Mile High Rev

REVved - Palm Sunday, 3 Converts, and a Donkey

Palm Sunday 2008 at FBC was a great day.  For years, we’ve had adults wave palm branches in services and have followed a more traditional approach to celebrating Palm Sunday.  As we planned for this year, I  suggested that we think outside the box of past traditions and consider having a donkey in church.  You can imagine the responses:  “A real donkey?”  “In church?”  “Have you considered the possible down side?” (You can guess what they were thinking!)  “Where do we find a donkey?”

 Not “our” donkey, but a donkey, and her colt, similar to the ones Jesus requested on the first Palm Sunday.

After some joking and further conversation, the plan was hatched.  Some of the Sunday School kids would wave palm branches, following the donkey down the center aisle of church.  The donkey would keep going, out the door, making a big loop, and the kids would stay and sing with our choir.  It worked like a charm.  Three times!  And “Nestor the Donkey,” behaved like a perfect gentleman. (Though he could have used some donkey deodorant!)  One of my favorite responses was from a lady who said, “I saw the donkey and started crying, just thinking of the humility of Jesus.”  She got the point!

I preached from John 12:12–19 – “Don’t Let the Donkey Fool You.” (Also the title of a song written by our Director of Worship and sung earlier in the service.)  In the sermon I looked at four ways in which Jesus was misunderstood when He rode into Jerusalem that day…and still is today.

1. The PHARISEES – Felt Threatened – “Jesus Has to Be Killed”

2. The CROWD – Were Dazzled – “Jesus Has to Be King”

3. The ROMAN SOLDIERS – Were Underwhelmed – “Jesus Has to Be Kidding”

4. The DISCIPLES – Were Confused – “Jesus Has to Be Kissed Goodbye”

At the end of each sermon, I extended an invitation for people to trust in Christ.  After the final service, 3 people raised their hand to express a desire to become believers in Jesus.  Praise the Lord! 

I’m still on the mountaintop, celebrating an amazing weekend.  And I think we have a new Palm Sunday tradition – a guest donkey on Palm Sunday!

 

REVealed - Atlanta Twisters Kill 2

My Way News - Storm Follows Atlanta Twister, Killing 1.

The people of Georgia, and Atlanta in particular, stand in need of our prayers today as they mop up after an ugly tornado hit in downtown Atlanta and a second tornado hit northwest of Atlanta.  Two reported deaths, though the linked article above only mentions one.

REVrant 35.3 - Obama's Pastor

FOXNews.com - As Obama Talks Religion, Questions Surround His Controversial Pastor.

Any headline with the word “Pastor” in it obviously catches my attention.  As you’ll read in the linked article, Pastor Jeremiah Wright is once again in the news as revelations of pulpit political endorsements, racism, conspiracy theories, and profanity-laced sermons makes the headlines.  No need to draw this out – this guy is out of control and recklessly shaming the name of Christ and the church.  He should be ashamed of himself, and should make a public apology. (Bet he won’t though!)

Two further observations:

1. Obama would do well to specifically address the controversial content of his “spiritual advisor’s” sermons.  He can no longer get away with simply saying, “I don’t agree with many of the things my pastor says.”  For example he needs to specify that he does not agree with Wright’s assertion that the “white government” invented the AIDS virus to infect and kill blacks.  And so much more…

2. For years, I’ve felt pressure from certain people who were attending our church to make public political endorsements.  We’ve had people leave the church because I won’t stand in the pulpit and tell people how to vote.  Recently, I stood in the pulpit and said this publicly, “I know some of you want me to endorse a political candidate.  I never have and I never will.  My job is to point people to Jesus not to a certain political figure.”  The sad story of Jeremiah Wright strengthens my resolve to maintain this commitment! 

REVrant 35.2 - Spitzer's Prostitute: "I love who I am"

Spitzer's escort: 'I love who I am' - CNN.com. 

At this link, you can read (if you’ve not already heard enough…) an article and see a photo of the prostitute with whom Eliot Spitzer committed adultery.  I’m not posting her photo because of the message her eyes seem to be sending in it!  There is currently a media feeding frenzy on who 22 year-old Ashley Alexandra Dupre is and why she was working as a prostitute.  There is also controversy over whether or not she should be considered a “victim.”  Should “past abuse” that she references be considered in legitimizing – or at least explaining – her participation in illicit sexual activity?

As I read the article, I came across the following reported quote from Ms. Dupre’s MySpace site – “I love who I am.”  Hmmm…  Really?  You love earning $4000+ a night for having sex with a married man?  Or having sex with whomever?  Or risking AIDS or STD’s by hooking up with multiple sex partners?  Ah, let’s think about this.  Ashley, do you really “love” who you are?  If she does - and I’m not going to try to figure out what she meant by that - I find myself wondering whether the Biblical description of an “immoral woman” in Proverbs 6 & 7 fits Ms. Dupre. 

Proverbs 6:23ff (selected verses) – “For these commands are a lamp and this teaching is light, and the corrections of discipline are the way to life, keeping you from the immoral woman, from the smooth tongue of the wayward wife.  Do not lust in your heart after her beauty or let her captivate you with her eyes, for the prostitute reduces you to a loaf of bread, and the adulteress preys upon your very life.  Can a man scoop fire into his lap without his clothes being burned?  So is he who sleeps with another man’s wife; no one who touches her will go unpunished…But a man who commits adultery lacks judgment; whoever does so destroys himself.”

