Mile High Rev

REVved - Day After Blizzard 2009

Yes, we got over a foot of snow yesterday in the Blizzard of 2009.  But, this is what I like about living in Colorado – today, the sun is shining, the sky is blue, and the views are spectacular.  I took this photo from our kitchen. 

REVved - Blizzard 2009

Denver area hit by heavy snows - The Denver Post.

Over a foot of snow has fallen and it’s still coming.  This is “springtime in the Rockies!”  We really need the moisture, so this is a welcome gift from God.

I’m at home studying Habakkuk 3:17–19.  Glad I don’t have to travel today.

REVrant 47.5 - Why The Wrath of God Matters

In my sermon over the weekend, I addressed the subject of the “wrath of God.” (from Habakkuk 3)  I ran out of time to include a list from the book, Why We’re Not Emergent, Kevin De Young & Ted Kluck.  This list is eight reasons why we need the doctrine of the wrath of God:

1. We need God’s wrath to keep us honest about evangelism.

2. We need God’s wrath in order to forgive our enemies.

3. We need God’s wrath in order to risk our lives for Jesus’ sake. 

4. We need God’s wrath in order to live holy lives.

5. We need God’s wrath in order to understand what mercy means.(Divine mercy without divine wrath is meaningless!)

6. We need God’s wrath in order to understand how wonderful heaven will be.

7. We need God’s wrath in order to be motivated to care for our impoverished brothers and sisters.

8. We need God’s wrath in order to be ready for the Lord’s return.

“Granted, there is no place for giddiness concerning God’s wrath, but isn’t there a place for passionate, blood-earnest warning?  Isn’t it biblical to move past agnosticism about hell and implore people on Christ’s behalf: be reconciled to God.”

I raised the issue of God’s coming wrath against evil in the sermon, and as I did, I wondered how many pastors -particularly, the emergent brand – have decided this just isn’t the kind of thing to bring up to people we are trying to reach.  I decided that it is exactly what the American church and the American culture needs to hear in 2009.  So, I went for it.

REVelation - God is Bernie Madoff's Final Judge

As regular readers know, I'm preaching through Habakkuk during the month of March.  Several of the prophet's themes have been stirring, and uniquely relevant.  1) God is working.  2) Be silent before the Lord.  3) The righteous will live by his faith.  4) I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior...no matter what!

The surprise in my study so far is the emphasis Habakkuk places on God's judgment.  In Habakkuk 2:6-20, Habakkuk announces 5 "woes" on the Babylonians.  It's really intense stuff.  God's wrath fires from these verses like ballistic missiles.  God isn't letting the Babylonians get away with anything.  One of my preaching points last weekend was - "Nobody is getting away with anything!"

Which brings us to Bernie Madoff.  Look at Habakkuk 2:6 - "Woe to him who piles up stolen goods and makes himself wealthy by extortion."  v. 5 adds another layer - "Because he is as greedy as the grave and like death is never satisfied."  Whatever theoutcome of Madoff's sentencing on June 15, his final court will be the Divine Court.  God sits as Final Judge.  This is the judgment that will echo throughout eternity. 

Modern (or should I say, "post-modern") pastors who neglect to teach the whole counsel of God, including the truth that God is Judge, are cheating their people.  Habakkuk reminded Israel that God is Final Judge.  I figure this is a reminder that needs to be repeated in 2009!

REVisited - Sermon Illustration/Quote from Timothy Keller

This past weekend, I used a quote/definition from Timothy Keller during my sermon.  Several have asked if they could have a copy of it, so I decided to post it here.  (I’m sure you will credit Timothy Keller if you use this in any way beyond reading it here.)  It’s really good stuff on “idolatry.”

In an article for the Gospel Coalition, pastor and author Tim Keller offers this potent definition of sin: "Sin isn't only doing bad things, it is more fundamentally making good things into ultimate things. Sin is building your life and meaning on anything, even a very good thing, more than on God. Whatever we build our life on will drive us and enslave us. Sin is primarily idolatry."

