After I published yesterday’s blog on “the last enemy to be destroyed is death,” which followed the reflection on the death of our former pastor Dr. John Stevens, I checked to see what I wrote this time last year. Guess what? December 12, 2022, was also about death! June commented something like, “Well those blogs will get people into the Christmas spirit!”

A good point… But it’s not Christmas yet, it’s Advent. And we would do well to remember that Jesus came into a world messed up by sin and death. A world that’s still messed up by sin and death, and so we wait still. But we wait in hope. Jesus has conquered death.

Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. (Hebrews 2.14, 15, ESV)

The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. (1 John 3.8, ESV)

And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace. (Luke 1.76 – 79, ESV, Zechariah speaking of John the Baptist)

I wrote yesterday about the passing of our friend and former pastor John Stevens. As if I needed another reminder of death, while attending a concert Sunday, I was shocked at the condition of a friend I hadn’t seen in five years. He had aged considerably when I saw him in 2018, but I wasn’t prepared for what I saw Sunday night.

I was standing in the lobby talking with his daughter, and she told me, “I’m waiting for my family.” A few minutes later, I looked and saw what at first glance appeared to be a walking cadaver. “Is that your dad?” She replied, “Yes. He’s declining rapidly.” Hunched over, pale, using a hiking stick for support.

My friend and his wife ended up sitting right behind us at the concert, and we had a long talk during intermission. They couldn’t have been nicer. Only later did I realize that their end of the conversation was carried by his wife.

My friend was a competitive runner and swimmer, a professional counselor, and a Bible teacher. The operative word is “was.” And he’s only six years older than I am…

King David said,

I am about to go the way of all the earth. (1 Kings 2.2, ESV)

The last enemy to be destroyed is death. (1 Corinthians 15.26, ESV)

The years of our life are seventy, or even by reason of strength eighty; yet their span is but toil and trouble; they are soon gone, and we fly away…So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom. (Psalm 90.10, 12, ESV)

I just learned that John Stevens, long-time pastor of First Presbyterian Church, Colorado Springs, finished his race on December 2. He was our pastor from 1985 – 2001. We moved back to Alabama for five years in 2001, and by the time we returned to Colorado, he had retired. He stayed in the area, and we remained friends. June taught piano to two of his granddaughters, and John and Gail would come to the recitals.

The obituary published in the Gazette on December 10 is well-written and worth the read in its entirety. I’ll capture a few highlights and personal reflections.

The Reverend Dr. John H. Stevens, the long-time pioneering pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Colorado Springs whose 36-year ministry helped transform the city and whose messages gladdened the hearts of both the happy and the hurting, slipped away peacefully at the Mount St. Francis Nursing Center. He was 85.

The family moved to Hollywood when John was 5, and he grew up living across the street from Columbia Pictures:

John joined a stable of kids who were regularly pulled on as extras in a wide array of movies, including ALL THE KING’S MEN, THE GOOD HUMOR MAN, and several films with John Wayne.

…First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood would prove to be an even greater influence in his young life. Sitting under the teachings of senior pastors Dr. Louis Evans, Dr. Raymond Lindquist, and legendary Sunday school teacher Henrietta Mears, the seeds of his own future ministry were sowed, planted and watered.

John attended and graduated from Hollywood High, crossing paths with the likes of Carol Burnett, Natalie Wood, and David and Ricky Nelson. Studying prelaw at the University of California Santa Barbara, and while attending a Lambda Chi Alpha party at the Plow and Angel Bar inside the San Ysidro Ranch Hotel, John felt an overwhelming spiritual conviction. He immediately left the bar (and his date!), returned home, got down on his knees, and committed the rest of his life to the Lord.

After a stint in the Army and seminary, he served as a youth minister in San Diego before joining the staff at First Presbyterian Church, Colorado Springs, as an associate. Just one year later, at the relatively young age of 32, he became Senior Pastor.

Driving home one Sunday after service, John reflected on the tremendous untapped potential of the church. “This is a sleeping giant,” he told Gail. “I’m going to wake it up.” The next decade would mark the single greatest growth season in congregation history. John would oversee the launch of a divorce recovery workshop, a grief recovery ministry, as well as the establishment of Growing Together Wednesday night fellowship and classes. “Festival of Faith” was a summer program featuring sermons from some of the country’s great preachers. John assumed the mantle of someone who championed the city, encouraged the faithful, enthusiastically mentored new pastors and unapologetically and optimistically preached the Good News of Jesus Christ.

