Mile High Rev

REVered - Saturday Hymn - O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing

O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing.

John Wesley wrote this hymn to commemorate the first anniversary of his conversion to Christ.  I’m very familiar with it, as many of you will be.  What I didn’t know is that it has 19 verses.  19!!!!  I’ll only copy the first four for you, but if you like, when you go to the link you will find the rest.  All 19 are there.  What amazing theology in this hymn – nearly 270 years old.  Verse 4 is where I got my sermon title for this weekend!  “Breaking the Power of Canceled Sin.”  (Click on the link and turn up your sound.)

O for a thousand tongues to sing
My great Redeemer’s praise,
The glories of my God and King,
The triumphs of His grace!

My gracious Master and my God,
Assist me to proclaim,
To spread through all the earth abroad
The honors of Thy name.

Jesus! the name that charms our fears,
That bids our sorrows cease;
’Tis music in the sinner’s ears,
’Tis life, and health, and peace.

He breaks the power of canceled sin,
He sets the prisoner free;
His blood can make the foulest clean,
His blood availed for me.

REVelation - The Distinction Between Justification and Sanctification

After last weekend’s sermon in Romans 6, I’ve had a handful of people ask me to repeat a quote I shared from another pastor in last week’s sermon.  He distinguishes between “justification” and “sanctification” as follows:

Justification happens the moment you trust Christ and is never repeated.                           Sanctification happens moment-by-moment as you surrender your life to the Lord.

Justification delivers from the penalty of sin.                                                                                           Sanctification delivers from the power of sin.

Justification is an event.                                                                                                                               Sanctification is a process.

Justification happens one and only once.                                                                                             Sanctification is gradual and continuous.

Justification cannot be repeated.                                                                                                             Sanctification must be repeated.

Justification is the work of a moment.                                                                                                     Sanctification is the work of a lifetime.

Justification gives you the merit of Christ.                                                                                           Sanctification gives you the character of Christ.

REVrant 29.9 - Candidates Say They're OK With Second-Grade Teacher Reading Gay Prince Fairy Tale

Democratic Candidates Say They're OK With Second-Grade Teacher Reading Gay Prince Fairy Tale 

(Heads up – bizarre gay kiss graphic leads linked article.)

Last night, Democratic Presidential candidates were asked whether they thought it would be OK to read a “gay prince fairy tale” to 2nd graders.  Apparently, none of the responders had a problem with it.

Here’s the irony – imagine asking those same people whether they think it would be OK to read the Bible story of Adam and Eve to 2nd graders.  I can’t prove it, but I have a guess – all of them would oppose it on the basis of what is commonly referred to as the “separation of church and state.”

Normalization of homosexuality seems to be a recurring theme in the political agenda of liberal pundits and politicians.  Why are they pushing so hard on this?  (Think it has anything to do with….getting votes?)  Excuse me for sounded a bit jaded, but it’s difficult to conclude anything else as you watch supposedly serious-minded candidates for President of the United States wiggle around endorsing male-male or female-female love affairs and/or marriages.  And incidentally, bringing up the idea that we don’t need to be “afraid of people just because they are different”  (Obama) completely obscures the real issue here. 

The issue is a moral conflict between those who accept God’s definition of marriage as one man and one woman AND those who feel free to expand the definition.  And incidentally, although I normally avoid politics on this blog, the reason I made an exception today is because this is - at it’s core - a theological and moral issue.  I object to reading this “gay prince fairy tale” to second graders – since it quite clearly appears that the agenda is the normalization of gay love affairs and/or marriage.  NOT…because I am gay-bashing, or un-loving, or hateful, or afraid of people who are different than I am…BUT because it is clearly against God’s revealed will.

REVerie - Beans block 285 west of Denver

The Denver Post - Beans block 285 west of Denver.

For the uninitiated, this pinto bean spill occurred near an intersection that is on the way from my home to our church.  A friend made sure I knew  about it prior to my leaving for the board meeting  last night at the church. The meeting started at 6:30 pm so I left at 6:00 pm, sure that I would be able to navigate my way around the basically closed down C-470/285 intersection.

Plan A – Take the back road past Heritage Square, down past Red Rocks and through Morrison.  Follow the winding road through Willow Springs, and catch Alkire – I’ll be home free!  NOT.  When I saw cars backing up on the road heading into Morrison, near Red Rocks, I knew I would never make it.  So, I joined several others who were making U-turns and headed back to I-70.

The clock was ticking…

Plan B – Take I-70 to 6th Avenue to Kipling…and follow Kipling all the way down to Bowles.  Take a right on Bowles, and I’m home free.  NOT.  Kipling looked OK…until I got just past Alameda…and there I sat.  Dead stopped in traffic.  Apparently, several other drivers liked my “Plan B.”

It took me an hour and a half for a trip that normally takes around 17 minutes.

As I arrived late to the Elder Meeting, a thought occurred to me.  God knew that those pinto beans were going to obstruct my trip (and the trips of thousands of others) so that we would all be at the mercy of red lights and traffic delays.  I got to the Elder Meeting not one second later, or earlier, than God intended.  While the thought that “pinto beans” caused this whole episode sounds comical, the more profound thought for me was that God’s timing for me wasn’t altered one second by the whole leguminous incident.

REVrant 29.8 - College campuses may nurture faith

The Denver Post - Study: College campuses may nurture faith.

How’s this for a shift in thinking?  Even though college-aged students may not attend church at the rate they did when they were at home with their parents, their “faith” may actually be “nurtured” in college!  This is a surprisingly encouraging Denver Post article.  See what you think.

REVved - Rockies win ninth straight!

