America’s Sacred Holiday

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Then those who feared the LORD talked with each other, and the LORD listened and heard. A scroll of remembrance was written in his presence concerning those who feared the LORD and honored his name. Malachi 3:16

If parents were allowed to roll their eyes, I am sure the vast majority have done so or at least thought about it, if they had a young child sitting in a church service. Long before children’s church, I learned how to sit through many church services beside my mother. Hopefully, she didn’t have to roll her eyes very often!

Little boys and girls must do something to entertain themselves but not end up in trouble. You know you are bored if you enjoyed reading through the Baptist Hymnal. Drawing circles on the bulletins helped pass the time and with imagination, the bulletins could turn into a lot of different things.  However, the most entertaining exercise was always watching the people. There were a few funny moments such as the older gentleman in the choir who would fall asleep during the sermon and even once fell out of his seat. Yet, there was a comforting sense of familiarity in seeing the same people week after week, usually sitting in the same spot.

Thing-watching was always a good practice. Like most small Baptist churches, we had a table in front of the pulpit. Years later the words, “Do This in Remembrance of Me,” would impact my life greatly. It was carved into the blonde-finished table and captured my attention and forever changed my life. I would come to know the great sacrifice that Jesus paid that I might have life and it would be at this and future tables that the bread and cup would stir remembrance of what Jesus did in my life.

The disciples who were gathered in the upper room that evening didn’t fully grasp Jesus’ words about bread and the cup until much later. As they finished eating, Jesus took a piece of bread and a cup of wine offering thanks.  He then spoke the words, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me,” (Luke 22:19). Those simple words would become the remembrance of a costly sacrifice given for the following generations.

Whether it is a pile of stones, monuments, or specific days, history is filled with reminders to tell the next generation of a sacrifice that took place. “Without memory, there is no culture. Without memory, there would be no civilization, no society, no future.” (Elie Wiesel)

Jacob set up a pillar to commemorate God’s vision to him in Genesis 28. Joshua had leaders of each tribe in Joshua 4 pick up a boulder from the dry river bed and erect a memorial to remind the next generation of God’s love and miraculous intervention. Samuel set aside a large stone and named it Ebenezer to remind the next generation of God’s goodness and grace in I Samuel 7.

Today marks the United States’ celebration of Memorial Day in remembrance of men and women killed in military conflicts. If a secular government could have a sacred holiday, Memorial Day would come close to that day. Though Memorial Day is a unique holiday in the United States, I found similar types of celebrations in other countries honoring their citizens killed in action. “Remembering the past plays a vital role in the identity of any nation. Sociologists claim that a society aspiring to endure must become a community of memory and hope.” (B.K. Waltke)

The concept of a Remembrance Day for those killed in war originated shortly after the Civil War. It was originally called Decoration Day as people decorated graves of veterans who lost their lives with flowers and wreaths. Memorial Day or Decoration Day was first celebrated on May 30th but Congress moved the date to the last Monday in May of 1968 and becoming a federal holiday in 1971.

Memorial Day is a perfect opportunity to stop and reflect on the cost of freedom. It is a cost paid through the blood and sacrifice willingly given for others to enjoy freedom. These men and women in the military who were killed in action paid for freedom with their lives. For the sake of others, they paid a heavy price.

Cultural commentator Jonah Goldberg writes, “Democracy’s greatness lies in the fact it is a hedge against bad things.” It took these men and women to build hedges against tyranny, injustice, and hatred. “This is the day we pay homage to all those who didn’t come home. This is not Veterans Day, it’s a day of solemn contemplation over the cost of freedom.” (Tamra Bolton)

Historians estimate that over 1,300,000 men and women have been killed in the various wars and conflicts the United States has been engaged in since the American Revolutionary War. Each number represents a son or daughter, husband or wife, grandchild or friend that never came home. Each number tells the story of a generation that ended that day. Each number tells the story of commitment and sacrifice. Memorial Day allows us to remember those stories of courage with a heart of gratitude.

We give thanks to these men and women who gave their lives and remember even now the enduring loss and pain that exists in thousands of households across this nation.  Former President Barack Obama said it well, “Our nation owes a debt to its fallen heroes that we can never fully repay.”

