In this E-pistle
Prayer for Darfur
Here We Go, Jesus, Here we go

Christians across the country have been called to a weekend of prayer for Darfur. (Click here for details on the weekend of prayer Click here for an update on the situation in Darfur Click here for further information and action options ) Plus you’ll find additional background on the crisis in Darfur in the Gathering Room information racks.

Here we go, Jesus, here we go! Thanks to a kind invitation from Brad Davis, I was able to attend last night’s Steelers game at Heinz Field. The weather was a bit nippy, but the game was good; nothing like a victory over the Browns to warm the spirits. Speaking of spirits, plenty seemed to have been shared among a fair number of the fans.

But it was spirit, Steelers spirit, not spirits that had filled the heart and the voice of the fan sitting right behind Brad. She wasn’t drunk. She was just a Steelers fan. A loud Steelers fan. Surely Joey Porter down on the field could have heard her calls for a sack. She was as loud in the fourth quarter as she was in the first, and fans five and six rows down kept looking back to get a look at this human megaphone. Ask Brad if he’s regained any of his hearing in his left ear. Yeah, she was a little obnoxious, but, hey, it was Steelers football on a frigid December night. The enthusiasm was okay.

In fact, what’s wrong with a little enthusiasm? The on-field halftime entertainment was provided by a country western star whose name, like the names of most country western stars, I’d never heard of. He sang (or was that lip sync?) a cut from his most recent hit CD and then was joined by his backup artists in an a cappella rendering of “We Three Kings” that was most definitely live that very cold night. It was nicely sung and seemed to come from a sincere faith. He pointed his forefinger heavenward as he sang, “Prayer and praises we are raising, worshiping God Most High.”

When the country western star had finished singing the carol, our vocal friend behind us yelled, “Yes! Jesus is Born!” with the same enthusiasm she had used in encouraging Joey Porter to sack the quarterback.

I have some other reasons to suspect that the lady with the loud voice is not the perfect model of Christian discipleship. But what if the church had the same enthusiasm for the gospel that Steelers fans have for the black and gold? Of course, enthusiasm is measured by more than decibels. It’s also measured by “a long obedience in the same direction,” an ability to hear and respond to “the still small voice of calm,” caring for “the least of these my brothers and sisters” and longing for God and his Word “as the deer panteth for the water.”

Why not a little enthusiasm for the gospel? Here we go, Jesus, here we go…