Something Very Real is Happening

I had to do it. I just couldn't believe it had taken me this long. There was no resistance. I'd just let life and laziness get in the way. That's the honest answer. So, finally, on what was to be the last night, I showed up at the Burlington Revival, an old-fashioned tent meeting in North Carolina that I was sure would take me back to my roots, days past of more than 30 years, when I'd worshiped God underneath a humble tent filled with like-minded worshipers.

I expected it to be a nostalgic experience. It was so much more!

If you haven't heard of the Burlington Revival, whether you are a believer or not, the story is fascinating. It was never meant to happen.

A local church planned a week-long revival, as some churches do, and invited an out-of-town evangelist as God's man of the hour.  Unbeknownst to them, it would be the beginning of something farther reaching than their church walls. And, unbeknownst to the surrounding community, members of this church had been praying for God to bring revival beyond their local congregation and into the community, for 10 to 15 years. Wait....what? God saw fit to answer their prayers in 2016. It began on Mother's Day, continued week after week until the church couldn't hold all the folks showing up, and moved to the big tent.

Now, maybe it's a coincidence (but I think not) that 2016 has brought an increase in violent crime in the area, and it appears to be gang-related. In fact, as the tent revival continues (yes, it's been extended), vigils have been and are being held in various locations, concerned citizens who are passionate to stop the violence.

Despite all the hurt and pain throughout our community, God is here. No doubt about it. Not just under the tent, but He is here in our hearts, making Himself more real than some of us have ever seen in our lifetimes.

So, last night, underneath the tent, not only did God show up, I did too.

As folks gathered the atmosphere was filled with expectancy. Even though I'd heard the crowds had filled the tent, even spilling over outside to the tune of 5,000+ people, I was amazed by the sight.

As one entity, we stood, clapped and sang. I felt a freedom to worship and it seemed no one held back. We experienced God, together. Then C.T. Townsend, the evangelist, took the stage. I was amazed by his passion coupled by humbleness as he gave God the glory for the great work He is doing in our community.

A thought came to me. We (our collective community) have a heart problem. Not just those of us who were sitting beneath the tent desiring for a closer walk with God, but also those who have been caught up in the violence, both the victims and the perpetrators. It's a heart problem.

Warning: I'm stepping up on my soapbox. Feel free to come along for the ride.

We, as a society, have 'preached' tolerance so loud and so long, we've gotten away from a lifestyle that promotes peace: Christianity. And, in the name of tolerance, we've become intolerant of those who call themselves Christians. We accept other religions as beautiful and shun this one. Even those of us who are Christians have been indoctrinated by this 'tolerance dogma' so much so that we feel apologetic (albeit ashamed?) of our faith and are resistant to freely worship the God we claim to love and serve. This, too, is a heart problem. (If you're a Christian, remember, Jesus said, "Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels." -Mark 8:38)

If our hearts were truly set toward God, if we desired and actively sought after what was best for ourselves, our families, our society, each other, if we put our own selfish desires aside, what a huge and wonderful difference it would make. (Hey, I'm talking to me as much as to whomever reads this.)

And it begins with one. With me. Join me? 

Last night I watched as over 30 people, young and old, male and female, a couple sets of twins, my friend's daughter, gather at the altar, making life-changing decisions. This is what our community needs, a change of hearts. (Thanks to the folks of that local congregation, New Hope Baptist Church, Pastor Randy Hobbs and other folks that prayed.)

In today's world, we aren't always open to change, to what is different from our norm. Some may look at what's happening beneath the tent, the type of worship, and think, "Yeah, I'm a Christian, but that's just not my thing." And that's okay. Worship comes in many forms. Worship in the way God has given you to worship, whether it's quieter, louder, more contemporary, just worship and adore Him. And know, that whether it's 'your thing' or not, a good work is being done and it's time for Christians to celebrate together, in spirit and in truth, for the good of our community and all mankind. After all, we won't be in separate corners in Heaven so let's allow the love of God within our hearts today to bring us together, for God's purpose, here on Earth.

Stepping down off the soapbox now. Thanks for coming along for the ride. 

And now, the rest of the story...
As the service under the tent concluded, those who had rode shuttles were urged to leave first as a storm was coming which was indicative of the thunder beginning to roar. My friend, her daughter and I exited the tent and made a beeline for an empty van. Just as we filled it up, we learned that that vehicle was not one of the shuttles. Oops! (Apologies to whomever owns that van.) By the time we exited there was a long line of folks waiting for shuttles. Now we were at the back of the line. And now, as the lightning, thunder and wind picked up, the skies began to pour. I told my friend's daughter, "Not only did you get saved tonight, now you're getting baptized!" Seeing a group of people running toward a small tent for shelter, we followed suit. Huddled beneath the tent, drenched to the bone, I noticed it was held up with metal rods and the lightning was raging. I didn't speak it but I thought, "Well, if God sees fit, He could take us all home in one fell swoop." (I did ease a bit further from the metal pole beside me.) As the next round of shuttles came down the road, my friend's daughter (a teenager) took off running. We ran too. Now, somehow, before I took off, I was under the delusion I could keep up with a teenager. Obviously, the rain had seeped into my brain and distorted my thinking. Still, we managed to get there and, thankfully, took our seats. Hallelujah! I reckon God decided to spare us for another day. And I'm perfectly okay with that.