LORD, let us never forget the costly sacrifice of these men and women who died to build a hedge against evil which has allowed freedom to be celebrated. More importantly, thank you for the sacrifice of the cross that gave us freedom and life. “Your name, LORD, endures forever, your renown, LORD, through all generations.”

God is great!

 

Journey Toward Easter Promise

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But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. John 16:7 NIV
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. Acts 1:8 NIV
When the Feast of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Without warning there was a sound like a strong wind, gale force—no one could tell where it came from. It filled the whole building. Then, like a wildfire, the Holy Spirit spread through their ranks, and they started speaking in a number of different languages as the Spirit prompted them. Acts 2:1-3 The Message

Do you still have your Beanie Baby collection? What was your favorite? Do you even still remember the Beanie Babies? Those cute, iconic stuffed little creatures marked their debut in 1993 such as Legs the Frog, Squealer the Pig, Chocolate the Moose, and Patti the Platypus. Though sales started at a slow pace, by the mid-90s they became a major collectible item, even moving into the arena of a financial investment.

The hype surrounding the $5 pellet-stuffed plush toys created speculation that the value would skyrocket from the $5 cost to as much as $1,000. “Forecasts like these were so enticing that one dad invested his kids’ college funds in Beanie Babies, thinking he’d resell them later for a meaty profit.” (Molly Liebergall). Unfortunately, The Beanie bubble burst, leaving the family in a $100,000 hole. The Dad was not alone as the false hope of astronomical appreciation estimates left many investors short of cash. “An asset bubble expert and market historian remarked, “that our tendency to fall for the overinflation of a product’s value is a flaw in the human character and that no one is immune, no matter how smart you are.” (Liebergall)

False hope in investment claims may leave people broke but far worse is the false hope of religion. Religious charlatans have been around forever, peddling their products of false gods, idols, and untruths. However, when Jesus made a promise, it proved powerful, true, and eternally impactful. Fifty days after Easter, His words became reality with the descent of the Holy Spirit that marked the beginning of the Church’s mission to the world. The late British theologian John Stott wrote, “At Babel, earth proudly tried to ascend to heaven but at Pentecost, heaven humbly descends to earth…” Nothing could have demonstrated more clearly than this the multi-racial, multi-national, multi-lingual nature of the kingdom of Christ.” When the day of Pentecost came, the world would never be the same.

Yesterday fulfilled what Jesus told his disciples which is still proving true 2,000 years later. Pentecost Sunday celebrates the promise of an Advocate that would spark the unleashing of the church locally, nationally, and to the very ends of the earth. A few dozen followers have grown to over 2.4 billion Christians worldwide today. So how did just a few dozen people literally impact the world?

Tyler Staton, National Director of 24-7 Prayer USA said it well, “The Early Church congregations where Jesus’ supernatural ministry became common were made up of mostly illiterate people filled with the power of God. They had little in terms of worldly credentials, but they were desperate for the power of God. Author Simon Ponsonby, summarizing Welsh minister Martyn Lloyd-Jones pointedly asked, ‘If we have what the first Christians had, why do we not do what they did? We must conclude that either God gave them more than He has given us, or we have failed to avail ourselves of what He has given us.’ To know the experience of Jesus’ promise, we must become desperate again. Desperate enough to take risks.”

Pentecost would shake the very foundation of these new believers and spur them into action. They were desperate enough for more because of the transforming power of the Holy Spirit. They left their safe environment and took the risk to tell those gathered in Jerusalem. Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome, Cretans, and Arabs heard the Good News of Jesus and about 3,000 were baptized that day. (Acts 2)

The church born would be unstoppable as “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” (Acts 2:42) Changed lives that would face ridicule, persecution, rejection, torture even death yet Pentecost gave them the power to take the risk. Transformed lives that transformed society.

Aristides launched his defense of the new Christian faith to Roman Emperor Hadrian in 125 with the early Christian’s moral lives as one of the primary proofs of the truth of the faith. Aristides wrote that “Christians…have the commands of the Lord Jesus, the Messiah himself, etched into their hearts. They keep these commands, looking forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come…For they call themselves brothers, not according to the flesh but according to the spirit. They are even prepared to sacrifice their lives for the sake of the Messiah.”

