Pentecost started for me at 2 A.M. Sunday morning. You never know where you will go when you follow Jesus but at least you know that you do not GO alone. His timetable is different than ours, His goals and interests are different than ours, but maybe as we serve Him those eventually come into alignment. Words such as presence and Paraclete were just black words on white pages in seminary but in real life they look quite exciting.
Later that same morning, my family attended church and sang our hearts out. The song “Amen” resonated with a calling we have discovered to be very true. Redemption has a name and it’s Jesus. I suspected that the Heavenly choir had to hush a minute while our praises rang out. Not because of the quality of singing but when God shows up He is also singing over His people. The worship connected people vertically and horizontally and I would not be surprised one bit if the angels bent down to hear what was going on this side of Heaven. You could feel the receiving of warm hearts rejoicing and thanking God for all He had done during the week. It changed us.
Exhausted that afternoon I nodded off into oblivion. There is always a deeper rest on the weekend when the week has been filled with joyous work. It did not last long however before I was awakened by some Sabbath- breaking birdies outside my window. They got caught up in some kind of hallelujah hoe-down and woke me up. At first I wanted to reject the noise and go back to sleep. Then I wondered if any of those notes were for me to hear? There was a group of them which multiplied their music and influence. It delighted me deep down in my soul.
They were just doing what they were designed to do and it was so beautiful.
Who hears these little guys amid the noise of the city? Who receives their praise? Do they sing their best so the people in the neighborhood feel blessed? Are they noticed by humans jumping in cars and racing off every morning while they continue to sing their best notes? Do their tweets go unnoticed in Heaven while everyone tweets on their cellphones oblivious to the Creators work around them?
We witnessed another collection of people praising this weekend while watching the Royal wedding. The Royal Bride and Groom could have gone straight to their Honeymoon but instead they paused to ride past the common folks, acknowledging where their power comes from and graciously thanking all those who celebrated their special day. Their royal training included being gracious and thankful. They understood the price of being Royal and acted accordingly. They are part of a line of Royals and they knew the importance of the “receiving line” that day. They had received the warmth and joy of their audience. They were not annoyed or hindered by the crowds, litter or even horse manure that fell into the streets. Their love was larger than the details. Their love was strong enough to encompass the “others” around them which multiplied their joy. They were collectively celebrating their marriage with friends, family and onlookers.
The Archbishop of Canterbury officiated at the ceremony, a female priest (unnamed in most news reports) read a scripture and an Episcopal priest Michael Curry, an African American, gave the sermon. It was a group making some wedding noise that was replayed around the world. The fiery sermon spoke of the revolution of fire and how a revolution of fiery love is needed to change our world. This Royal wedding was different – unique. It brought denominations together, blacks and whites together, slaves and free together (via MLK’s words), men, women and children; rich and poor together, royalty and commoner together. Gospel, hymns, spirituals and classical music were all heard in one wedding. Why? The Bride wasn’t just joining Harry’s family – he was joining hers to make one, shared NEW family. Collaborative says we change one another for the better. It is not one attends and claps and the other conforms. Shared love and shared new life. Paul in Romans 1 says this:
For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, so that you may be established— that is, that I may be encouraged together with you by the MUTUAL FAITH, both of you and me.
The Bride represented her side of the family and promised to add flavor to the grooms existing family. It was a true, sweet picture of Pentecost if there ever was one and historically we look to Kings and Queens to see what God is doing in that generation in the earth. If you know the Holy Spirit, you will recognize sinner, saint, black, white and a whole bunch of people coming together for a purpose that Michael Curry summarized in his fiery sermon – LOVE changes everything and what the world needs NOW is love. The Pentecostal element was added – “Stand by me”. Together, we thrive.
On the other side of the pond, in a city named Santa Fe (meaning Holy Faith in Spanish) was another element of our human existence – grief and tragedy. A High School in Texas was still numb from another school shooting. Supposedly there were no “signs” although most Christians could see them as they reported on it. The first shot occurred in an Art classroom. Art, like music is meant to calm, thrill and even inspire. Art expresses a cultures likes and dislikes and draws our minds to better places. Art appreciation is put in schools to teach students to see things from a different perspective and appreciate others points of view regarding beauty and truth. It builds creativity, confidence and trains children to see things thru the lenses of others eyes. It is meant to point to beauty and nature around us. The supposed shooter – Dimitrios Pagourtzis, however, did not get that message and instead chose to continually look at the ugliness and rejection within himself for so long it burst outward. Somehow the message did not reach him that beauty begins within and rejection of another’s art form does not negate the beauty contained therein by the artist or another viewer.
