Mile High Rev

REVved - "Do You Know the Way to San Jose?"

I woke up this morning with an old standard on my mind -“Do You Know the Way to San Jose?”  Makes sense.  Later this afternoon Jan and I head out to DIA to fly to San Jose, California for our week at Mt. Hermon.  I am one of two Bible teachers for the week, and will also be preaching tomorrow morning for the Sunday service.

Last summer, I was honored to speak at my first Family Camp at Mt. Hermon.  Jan and I had the time of our lives.  Some of my heroes of the faith in our generation have gone before me as teachers at this venerable conference center.  If I mentioned the names, you would know them.  But my greater point is that I am honored beyond words to be invited to speak once again.

What will make the week extra-special is the opportunity to minister once again with our former worship pastor – Dave Burns.  Dave is on staff at Mt. Hermon, and in addition to his regular duties, he will be leading worship during the week.  I know it will be a spiritually moving experience.  Dave is an amazingly gifted keyboard player and composer…and a worshiper.

I’m going to be preaching from the book of Habakkuk – “Let All the Earth Be Silent.”  (I’m the morning speaker, and I think the sessions start around 9:00 am, in case any of you happen to be in the area and might want to swing by for a session.) 

If the Lord impresses you to do so, I’d appreciate your prayers for us in the coming week.  We simply want to be used by God.  I’ll give a report on the week later in July.

REVealed - Three Cultural Icons Dead

Death occurs every day… 

But when very famous people die, death seems to get special treatment.  Michael Jackson, Farrah Fawcett, and Ed McMahon died within a matter of days.  The cable news channels are consumed with reporting the news about these famous people. 

Listen closely to what people say as they comment about the dead this week.  You won’t hear much (if anything) about heaven, faith, salvation, or Jesus.  You’ll hear about successful careers, years of celebrity status, photo shoots, posters, TV appearances, super-star status, fortune, fame, concerts, and trials.  Makes me think.  I hope it makes you think, too.

Hebrews 9:27 – “Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment.” 

I extend my sympathy to the families of these icons.  Grief is thorny and can be consuming. 

I also remind everyone of the brevity of life and the importance faith in Jesus Christ, which not only makes life worth living, but also brings hope when death knocks on the door.

REVved - 5 DAYS WITH "NEW TRIBES"

Last Sunday, Jan and I left directly from church to head to DIA in order to fly to Missouri.  Although we flew into KCI (Kansas City International), our destination was Roach, Missouri.  Roach is in the south west corner of Missouri, but more importantly, is the home of the New Tribes Mission Training Center.  I was invited to be the Bible teacher for a five-day Enrichment Conference for New Tribes staff - both home-based and international missionaries.

The trip started off with a bang.  We watched funnel clouds form over DIA, while our flight was delayed nearly two hours.  We arrived in KC at around 8:00 pm and drove for three hours in pitch black darkness through some of the most remote territory I've ever "not seen."  (We drove back in the daytime, so I got to see where we were!)  We fell into bed exhausted around midnight.

We woke up to threatening weather conditions, and in fact, as I began my first session at 8:30 am on Monday, we were told that there was a tornado warning in our area, but to go ahead and preach and if anybody saw one, they would let us know!

I'll probably write another blog later (since I need to get to work finishing my Father's Day sermon), but I wanted to give a quick update.  Despite the threatening weather, the remote location, and the high-speed pace (I spoke 10 times in 5 days), Jan and I have just returned from one of the most amazing spiritual "mountain-tops" in our lives. 

Rubbing shoulders with New Tribes Missionaries was one of the high honors of my life.  These people are committed to reaching the remaining 2,500 unreached people groups with a passion and resolve that I still can't get over.  One statistic (among several that I heard last week) is still ringing in my heart - NTM missionaries reach a new people group somewhere around the world every 45 days!  And their strategy, after establishing contact, is to translate the Bible, win people to Jesus, and plant a church!  They are currently working in 281 people groups who have not previously been reached.  I'll blog more about that in the coming week, I'm sure.

