Mile High Rev

REVelation - Worry Is Atheism

E. Stanley Jones, a Methodist missionary to India in a previous generation, wrote a devotional titled - "Worry is Atheism."  Here's some of what he wrote:

A person who worries says, "I cannot trust God; I'll take things into my own hands."  The result?  Worry, frustration, incapacity to meet the dreaded thing when it does come.  With God, you can meet it, overcome it, assimilate it into the purpose of your life.  Alone, you fuss and fume and are frustrated.  Worry says, "God doesn't care, and so He won't do anything-- I'll have to worry it through."  Faith says, "God does care, and He and I will work it out together.  I'll supply the willingness, and He will supply the power -- with that combination, we can do anything.

Convicting words...

REVisit - Back In Florida

By the time most of you read this, Mrs. Rev and I will be back in Florida spending some time with her parents.  Mom is making good progress.  It's difficult to believe that nearly eight weeks ago she had open heart surgery, including one coronary bypass and an aortic valve replacement.  She has been doing well in her recovery after a set-back in the early days after the surgery.  It's amazing to consider the scope of this surgery and the rate of improvement we are seeing with my mother-in-law.  I'm eager to see her progress first-hand.  All of this health-related concentration with my mother-in-law, father-in-law, Jan, and me has reminded me of the great gift a person has if they are healthy. 

Are you?  Healthy?  If so, take a moment today to say thanks.

I personally know about living with health problems.  And all that goes with it --> Fear of never getting well.  Medication lists a mile long.  Insomnia.  Doctor visits every week.  Needles.  Hospitalization.  Surgery.  Recovery.  Insurance forms.  Bills.  Complications from surgery.  Hospital gowns. (Although I did request doctor scrubs in one of my hospitalizations and was successful in avoiding the dreaded hospital "uni-garment.")  And then there's those people who get sick of you being sick.  I've lived it all.

Health.  A wonderful gift from God.  If you have it - say thanks.  If you know someone who doesn't have good health, pray for them today.  Their journey is arduous.

REVrant 4.10 - Say It Isn't So, Jane

Unbelievable.  Jane Fonda Plans Anti-War Bus Tour 

Anybody want a slightly used copy of My Life So Far?

REVrant 4.9 - It Was Only A Matter of Time...

Fox News columnist Jennifer D’Angelo reports that “til death do us part” in traditional wedding vows is going the way of “to honor and obey” – out the window.  ''Til Death Do Us Part' Is Dying Out  Who is surprised by this?  Surely, in our postmodern, “make-no-commitments,” “keep-your-options-open,” “Desperate Housewives” – culture, it was to be expected! 

The new options?  “Let’s stay married as long as it’s working out for us.”  “We both know this isn’t going to last forever!”  “I don’t want to grow old with you, just hang out for a while.”

Having just celebrated 32 years of marriage on July 14 (and yes, we did say, “As long as we both shall live…”), I think the revised version of the vows is ridiculous.  Why even call them “vows?”  Why make any commitments at all?  Why not just say, “Let’s try this until one of us decides it’s not working?”

It was only a matter of time…and who knows what’s next?  Agreements to five year marriages?  Or ten year agreements?  Or marriage licenses that expire and need to be (or not) renewed?  A few posts ago (REVrant 4.4) I cited the fact that America has the “weakest families in the world.”  We obviously also have the “weakest marriages.”  God help the USA.

HOT in Denver

Yesterday 105.  Today 104.  No relief in sight.  Record Temperatures  How are you keeping cool? 

REVrant 4.8 - Canada Legalizes Gay Marriage

God help Canada.  Canada Legalizes Gay Marriage

REVrant 4.7 - Oprah Agrees to Make Over Kirstie Alley's House

Am I missing something?  Kirstie Alley – a household name in the Hollywood community – sends Oprah a video request asking her to make over her kitchen, using Oprah’s make-over guy, Nate Berkus, and Oprah agrees to do it.  You can see the story here – Nate Makes Over Kirstie Alley's House

Why did Kirstie need Oprah to make this happen?  As I watched a portion of the Oprah Show today, during which the make-over story was told, I kept wondering why these two celebrities entered such a bizarre arrangement.  Aren’t there some deserving families or individuals who could be helped by the richest woman in America?  I simply don’t get this.

 

REVrant 4.6 - Tom Cruise and His Scientologist Agenda

Christianity Today offers a brief overview of the tenets of Scientology that I found very helpful.  I’ve linked their site here –> Why Christians Object to Scientology - Christianity Today Magazine

Tom Cruise is not shy about his affiliation with Scientology.  He butted heads with Matt Lauer on the Today Show recently as his stunning arrogance about Scientology nearly blasted Lauer out of his chair.  He had a “Scientology tent” on the set of his panned summer movie – “War of the Worlds.”  He’s cozied up to Oprah, who of course is just fine with the Scientology loyalty of one of her favorite Hollywood heroes.  Cruise likes to say, “you can be a Christian and a Scientologist.”  But that’s not quite right.  Devotion to Scientology will ultimately put a person at odds with the fundamentals of the Christian faith – most notably, around the issue of the identity of Jesus Christ. 

Be warned – like so many other “spiritual options” in our postmodern milieu, Scientology doesn’t pass the tests of time or truthfulness.  And ultimately, in contradiction to Mr. Cruise’s remarks, you cannot be a Scientologist and a Christian!

 

REVelation - Summer Camp in the Middle East - First View

Jewish boys at summer camp.  Click on the link – Yahoo! News Photo

REVelation - Summer Camp in the Middle East - Second View

Hamas summer camp boys.  Yahoo! News Photo\

(Hat tip to “Little Green Footballs” for the photo links).