There are countless articles and books about the declining state of the church. People are leaving in droves according to some experts, and the impact of the church is waning in America, Europe, and other places. We can agree that a lot of people have left the brick-and-mortar buildings but the church is as alive as ever. People ask how is that possible when the statistics show otherwise. I simply say, look at Pentecost! “The most powerful means that have been employed to destroy God’s people have been rendered ineffective.” (15th-century Puritan minister, John Flavel)

Church attendance may decline, church buildings left empty, denominations left bankrupt but the church born at Pentecost will endure forever. “Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst?” (I Cor 3:16)

God is great!

 

Defining True Value

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She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue. She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her; Proverbs 31:25-28 (NIV)

Would you pay 718,750 Dollars for a piece of wood? It would depend upon the wood since that’s the price someone paid at a March auction. The wood wasn’t just any old piece of wood but it was the plank that kept Kate Winslet’s character Rose out of the icy waters in the movie Titanic while Jack, played by Leonardo DiCaprio, hung onto the edge. “The door—which the auction notes reveal was in fact part of the door frame above the ship’s first-class lounge entrance—is clung on to by the central couple as the ship sinks.” (Catherine Shoard)

How do you determine what is valuable? For a movie trivia buff $718,750 apparently is worth the money. However, for me, that sounds extravagant. Yesterday marked the celebration of true extravagance as we set aside the day to honor and appreciate our mothers. In her book, holy is the day, Professor Carolyn Weber writes “When I grow up, I mean way, way up, I hope to be a wise old woman of God. Someone who has learned not merely to seize the day but to seize the Lord.”

Spiritual maturity sets people aside from others who simply live life today. Thomas Traherne noted, “We do not ignore maturity. Maturity consists in not losing the past while fully living in the present with a prudent awareness of the possibilities of the future.” Generations before Traherne’s quote, Paul commented on his young protégé’s faith that was grounded now in the third generation with the words, “I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.” (2 Tim 1:5)

Timothy would go on to be an early leader of the church but it was the impact of his mother and grandmother’s investment into his life that made the difference in how he would impact others. Mother’s Day allows us to stop and reflect upon those women of character who poured life, hope, and ability into future generations.

There may not be a Mother’s Day observance mentioned in the Bible but scripture is filled with women of character who lived out their lives in love, sacrifice, and commitment. “It is okay to love deeply, the seen or the unseen even if this love comes with fear. For surely it will. I can’t think of a love that is worth its salt unaccompanied by any fear at all. But it is in the facing of the fear and loving still, and through it, that the loving becomes burnished to a precious seen and transformed into an ever-present gift.” (Dr. Carolyn Weber) These women of character can readily identify with the words of Dr. Weber as they faced the fears of the unknown, the uncertainty of what tomorrow might look like, yet that was what these women of faith did every day and what mothers still do every day

Love mixed with fear gave Jochebed the courage to risk her life for her infant son, Moses. Jochebed understood the requirements of the government that “every Hebrew boy that is born you must throw into the Nile” (Ex. 1:22) but she chose to defy the order that saved her son who would lead Israel out of bondage.

Love, mixed with fear, gave Hannah the courage to risk ridicule to boldly ask God for a son. “In her deep anguish, Hannah prayed to the LORD, weeping bitterly…LORD Almighty, if you will only look on your servant’s misery and remember me, and for forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the LORD for all the days of his life.” Out of her boldness to ask, “the LORD remembered her” and Samuel would be born who would become the prophet who anointed David as king. (ref story in I Sam 1)

Love mixed with fear gave Mary the courage to expose herself to being a social outcast to obey God. “You have favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus.” Mary bravely faced the gossip and condescending looks when she said, “I am the Lord’s servant, may your word to me be fulfilled.”

Mary’s words in Luke 1 capture the heart of one that understands fully love mixed with fear. “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant…His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation.”