My oldest son, Mark, especially loved John. One Wednesday night Mark took a deck of playing cards to church. I, having grown up in an environment that frowned on playing cards, told Mark I wasn’t sure he should have those in church. Undaunted, Mark went up to John and showed him a card trick saying something like, “My dad told me I shouldn’t bring these to church.” John replied, “Your dad is probably right. Show me another one!”

I remember this event well:

One Super Bowl Sunday that featured the Denver Broncos, John remarked, “I don’t know what all the fuss is about this weekend.” As he spoke, he pulled an orange handkerchief from the sleeve of his black robe.

On another occasion, the Broncos, who usually play at 2p in our time zone, had an 11a playoff game, the time of the third of “three identical services” and the one with the most attendance. John acted like he couldn’t figure out why the 8a service was unusually full!

Dr. Stevens’ weekly messages (more than 1,200 across his pastorate), appealed to the congregation’s highest hopes. Thousands packed the pews each week to hear him teach and apply the Scriptures to their everyday lives. His sermons were insightful, inspirational, and often infused with gentle and wry humor. – Gazette, December 2, 2023

I like to recognize excellence when I see it and honor those who served faithfully.

His master said to him, “Well done, good and faithful servant…Enter into the joy of your master.” (Matthew 25.21, ESV)

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12.1, 2, ESV)

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this. (Isaiah 9.6, 7, ESV)

“Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace, there will be no end…” It was future when Isaiah wrote this, and it’s still future today. But God’s peace will come. Here’s a prayer taken from these verses as contained in “O Come, O Come Immanuel:”

• O come, Desire of nations, bind
  In one the hearts of all mankind;
  Bid all our sad divisions cease,
  And be Thyself our King of Peace.

“Bid all our sad divisions cease, and be Thyself our King of Peace.” That could start within the church, yes? A friend of mine wrote recently:

Western missionaries, European and American, have exported a gospel around the world that has yielded more than 45,000 Christian denominations globally and more than 200 in the U.S… – Mike Metzger, Unintended Consequences, November 13, 2023.

I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. (John 17.20 – 23, ESV)

The fruit of the Spirit is…peace. (Galatians 5.22, ESV)

I reminded us yesterday that reading the Bible is a good thing. Moses charged future kings to do it…

• That they may learn to fear the Lord
• That they might carefully observe all the words of this law
• That their hearts may not be lifted up above their brothers
• That they may not turn aside from the commandment

All good reasons, but not the best reason. Those of us who have been taught to read the Bible, sometimes from an early age, tend to forget what it’s like not to have that privilege.

My wife, June, is a spiritual director, and she recently met with a directee in her 70s who is over the moon about reading the Bible meaningfully for the first time in her life. God is speaking to her. His presence is becoming real to her. She gave June a Christmas gift, a tea towel embroidered with the words:

It is well with my soul

When she gave it to June, she pointed to the words and said, “Because of you, it is well with my soul.” Raised in church, she had never been taught to read the scripture for herself to experience God. She gushed:

Praying the scriptures is amazing! Rest and wait. I now know that God loves me. I’m filling my mind with good things.

So if you asked this lady if it was an arduous task, a grit-your-teeth spiritual discipline to read the Bible, she wouldn’t understand the question. “Why wouldn’t I read the Bible every day!”

When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear your name, LORD God Almighty. (Jeremiah 15.16, NIV)

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. (Philippians 4.8, NIV)

PS If you haven’t read or don’t remember this three-blog series on the living word, I highly recommend it.

Bob, give it a rest! You misunderstand. I’m not telling you to read the Bible every day…I’m quoting Moses who told any future king to read the Bible every day. Really? Yep. It’s right after another command that was ignored:

When you come to the land that the LORD your God is giving you, and you possess it and dwell in it and then say, “I will set a king over me, like all the nations that are around me,” you may indeed set a king over you whom the LORD your God will choose…Only he must not acquire many horses for himself or cause the people to return to Egypt in order to acquire many horses, …And he shall not acquire many wives for himself, lest his heart turn away, nor shall he acquire for himself excessive silver and gold. (Deuteronomy 17.14 – 17, ESV)

Let’s see, no horses from Egypt, not many wives, no excessive silver or gold. I guess Solomon, the third king, missed all that. (See 1 Kings 10.23 – 11.8, for example.)

