Church was powerful this morning. The sermon was about Esther. I think my 2 favorite books of the Bible are Esther and Nehemiah. Anyway the guy giving the sermon shed some new light on the fact that King Xerxes was a crazy alcoholic womanizer, never really picked up on that before. I realized how much of a risk Esther was taking when she went before him to ask him to save her people. My favorite part of the whole story is when Mordecai tell Esther that she was born for such a time as this. It really struck me as I am planning fellowship of Christian athletes stuff for the fall that I too was born for such a time as this. I also realized that I get so caught up in the "risks" like what will my non christian coworkers think of me and I felt so ridiculous, Esther was risking her life. Another powerful thing about church this morning is that my friend Brando was really moved by the sermon as well. That is something that amazes me. I work with these crazy macho men and so I often forget that they are fragile and insecure sometimes, and that beyond the exterior they just want to experience love. So when I see men getting emotional about the Lord it really impacts me. So thanks Brando for being in place where you are allowing the Lord to impact you, even if that means you have to be emotional.
Beautiful Scandolous Night
Go on up to the mountain of mercy,
To the crimson perpetual tide.
Kneel down on the shore,
Be thirsty no more,
Go under and be purified.
Follow Christ to the holy mountain,
Sinner, sorry and wrecked by the fall.
Cleanse you heart and your soul,
In the fountain that flows,
For you and for me and for all.
At the wonderful, tragic, mysterious tree,
On that beautiful, scandalous night you and me,
Were atoned by His blood and forever washed white,
On that beautiful, scandalous night.
On that hillside you will be delivered.
At the foot of the cross, justified.
And your spirit restored by the river that pours,
From our blessed Savior’s side.
