A Little Insight

The following is a questionnaire that gives you a little insight into me. It also happens to be the form that the NAYC bloggers will be using to introduce themselves to you so now you'll know what to expect.


A Little About Me










1. Name / Geographic Location: Denelle K. Burns/New York, New York

2. Church/ Pastor: Bethel UPC - Westbury, NY; Pastor Doug Davis (and our wonderful Bishop Davis)

3. Age: twentysomething

4. Favorite Bible Character: This is a tough one, I love so many for so many different reasons. I have a fascination with anyone that could be considered flawed (David, & Peter are at the top of the list) and as you all know, with characters that aren't explored much. However, I think that Ruth is probably my one of my favorites. How often do you find such dedication?

5. I Am currently reading: Actually you've caught me between books. I finished the newest Harry Potter a couple of weeks ago and just haven't had the time to get into my next one. Although I am 99% sure that it will be Rosie Dunne aka Where Rainbows End by Cecilia Ahern (author of P.S. I Love You).

6. In my CD player at the moment: In my house I think it's Pam Thum's Greatest Hits ($10 to the first person who can tell me that they honestly remember who she is) and in my car is a compilation CD from the WAY (Western District All-State Youth Choir). What can I say, I miss them.
OR
My iPod's most played tunes are: I may be the last person in NY who doesn't have an iPod.

7. My Youth Congress History: I attended my first NAYC in 1993 (Indianapolis, IN). In some ways it remains the pinnacle of my NAYC experiences. On Thursday night Bro. Anthony Mangun preached a message that was out of this world. I will never forget the sound of thousands of stadium seats slamming upwards as everyone got on their faces prayer. I'm not sure he ever reached "the end" of his message.

I've also attended NAYCs in Little Rock (had my wallet stolen out of my purse in my hotel room while we were all in our chaperone's room), Nashville (had a huge falling out with our youth pastor on day one and ended up staying with other friends, I took my first taxi ride while in this city), and Atlanta (can you say HOT - that's my strongest memory from that year). I've also worked the registration booth at every YC I've attended. Now that is a madhouse.

8. At NAYC, you'll most likely find me at: I'm not going this year. It's so sad but such is the life of a working adult who just started a new job. I expect a detailed report so I can feel like I'm living vicariously through all of you.

9. If someone gave me $250 to spend in one day, I'd: At NAYC? I'd shop. At home, I'd get a massage and see a Broadway show.

Instinct or Disregard?

1 Chronicles 13: 7-11 and 2 Samuel 6:6-8 tell the story of Uzza. Uzza was the son of Abinidad and had grown up in the house where the Ark of the Covenant had resided. Uzza was well aware that the Ark was sacred and could not be touched. And yet when the oxen stumbled, the cart shifted, and the Ark of the Covenant looked like it was going to fall Uzza reached out and took hold of the Ark to steady it. He was immediately struck dead.

While most often we criticize Uzza for his actions, I think we must ask ourselves if any of us would have reacted any differently. Of course we say we would but are we sure? Instincts are reflexes and cannot be over-ridden.

Let me pose a couple of questions to you:

1. What should Uzza have done? It was obviously wrong to touch the ark, but would it have been better to allow it to smash into the ground? Had it fallen off the cart and broken on the ground, would that have brought honor to God?

It is impossible for me to say that Uzza's actions were wrong. Wait, before you all start firing off e-mails - backed up by scripture - that point out to me that it was indeed wrong for him to touch the Ark, let me explain. There is no doubt that Uzza should not have touched the Ark but given the situation I simply cannot see him, or anyone else, acting in any other manner. This was the Ark of the Covenant, the most precious possession of the children of Israel. Not one of them would have allowed it to fall to the ground. Had King David been standing there, I think he would have tried to stop it. Had you or I been standing there I don't think we would have allowed it to fall either.

The Lesson: The problem was that Uzza was already in a wrong situation. He (and David for that matter) should have known that moving the Ark on a cart was an unacceptable method of transportation. Had the Ark been carried properly in the first place Uzza would not have died. Uzza should have spoken up before the first step was ever taken. Like wise, we must be proactive in our faith. It is not enough to expect someone else to know and/or do what's right. Our salvation is our concern.

2. Why didn't God simply cause Uzza to suffer. Perhaps a shock, or even a withered hand? Wasn't striking him dead a bit on the extreme side? Afterall, it wasn't as if he was trying to harm the Ark.

The Lesson: Sometimes God's mercies are severe. Sometimes we only learn through pain. If we look past the immediate to the ramifications of Uzza touching the Ark (aka David's reaction) we can see that Uzza was not the only one affected by his actions. David had to live the rest of his life with the knowledge that his ignorance of the things of God led to a man's death. 1 Chronicles 13:11 tells us that David was so upset that he named the place where it happened Perezuzza (the breaking of Uzza). Do you honestly think that David ever forgot this event? No, David learned a valuable lesson and so did the entire nation of Israel. God's instructions to his people were not negotiable.

3. Did Uzza touch the Ark of the Covenant because he had become so comfortable with its presence that he no longer held it in reverence?

The Lesson: As I have already stated, I truly believe the answer to this is no. Uzza touched the Ark out of instinct, and perhaps with a full knowledge of what would happen. If Uzza had become comfortable with the Ark he would have touched it when it resided in his father's house. He and his brother had had over 20 years and plenty of opportunity if it was simply a matter of disrespect. Likewise, had God allowed Uzza to live after touching the Ark everyone would have wanted to do so. And the presence of God would no longer have held the same reverence. The same presence that was so powerful that it killed Uzza now lives inside of us. Do you treat it with the reverence it deserves?

One more point to consider. God told Moses in Exodus 33:20 that no man could see his face and live. Moses simply saw the hinder parts of God and he glowed. High Priests had a cord tied around their ankles when the entered into the Holy of Holies because if they were not right before God they would be struck down by his presence and have to be pulled out. Uzza did more than either of Moses or the High Priests. Uzza had touched the Shekinah Glory. How could he have survived? It is vital that we have a holy reverence for the spirit and presence of the Lord and that we recognize its power.

So long, farewell . . .

I'm outta here for the day. Weekends are tough for me but I will try to update at least once. Remember, next week is a group blog but I'll be back August 16.

Questions, comments, concerns? Please feel free to E-mail me!