The end has come – the revival is over. Done.

But, just like Sunday morning, just like every time we hear the word from God… if we let it remain neatly within four walls, then it was worthless. I like that word…

Was it worth our hour and a half away from home? The preparation before hand? Surely it was, and if it was, surely we can do something to, at the very least, test the word of the preacher.

Vance P. Ross has provided some great soul searching insight and thought provoking words. His sermon tonight was based on the final two verses of the Gospel According to Matthew, or as many call it, the Great Commission. It made me wonder if Christians haven’t just lost focus on the destination but instead find themselves fearful of the other place. The relationship with God is no longer about love, but fear. And, can’t we see how that is playing out in our society today? Or, if do we see the destination as something which we do not contribute too? No evangelism needed, or rather, wanted – the New Creation is what we want it to be – us four and no more. (I say this because it rhymes, but I suspect that a few us do not want that many in the New Creation. Sure, you might not say it, but that is what is shouted by your actions).

The songs were wonderful, as always. We have a wonderful choir director. And this time… it was the Youth night, where the youth choir sang a special song. Youth… I am no longer in the Youth category. I am old.

33

And nearly 33 and a half.

Old, I say.

But they did wonderful.

There was also – brace yourselves – an altar call.

Whew..

But the focus is not on the pressure of ‘getting saved’ or ‘come to the altar.’ As one who actively and forcefully participated in that pressurized mosh pit of ‘the Holy Ghost’, I greatly appreciated letting the sermon speak to the needs of the congregation and to do what sermons do – wash the congregation by the Word from God. I know, another comparison. Sue me. But, trust me on this – those of you are who creating ‘Holy Ghost mosh pits’ (TM) (R) (C) because you think that by shouting and beating people into submitting to having their body possessed by the Spirit of the Living God…. you are doing God’s work, just the same as the first Methodists, Peter, James and John, well….

STOP

Because you aren’t. Nothing in the biblical texts given to us allow for such actions.

Seriously. I am not saying don’t be enthusiastic, but honestly if God needed you to abuse someone to ‘save’ their souls, then he wouldn’t have needed the Cross.

It was a good service. Loud amens, even.

I am looking forward to Sunday.

What a really powerful sermon tonight. Fortunate for me, it wasn’t about me or for me but I knew some of those that it was for. I could point them out, but I don’t want to be rude. But, I sure hope that they heard what he had to say.

It was a larger crowd, I think, than last night as well, so you know, more needed to hear what he had to say too…

We sat on the back row. That is my favorite place. It suits me.

Anyway, he preached using Micah 6 as his foundation. He preached about not putting categories on our neighbors. It is easier not to love those that we can box away from from us.

Then he preached on not getting hung up on the differences, but focusing on what unites us.

I wonder if we can actually learn from that?

I was thinking towards the end of the service that in these revivals, while there are songs, and prayer requests and the usual trappings of a service, the focus is on the Sermon – the Word from God on the Word of God – rather than anything else. I think as well about the verse or so about being washed by the word.

Anyway, it was a pretty good sermon. I hope that those who needed to hear it heard it. Everyone else, around me, especially everyone else but me.