And here’s the next command for kings, and there’s no record that any of them did it:

And when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, he shall write for himself in a book a copy of this law, approved by the Levitical priests. And it shall be with him, and he shall read in it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the LORD his God by keeping all the words of this law and these statutes, and doing them, that his heart may not be lifted up above his brothers, and that he may not turn aside from the commandment, either to the right hand or to the left, so that he may continue long in his kingdom, he and his children, in Israel. (Deuteronomy 17.18 – 20, ESV)

1. “Write for himself a copy of this law…” I wonder how long that would take. That would be an act of humility, to copy the law by hand. It would take away from other duties he felt might be more important.
2. “It shall be with him, and he shall read it all the days of his life”
   • That he may learn to fear the Lord
   • That he might carefully observe all the words of this law
   • That his heart may not be lifted up above his brothers
   • That he may not turn aside from the commandment

“So he may prolong his days…”

Another plug for the written word. And we don’t have to copy it by hand! But we would do well to read it “all the days of our lives” so we would learn to fear the Lord, obey the Lord, and be humble.

As an aside, I wonder if we’ve had any presidents who read the Constitution even once. It might remind them that they are not the ultimate authority.

Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near. (Revelation 1.3, ESV)

Blessed is the one who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting beside my doors. For whoever finds me finds life and obtains favor from the LORD. (Proverbs 8.34, 35, ESV)

I’m noticing that “remember” comes up a lot in Deuteronomy: 15 times. Most of the time the Israelites are asked to remember that they were slaves:

You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the LORD your God brought you out from there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm… (Deuteronomy 5.15, ESV)

You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the LORD your God redeemed you; therefore I command you this today. (Deuteronomy 15.5, ESV)

You shall remember that you were a slave in Egypt; and you shall be careful to observe these statutes. (Deuteronomy 16.12, ESV)

You were slaves and now you’re not: God’s mighty hand has rescued you.

You were slaves and now you’re not: be careful to observe these statutes.

Here’s another “remember along with a “forget:”

Beware lest you say in your heart, “My power and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth.” You shall remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth, that he may confirm his covenant that he swore to your fathers, as it is this day. And if you forget the LORD your God and go after other gods and serve them and worship them, I solemnly warn you today that you shall surely perish. (Deuteronomy 8.17 – 19, ESV)

Remember where you’re from and don’t forget whose power gave you everything you have.

Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. (James 1.16 – 17, ESV)

Here’s something to remember. Choose your word picture: dead or enslaved:

And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved. (Ephesians 2.1 – 5, ESV)

For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit… (Titus 3.3 – 5, ESV)

P.S. Some were a bit confused by yesterday’s blog. Apparently, I wasn’t clear. I’ve updated it.

I wrote last week from Deuteronomy 13 on the importance of not being led astray.

If a prophet or a dreamer of dreams arises among you and gives you a sign or a wonder, and the sign or wonder that he tells you comes to pass, and if he says, “Let us go after other gods,” which you have not known, “and let us serve them,” you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams. (Deuteronomy 13.1, 2, ESV)

Moses specifically mentioned family members, and my long-time friend and regular blog reader Laura commented:

Thank you, thank you, thank you for this strong encouragement and TRUTH! One of my best friends (CRU and Navigator background) who spends intimate time with the Lord regularly (Lectios from Ignatius and others) grows more and more liberal. We both have gay children. She excuses it and says because the Bible only mentions it two or three times, that it’s not really a big deal. Reminds me of Satan in the Garden – “Has God REALLY said. . . ?” I love her dearly, but we are agreeing to differ on more and more.

I responded:

It’s amazing that when the children choose the wrong path, especially in this area, the response is not only to love them anyway (which we should do) but also to affirm their choices and change our theology to match (which we should NOT do).

A local Methodist church voted not to leave the liberal United Methodist Church, even though their pastor was a top leader in the conservative Wesleyan Covenant Association which became, essentially, the Global Methodist Church. Why didn’t they vote to leave? Because one of the lay leaders had a gay son, and the leader adjusted her theology to be gay-affirming.

