Monkeys and Foxes

This afternoon was…interesting. It started out with a monkey eating a lollipop, transitioned into some incredibly powerful worship, which was followed by a moving Q&A session and challenge with Andy Stanley and John C Maxwell.

Then they brought out a member of Northpoint Community Church (the host of the conference) to speak to the masses. The emcee introduced him as an active member, a friend, and a partner in his bible study. Then he said he also has sold millions of comedy albums throughout the US. Georgia’s own, Jeff Foxworthy. Insane. So he came out with the usual redneck jokes and Southern humor, which was hilarious. But then something profound happened…he started preaching!

He said that when he was younger he questioned God a lot and often tried to unveil Him. But one day he came to a realization: “If I could figure God out, He probably wouldn’t be worthy of my worship, ‘cause I ain’t that bright.”

He continued, “I know God loves rednecks ‘cause His book is full of rednecks. Jesus came to earth as a redneck-born in a manger to a peasant girl and a carpenter in a small town. It wasn’t in a palace like everybody expected…He started at the bottom because his love is for everybody.”

Other biblical rednecks include:
Sampson-who had “the mother of all mullets”
-who caught 300 foxes, tied their tales together, lit them on fire and sent them through the crops of the Philistines. “You don’t get more redneck than that!”
-who killed 1,000 people with a donkey jaw bone. “You know that’s a redneck WWF move right there.”

David-who killed a guy with a sling shot, tried to kill another one in a cave when he was going to the bathroom, and peeked over a wall to see another man’s wife bathing-“totally redneck.”

John the Baptist-a guy who wore animal skins and ate locust. “Screams West Virginia!” (some audience member near the stage cheered). “You folks from West Virginia?” (Looks back at the stage lights) “What do you think of this electricity?”

The woman in the well-a lady who was divorced 5 times, shacked up with the 6th…if there had been trailers back then…

Then Mr. Foxworthy brought it back to the point by saying God took unremarkable people and did remarkable things with them over and over again.

My favorite point, since this is a leadership conference: “Even on our very best day, we are sheep leading other sheep. There is only one Good Shepard.”
Awesome.