Jan and I were hosted by Dave and Carolyn Meyers, friends on staff with New Tribes that we met a few years ago as we spoke at another conference together.  They could not have been more gracious to us.  We also had the privilege of meeting Larry Brown, who is the head of New Tribes, and Gracia Burnham, the NTM missionary whose husband was killed after they were held captive by the Abu Sayaf for a year in the Philippines.  Truthfully, every NTM missionary we met touched our hearts deeply.  Not to overstate it, but Jan and I felt like were were on "holy ground."

Thanks to many of you who were praying for us.  I don't recall a more intense week in ministry life.  I also don't recall ever feeling more "prayed for" by God's people.  This was definitely a Divine appointment that we were only able to keep through the power of prayer.  

REVved - Attending a Wedding - Honoring Marriage

Jan and I have the privilege of attending a wedding this evening.  One of our friend's sons is getting married.  I'm taking the night off from our Saturday PM service to join with our friends in this celebration.  We are honored to be invited, and want to honor this invitation by participating. 

For some reason, "weddings" have a whole new meaning in our culture.  I don't know if other people feel this way, but I do today -> by going to this wedding: 1) I'm honoring the fact that a man and woman are choosing to be married.  2) I'm honoring the fact that the man and woman are both Christians, making this a Biblical union.  3) I'm honoring the fact that rather than living together, this man and woman will make vows before God today to be faithful and love one another until death separates them.  4) I'm honoring the fact that this man and woman want witnesses to join them in a God-honoring ceremony.  The more I think about it, the more excited I am to go!

As I sit in the audience at this wedding later today, I am taking a stand with this couple and their families.  By attending a wedding, I hope to honor marriage.

 

REVved - Summer Speaking Opportunities

Jan and I are very excited about the opportunities we have this summer to minister at two camps.  For most of the past 24 years at FBC, I’ve done the majority of my ministry at home…in our own church family.  But in God’s plan, I have two wonderful opportunities to speak outside of Colorado during the coming month.

#1 – New Tribes Mission Enrichment Conference – Camdenton, Missouri – June 15–19

Several years ago, Jan and I met a couple serving with New Tribes at their training center in Missouri.  We really “clicked” with Dave & Carolyn Meyers and the Lord led Dave to ask me to speak at their “enrichment conference” at the training enter this year.  What a privilege.  I’ll be speaking from Colossians – Theme: “Seeing the Invisible.”  We are really looking forward to connecting with the NTM team later this month at their Lake of the Ozarks training facility.

#2 – Mount Hermon Family Camp - Week 3, Mt. Hermon, California – June 28–July 4

Last year, Jan and I enjoyed an amazing trip to the gorgeous redwood forest surrounding Mt. Hermon.  I was privileged to speak at a family camp.  We met many amazing people and connected with Luis & Pat Palau during one of the best weeks of our lives.  Our connection at Mt. Hermon is our former worship pastor, Dave Burns.  Dave is on staff there, and graciously invited us back for a week this summer.  We can hardly wait to reconnect with the many friends we made last year.  I’ll be ministering with Darrell Johnson, an Associate Professor at Regent College.  I’ll be speaking from Habakkuk – “Let All the Earth Be Silent.” 

   

As always, we’d appreciate your prayers during these ministry opportunities!

PS – Looking at these photos made me think that we’re going to be seeing a lot of trees this summer!

REVrant 50.1 - America is NOT One of the Largest Muslim Countries in the World!

One of Largest Muslim Countries in the world? 

Here’s the latest from President Obama –> It is important to note that "if you actually took the number of Muslim Americans, we'd be one of the largest Muslim countries in the world".  Read the link above and draw your own conclusions.  It seems to me that the President is trying to make nice with Muslims.  All well and good, I suppose, so long as he tells the truth.  And the truth is that we are not a Muslim country, nor one of the largest.

Here’s some figuring, based on whether there are 6 million Muslims in the U.S., or 1.8 million.  (There is debate about how many Muslims are in the U.S.) 

IF 6 MILLION…

But even if we assume there are six million Muslims in the US, that makes it only the 34th biggest Muslim country in the world - behind Indonesia, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Turkey, Egypt, Iran, Nigeria, China, Ethiopia, Algeria, Morocco, Afghanistan, Sudan, Iraq, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan, Yemen, Tanzania, Syria, Malaysia, Niger, Senegal, Ghana, Tunisia, Somalia, Guinea, Kenya, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Burkina Faso and Tajikistan.