Much love, no apologies,
Jean

Jean Bailey Robor, author of She Has a Big 'But'! Get Past Your Excuses & Realize Your Dreams, is available for conferences, keynotes and workshops. View her profile and book her on SpeakerMatch.com or contact her via email to set up a time to talk.

 

Why We Can't Call It "Christmas" Anymore

It seems that each year, more and more people jump on the bandwagon in the guise of political correctness to take away the freedom of speech the United States Constitution guarantees.  But it wasn’t always like this. Oh, yes, Virginia, there really IS a Christmas.

Once upon a time, in a galaxy far, far away…..no, actually, right here in our own backyard …. greeting someone in the month of December with “Merry Christmas” was not only acceptable, it was….get this…..not offensive.  Even folks who didn’t celebrate Christmas felt the warmth behind the greeting. There was nothing unpleasant, nothing derogatory, no ill intent construed.

So, how did we get from there to where we are now? And just within my short (short being debatable) lifetime?

According to an article on the www.law.cornell.edu website, when referring to freedom of expression protections within the First Amendment of the US Constitution, “the right to freedom of speech allows individuals to express themselves without interference or constraint by the government.”  The Supreme Court interprets the extent of the protection afforded to these rights.

Good men and women have fought and died for us to have these rights. Can you just imagine what they would think if they knew that we Americans were at odds over the words “Merry Christmas”? How trivial (and foolish?) it would seem that folks would get visibly angry by a warm greeting? Or, just as bad, that folks would get bent out of shape because someone wished them “Happy Holidays” in the same warm spirit? (Yes, it happens.) Who ARE these angry people? Obviously, this Christmas-Holiday thing is just a small part of what must be bigger issues.

I truly believe how we’ve arrived here, where “Merry Christmas” and “Happy Holiday” greetings are no longer embraced, has more to do with our evolving culture than the mere words, and meanings behind the words,  themselves. As a society, I believe we’ve:

• Embraced political correctness to such a polarized point that ‘tolerant’ has become ‘intolerant’
• Taught our children, by our own actions and lack of discipline, that disrespecting another human being is okay
• Missed the true meaning of what ‘being human’ is all about

And this, in my opinion, has led to why we can’t call it “Christmas” anymore. And yet, I also believe that we’ve been sold a bill of goods that EVERYONE believes this way, that EVERYONE could potentially become offended if we speak those dreaded words “Merry Christmas.” 

I believe we need to reinforce that it’s okay to be greeted by “Merry Christmas” or “Happy Holidays” without taking, or feeling we should take, offense. I also believe if we respond to a well meant “Happy Holidays” greeting with an angry and defiant “Merry Christmas,” we are only adding to the problem. Who declared THAT to be acceptable behavior?

Jim Krumel, editor of The Lima News, recently cited the following survey results in a blog post. When polled by the Pew Research Center about the phrase they most preferred to be greeted with among businesses, the majority of Americans responded that……(drum roll, please)……it didn’t matter.  (This is when “it doesn’t matter” was an option. When not an option, “Merry Christmas” was chosen  57% of the time.) Read Jim’s entire blog post here.

Posts and comments I’ve read recently include:

“I am not a Christian, but I don’t find it offensive when well-wishers offer me a Merry Christmas. I take it in the spirit it is intended.” – KitFox

“The way I look at it is if a Jewish friend offered Happy Channukah to me, and I were offended at that, wouldn’t that make me a jerk? Can’t we all, pardon the expression, just get along?” –Chris Behrens

Exactly.

In exercising my freedom of speech, I say “Merry Christmas” around here. Whatever you say, be it “Feliz Navidad,” “Happy Channukah,” “Happy Holidays,” “Seasons Greetings,” “Joyeux Noel,” “Happy Kwanzaa” or “Warm Wishes to You.”  In the spirit of the season, let’s just greet and be greeted and be merry.

Happy Festivus!

Err….I mean….Merry Christmas.

And I hope you took that in the warm spirit in which it was intended.

Jean

Jean Bailey Robor is that “No Buts About It” speaker who simply wants you to lead happier, more successful lives. Getting past what’s holding you back and changing your mindset can put you on that path to better living.