The Denver Post - Rockies win ninth straight.

Admittedly, I’m a fair weather fan of the Colorado Rockies…but that said, it is VERY exciting to see the Rockies making this run to clinch a Wild Card berth – 9 straight wins!  On my way home from a board meeting  last night, I heard the exciting call (KOA) of Troy Tulowitzki’s go-ahead homer in the 6th inning!  I felt a chill…a good one.  Go ROX!

REVrant 29.7 - "What Is Seen"

While driving home for lunch with my wife today, I was musing alone in the car about a number of things I had heard and seen this morning.  I participated in meetings and discussions that covered a range of topics in church life.  Nothing unusual, really.  A list of issues and situations that commonly occur.  And in the midst of my quiet musing, a quote my Dad used many times popped into my head – “Things are not always as they seem.”

Admit it.  Isn’t it easy to look at a situation and conclude that you know what’s going on because that’s the way it “seems?”  Do you ever consider that things might be very different than you think?  That, in my Dad’s classic words, “Things may not be as they seem!”  That you might have a situation all summed up in your mind, but that there may be some things you don’t see…and that things might be very different!  I think this way all the time.  Part of that probably comes from the realities of my life and ministry. 

It’s not unusual for me to sit with someone and hear what’s “really going on” in their life.  I don’t think too much shocks me anymore.  But every now and then, as I’m listening to someone tell their story, and it varies so dramatically from what I thought…and saw…prior to the discussion – I find my self thinking, this isn’t what I thought was going on in this person’s life at all!  “Things are not always as they seem.”

To be fair, sometimes, things ARE as they seem.  But, “not always.”  Just knowing that makes me want to be careful about making snap judgments or arriving at hasty conclusions.  I want to make sure that I have all the facts before forming definitive thoughts about people and situations.

Recently, I found an interesting verse in my Bible reading –  “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen.  For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”  II Corinthians 4:18  Keep this in mind the next time you’re tempted to obsess over what is “seen.”

 

REVved - Chatfield Baptisms This Afternoon

Readers from FBC already know this…but for the rest of you, I wanted to share my excitement over the baptism service we had this afternoon at the Chatfield Reservoir.  Weather had been a concern, as a front moved into town last night.  But, the Lord kept the rain away, despite cloudy and somewhat threatening skies.  When we arrived at 1:50 pm, the car thermometer registered 80 degrees.  I knew it was going to be a special afternoon - and it was!

38 people were baptized, including men, women, and children.  Our pastors each baptized several (I had the privilege of baptizing 8), and this time, we had the special thrill of seeing two dads baptize their own children.  Additionally, one of our missionaries baptized five people he led to the Lord, including a Muslim couple.  You should have heard the testimonies.  Several brought tears to my eyes.  It is so encouraging to hear people publicly affirm their allegiance to Christ and express their desire to be obedient to Him. 

We do have a baptistry at the church, and throughout the year, we baptize people indoors during services.  But, once a year, we head out to the local reservoir to take the Gospel message “into the world!”  This year’s event was a highlight!  Although I’m feeling a little ragged after another busy weekend of worship services, I’m also feeling blessed to have been a small part of such a glorious celebration!

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”  Matt. 28:19

 

REVered - Saturday Hymn - "When We All Get to Heaven"

1898 – Eliza Hewitt wrote this inspiring hymn…that popped into my head sometime during last night and has been running around in there ever since.  Overflowing with hope and certainty, this hymn has not surprisingly lost popularity in our earth-addicted (“Your Best Life NOW”) evangelical community.  Maybe it will help one of you today.  Click on the link with your sound turned up and enjoy this hopeful hymn. When We All Get to Heaven.

Sing the wondrous love of Jesus,
Sing His mercy and His grace.
In the mansions bright and blessèd
He’ll prepare for us a place.

Refrain

When we all get to Heaven,
What a day of rejoicing that will be!
When we all see Jesus,
We’ll sing and shout the victory!

While we walk the pilgrim pathway,
Clouds will overspread the sky;
But when traveling days are over,
Not a shadow, not a sigh.

Refrain

Let us then be true and faithful,
Trusting, serving every day;
Just one glimpse of Him in glory
Will the toils of life repay.

Refrain

Onward to the prize before us!
Soon His beauty we’ll behold;
Soon the pearly gates will open;
We shall tread the streets of gold.

Refrain

REVerie - My Best Friend Hits "Double Nickels" Today

       September 20, 1952 – September 20, 2007   

Today is a very special day in the Oudemolen household!  My best friend – my beautiful wife Jan (of 34 years) hits “double nickels” (55) today.  (I hope she doesn’t mind me telling you about this numerical milestone.  Perhaps she’ll comment if I blew it by telling you!) 

We’re going to take the day to celebrate this significant occasion.  We had considered an out of state trip (we enjoy long weekends in NYC), but due to responsibilities I have this coming weekend, that was out of the question.  So, we’re making today “Celebration Day!”  I can’t express what Jan means to me.  She’s my number one encourager, a phenomenal woman of faith (I actually told her earlier this week, “You have more faith than I do.”), and a profound prayer warrior.  Our “oneness” as a married couple is a mysterious and remarkable gift from God.  We think the same thoughts, share the same dreams, and share passion to serve God no matter what!  In our case, marriage has fortified us, not frustrated us.  We love being married.  I believe that our relational fit is as perfect as two humans can get.  Our marriage is a divinely-crafted harbor in life’s storms.  I can’t (and don’t want to) imagine my life without Jan.   

Honey, Happy Birthday!  I’ll express much more than this to you in private, but I wanted my readers to know what a special day today is for me…and YOU!