Playing To An Audience of One

Prayer For REVIVAL in America

SCRIPTURE

“Don’t be afraid of people. They can kill the body, but they cannot kill the soul. The only one you should fear is God, the one who can send the body and the soul to be destroyed in hell.

~Matthew 10:28, ERV

QUOTE

“Nothing is more dangerous…than to live in the temperamental atmosphere of a Gallup Poll—always feeling one’s pulse and taking one’s temperature.”

~Winston Churchill

COMMENTARY

Os Guinness wrote a book entitled The Call in which he discusses man’s tendency toward narcissism which often times reveals itself in our love for praise and approval. Guinness tells of Marlene Dietrich, a German-born American actress who lived from 1901-1992. She had recorded the applause from all her theatrical appearances and would play the record when friends came to visit. After each round of applause, she would identify the play and city where it was performed. We are so concerned with man’s approval that we give little thought to pleasing God. We are so bound by our fear of disapproval that we are afraid to be ourselves. This inordinate man-fearing spirit has inhibited our worship and hindered our fellowship. We are afraid to be open and honest because we fear men more than we fear God. Dallas Willard says that this fear of man renders us impotent, leaving us with little power to change the world.

EXTRA

SEE YOU AT THE POLE this morning. I will be with the little fellows at the elementary school. Not to late to sign up for supper tomorrow night. Supper at 5:30 [Chick-Fil-A or cheeseburger], AWANA at 6:15 [AWANA Store opening tomorrow night], the Gathering at 6:30 and breakouts at 6:50.

The Village