In his bestseller The Reason for God, Keller further develops this line of thought, showing the reader examples of the "particular kinds of brokenness and damage" caused by idolatry:

If you center your life and identity on your spouse or partner, you will be emotionally dependent, jealous, and controlling. The other person's problems will be overwhelming to you.

If you center your life and identity on your family and children, you will try to live your life through your children until they resent you or have no self of their own. At worst, you may abuse them when they displease you.

If you center your life and identity on your work and career, you will be a driven workaholic and a boring, shallow person. At worst you will lose family and friends and, if your career goes poorly, develop deep depression.

If you center your life and identity on money and possessions, you'll be eaten up by worry or jealousy about money. You'll be willing to do unethical things to maintain your lifestyle, which will eventually blow up your life.

If you center your life and identity on pleasure, gratification, and comfort, you will find yourself getting addicted to something. You will become chained to the "escape strategies" by which you avoid the hardness of life.

If you center your life and identity on relationships and approval, you will be constantly overly hurt by criticism and thus always losing friends. You will fear confronting others and therefore will be a useless friend.

If you center your life and identity on a "noble cause," you will divide the world into "good" and "bad" and demonize your opponents. Ironically, you will be controlled by your enemies. Without them, you have no purpose.

If you center your life and identity on religion and morality, you will, if you are living up to your moral standards, be proud, self-righteous, and cruel. If you don't live up to your moral standards, your guilt will be utterly devastating.

Tim Keller, The Reason for God (Dutton, 2008), pp. 275-276, and Tim Keller, "Talking About Idolatry in a Postmodern Age," www.thegospelcoalition.org

REVved - Habakkuk 2:20 "On-Air"

This morning I had an opportunity to be a guest for one hour on a local AM radio station.  The station is AM91 - KPOF - The Point of Faith.   Several KPOF staff attend FBC, so due to their kindness, from time to time I get to be an on-air guest.  I'm also the "Good News" Pastor this week - (GNP is pre-recorded, so it doesn't require my active participation.)  I was there from 8:00-9:00 am this morning.

In addition to being able to provide some general information about FBC, I got to speak to several Biblical themes from the Book of Habakkuk.  Last weekend, I challenged our church family to take the Word of God - particularly Habakkuk 2:20 - to their public workplace in the coming week.  (I asked them to memorize it earlier in the month.)  My opportunity came today.  In addition to Habakkuk 2:20, I was able to share several passages from Habakkuk while on-air.  What a privilege!

In case you haven't memorized it, here it is - "The Lord is in His holy temple, let all the earth be silent before him."

Take some time to be silent before the Lord today.   Having encouraged people to do so "on-air" this morning, I now do so "on-line!

REVrant 47.4 - More Americans Say They Have No Religion

The Associated Press: More Americans say they have no religion.

You’ve probably caught a glimpse of this headline (or something like it) in the past couple of days.  The AP is reporting on a wide-ranging study on American religious life.  The most notable finding is the increase in the number of Americans who say they have “no religion.”  In 1990 the number was 8.2% and today the number is 15%.

The study also reports on demographic observations such as the fact that Northern New England is now the “least religious region,” with Vermont reporting 34% claim to have no religion.  New England has replaced the Pacific Northwest as the “least religious region.”

Other notable statistics:

– Catholic population is up in California, Texas, and Florida, largely due to Latino immigration.

– Catholics are the largest religious group in the US.

– Mainline Protestants groups (Presbyterian, Methodist, Lutheran, and Episcopalian) are dwindling.

– 30% of married couples do not have a religious wedding ceremony.

– 27% of respondents do not want a religious funeral.

– There are signs of the growing influence of churches that don’t belong to a denomination, or play down their membership in the group.

There is much more to digest as you read the linked report on this study, conducted by The Program on Public Values at Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut.

I drew three main conclusions from the study:

1. America is steadily drifting away from the religious roots of her founders. (Nothing new, but documented in the study!)

2. The double distraction of the gay rights debate and theological liberalism is exacting a heavy price within mainline denominations.

3. The increasing spiritual darkness in America begs for passionate people willing to devote everything to spread the light…HERE!

