Mile High Rev

REVerie - GUEST BLOGGER - MRS. MHR

TODAY IS MY BEST FRIEND’S BIRTHDAY!!!  Today I am celebrating the most wonderful gift of my husband.  He entered this world on a Sunday evening, December 11, 1949 in Holland, Michigan to Stanley and Julia.  I have had the joy and privilege of knowing him for 37 years… 34 of those as husband & wife.  It is an understatement to say that I love him to pieces!  God has blessed me abundantly in providing me with such an amazing husband.  The most important thing to me his that he is clearly a man of God and loves Him with all of his heart.  He has loved on me everyday since we’ve met…he loves me, cares for me, showers me with gifts and kindness, serves me and even cooks for me!!!  Well, I could go on and on, but I just wanted to express a little bit of love to my darling on this his special day.  Like I heard a dear woman say recently, “If I tell you more about my husband, you will all want him!” 

I LOVE YOU SWEETHEART!!!  HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

REVolting III - What Happened to This Young Man?

Reports: Colorado gunman posted anti-Christian writings - CNN.com.

As those following the church shootings in our state are aware, Michael Murray was once in the “Christian family.”  He was apparently raised in a Christian home with Christian values, surrounded by Christian parents and family members, including an uncle (Phil Abeyta – known very well by our church family.  I went to Juarez with Phil years ago on a mission trip, and he has preached in our church.  Very strong Christian brother.) who is a Pastor.  Murray’s mother is a mentor in a Christian organization that ministers to troubled youth.

So what happened?

There’s a fascinating verse in Ephesians 4:27 – “And do not give the Devil a foothold.”  Without knowing more of the details, and on the basis of reading the linked article that reports some of the things Murray wrote between the killings, I’d suggest that he – using his own free will – gave “the Devil a foothold!”  Is it possible that he opened his life up to dark influences and nurtured this anti-Christian hatred?  Yes.  Is it possible that the ex-aspiring youth missionary (YWAM trained, prior to his dismissal) made a choice to open his heart and mind to Satan”  Yes.  Is it possible to cave in to demonic influences and serve Lucifer rather than the Lord?  Yes. 

Michael Murray playing at a December 2003 Christmas concert.

While we must be theologically cautious not to place all the blame on Satan and to subsequently give Michael Murray a free pass – he is clearly the one who was pulling the trigger and spewing anti-Christian hatred - it is important to see the vile ramifications of “giving the Devil a foothold.”  This could be the best answer to the question – “What happened to this young man?”

REVolting II - Colorado Church Shootings - Church gunman "hated Christians"

The Denver Post - Church gunman "hated Christians".

Apparently, 24 year old gunman Matthew J. Murray, was the shooter in both episodes yesterday.  And a 25 year old security guard, Jeanne Assam, was the one who fired the shot that stopped him in the lobby of New Life Church in Colorado Springs.  She said, “I give the credit to God,” and  “God was with me,” and “I was given this assignment by God.”  She was just coming off three days of prayer and fasting.  Amazing.

Officials say that their investigation revealed that Murray “hated Christians.”  (I wonder whether media will start using the term, “hate crime?”  A discussion for another time…)  Upon hearing of the shooter’s hatred of Christians, I immediately thought of Jesus’ words in Matthew 10:22 – “All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.”

Please continue to pray for the families who have lost their precious loved ones, and for those who are still recovering from gunshot wounds.  May our Lord be glorified in the midst of this dark and direct attack on Christians. 

REVolting - "All Faith-Based Communities Should Be On The Lookout for Trouble"

Fatal church shootings may be linked : Local News : The Rocky Mountain News.

With the rest of Colorado and the nation, I was shocked to learn of two shootings within a 13 hour time frame - both occurred on or near Colorado church properties.  The first, early Sunday morning near Faith Bible Chapel in Arvada at a YWAM (Youth With A Mission) Training Facility. (Faith Bible Chapel is less than 15 minutes from our home.) 

The second, at the well-known New Life Church (of Ted Haggard fame) in Colorado Springs; this one occurring on church property and in the church lobby.  The body count so far is four dead – two in Arvada, and two dead in Colorado Springs, including the shooter.  Several have been injured and are hospitalized.  (Since this is breaking news, I’m sure the numbers and details may be modified in coming hours.)

As you’ll read in the linked article, authorities suspect the shootings may be linked (<– my first reaction, to be honest), but are waiting for verification prior to making this assertion.  The idea that the same gunman or gunmen would target two high-profile churches/properties within such a short period of time makes some diabolical sense.

Of course, I urge all of you to pray for the victim’s families and for those who survived this harrowing experience.  My sympathy goes out to everyone impacted by this tragic assault on two Christian communities.

After some processing, it won’t surprise any of you to learn that I began to think about whether or not our church is in any type of danger for such an attack.  When I read the linked article and saw the sentence I used for the title of this post, I was sobered – “All faith-based communities should be on the lookout for trouble.”  Good warning.  Incidentally, we had 135 children presenting a Children’s Christmas Musical in all three services this weekend – “Merciful God, thank you for protecting them!”

