Tired of hearing about COVID-19. Let me share my most embarassing moment.
Thoughts -
What is the most embarrassing thing that has ever happened to you? I hate that question. Mine wasn't funny, just humiliating.
In high school, my friend invited me to be on the radio with a Christian DJ. During the show, the DJ asked me a question, and I blanked. I froze like a deer in the headlights. Has that ever happened to you? To avoid the awkward dead air growing moment by moment, I thought of something off the wall to say, extremely off the wall. For the life of me, I can't remember what I said. I repressed that. Whatever it was, I shocked the DJ. He looked at me with dagger eyes and dismissed the comment altogether. I felt reduced to the size of a grain of Lake Michigan sand.
It was much like a moment I saw in a movie. The character finishes giving his speech only to hear the judge say, "At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul." That was me. No one ever brought up my comment, but when I left, I imagined everyone thinking, "He is the one. I can't believe he said that. What a dork."
In college, I realized that that experience was not my most embarrassing moment. (The Holy Spirit and a professor pointed out another.) I had something far more unseemly in my past. It was shameful. You don't know me well enough, but I did something really, really bad. I mean horrible. Honestly, I did many things. So, bad that someone died. What? Have I told you about this? Did you know that about me? I can't believe I am a pastor.
The most embarrassing moment of my life happened two thousand years ago. God sent his one and only son to die in my place. Jesus had to die for me to live. My selfishness, pride, arrogance, vanity, hatred, lust, greed, jealousy, gossip, lies, worry, impatience, rudeness, unkindness, well you get the idea, had to be dealt with. God took the punishment that he required of me.
However, I also have learned that the death of Jesus was also the happiest moment in my life. Jesus' death not only shows me my heart of darkness but, more importantly, how God's heart of love. Romans 5:8 says, "That God demonstrates his love for us in that while we were sinners Christ died for us." That is incredible! The God of the universe loves me.
How ironic that I find myself, with a published book, sharing the two most embarrassing moments in my life. Once more, I am on the radio, this time broadcasting across the nation, sharing the gospel and telling Jesus's story. I can't believe it. Since my last newsletter, I have been on the radio in Grand Rapids, Flint, Toledo, Birmingham, Joplin, Albuquerque, Manhattan, Montgomery, Prescott, St. Paul, Austin, and Portland. I could not have done all that without your prayers and support. I still get nervous before the interviews, literally shaking, but I am also happy to tell of what God has done for you and me.
May God bless you and your family in these challenging times, and may you know his love, mercy, and grace.
Rob
Life -
Sheltering in place has been so different. I have enjoyed being with family more. We have spent some time hiking, walking, and reading. This is a picture of us worshiping on Easter.
Good Friday and Easter was super sweet. My whole family read the Word of God and I shared what Jesus accomplished on the cross.
Desk -
Writing:
Last Words: Seven Sayings of the Heart of Christ is available wherever books are sold.
Christian Audio is giving away this month Don't Lose Heart by Jason Meyer for free. "Through biblical truth and personal stories, Meyer encourages the weary and anxious believer by shining light on the nature of reality, the nature of God, and the intersection of the two in our daily, rubber-meets-the-road lives." Get your copyHERE.
