Yet – One Word that Changed Everything

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Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane …Then he said to them, “I am deeply grieved, even to death; remain here, and stay awake with me.” And going a little farther, he threw himself on the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet not what I want but what you want.” –Matthew 26:36a,38-39

Then they went to a place called Gethsemane…I am deeply grieved, even to death…he threw himself on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. He said, “Abba, Father, for you all things are possible; remove this cup from me; yet, not what I want, but what you want.” –Mark 14:32a,34-36

Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me; yet, not my will but yours be done. –Luke 22:42

How many times have you told yourself, that this day sure did go by fast? If you made that statement on June 29, 2022, you would have been correct. You lost 1.59 milliseconds on your typical 24-hour day. The Earth spun faster around its axis on June 29, making it the shortest day since the 1960s when scientists started measuring the planet’s rotation with atomic clocks. The phenomenon known as the “Chandler wobble” was first spotted in the late 1880s by astronomer Seth Carlo Chandler when he noticed the poles wobbled over a 14-month period.

This “Chandler wobble” seems insignificant compared to the day when Jesus used the word yet as a simple conjunction that shook heaven and earth. The Jesus wobble of Gethsemane came after the greatest struggles in history. His Garden of Gethsemane became a place of struggle, doubt, despair, prayer, and finally, relinquishing obedience.

“In the garden of Gethsemane, Jesus was utterly honest in prayer. He knew that His mission was to “suffer many thing” (Luke 9:22) and yet He begged God to take the cup of suffering away from Him. This is not the kind of thing that messiahs are meant to pray. It’s a prayer that runs counter to God’s revealed purposes. But in this heart-rending request, we are assured that it’s okay to grieve and cry, to plead with God, and to wonder why. In fact, it’s more that okay—it’s affirmed as something that expresses His heart. God accepts our honesty.” –Pete Greig

Jesus modeled for us in Gethsemane – fear, anxiousness, hope, courage, and obedience as we find ourselves in our own Garden of Gethsemane. Our gardens will look different from each other but they are gardens that often push us to the cliff of despair and distress. I know in my own life through the years that these gardens were complex and at the time, not always wanted. I found one of my gardens at Glorieta Conference Center battling in my soul over the decision to say yes to God’s invitation to serve in overseas missions. I found another garden in Mmabatho facing the challenges of a very sick child. I found myself in another garden at the IMB chapel hearing the announcement that hundreds of missionaries would be brought off the mission field.

In each of my garden experiences, I had to battle in prayer and often felt frustrated with God. The inevitable questions of why surfaced in my soul. Surely, I didn’t have to face these ordeals, there has to be a better way. You will find that the Garden of Gethsemane are frightening, stressful, challenging, and spiritually draining. Gethsemane which means “the oil press” becomes the spiritual press in our lives. Olive oil can only come after subjecting olives to intense pressure. The same oil that has been used for generations to meet daily needs of cooking, light, and healing has always been a critical component in many worship services.

I don’t know how you contended with God in your own garden experience, but Jesus gave you the perfect example of how to walk through the experience. When He cried out to God to “let this cup pass from me,” angels and demons alike looked upon this scene waiting to see what would happen. Our future hope waited upon the answer that would come from Jesus on that night. God waited expectantly for the answer. Then the earth probably wobbled just slightly as Jesus cried out, “yet.” Everyone now waited in anticipation of what Jesus would say. Finally, the words, “not what I want, but what you want.” As these words are spoken, our hope of eternity is set in motion.

Jesus allowed us to look in on his garden of Gethsemane’s agony that night.  He questioned, asked for a different way, wrestled with God for the cup to pass but came to the lifegiving words that allowed God to set in motion what needed to be done. If we discount Jesus’ struggle in the garden, we will discount our struggles when we find ourselves in these garden times. There will always be a moment when we finally have to either say yes to God’s will or yes to our own will.

God allows us to come to these yet moments of life out of His great love for us. Andrew Murray wrote that “the power of prayer depends almost entirely upon our apprehension of who it is with whom we speak.” It is in this place as we say yes to God’s will that we experience hope, life, and purpose.

Pete Greig, British pastor and founder of the 24/7 prayer movement shared about his own battle in his Garden of Gethsemane with God as he grieved over the possibility of his wife facing death. He realized that “Ultimately, peace lies in accepting that God knows best….When we are scared and hurting, when life feels chaotic and out of control, it is more important than ever to anchor ourselves in the absolute and eternal truth that we are dearly loved and deeply held by the most powerful being in the universe. Let this be the great non-negotiable in our lives, the platform for all our other thoughts, and the plumbline for our prayers.”

I am thankful that in our Garden of Gethsemane moments we do not face them alone. What will it cost you to say yes?  Did it cost Jesus to say yes to God’s will? What would it have cost the world if his answer had been no?

“Father in heaven, when the thought of you wakes in our hearts, let it not wake like a frightened bird that flies about in dismay, but like a child waking from its sleep with a heavenly smile.” –Soren Kierkegaard

God is great!

