On Sunday February 10th the Standard Bearer of Righteousness by Faith within the Adventist Church over the last 40 years fell asleep in Jesus.
Pastor Morris Venden as his son Lee says, “Had one string on his violin, Jesus,” and oh how beautifully he played that string.
My first encounter with Morris Venden was through his book, “Hard To Be Lost.”
I like many prodigals that return home was trying to work off past mistakes. Whenever someone preached the law or I read about God’s expectations for the Christian life. I left either depressed or angry and resentful that someone had confronted me in that way. Then one day amongst my parents books I discovered, “Hard To Be Lost.” I read it in just a couple sittings.
That book taught me a philosophy that I have tried to live by ever since, “It is harder to be lost than to be saved!”
As I moved out of that phase of my Christian walk and into a true understanding of Jesus and His love for me those sermons that once depressed me or made me angry, now understood in the light of Jesus’ love encouraged me! The law was no longer about Jesus’ love for me or even my salvation, but rather my joyful response to that glorious and marvelous love! Seeing things through the glasses of grace changes how we view everything, Elder Venden helped to teach me that.
Soon after I read that book, I began to read more of Elder Venden’s writings. “Never Without an Intercessor”, “To Know God”, & “Your Friend the Holy Spirit.” I was blessed by them all.
But then one day I discovered some old camp meeting tapes in a box, an entire series by Morris Venden. I remember listening to these tapes over and over again with tears streaming down my face as I would drive here and there. The man knew how to tell a story and tie it to the Gospel!
Just a couple years later at Union College I met a number of people that knew Elder Venden when he had served as the Pastor of the College View Seventh-day Adventist Church. It was through these people I learned about some of Elder Venden’s demons, his struggles, his awkwardness with people. It didn’t discourage me though, it actually endeared my heart to him even more.
He was a man that was far from perfect which is why He always had to lean on our Perfect Savior!
Two years later when I was now attending Southern Adventist University, Elder Venden was the speaker for our ministerial consecration weekend. During one of his messages on Sabbath afternoon, we were meeting in the Thatcher Hall chapel in the Women’s dormitory & the fire alarm went off. We all had to vacate for a few minutes outside into a courtyard. I saw Elder Venden standing there alone and I approached him. It was an awkward 30 seconds. He definitely was not a people person…I had heard this but to experience it first hand caught me off guard. And yet this man could stand in front of thousands and talk about Jesus in such a way that you thought he was talking directly to you or that Jesus had sent him with this message just for you.
Elder Venden is no more. But His message of Jesus lives on in all of us that heard it and were changed forever for the glory of our Savior!
Thank you Jesus for sending us for a season our brother in the faith Morris Venden!
When I was 12 and the Niners lost to the New York Giants in the NFC Championship Game on a last second field goal…
…I cried.
When I was in my teens and the Niners lost consistently to the Dallas Cowboys…
…I was angry for days.
When I was in my 20’s and the Niners were losing ALL the TIME…
…I couldn’t even watch the games I would get so frustrated.
In 2013 the Niners lost the Super Bowl…
…and I was disappointed in the immediate aftermath but…
…I had fun w/ family & honestly enjoyed the game.
I know some have been concerned that I watched the playoffs & Super Bowl in spite of the fact I was a part of a Faster Pastor episode in which we talked about the dangers of football…
…of course if you desire to pray for me your prayers are always appreciated.
Obviously I still have some growing to do…
…I look forward to the day there will be no disappointment over, and maybe not even a desire to watch a silly game.
But for tonight I’m celebrating at least one victory…
…the 49ERS lost…
…& that’s okay!
A few of the top 12 for this blog for the year of 2012:
This blog was read in 103 different countries (last year only 62) here are the “Top 12 Countries”:
Some that left our list India, Russia, Malaysia, and to my surprise New Zealand.
This blog was read in every state this year and the District of Columbia, here are the “Top 12 States”:
I have to say I am saddened and shocked that Ohio fell out of the top 10 and didn’t even make the top 12. Even after I wrote a blog post about their great city of Dayton. It’s okay Ohio even if you forsake me you are still the place I claim as my hearts home.
This blog was viewed in 2055 cities around the world in 2012 here are the “Top 12 Cities”:
Several cities fell out of the top list this year: Modesto, San Jose, Exeter, & Riverside.
Now for the Top 12 Blog Posts of 2012:
I want to thank the roughly 10,500 of you that visited this blog in 2012. I hope you will continue to be a faithful reader in 2013. To the 7000 new readers that joined us this year, thank you & if you were blessed share this blog with a friend.
An Episode about goals, specifically running goals, with a few added thoughts sprinkled throughout. For this episode, Albert, David, & I welcome Pastor Javier Diaz. Hope you’ll watch and stay tuned for the surprise shot Albert lays on Chad at the end of the episode 🙂
Tonight we all mourn!
“And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.” –Matthew 24:12
Could there be any greater evidence of the chilling of a heart than the murder of a child? What about 20 children?
It is the abundance of sin, not just in this one man Adam Lanza, but the abundance of sin in this entire world that causes love to die in the hearts of many. We to our detriment, & the detriment of others, accept this sin for the most part on a daily basis, but today the sin struck and we found ours elves with tears silently running down our cheeks. Today the evidence was different.
Today the evidence is not a TV show that is supported by the commercialization of the products we buy.
Today the evidence is not a movie coming to a theater near you that glorifies death, that will be consumned by millions, including some of of us.
Today the evidence is not a video game that encourages murder in order to advance further in the game.
Today the evidence is real.
Today the evidence is twenty 5-10 year olds lying in a morgue.
Never to…
…have another birthday
…receive another kiss goodnight from mom or dad
…experience another swing on a swingset
…speak the tender words “I love you” to their parents as only a child can.
Never…because they are dead.
And today, sin (lawlessness) abounding doesn’t seem okay.
Tonight we all mourn. But oh how the heart of Jesus must mo urn daily as His children embrace that which destroys them, that which chills their hearts, that which kills 20 innocent children.
Oh Jesus, give us a detestation for sin.
Jesus, may the silent tears of today not be quickly forgotten…
Keep them resting on our cheeks.
Tonight we mourn…
Tomorrow help us to remember, so that we may never be the same!
Come, Lord Jesus!