Wow, I just read Ted Westafer’s blog, Heartland Church Extention Bourbon, play on “Horton Hears a Who” by Dr. Suess.
IT IS THE MUST AWESOME AND GENIUS THING I HAVE READ OR SEEN. It is a belly laugh. Has a lot of truth built into to the rhyme story.
P. S. I actually couldn’t pass up the opportunity to post it here. So Here is the copy of the post by Ted. By the way you might figure this out, Ted and I are both a little twisted.
By Ted Westafer: You may have read the book by Dr. Seuss, Horton hears a Who. I have adjusted it to be heartland friendly, with a tribute to our Pastor Herb. Church of the Heartland is about to start a sermon series called “The Holy Who?”, which inspired my silly mind to do this funny story. Enjoy!
HERBIE HEARS A HOLY WHO
On the fifteenth of May, in the jungle of Nool,
In the heat of the day, in the cool of the pool,
He was splashing…enjoying the jungle’s great joys…
When Herbie the Christian did hear a small noise.
So Herbie stopped splashing. He looked towards the sound.
“That’s funny,” thought Herbie. “There’s no one around.”
Then he heard it again! With purpose, not vain
As if someone inside him was calling his name.
“I hear you,” said Herbie. “But who are you? Where?”
He looked and he looked. He could see nothing there.
“I say!” murmured Herbie. “I’ve never heard tell
Of a voice from within that is able to yell.
So you know what I think?…Why I think there must be
A someone from Heaven that’s talking to me.
Some comforter friend; all I can surmise,
Unable to be seen by these human eyes.
Some intimate friend who delivers from fear,
No matter what happens, he’ll always be near.
I’ll just have to listen, because after all,
God’s word is important, no matter how small!”
So gently and humbly he chose now to care,
The Christian he stretched his great faith through the air.
Herbie chose to receive Him inside of his heart.
What an awesome beginning. What a perfect start.
“Humpf!” humpfed a voice. Twas a sour Pharisee dude.
And the young Pharisee that was with him said “humpf!” too.
“You’re crazy or senile. You’re out of your head.
A person inside? Such has never been said.”
“Believe me,” said Herbie. “I tell you sincerely,
I hear Him so easy, I hear Him quite clearly.
I know He’s inside me, and wants to me show,
The kingdom of Heaven, of this He’s a pro.
He’ll teach about family, and what I should know.
A family with children just starting to grow.
So please,” Herbie said, “as a favor to me,
Just try not to grieve Him, oh please let Him be.”
“I think you’re a fool!” laughed the Pharisee dude,
And the young Pharisee with him said, “Me too!
You’re the biggest blame fool in the jungle of Nool!”
And the Pharisees plunged in the cool of the pool.
“What terrible splashing!” the Christian frowned.
“I can’t let my very small voice get all drowned.
I’ve got to protect it. I need it to stay.”
So he gathered himself and he hustled away.
Through the high jungle tree tops, the news quickly spread:
“He talks to himself! He’s out of his head!
Just look at him walk, thinking he has some power.
And Herbie walked, thinking for almost an hour.
“Should I put this word down?” Herbie thought with alarm.
“If I do then this message may come to great harm.
I can’t put it down. And I won’t! After all,
God’s Word is important, no matter how small.”
Then Herbie stopped walking.
The God-voice was talking!
The voice was so faint he could just barely hear it.
“Speak up, please,” said Herbie. He focused to hear it.
“My friend,” came the voice, “you’re a very fine friend.
The Lord Jesus loves you – His love knows no end.
He wants you to come to a Heavenly home.
He built you a mansion where you’re free to roam.”
“You mean…” Herbie gasped, “you have buildings there too?”
“Oh yes,” piped the voice. “We most certainly do…
I know,” called the voice, “I just cannot be seen,
But I come from a town that is golden and clean.
Our buildings, to you, would seem terribly bright,
Our city’s all daytime, in it there’s no night.
My town is called Who-ville, and I’m Holy Who.
And Jesus, He died to save someone like you!”
And Herbie called back with a smile, not a frown,
“Your message, I’ll pass on. I won’t let you down.”
But, just as he spoke- Herbie was put in check,
Three big jungle monkeys climbed up on his neck!
The Wickersham Brothers came shouting, “What rot!
This Christian is talking to a Who, whom is not!
There’s no Holy Who! If there is, we don’t care!
And we’re going to stop all this nonsense! So there!”
“Humpf!” humpfed a voice!
“For almost two days you’ve run wild and insisted
On chatting with someone who never existed.
Such carryings-on in our peaceable jungle!
We’ve had quite enough of your bellowing bungle!
And I’m here to state,” snapped the Pharisee dude,
“That your silly nonsensical game is all through!”
And the young Pharisee that was with him said, “Me too!”
“With the help of the Wickersham Brothers and dozens
Of Wickersham Uncles and Wickersham Cousins
And Wickersham In-Laws, whose help I’ve engaged,
You’re going to be roped! And you’re going to be caged!
Religion, control, are our favorite tools.
You have to obey us, you must take our rules.
We’ll teach you a lesson, you’d better not spurn,
The right way is our way, is what you should learn.”
“Holy Who! Holy Who!” Herbie called. “Holy Who!
If they do not hear you, I don’t know what to do.
So call to them loudly, so they can’t deny
That they would be better, if they would just try
To hear and obey- that is all that you ask.
So please let them hear you, it’s such a small task.”
The Holy Who pulled and He tugged at their heart.
He asked them to humble themselves and depart
From selfish ambition, to Jesus the King.
With a heavenly voice Holy Who thus did sing.
The Christian did smile. “That was clear as a bell.
You Pharisees most surely heard that very well.”
“All I heard,” snapped the big Pharisee, “Was the breeze,
And the faint sound of wind through the far-distant trees.
I heard no small voice, and you didn’t either.”
And the young Pharisee that was with him said, “Me neither.”
“Grab him!” they shouted. “And cage the big dope!
Lasso his stomach with ten miles of rope!
Tie the knots tight so he’ll never shake lose!
And we with this rhetoric, never will truce!”
Herbie fought back with great vigor and vim
But the Wickersham gang was too many for him.
They beat him! They mauled him! They started to haul
Him into his cage! But he managed to call
To the Holy Who: “Don’t give up! I believe in your call!
God’s word is important, no matter how small!
And you Pharisee dudes will not have to die
If you humble yourselves! So come on, now, and TRY!
Holy Who will not push you, no force will he take.
Accepting His call is a choice you must make!
So put your pride down, and make yourself humble.
Just listen to Him- you’ll stay out of trouble!”
The Pharisees listened, they wanted to know
The Love and the freedom that Herbie did show.
They stopped and they listened and they wanted to hear
The voice from inside- they chose to draw near.
Holy Who’s voice was heard! It rang out clear and clean.
And the Christian just smiled. “Do you see what I mean?
He proved He is real, so now answer His call.
And please receive Jesus- the King of us all!”
“How true! Yes, how true,” said the Pharisee, now free.
“And, from now on, you know what I’m planning to be?
From now on, I’m going to obey Him like you!”
And the young Pharisee- also free- said, “Me too!”
“From the sun in the summer. From rain when it’s fall-ish,
I’ll obey every message, no matter how small-ish!”
The end!
