Every so often, something I say in a sermon elicits spontaneous applause from the people of Good Shepherd.
I can’t generally predict when this will happen . . . usually it follows a bold-ish comment about the unique-ness of the Risen Christ.
It’s certainly most common with our 11:30 crowd. Seldom at 8:30, sometimes at 10, frequently at 11:30.
Whenever and wherever it happens, I’m grateful.
This Sunday had a line in the sermon — a line not in the composed manuscript but something I only thought of this week — that each service greeted with enthusiastic clapping.
Was it a great theological claim? No.
An urgent challenge to follow Jesus? No.
Annoucing a bold initiative for the church? No.
It was, instead, a brief line tucked in the middle of a story about Hank Aaron.
The applause line wasn’t even the meat of the story I was telling.
Because what I related about Aaron involved (of course) him hitting a home run. (This one off of the Yankees and inspired by the incessant jabbing of Yogi Berra.) So I said simply, “BOOM! Over the center field wall. One of 755 STEROID FREE home runs.”
8:30: applause. 10:00: applause. 11:30: applause.
The first time I was shocked; by the third hour I was prepared.
I suppose it goes to show you that in the days of athletes giving us TMI via Twitter, Facebook, or even legal testimony, people are longing for genuine heroes.
There are 3 comments
I know this has nothing to do with your blog today, but I don’t know how to feel about today’s news regarding Osama bin Laden. Should I be rejoicing that he is dead? What he did was horrible and he will surely be punished by God, but should I be feeling happy about it? Your thoughts?
I love what Peggy Noonan said on MSNBC this morning … that we should feel good there is one less monster on earth. I’m glad you value life and eternity enough that you have qualms about rejoicing and celebration. Measured pride and satisfaction might be the best option.
I too was hoping for a blog oriented to current events but know Talbot often prepares them in advance. Some excellent thoughts posted by anon and Talbot. I would like to add to the discussion. I find myself thinking along three different lines.
(1) The mission and its conclusion with Bin Laden’s death was an entirely appropriate one and the intelligence, preparation, political will and the execution of the operation itself was carried out with professionalism and excellence in the name of justice not vengeance
(2) Killing Bin Laden will likely have some blowback by Islamists but may not have that much strategic value in the war on terrorism. Bin Laden did not seem to have any direct operational control or supervision and given the structure of Islamic terrorism it is not like chess where taking the king means the end of the game.
(3) As proud as I am of our country and military I need to be careful on my heart. I hope to balance my pride and my sense of celebration with Bible teachings such as “Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles, lest the LORD see it and be displeased, and turn away his anger from him.” (Proverbs 24:17-18) and “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.” (Psalm 20:7)