IF 1.8 MILLION…

UPDATE 2: A reputable survey by Pew puts the number of Muslims in the US at 1.8 million. This would make it the 48th biggest Muslim country, after the above list plus France, Libya, Jordan, Israel, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Kyrgyzstan, Mauritania, Germany, Kuwait, Oman, Eritrea, Lebanon and Serbia and Montenegro - and just above Britain, which would be the 50th.

For fun, just imagine if the President had said, “If you actually took the number of Christian Americans, we’d be one of the largest Christian countries in the world.”  (Which, for the record, would be a true statement, since there are over 75% of Americans who claim to be "Christian.")

REVrant 49.4 - Against the Law to Have a Bible Study in Your Home?

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,522637,00.html?test=latestnews

As you will see from this link, a Pastor and wife in San Diego have been told they can’t use their home to hold a Bible study with friends!  This is BIG news! 

I need to know more details before fully weighing in on this, but it appears that San Diego County is gearing up to fight homeowners who want to hold Bible studies in their homes.  The county is saying it’s a “religious assembly.”  And they are insisting that the pastor pay for a “use permit” if he wants to continue holding the Bible study.

Of all the bizarre things people do in their homes, a Bible study would seem relatively harmless.  But apparently not in San Diego County!  Insanity!  You think someone has an agenda in this case? 

REVrant 49.3 - How Life Began

Scientists May Have Found How Life Began.

Scientists are still trying to figure it out – “How did life begin?”  Important question.  While scientists continue to try to discover the “how,” I want to remind everyone of the “WHO!”

Genesis 1:1 – “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” 

REVrant 49.2 - Cell Phones in Public Places...Like Church

Cell Phones Interrupt Already Contentious White House Briefing - mediabistro.com: TVNewser.

It happened to me last weekend.  I was starting the church service by introducing the families who were dedicating children on Mother’s Day.  Clearly, church had started!  Then, to my right, I overheard a guy with a phone to his ear saying, “You guys are going to be late…we’re sitting near the front.”  I looked at the guy (who I know personally, by the way) and asked him, “”Dude, are you on the phone?”  “Yeah,” he chirped, “want to say hi?”  I took him up on it.  I spoke into the receiver and said (to whoever was on the line), “Hey, you’re late, we’ve already started.  Hurry up!”

People loved it!  I thought it would be a teachable moment, so I said to everyone, “Perhaps this would be a good time to put your phones on vibrate?”  People loudly agreed.  I checked with my friend at the end of the service, and he was fine with how I handled it.  I wonder whether people got the message.

And then today I saw the photo above and read about this reporter taking a phone call during the White House press briefing.  That’s plain rude.

People, it’s not that difficult to place your phones on “VIBRATE!”  Please!

REVved - Mother's Day Weekend at FBC

Mother's Day Weekend at FBC has been amazing! 

Great attendance.  Moving child dedications - the couples did great with the letters they wrote to their kids.  Introducing our new Children's Ministry leaders - Lauri Cole and Wendy Holden.  Viewing a fun Mother's Day clip from the "Skit-Guys!"  Challenging the women of FBC with a sermon from Titus 2:3-5, titled -"This One's For the Girls" (with respect to Martina McBride!)  Even played a brief clip from the song!  Reminding our church family of some BIG TRUTHS to start the sermon - that "men and women are different!"  "There is stuff in the church that only women can do."  "The best way for younger women in the church to be trained is by older women."  Photo shoots with the parents and their kids after each service.  Having a fun lunch at Red Robin with three teen daughters of friends of ours who were out of town for the weekend.  A humbling opportunity to gather at the hospital bed of a friend battling cancer in its final stages.  And...collapsing into my easy chair at home after a long day of ministry, thanking God for the opportunity to serve Him! 

Tonight, it's exhaustion, but a "good exhaustion!"

And one more thing - HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY to my mother-in-law, Margie Nicholson in Michigan!