Proverbs 7:24–27 – “Now then my sons, listen to me; pay attention to what I say.  Do not let your heart turn to her (prostitute - referenced earlier in the chapter.)ways or stray into her paths.  Many are the victims she has brought down; her slain are a mighty throng.  Her house is a highway to the grave, leading down to the chambers of death.”

According to the Bible an immoral woman seems to love who she is and also seems to have a very specific agenda – “reduces you to a loaf of bread” = bringing down men.  As just happened to Eliot Spitzer.

REVealed - Blog Vacuum

I want to write something every day.  I want to express my thoughts, post social commentary, and record observations on life every single day.  I relish the daily discipline of clearing my mind long enough to write a meaningful mental morsel or two.  But I’m in one of those seasons of life in which the pace has been supersonic.  Sermons, meetings, appointments, meals, hospital visits, concerts, phone calls, letters, cards, thank-you’s, projects, emails, errands, conversations, references, books, text messages, plans, online purchases, and dates (I still manage to block out time with Jan) and on and on and on…I think you get the idea.  Probably much like you life – way more living to do than there are hours in the day to do it. 

Jan and I had a conversation about “good” versus “best” recently.  You know how that goes.  There are so many “good” things that I could be doing at any given moment.  The art of living well requires constantly assessing the difference between what’s “best” and what’s “good.”  In making those assessments, I have to remind myself that I will disappoint people no matter what I choose.  I learned a long time ago that “you can please some of the people some of the time…” – you know how the rest of that one goes.  But knowing it doesn’t seem to help me when I get those looks or hear those words of disappointment.  Everyone seems to have an idea about what “best” in my life should look like from their perch.

Today, near the end of my “office hours” I decided to take a moment to do what I placed in the category of “best” for me – take 15 minutes to surface on my own Blog.  And now I’m sitting here looking at this, glancing at the clock, and wondering how many people will agree that this was the “best” thing I could have done in the past 15 minutes. 

 

REVrant 35.1 - "You Shall Not Commit Adultery"

FOXNews.com - New York Governor Eliot Spitzer Resigns Effective Monday Amid Links to Prostitution Ring.

I wondered what former New York Governor Elliot Spitzer would say. 

“Private failings.”  “I did not live up to what was expected of me.” 

Imagine…the power of a statement like this – “The Bible says in Exodus 20:14 – You shall not commit adultery.  I did.  Repeatedly.  The Bible also says, You shall not give false testimony.  I did.  Repeatedly.  I ask my wife and family to forgive me, I ask the people of the State of New York to forgive me, I ask the young women with whom I committed adultery to forgive me, but most importantly, I ask God to forgive me.”

That kind of statement would strike me as humble, sincere, and contrite.  In a way that  “private failings” doesn’t. 

REVved - "Growing A Heart for Sierra Leone" Concert - Friday, March 7, 2008

15 years ago, I met a young man from Sierra Leone, Africa, named Daniel Sesay.  He came to our church with a musical group called, Liberation.  Their music deeply touched Jan and me. (Our favorite song included a refrain; “Papa O, Mama O.”  These titles have since become our nicknames…)  But even more, we made a very strong connection with Daniel and his brother, Samuel (who died of cancer shortly after returning home).  We shared several meals together while they were in Colorado, and we promised to keep in touch. 

We did.  Daniel returned to his home in Africa and eventually married a delightful Sierra Leonean named Erica.  He also began to dream about the possibility of being educated in the U.S.  The Lord put it all together and he returned with Erica to attend Colorado Christian University.  Meanwhile, the Lord blessed Daniel and Erica with two daughters, Keisha and Cierra.  Daniel eventually graduated from CCU with a music degree and God opened up a ministry for him in our community.  For the past ten years, he led worship in a local church near us.

I won’t take the time to tell the full story, but Daniel and I have stayed in touch through the years.  And through an amazing series of events, he is now our Director of Worship.  He started December 2007. 

I’ve also become an interested observer of the political scene in Sierra Leone because of Daniel, and because one of our FBC missionaries is also from that country.  (Don Osman)  I’ve included a link to an article that describes the devastation that has occurred in Sierra Leone in the past several years.  It is not for the faint of heart.  I encourage you to read it for two reasons: 1) To understand the nature of evil perpetrated against the women and children of Sierra Leone, and 2) To become aware of the dire need in this troubled African nation.  I might also recommend viewing the movie, “Blood Diamond,” but only do so with the following caveats – it is not for children, it includes graphic violence and coarse language.  It vividly portrays much of what is covered in the article.  The irony is that Sierra Leone is an extremely wealthy country, but the people do not benefit due to un-ethical profiteering within the global diamond industry.

Sierra Leone: revenge and reconciliation , by Angela Robson.

(WARNING – Very graphic details of war and brutality referenced in article.)

The main purpose of this blog is to invite you to a concert at FBC on this coming Friday night.  March 7 at 7:00 pm – “Growing A Heart for Sierra Leone” – a free concert.  The music will be a mix of praise and worship songs with a definite African touch.  Attenders are invited to bring school supplies or over-the-counter medications to donate.  There will also be a love offering that will go 100% to a non-profit organization that is working to deliver relief and supplies to the needy in Sierra Leone.  Daniel is part of this organization and has a contact (a brother) back home who serves as the distributor of the resources.

It’s a privilege to know Daniel, and now, to serve with him.  When we were considering the possibility of serving together, one of the things that stirred me deeply was the opportunity we would have to link up with Daniel in his ministry to his homeland.  God is making it happen!  Join us on Friday night if you can.  If not, pray that the Lord will begin to “grow a heart for Sierra Leone” at FBC.