A Visit From Rick Warren
A poem about Warren P.E.A.C.E.
(or... A piece about Warren)
Rick Warren was speaking, (We knew him by name.)
Campaigns selling like hot hotcakes, the bookstore was full,
Our leader had high hopes this church would soon grow.
The people. were gathered, work-books in hand,
Ready to change thinking, their hymnals, their land.
Bibles and teachers were no longer heeded
DVD players, big screen TV's and facilitators were all that they needed,
Daily Hope with Rick Warren, Purposedriven.com,
Ladies Home Journal and dear Dr. OZ,
Oprah and Larry, Ted and Piers Morgan too,
Had all worked together, bringing Warren to you.
Our leader had high hopes this church would soon grow.
The people. were gathered, work-books in hand,
Ready to change thinking, their hymnals, their land.
Bibles and teachers were no longer heeded
DVD players, big screen TV's and facilitators were all that they needed,
Daily Hope with Rick Warren, Purposedriven.com,
Ladies Home Journal and dear Dr. OZ,
Oprah and Larry, Ted and Piers Morgan too,
Had all worked together, bringing Warren to you.
The band began playing, the crowds sang and swooned,
All stood at attention as Rick graced the room.
When, "what"... to my ears? I was happy to hear,
"God made me for purpose" and "purpose" was here.
Be happier and healthier, "have a great day!"
Your mission is waiting... (you just have to pay...)
A ten or a twenty, thirty for two,
In a book, magazine or DVD, your dollar buys you....
The good news of weight loss, the secret to sex,
S.H.A.P.E. for a "ministry," and freedom from stress,
Your Purpose,... Recovery... a T-shirt or two,
Not Jesus, just "like" him, cuz, "It's not about you!"
On Napoleon and Einstein, on Gaelen and Jung,
Stalin and Mao.... (what his last name? ) Zadong?
with Metanoia and Repentance, you must pass the test
For a good life, a better life, (maybe even your best.
It's big think and dreaming, just dare to dream big and believe,
(One never really knows what next trick Rick's got up his sleeve.
Generosity becomes tithing, grace freely given become law,
And "hey, so what?. We were all born with flaws."
In but a twinkling, with each itch of the ear,
those newfangled “world-classers” let Rick Warren steer.
Purpose-on-purpose, change, upon change,
Pastors became ranchers with sheep grazing the range.
The sheep were saddled for service, ready to ride,
When a word fitly spoken turned back the tide.
"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ," the word to me came,
"God loves you, repent, simply believe on His name."
When a word fitly spoken turned back the tide.
"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ," the word to me came,
"God loves you, repent, simply believe on His name."
The man with his Bible, kneeling to pray,
Said, “Father, forgive us, it’s been quite a day.
It’s your voice we harken, it’s You we draw near,
It 's not "our passion" or "purpose"...” then his eye shed a tear.
"Away with Rick’s nonsense," I heard myself say,
"Breath-prayers and Rick's P.E.A.C.E. is not the Lord’s way.
I know true worshipers worship in spirit and truth,
They read the gospels, Psalms, Hebrews, Genesis and Ruth...
...Set free by God’ power, saved by the blood of the Lamb,
We are sheep in God’s pasture, forever safe in his hand."
Then I heard Rick exclaim, as he drove sheep out of sight,
"If you want forgiveness from God, you must ask him right."
I knew that was untrue, for Jesus simply said "Come."
and I marveled to consider that sheep were so helpless... and dumb.
But sheep have a shepherd, Jesus, whose kind voice they know,
and he leads them and feeds them, (unlike the hirelings we know.)
It was time for a rest, a long day had been had,
I'd never have guessed things could be quite so baaaaaaaaad
But God, He is kind, faithful, and true to his Word,
Let's look there for answers when life gets absurd.
L.B.
Addendum:
As Saul became Paul,
Perhaps Rick will become ___________.
(Who knows, maybe it will be Nic?)
“"
