Yesterday, I received an email at the end of the day inviting me to an event coming to Oklahoma City in a few short months.  The event was sponsored by a famous preacher, who has sold millions of books around the world and possesses a smile the size of Texas.

Now, I have to admit, I too smiled when I received the invitation.  While I am quite certain this preacher is a great guy, I do struggle with the lack of theological foundation from which he preaches.  Don’t get me wrong, he is a great motivational speaker, but one would have to listen really hard to determine whether he was talking about Jesus at all.

But he does….

That reality got me thinking.  This morning, I pulled out the lectionary texts for the week.  Low and behold, look at what I read in the Gospel of Mark 9:38-41.

John spoke up, “Teacher, we saw a man using your name to expel demons and we stopped him because he wasn’t in our group.”


Jesus wasn’t pleased. “Don’t stop him. No one can use my name to do something good and powerful, and in the next breath cut me down. If he’s not an enemy, he’s an ally. Why, anyone by just giving you a cup of water in my name is on our side. Count on it that God will notice (The Message).

Now, I really doubt if I accept the invitation from yesterday, but I will offer a prayer for the event.  I pray that the thirsty will receive a drink of living water for their parched souls.  I pray that Christ proclaimed, even with a mention, has more power than the greatest orators on earth.

Go get’em smiling Tex and may the Lord be with you!

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