God’s streams are full of water

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You answer our prayers by performing awesome acts of deliverance, O God, our savior. All the ends of the earth trust in you, as well as those living across the wide seas. You created the mountains by your power and demonstrated your strength. You calmed the raging seas and their roaring waves, as well as the commotion made by the nations. Even those living in the remotest areas are awestruck by your acts; you cause those living in the east and west to praise you. You visit the earth and give it rain; you make it rich and fertile. God’s streams are full of water; you provide grain for the people of the earth, for you have prepared the earth in this way. You saturate its furrows and soak its plowed ground. With rain showers you soften its soil, and make its crops grow. You crown the year with your good blessings, and you leave abundance in your wake. The pastures in the wilderness glisten with moisture, and the hills are clothed with joy. The meadows are clothed with sheep, and the valleys are covered with grain. They shout joyfully, yes, they sing. Psalm 65:5-13 NET

Climate change! Just mention the words at a party if you want to stir up heated conversations. Watch the host grow pale and try to change the subject before it is too late.  The very mention of climate change creates animosity. If you have serious questions about the politics of climate change, you are labeled a denier or maybe worse. If you see some legitimacy in the issue you are quickly labeled as ‘one of those’. The dialogue about climate change seems to be at the forefront of political debate, news headlines, and international conferences.

“Should we ‘dim the sun’ to tackle global warming? Scientists are torn.” This Twitter headline caught my attention the other day. Solar geoengineering is over half a century old with a renewed interest in the field in recent years.  Backers of climate-cooling technology contend that it could help rein in global hearting and its impacts. Critics maintain the effects of releasing chemicals into the atmosphere could unleash unknown consequences.

Stewart Brand once wrote in “The Whole Earth Catalogue” that “we are as gods and might as well get good at it.” Unfortunately, it doesn’t take long to look around and see that humans are not very good at being gods. One writer commenting upon the statement said, “human beings act upon nature at fantastic scale, altering whole ecosystems, terraforming the world to our purposes, breeding new species into existence, and driving countless more into extinction. The power we wield is awesome. But Brand was overly optimistic. We did not get good at it. We are terrible at it, and the consequences surround us.”

One thing I see missing so often in the climate change debate is the lack of seeking input from the Creator and owner Himself. God never forfeited ownership of His creation as He spoke creation into existence and summed it up in Genesis 1:31 “God saw everything that he had made, and indeed, it was very good.” God has never been an absentee landlord. The Psalmist gave a beautiful yet powerful reminder of God’s ownership when he wrote, “God’s streams are full of water.” God’s care of the earth even awakens those who live “in the remotest areas.”

Scientists, politicians, and academicians can and should debate the consequences of climate change. We can have our opinions, disagree with published findings, and seek other alternatives. Yet we have a responsibility for the care of this planet, but from the role that God gave us. The late Peter Marshall tells the story of the Keeper of the Spring, a quiet forest dweller who lived high above an Austrian village along the eastern slope of the Alps.

“The old gentleman had been hired many years earlier by a young town councilman to clear away the debris from the pools of water up in the mountain crevices that fed the lovely spring flowing through their town. With faithful, silent regularity, he patrolled the hills, removed the leaves and branches, and wiped away the silt that would otherwise have choked and contaminated the fresh flow of water. The village soon became a popular attraction for vacationers. Graceful swans floated along the crystal-clear spring, the mill wheels of various businesses located near the water turned day and night, farmlands were naturally irrigated, and the view from restaurants was picturesque beyond description.

Years passed. One evening the town council met for its semiannual meeting. As they reviewed the budget, one man’s eye caught the salary figure being paid the obscure keeper of the spring. Said the keeper of the purse, “Who is the old man? Why do we keep him on year after year? No one ever sees him. For all we know, the strange ranger of the hills is doing us no good. He isn’t necessary any longer.” By a unanimous vote, they dispensed with the old man’s services.

For several weeks, nothing changed.

By early autumn, the trees began to shed their leaves. Small branches snapped off and fell into the pools, hindering the rushing flow of sparkling water. One afternoon someone noticed a slight yellowish-brown tint in the spring. A few days later, the water was much darker. Within another week, a slimy film covered sections of the water along the banks, and a foul odor was soon detected. The mill wheels moved more slowly, some finally ground to a halt. Swans left, as did the tourists. Clammy fingers of disease and sickness reached deeply into the village.

Quickly, the embarrassed council called a special meeting. Realizing their gross error in judgment, they rehired the old keeper of the spring, and within a few weeks, the veritable river of life began to clear up. The wheels started to turn, and new life returned to the hamlet in the Alps.”

