Mile High Rev

REVrant 37.9 - Obama quits church, citing controversies

Obama quits church, citing controversies - CNN.com.

Good move.

REVrant 37.8 - Pastoral "Hall of Shame" - Moss, Meeks, Pfleger & Wright

 - Michelle Malkin » Greatest hits: All of Barack Obama’s men of bad faith; Update: Chicago archdiocese spanks Pfleger.

By now, most of you have probably seen at least one of the video clips – included in the link above at Michelle Malkin.  The four YouTube clips sample the preaching of Otis Moss (the new pastor at B. Obama’s church in Chicago), James Meeks (politician, preacher, and B. Obama supporter), Father Michael Pfleger (Catholic priest from Chicago – guest preaching at B. Obama’s church), and the legendary Jeremiah Wright (retired pastor of B. Obama’s church).  Buckle your seat belts.  These clips contain highly offensive language and reveal highly shameful conduct by four PASTORS.

Otis Moss, James Meeks, Michael Pfleger, and Jeremiah Wright

This shameful series of video clips turned my mind to a text in II Corinthians.  Paul is speaking about “false apostles” in the text.  I wouldn’t dignify any of the four mentioned above by referring to them as “apostles,” but I’m deeply burdened by such disappointing pastoral conduct.  I don’t know the hearts of these men.  But words betray what is in hearts.  And what I heard is angry, arrogant, and revoltingly racist.  All of these men have audiences who hang on every word they speak.  It’s frightening.  Perhaps Paul’s identification of false teachers in his day is relevant for assessing what is happening in our day?

“For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.  It is not surprising then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness.  Their end will be what their actions deserve.”  II Corinthians 11:13–15

One more thing – in this day of high-speed Internet access, cell-phones, video cameras, live-streaming video, and podcasting, every pastor knows that he’s going to be held accountable for every word.  Makes me wonder whether the four men mentioned above knew exactly what they were doing!  And enjoyed every minute of it. 

REVrence - Standing on THE Solid Rock

This has been one of those weeks…waves of news and multiple matters of concern that felt overwhelming at times.  I’d just hear about one crisis in a person’s life, and the news of another would be in the next batch of emails. 

Tragically, dear friends lost a ten week old baby to SIDS.  Two people had very serious eye surgery for retina problems.  A friend was rushed to the hospital with a high fever after a surgical procedure gone bad.  Shocking news of several leadership transitions…including news of a Dallas pastor caught in a sex scandal.  Then there were the “normal” distracting matters of daily life in church ministry.  It was just too much! 

Candidly, I felt completely overwhelmed a couple of times.  In fact, I mentioned to Jan that I felt like I needed to stand on “The Solid Rock” because it felt like everything else was “rocking.” 

Today, I thought of that familiar hymn –“My hope is built on nothing less, than Jesus’ blood and righteousness; I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus name; On Christ the Solid Rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand, all other ground is sinking sand.” 

That’s exactly what I chose to do this week.  Stand on THE Solid Rock – Jesus! Maybe you need to do the same.  Believe me, it helps!  And it’s the only safe place to stand!

REVealed - Midwest tornadoes kill 7, including toddler

Midwest tornadoes kill 7, including toddler - CNN.com.

Late spring seems to be prime time for powerful tornadoes across the mid-section of the U.S.  While many of us in Colorado are still focused on the devastation that occurred in Windsor last week, a new series of twisters has devastated communities in Iowa and Minnesota, killing 7.  “Lord, have mercy…”

(A scene in the aftermath of the storm in Hugo, Minnesota.  Note how two homes are destroyed and homes on either side seem relatively unscathed.)

REVered - Memorial Day 2008

People seem unusually confused this year about Memorial Day.  I mentioned it in services this weekend.  It’s not “Veteran’s Day.” (As important as that day is!)  Memorial Day is a day set aside to remember the men and women of the American Armed Forces who sacrificed their lives while serving in the military.  In each church service over the weekend, I asked any who had a family member who was killed while serving in the military to stand.  We also shared a moment of silence to honor these fallen heroes. (And during the last service, we even recited the Pledge of Allegiance!  I don’t equate being an American with being a Christian, BUT…I am deeply grateful to live in a nation whose founders considered it “one nation, UNDER GOD…!)

I hope you’ll take some time today to thank the Lord for our freedom.  You’ve probably heard the saying, “Freedom isn’t free.”  The freedom we enjoy in this nation is a special gift - and it comes to us because of the sacrifice of millions who paid the ultimate price!

President Bush placed a wreath at the “Tomb of the Unknown Soldier” in Arlington National Cemetery today.  I always find this moving.

We are honored to have a National Cemetery in our community.  If you want to be reminded of the significant sacrifice made for us, drive through Fort Logan National Cemetery – every time I’ve been there, I’m humbled.

