Kopp Disclosure
(John 3:19-21)
@#$%
@#$%
After two
glorious worship services in the morning with so many new faces so hungry and
thirsty for an authentic relationship with Jesus detached from plagued,
polluted, and spiritually paralyzing religions being sported by pewsitters and
pulpiteers who've taken the Jeffersonian approach to revelation and torn out
Matthew 23 and 1 Corinthians 1 from their Bibles, I spent the afternoon
presiding at a memorial service for a dear saint and then participating in the
ordination of someone who actually, really, no kidding, still loves Jesus even
after seven years of lower education concomitant to religious more than
Christologically related scrutiny.
Or something like
that.
I heard a great
sermon and charge to the new pastor by two friends who are on the verge of
bold, courageous, and faithful leadership in their franchise because, uh, well,
uh, they're getting closer and closer and closer to Jesus and that eventually
ends up taking on...
All of the
participants were into Him; and the moderator led with a firm yet gentle and
faithful style.
I was tired when
I arrived; but energized as I worshipped under inspired leadership and left for
dinner with an old friend from First who was back in town for the weekend
feeling really, uh, refreshed.
Of course,
I hope someone has cautioned our new colleague in a Matthew 10 kinda
way.
C'mon, be honest.
The only people
who get ordained who don't get hassled and hated by the enemy's agents who
are always slipping and slithering around "faithful" churches
are the good humor women/men who agree with the last person they've talked
to, uh, to get along, be liked, and not be hassled or hated for being too closely identified with
Jesus and heralding the good news that He loves us just the way we are while
loving us too much to leave us just the way we are. You know,
uh, that salt and light thing.
Read Matthew 5-7
if you've forgotten the theme of the last paragraph.
Anyway, I've
often felt the fourth stanza of Hopkins' hymn of 1857 ("We Three...")
is a must for any worship service including an ordination to undershepherding ministry.
Look it up.
That's true for everyone
who's been true - more than less or trying at least - to Jesus; and false for
everyone who's not been...
Deal with it.
If you're one of
those pewsitters or pulpiteers who's liked by everyone, that includes the bad
guys and their leader who's trying to steal salvation from people starving for
a relationship with Jesus not a religion kinda related to Him.
Jesus said that.
Truth is we've
already got too many Democrats, Republicans, Masons, Shriners, Lions, Elks,
Moose, 81s, 1%ers, Baptists, Episcopalians, Catholics, Lutherans, Methodists,
Congregationalists, Fundamentalists, Pentecostals, Presbyterians, EVFs, AGs,
and...with all of their idolatries, separations, and segregations so insulting
to the One who sacrificed Himself for peace, unity, and purity and so damningly
distracting from the only One who saves here and now and forever: "You
make your converts twice as fit for...as you are yourselves!"
We need more, uh,
Christians.
We need more
people who want to come together through Him than separate and segregate in
defiance of His best intentions for peace, unity, and purity.
Or something like
that.
Sorry.
I thought about
that during the offering at 3:00 p.m.
You can't have
your cake and...
@#$%
Read Psalm 133.
Read John 17.
The problem comes
from us and solution comes from Him.
Go ahead, pals,
trumpet those idolatries, separations, segregations, and schisms!
Go ahead,
rationalize 'em!
Go ahead, be a
loyal company woman/man!
Feel the pride?
Feel better?
But be careful;
for it's very, very, very close in a diabolical way to blasphemy against...
And not knowing
what that means can/will be very, very, very...
@#$%
Cowman:
"This is the blessed life - not anxious to see far down the road nor
overly concerned about the next step, not eager to choose the path nor weighted
down with the heavy responsibilities of the future, but quietly following
the Shepherd, one step at a time."
@#$%
Blessings and Love!
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