Denver turns around---gets circumcised

When first I met him, he was part of the park wallpaper—you know, he had a regular resting spot—under a big old tree, leaning against the planter. A businessman, (drug dealer), ‘Denver’ was also a respectful guy to a ‘woman of the cloth’. Then I learned in another iteration, he was a deacon at his church, too …. How does that work? Well, I guess that explained his respect for me.

Since that first day, I have seen him a number of times, and each time he asked if I would pray for him—right then, right there—under the watchful
eye of other Crips and ‘businessmen’. Yeah, I would. I asked him if he wanted me to pray like we were just talkin’ and looking around … Oh no, not Denver…he wasn’t embarrassed. And so, I prayed, powerfully, with authority, and Denver received.

Last week, he asked me to pray twice—once for his injured arm, swollen from his shoulder to his bicep, from a job injury. Since God is in the healin’ business, that was no problem; and so we prayed, right there in broad daylight. Cool. I had turned to leave when he mentioned needing direction for his life. I looked up at him and said, ‘Well then, I think we ought to pray for that as well….okay?’ Oh yeah. And so we did, as curious on-lookers wondered what in the world was going down in Lincoln Park. As I left the park, I looked into their eyes, smiled, and said ‘how ya doin’—in some cases, calling them by name, ‘cause I knew them.

I went home to my little Mayberry by the sea and thought, ‘Oh God, I really have to commit to pray more for the lost in that dark city I have
come to love—Long Beach!’ And
so, the next morning, while on a run, I prayed for Denver—I prayed that
God would draw him to himself—that he would break him from the drug
dealing and double life. Finishing my run, I showered, and headed for a meeting, calling the Duke of Earl on my way—just checking in. ‘Hey, guess who I’been chillin with this morning?’ he said. ‘Hmmm?’ ‘Denver. He is getting’ outta’ the park…giving up the business.’ I took a deep breath and asked, ‘Are you saying he is giving up dealing?’ ‘Yeah….we had a long talk about it,’ Duke replied. ‘Oh man,’ I breathed… ‘Duke! Just this morning, I was praying for him—praying that God would get a hold of him, convict him, change him…!’ Heavy sigh, and a smile. Only God.

Continuing to pray the rest of the week for Denver, I wondered what was going on … encouraging the Duke of Earl to call him, come alongside him. It was Sunday afternoon, and I checked messages after Danny’s soccer game—‘You’re not gonna believe this….call me. Duke’ ‘Seems
Denver had moved into a new apartment and wanted to know, ‘Will
Christine come and pray over my place—you know, bless it?’

So today, following our meeting at the Sanctuary, my ministry partner Barb, the Duke and I got to go and ‘pray over’ Denver’s new place. May
I simply say that ‘no matter where you are laying your head down
tonight, you ought to praise God for it—possibly turn around and kiss
your pillow’? And yet, Denver purposefully led us in … and said, ‘Well…’ looking awkward, and then he hesitated.

‘Denver,’ I said, ‘is there something you wanted to say? You invited me here for a reason.’ And he put in to tell us that he knew he had been leading a double life, and well, he didn’t want to do it anymore. He wanted to do things right—no matter that he was an injured man, with little resources to get a job, and no family to help… ‘So what I am
hearing you say is that you feel that God has something different for
you, Denver?’ ‘Yeah, I guess so,’ he shook his head and said. The emotion hung heavy in the air—stifling, hot air. We were all perspiring, but we were patient because there was a strong sense that we were standing on holy ground.

We listened to Denver explain what was happening inside him, and then I said, ‘May I say that you couldn’t have responded to God’s leading any
better? You wanted me to pray for you, pray that you would get it correct…and stay right, kinda’ stay on course, right?’ ‘Yes,
Pastor Christine,’ he said in earnest. ‘Then, what do you say we
pray—for you, Denver, for your arm that needs healing, and for this new
start you have?’ ‘Yeah… yes, ma’am,’ he smiled a winning Denver smile and said.

‘Would you mind if we knelt and prayed?’ And so, Barb, the Duke of Earl, Denver and I knelt by his bed, and we prayed. We prayed in earnest for God to come … to move … to heal … to protect … to change … and to give courage.

THAT, my friends, IS CIRCUMCISION OF THE HEART—when the Spirit of God moves within a person’s heart to challenge, convict, woo, lead to repentance, and draw an individual to himself. So, while Paul endeavored to get the attention of the Jews—circumcision of the flesh was part of the covenant between God and his children—once
Jesus came, a new covenant was in place. Should we choose to enter into that covenant, we find new life in Jesus Christ!

What better living example than that of Long Beach’s ‘Denver’—drawn, led, and brought to his knees—because of the circumcision of his heart? Oh may our hearts be refreshed, quickened, and brought nearer to the heart of God!

Christine