See this link for more information on the importance of teaching art:
https://www.learningliftoff.com/10-reasons-arts-in-education-important-kids/
“What is missing this time?” the news reporters have asked. Gratitude for life, value for others and their boundaries. He was either not taught or rejected his own self-esteem and the ability to not be disheartened when others rejected him.
His value was seen in their opinion and praise.
Should he bear the weight of his actions alone? I don’t believe so because the media, school system, political system and culture have trained him to believe there is no higher authority watching his actions, no intrinsic value in the notes he sings or plays and no reward or judgement at the end of his days. If there is no one to receive his voice, to hear his voice, to celebrate his voice, the end result of his life is one lived in a state of constant rejection. Who received him at Sunday school, in the neighborhood or at home? One more brick on his pile crumbled his wall of self-defense. If there was no value in his single life then there was no reason not to take the lives of those drawing, singing or living around him. Where were the people teaching him the reason why this was wrong? There was no honor for the collective group or the individual – both necessary for peace in society. He finally stopped when he remembered his life was too valuable to kill, leaving that task to a judge. No one taught him to put a fence on the top of his hill so why are we then surprised when the ambulances gathered at the bottom?
What if NRA stood for Never Reject Anyone again? What if the message of Michael Curry challenging us to a revolution of God’s love had been preached the weekend prior to the Santa Fe tragedy? Would the connection have been made between love and being received? Would this shooting have been prevented? What if NRA represented New Renaissance of Appreciation / Affection and picket signs protesting rejection were all over the media? We don’t hear the real reasons, just blame for the weapons used. Can we blame God, when He left us solutions? Can we blame the parents, they sent him to school? What if the blame lands squarely on the church withholding the words of life? Those in the line of reconciliation that withheld the truth? What if someone watching God’s new little princess get married had reached out to this young man and fought for his acceptance somewhere? What if fiery love, the kind that comes from an intimate relationship with the Holy Spirit had knocked on his door the month before this tragic day? But, some guy in a polyester suit said door knocking is outdated? I stayed home and played video games instead. Or, let Billy Graham reach them?
Life is fragile. Life is beautiful. It is filled with joyous celebrations and painful tragedies. Into this chaotic mess, the Holy Spirit has been poured out. That King James little word “lo” means “hold up guys this is extremely important, set your gaze here”. Where? On the part where Jesus sends the Holy Spirit to accompany the believer. (For you new folks that means to walk alongside and support). We have a companion in moments of early morning ministry, rejection by peers, wedding bliss and extreme fears. We have a fiery power capable of starting a revolution that has the potential to reach around the whole world. As we learned this weekend in church, we also get fellowship in moments of failure and grace because God is building us and His body. Only church folks give up on sinners (or self-righteous hypocrites) – God does NOT. The Holy Spirits job is to prepare us for eternity and help us look like Jesus. The Holy Spirit may be grieved –but always present. That same down-payment Holy Spirit, the engagement ring given by God, continues working to let us know the groom will be coming back soon.
The word calls us to reflect on the Bride. The King calls us to reflect on the Bride. Pentecost teaches us that the Bride has power to change the family dynamic. The Biblical message is still relevant and powerful. We desperately need it – not just to picket or yell or blame but to live out our daily Santa Fe (holy faith) both to please our Father and to be salt (prevention) and light (a healing solution) to the nations.
God is not waiting for the NRA or anti-NRA to picket or rally the crowds. They are not capable of putting up a spiritual fence. They were not commissioned to put up a fence. WE are the sign, lit up through the power of the Holy Spirit. He is waiting for His Bride, in all her glory to declare HIS message of power, presence and promise to a lost and dying world. That fiery message of love and power was released to those engaged to Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit. “All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave US the ministry of reconciliation” 2 Cor. 5:18
Where is the Bride in this hour? Has she prepared herself for her season and Groom? Will she reach out to those in the receiving line, awaiting reconciliation to the Royal family?
“And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” Matthew 28:18-20
RenaeRoche2018 (forward, print, distribute and pass on)