REVered - Steven Curtis Chapman's Family Tragedy

FOXNews.com - Daughter, 5, of Christian Music Star Steven Curtis Chapman Killed by SUV Driven by Teen Brother.

The grief is overwhelming.  The older brother accidentally drives the SUV over his 5 year-old sister in the driveway at home.  The little girl is killed instantly.  It’s the family of Steven Curtis Chapman – a well-known Christian musician.   

Early in my pastoral ministry, something similar happened in one of our church families.  The little girl was barely 2 years old, and her teen-aged uncle was the one who backed the family van over her.  He was never the same.

My sympathy and prayers go out to the family, and particularly, to the boy who was driving the SUV.  This is one of those times when the “God of all comfort” is the only hope.

REVealed - Mile-Wide Tornado North of Mile-High City

Mile-wide tornado hits Windsor, Weld County - The Denver Post.

Late this morning, a powerful storm system spawned tornadoes that zeroed in on Windsor, Colorado.  Heaviest damage has been reported in Windsor, Greeley, and Dacono – communities located around 50 miles north of the Denver metro area.  As someone who grew up in “tornado country”  (southwestern Michigan), I could tell from the threatening skies this morning that this was not just a normal wave of thunderstorms.  Strangely, the storms came from east to west, which is unheard of in our region.  Almost all the weather flow is from west to east around here.  Local TV channels are reporting at least 3 fatalities and pre-empted afternoon programming to give live coverage of the devastating aftermath of the tornadoes.  I can hardly believe the images.

The power of this tornado is demonstrated by this snapped tree trunk.

Join me in praying for the communities hit by these spring tornadoes.  It will be a long time before things get back to normal in that part of Northern Colorado.  By the way, there is still a “tornado watch” here until 8:00 pm.

REVrant 37.7 - Pastors and Politics

McCain rejects Hagee endorsement - CNN.com.

I’ve said it over and over.  Pastors need to stick to their calling – which is NOT to endorse political candidates – but to point people to Jesus! 

The recent spat between Senator John McCain and Rev. John Hagee demonstrates my point perfectly!  It makes McCain look bad, it makes Hagee look worse, and it makes a mockery of the pastoral calling…once again.

Pastors, please stop endorsing candidates for political office.

You have a much higher calling!

REViewed - Why We're Not Emergent - A Book You Should Not Ignore

Thanks to the recommendation of a friend (Hat tip:JB), I’ve been reading a book titled, Why We’re Not Emergent (By Two Guys Who Should Be), by Kevin DeYoung and Ted Kluck.  If you’ve been listening to recent sermons of mine, you know that one of my hot topics is concern over the dangerous erosion of truth that is being caused by several from within what is referred to as the “emergent conversation,” or more popularly, “the emergent church.”  That a Senior Pastor in his late 50’s would take this posture on emergent thought is not surprising, I suppose.  But that these two young guys would land where I’ve landed is surprising and convincing.

De Young and Kluck are young 30–somethings who co-author this important book.  DeYoung is a Senior Pastor in Michigan and Kluck is a sportswriter, professional athlete, and Christian writer.  These guys are classic targets for “emergent” thought.  But they don’t buy it.  Here’s a quote – p. 23 – “The more we learn about the emerging church, the harder it is to swallow.”  In fact, they are speaking out against it.  They are well aware of what Doug Pagitt, Tony Jones, Brian McLaren, Donald Miller, Rob Bell, and Leonard Sweet have written and are saying.  And it’s not all bad, of course.  Here’s how one reviewer puts it – the authors have “given us a feel for what attracts some to emerging churches and thoughts about why that’s sometimes a very bad thing.”  They alternate in writing chapters.  Their research and exposure to emergent thought is extensive and probing. 

I’m not all the way through the book yet, but I’ve already decided that the next time someone asks me, “So what’s going on with this emergent church deal?” – I plan to recommend this book.  (It was published by Moody Press in 2008.)   

REVerie - It's DAVID...C-O-O-K!

American Idol Season 7 ended with the “Battle of the Davids.”  Contrary to my previous blog, it was David COOK, not David ARCHULETA, who won the coveted prize of “American Idol.”  I got it wrong.

 David Cook – Season 7 American Idol

Speaking of “getting it wrong,” this makes three seasons in a row of getting it wrong for me.  In Season 6, I predicted Melinda Doolittle (I know it was Blake in the final), rather than Jordin Sparks, and in Season 5, I predicted Katherine McPhee over Taylor Hicks.  For pure vocal talent, I still believe Katherine, Melinda, and David A. were musically tops in their respective fields.  But, the show is obviously not strictly about that.  It’s a popularity contest first.

So tonight, I’m pondering whether it’s going to be “three strikes and you’re out” for me and American Idol.