Kopp Disclosure
(John 3:19-21)
@#$%
Sitting across
the street from where Wild Bill was supposedly gunned down in Deadwood, SD with
brothers on a bench and eating ice cream while watching ponies parade, I
noticed a guy just standing on the street for
all to see while holding a really, really, really big wooden cross.
Actually, he was standing
right in front of me and obstructing my view.
Though I was
really, really, really into the parade, I was kinda distracted by the
drama unfolding in front of me.
As one woman
about my age who was dressed so inappropriately for our age if you know what I mean, which
may be why I don't like to go to the beach anymore, held tightly to a
guy about half of our age, she snarked, "What's he doing? Trying to
save us?"
Selah.
Then there was
this fellah with too much bad ink who had ingested too much of something if you know what I mean, which
may be why I like ice cream so much, stopped, looked up, threw up his arms in
what seemed to be a gesture of resignation, and then walked on.
Selah.
A younger woman
about a third of my age who was dressed so inappropriately in another kinda way
if you know what I mean,
which prompted repetitive praying of Matthew 6:13, stood hawking her, uh, wares
right next to the guy
holding the really, really, really big wooden cross.
It was a metaphor
of remnant for me.
Selah.
@#$%
In the midst of
the apostasies, accommodations, emotional/intellectual/spiritual/physical
adulteries, the remnant calls people back from damning themselves.
@#$%
I ended up
talking with the guy for about an hour; encouraging his witness.
We talked of how
the cross is the most powerful symbol in history - His story.
We noted how everyone saw it and...
Well, that's up
to Him.
Remember, we are
sowers not the Harvester.
Sowers don't just
toss around the Gospel in monasteries and safe havens and comfort zones and
among the like-minded and...
Everywhere!
Courageously!
Confidently!
Joyfully!
Remnant.
@#$%
I rejoiced with
him over the smiles and short as well as longer conversations that encouraged
him from parts of the remnant in Deadwood that night.
I thanked him for
being good leaven that mixes in to make it better.
I reminded him of
the many people in and watching the parade who were with him/Him.
Remnant.
@#$%
Lloyd came to
mind.
Whenever we'd get
together, usually every January for a week over about a decade or so as
part of a covenant group of mainlining franchise pastors who still love
Jesus by the book, he'd ask, "Bob, do you love Jesus more today than
the last time I saw you?"
It's supposed to
happen.
Remnant.
@#$%
Something else
came to mind that I'm still praying about; and maybe you can help me to grasp
the inspiration/indigestion.
I heard the
interrogative later that night in Deadwood as I prayed: "Is there room in
the Kingdom for people who disagree with you?"
For now, here's
how I'm answering that.
Yes.
As long as we
agree on Jesus by the book more than ideologies and idiosyncrasies heralded in
books about the book about Jesus that usually rationalize infidelities or
feelings of spiritual superiority...
Yes.
Let me put it
another way.
Remnant does not
complicate faith.
Remnant just
witnesses to it/Him by the book.
Read Matthew
7:28-29.
Contradicting so
many of today's seminaries, clergy, and churches, Jesus was clear and
concise and rarely confusing.
Remnant prays and
labors to follow Him not them.
@#$%
Remnant is about
loyalty not idolatry.
@#$%
Blessings and Love!
2 comments:
Bob,
So eloquently said! So real! So relevant! Sooooooo Remnant!
"Is there room in the Kingdom for people who disagree with you?"
Answer: Its His Kingdom and His decision who will enter in ...
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