How do you determine what is valuable? Charley Benetto said it well, “When you are looking at your mother, you are looking at the purest love you will ever know.” A Mother’s Love is worth far more than a movie plank.

“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” (I Cor 13:13)

God is great!

 

A Real Celebration

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There is nothing better for people to do than to eat, drink, and find satisfaction in their work. I saw that even this comes from the hand of God. Who can eat or enjoy themselves without God? Ecclesiastes 2:24-25 God’s Word

Who doesn’t love a good celebration? Yesterday the world celebrated Cinco de Mayo, ok, so maybe not the whole world, but lots of people.  Cinco de Mayo revelers mark the occasion with parades, parties, mariachi music, Mexican folk dancing, and lots of food and fun.

Why does Cinco de Mayo generate such festivities? Surely it must be a major Independence Day celebration or at least some religious holiday that would create such excitement, but it’s not. The day marks the Mexican army’s victory over France at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. The win was more of a moral victory for Mexico than a strategic victory. Though a relatively minor holiday in Mexico, Cinco de Mayo has become a major celebration in the United States, focusing on commemorating Mexican culture and heritage. Here are some fun facts about Cinco de Mayo:

  1. Only 1 in 10 individuals know that Cinco de Mayo represents the Mexican victory over the French in the Battle of Puebla.
  2. 40% of Americans believe Cinco de Mayo marks Mexico’s Independence Day.
  3. It is not a federal holiday in Mexico.
  4. Sizable crowds, street festivals, live music, and dancing are all staples of celebrating.
  5. Mole Poblano is the official dish of Cinco de Mayo.
  6. Los Angeles, Chicago, and Houston are known to hold the biggest events.
  7. 87 million pounds of avocados are purchased for Cinco de Mayo celebrations, more than any other time of the year! (from Bryan University website)

Celebrating Cinco de Mayo is a lot of fun but it is only once a year.  However, another celebration takes place every week that should be just as lively and spirited. It is a festival of worship where millions gather globally to celebrate God.

Henry Sloane Coffin wrote, “If there is one characteristic more than others that contemporary public worship needs to recapture it is this awe before the surpassingly great and gracious God.” I feel Eugene Peterson translated Psalm 150 with a similar thought, that worship is a festive time of celebration.

“Hallelujah! Praise God in his holy house of worship, praise him under the open skies;

Praise him for his acts of power, praise him for his magnificent greatness;

Praise with a blast on the trumpet, praise by strumming soft strings;

Praise him with castanets and dance, praise him with banjo and flute;

Praise him with cymbals and a big bass drum, praise him with fiddles and mandolin.

Let every living, breathing creature praise God! Hallelujah!”

Now that is a celebration, and we get to do it Sunday after Sunday. “This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Ps 118:24

God welcomes all who will come to join in the celebration, and it doesn’t matter the age, gender, social influence, economic condition, ethnicity, or education. “When we worship together as a community of living Christians, we do not worship alone, we worship ‘with all the company of heaven.’” (Marianne Micks)

“Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.” (John 4:23-24 NIV)

Job celebrated in worship even when he found himself in a desperate situation. With everything he loved gone, “Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship.” (Job 1:20)

A poor widow celebrated in worship even in an economic crisis. Jesus “saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins…she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.” (Luke 21:1-4)

Paul and Silas celebrated in worship even in a hopeless situation. They were stripped, beaten, thrown into prison, and put in the inner dungeon cell with feet fastened in the stocks. Yet they were found, “praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.” (Acts 16:22-25)

Jesus celebrated in worship even when He knew pain and suffering lay ahead. “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” (Luke 22:42)

Whether you celebrate Cinco de Mayo or not, it will not be a life-changing experience. However, celebrating God in worship will be a life-changing experience. Dallas Willard in The Great Omission said it well, “The first and most basic thing we can and must do is to keep God before our minds…This is the fundamental secret of caring for our souls. Our part in thus practicing the presence of God is to direct and redirect our minds constantly to Him…. If God is the great longing of our souls, He will become the polestar of our inward beings.”

Together we celebrate in worship as one “great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language” because “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” In this celebration of worship, we can echo the words of the heavenly angels, “Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!”

God is great!