REVrant 47.3 - Sad Day in America, Thanks to Presidential Decision

Obama opens up stem cell work, science inquiries.

I’m sure some of you will recall Presidential Candidate Barack Obama’s response to Pastor Rick Warren’s question – “When does life begin?”  The sound bite is unforgettable – “That’s above my pay grade.”  Something apparently happened between today and then.  

Today, the President signed an order approving stem cell research on human embryos.  This act reverses the position taken by the former president.  It not only allows for such experimentation, but provides federal funding for it.  The euphoria among scientists and politicians who favor this act was palpable.  And then, in an ironic twist, the President declared cloning “dangerous and profoundly wrong.”  Here’s a quote from the linked article:  

Obama also said the stem cell policy is designed so that it "never opens the door to the use of cloning for human reproduction." Such cloning, he said, "is dangerous, profoundly wrong, and has no place in our society or any society.”

Hmmm….let’s see if I have this straight.  The issue of when life begins used to be above the President’s pay grade, but now, he’s apparently decided that it doesn’t begin in the embryonic stage during which he is permitting stem cell harvesting and research.  And, while stem cell harvesting and research is now apparently OK, for some reason, the President has decided that cloning isn’t OK.  Interesting.  I wonder how he figured all of this out.  Whatever the case, clearly, he no longer considers these matters “above his pay grade.” 

This is a very sad day in America.  The moral and ethical ramifications of the President’s decision today are frightening.  “Lord, have mercy…” 

REVrant 47.2 - Illinois Pastor Shot While Preaching

Alleged Illinois Church Gunman Charged With First-Degree Murder.

Tragedy struck a southern Illinois church yesterday.  A 27 year old lone gunman walked into the First Baptist Church of Maryville and shot the pastor, Fred Winters, while he was preaching.  A bullet pierced the pastor’s heart, causing his death.

I’ve been heavy-hearted over this situation all day.  First, of course, for the pastor’s wife, two daughters, and the congregation.  They have been traumatized beyond their ability to express.  They desperately need the deep comfort of the Lord right now.  I’m sure they will find comfort in the hope of knowing that the pastor (…husband, dad) is with the Lord…but grief like this cuts deep and lasts long.

Second, I’ve been burdened over the fact that as a pastor, I have to pay more attention to security concerns.  Some of you may recall the church shooting in Colorado Springs, and at a mission agency in Arvada, Colorado a while ago.  Both of these situations caused us to take a fresh look at our security plan at FBC.  After what happened yesterday, I feel like we need to turn things up another notch or two. 

Believe me, I don’t want to operate out of fear.  Ultimately, I believe my security is in God’s hands.  However, it seems prudent to be ready in the event that we face a similar situation as the church in Illinois. 

Please pray for the Winters family and for the church in Illinois today.  Also pray for us as we consider appropriate steps to bolster our security plan.

REVrant 47.1 - British Couple Chooses Assisted Suicide...Lord, Help Us

British couple die at assisted suicide clinic - CNN.com.

A British couple traveled to Switzerland to commit suicide together, according to the linked CNN article.  Both suffering from cancer, he was reported to be 80, and she 70.  Both were terminally ill.  As you’ll read, the article seeks objectivity by quoting both an advocate of assisted suicide and a “Right to Life” advocate.

As a pastor for over 35 years, I’ve seen hundreds of people facing terminal illnesses, including my own parents.  (Dad, at 58, and Mom, at 80.)  I’ve always advocated waiting on the Lord in these times, and permitting Him to determine the number of our days.  I’ve been humbled and moved by the caring hospice personnel who help the dying and their families walk through this valley.  We got this help for both Dad and Mom.

The idea that it is “more dignified” to commit suicide is stunningly out of touch with the reality of these moments.  I am comforted today in knowing that my parents (and hundreds of others I’ve shepherded during these times) lived until the moment God determined it was their final breath.  

Father deliver us from the arrogance of thinking that we know better than you!  My sympathy goes out to the Duff family as they now process this perilous choice.  This story makes me very sad.  My heart aches both for their loss, and I stand resolved to be a voice for “letting God be God”…with regard to both our birth and our death!