Moses warning is clear (and prophetic!):

If your brother, the son of your mother, or your son or your daughter or the wife you embrace or your friend who is as your own soul entices you secretly, saying, “Let us go and serve other gods,” which neither you nor your fathers have known, some of the gods of the peoples who are around you, whether near you or far off from you, from the one end of the earth to the other, you shall not yield to him or listen to him… (Deuteronomy 13.6 – 8, ESV, emphasis mine)

Jesus calls us to love AND truth:

Speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ. (Ephesians 4.15, ESV)

For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. (John 1.17, ESV)

A couple of weeks ago I told Marvin Campbell’s story of sharing the gospel with a man on an airplane. Marvin didn’t miss that opportunity as a whole church full of people did recently. Someone else who doesn’t miss many opportunities because she views her life from the perspective of being sent is Heather Holleman, a teacher of advanced writing at Penn State.

I relate to this story, first, because I also was down with an infection recently and had to go to urgent care. And second because Heather embodies what I’ve been trying to encourage us to do: live on mission. See what you think about this blog, dated November 27, 2003. I quote it in its entirety:

My cold turned into an ear infection and pink eye this morning, all combined with laryngitis. All day yesterday, I asked the Lord to please heal me so I wouldn’t have to go to the doctor. If I had to go to the doctor, could God at least help me secure an appointment today? Well, God not only didn’t heal my pink eye, but He also didn’t provide a doctor’s appointment where I wanted to be seen. When I called the doctor, the intake person said to go to an urgent care clinic since absolutely no appointments were left for the day. Urgent care would mean a long wait—I just knew it. Ugh!

I felt so discouraged until I remembered my “sent” identity. Was God possibly arranging something and using my pink eye and clogged ear to connect me with someone who needed Jesus? The thought kept running through my mind that the real story is never the presenting problem. The real story is always that God is sending me. I’m where I am because someone there might not know Jesus.

Strangely, a doctor could see me right away at the clinic. When I asked him if I could teach at Penn State tomorrow, he told me I could after taking my drops and antibiotic today. This led to him asking me what I taught, why I liked it, and my history of earning a PhD in romantic poetry, the exact same major he had in college before becoming a doctor. Then I asked him, “Are you a church goer? I find that people who love 19th-century poetry seem more open to spiritual things and God.” It turns out, he was going to church and so hungry to learn as much as he could about God. He asked me so many questions. Eventually, I found out about his wife and daughter. By the time I had filled my prescriptions, I had signed two books (one for his wife and one for the little girl who would love This Seat’s Saved). The whole time, the doctor said, “This appointment was more for me than for you, obviously.”

Obviously.

The pink eye and sore ear no longer mattered. They became a source of delight that I’m now connected to a moment that touched eternity. “View It All through Being Sent,” Heather Holleman, November 27, 2023.

Good story, Heather. Thanks for sharing it with us!

Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” (John 20.21, ESV)

Some things are too good not to share, and this perspective from Judy Wu Dominick is such an insight. In the introduction to a long post about what she’s learning from her father’s dementia following a stroke, she writes this about the initial hospital and rehab experiences:

During the weeks between June and August, my brother, my mom, and I meandered our way through various healthcare settings: the Neuro ICU, the intermediate medicine unit, a skilled nursing facility, and a world-renowned rehab hospital. Each place came with its own set of rhythms, lumps, bumps, jolts, joys, and triumphs. If I wanted to, I could write thousands of words about how institution-centric and dehumanizing our healthcare system is. But I don’t want to. At this particular point in time, detailing the ways that dehumanizing systems are dehumanizing isn’t the best use of my time and energy. Neither is the activity that goes with it: proposing ways to transform—or its humbler version, to improve—such a system. It’s way above my pay grade anyway and well beyond where I fall on a potency spectrum that ranges from impotent to omnipotent.

What is within my pay grade and appropriate for where I fall on the potency spectrum is discerning how to walk with God, maintain hope, and love well within an earthly milieu that presents a steady stream of roadblocks to human flourishing. That’s where I intend to direct most of my energy during this season.

Let’s parse that last paragraph:

What is “within my pay grade and appropriate”? Discerning how to…

• Walk with God
• Maintain hope
• Love well

…within an earthly milieu that presents a steady stream of roadblocks to human flourishing.

That will preach. There will be a steady stream of roadblocks. Walk with God, maintain hope, and love well anyway.

Rescue us every time we face tribulations. (From Luke’s version of the Lord’s prayer in the Passion Translation, Luke 11.4)

In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world. (John 16.33, ESV)

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. (Romans 15.13, ESV)