I imagine we will be having some discussions in the coming week about ways to beef up our current security plan at FBC.  I have to admit – seminary didn’t prepare me for this.  But, to be good shepherds of our flock, we must be vigilant and make sure we’re not ignoring this kind of threat.  Sad that it’s come to this, but hearing about what happened on Sunday in Christian church communities in Colorado is a wake-up call we simply cannot ignore.

REVered & REViewed - Charles Spurgeon, Prince of Preachers

Tonight, Jan was reading Louis Drummond’s monumental biography of Charles Spurgeon, simply titled, Spurgeon – Prince of Preachers – it’s nearly 900 pages long.  As she was reading she would come across something good and say, “listen to this.”  After a couple of them, I said, “I’ve got to blog those.”  So, here they are:

1. In response to his merciless critics (and there were many):

“I shall never forget the circumstances when a slanderous report against my character came to my ears, and my heart was broken in agony…I fell on my knees and said, ‘Master, I will not keep back even my reputation from thee.  If I must lose that too, let it go.  If to be made as the mire of the street again, if to be the laughing stock of schools and the song of the drunkard once more, will make me more serviceable to my Master, and more useful to his cause, I will prefer it to all this multitude, of all the applause men can give.’” (p. 178)

2. On the need for a preacher to believe what he preaches:

“Believe what you do believe, or else you will never persuade anybody else to believe it…You may depend upon it that souls are not saved by a minister who doubts; and the preaching of your doubts and your questions can never possibly decide a soul for Christ.  You must have great faith in the Word of God if you are to be winners of souls to those who hear it.”  (p. 296)

3. And on the need to be a church where people are converted:

“I beseech you never to cease to pray that here God’s Word may be quickening, a convicting, a converting word.  The fact is, brethren, we must have conversion work here.  We cannot go on as some Churches do without converts.   We cannot, we will not, me must not, we dare not.  Souls must be converted here, and if there be not many born to Christ, may the Lord grant to me that I sleep in the tomb of my fathers and be heard of no more.  Better indeed for us to die than to live, if souls be not saved.” (p. 297)

Powerful words from the 19th Century’s greatest preacher!  1. Your reputation is in God’s hands, 2. Believe what you preach – don’t preach doubts, and 3) Win people to Christ in the church! 

Thanks Charles, just what I needed to ponder today.

REVrant 32.1 - LIFE vs BLOGGING

In the relentless battle between “life” and “blogging” I always default to living life!  Blogging can wait!  So it’s been nearly a week since my last post.  Thanks to all of my faithful readers who have checked in, despite the paucity of new material.

Some of the things that have occupied my time include several visits with a family in a health crisis at a local hospital.  Welcoming our newest staff member – Director of Worship, Daniel Sesay.  Spending time with an old (sorry, Dave) friend – former Worship Pastor – Dave Burns, who ministered with us during weekend worship services.  Meetings, deadlines, emails, appointments, breaking stories in church life, and good old-fashioned work! 

What stands out?

1. Welcoming Our New Director of Worship – Daniel Sesay is from Sierra Leone, West Africa.  I met him 13 years ago when he visited our church with a musical group he sang with – “Liberation.”  We kept in touch, as he married (Erica), returned to the US, attended Colorado Christian University, had two daughters (Keisha and Sierra), and for the past ten years, served as Worship Director in a local church in our region.  Daniel is a naturally gifted musician with an amazing ability to connect with his audience in leading worship.  Several of us were in tears throughout the services the past weekend – tears of JOY!  What an experience!  When he and our former Worship Pastor (Dave) sang and played during communion, I thought I was going to lose it.  During “Draw Me Nearer”…I was so moved in the first service that I asked them to repeat the song at the end of the service – main reason?  I was speechless.  God has given us quite a gift.  You can see a photo of Daniel if you go to our FBC website and search our staff list.  We’re still waiting to get his “bio” posted. www.4fbc.org

2. Conversion Story – During all services last weekend, I extended a Gospel invitation for any who wanted to receive Christ as Savior.  I simply asked people to raise a hand and then, to pray with me.  By my count, there were 6 who responded during the weekend.  On Monday I received an email from someone who responded.  I don’t have permission to share the specifics of her story, but let me assure you – the person was expressing a clear understanding of what it means to accept Christ, and a bold assertion that she did exactly that on Sunday morning.  Tears again.  Joy again.  I could hardly bear it….it was so good!  That overwhelming sense that God was working as the Gospel went forth at Foothills Bible Church.  To God be the glory.

3. Hospital Ministry – I won’t say the hospital is my favorite place to be…but I will say that the hospital is a great place to minister!  We’ve had a few people in the hospital recently, and while I obviously don’t do all the visitation in our church, I do some.  A dear man from our church had surgery a week ago on his esophagus and has subsequently experienced complications, life-threatening ones, and so I’ve been up there a few times to listen, point to the “Great Physician,” and to pray with the family of this saint.  Tough times.  But times when I am reminded of the importance of prayer, “presence,” and patience.  Who likes to “wait on the Lord?”  But it’s in that “waiting” and time of dependency that God teaches and shapes those who belong to Him.

So, that’s a tiny glimpse into the past week.  So much more took place.  And through it all, God gave me a strong sense of purpose and fulfillment as a pastor.  Thanks, Lord, I needed that!