the more important messages that I've shared with you

because it's about how to finish the race, how to keep on keeping on, how to continue growth

your entire life. Because life is not a 50-yard dash, it's a

marathon. The Bible says this here on the screen, 2 John 1-8, watch out that you do not lose

what you've worked for. That is my prayer for you. As your pastor, as somebody who loves you,

I don't want you to lose what you've

...