The Keeper of the Spring story reminds us that our roles may seem minor, but each person can and does make a difference. We can be faithful caretakers of the springs that are in our care by minimizing wastefulness and keeping our own springs clean. We have a role to play in this planet’s care, but our hope and trust are in God, the ultimate owner, and creator. I can guarantee that He is still very much engaged in the care of this planet when:

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. —Gen 1:1

The LORD owns the earth and all it contains, the world and all who live in it. –Ps 24:1

For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God. –Heb 3:4

For the earth and its fullness are the LORD’s. —I Cor 10:26

For every beast of the forest is Mine, The cattle on a thousand hills. —Psalm 50:10

And when they heard this, they lifted their voices to God with one accord and said, “O Lord, it is You who made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and all that is in them. —Acts 4:24

Lord, this planet is a small part of your vast creation. We acknowledge your ownership and ask for wisdom to care for it properly. We ask you to give wisdom to global leaders to make wise decisions. Amen.

God is great!

Where’s Dad?

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Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord. Ephesians 6:4 NLT

The years have not faded the vivid, exciting, and life-changing memory of holding my first-born son after his birth. There was an overwhelming joy and raw emotion as I cradled this tiny body in my arms. These same feelings would be duplicated twice again with my daughters’ births. Fatherhood! Questions flooding my mind: Will I be a good father? What if I get it wrong? Yet trusting in God’s grace and help to be a father.  Perfect? Far from it. Mistakes enough to go to the moon and back.

Sunday marked Father’s Day in America. As we celebrate Father’s Day every year, it draws attention to the role of the Father in our families and society. This is a role that is changing rapidly since the nation’s first Father’s Day on June 19, 1910.

Unfortunately, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, 1 in 4 children live without a biological, step, or adoptive father in the home.  I use the word unfortunate since research shows that a father’s absence affects children in numerous ways according to the National Fatherhood Initiative.

A 2019 study by the Pew Research Center showed that the United States has the world’s highest rate of children living in single-parent households out of 130 countries and territories. It is hard enough to be a two-parent household so the challenges and burdens for single-parent homes are greatly multiplied.

It takes only minutes to read daily about the world’s influence on our children’s lives. According to The Center for Family Justice, 1 in 3 girls and 1 in 7 boys will be sexually assaulted by the time they reach 18; more than four children die each day because of child abuse and approximately 70% of children that die from abuse are under the age of four. Just this past week, an Illinois man was charged with the murders of his three young children, ages 5, 3, and 2.

An article in the Atlantic Magazine titled “The One Parenting Decision That Really Matters” lists numerous factors on successful parenting but the bottom line comes down to where you raise your child. In essence:  Location. Location. Location.

However, I would agree with the long-time pastor as well as father and grandfather James Emery White in his response to the article, “If all you care about is worldly accomplishment, then perhaps one factor might be where you raise your child. But if you run a bit deeper than that, and care about the spiritual formation of your child-values, beliefs, behaviors, faith—then it’s not about where you raise your child, but who you are as a parent as you raise your child.”

Professor Christian Smith from the University of Notre Dame just released the findings of a detailed research project on the importance of parents’ impact on the religious development of their children. In his book, Handing Down the Faith: How Parents Pass Their Religion on to the Next Generation, he details how parents are the most successful and influential part of their kids adopting the Christian faith compared to other influences.

Professor Smith writes; “Some readers might be surprised to know that the single most powerful causal influence on the religious lives of American teenagers and young adults is the religious lives of their parents.”  Not their peers, not the media, not their youth group leaders or clergy, not their religious school teachers.”

The research shows that no one has to be a super-Christian. Parents simply have to live out their faith consistently, honestly, and consciously to impact their children. Dr. Smith continues that in their findings that the “role of fathers is especially important in forming children religiously” adding “both parents matter a lot in faith transmission, but the role of fathers appears to be particularly crucial.”

Father’s Day might be a good time to read Paul’s letter to the church in Ephesus again but with a focus on the father part. In this letter, Paul gave men some challenging instructions on what it means to be a husband and father. A husband must love his wife just like Jesus did his church, even to the point of death. A father must love his children in a way that allows them to grow spiritually and emotionally healthy.

God set importance on the family structure to be a place where children are nurtured, taught, and equipped for life. “Parents are the greatest single evangelists for the gospel in the world and its greatest arena is the family.” (The Daily Citizen)

God’s worldview has always been greater than the size of our bank accounts, where we live, or the impact of our worldly influence. “Let each generation tell its children of your mighty acts; let them proclaim your power.” –Psalm 145:4

Lord, we need you. We need to become the fathers, mothers, and grandparents that will stand in the gap for the children of this world. We must pray against the darkness that seeks to destroy our children. We must pray that they will have tender hearts to hear your voice. May our children tell their children of your mighty acts because we were faithful in telling them of your mighty acts. Amen

God is great

 

 

Walk the Ancient Paths

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Thus says the LORD:

Stand at the crossroads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way lies; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls.

But they said, “We will not walk in it.” –Jeremiah 6:16

Are there any crossroads you have been hesitant to take? If you are like most of us, then probably there have been many. Crossroads mandate a decision as to whether you go straight, left or right. Life presents us with crossroads that are business, political, philosophical, moral, and spiritual. Whichever crossroad you take will impact your life, occasionally for a moment, but often for a lifetime.

Psalm 23 takes you through the green pastures as well as the dark valleys, yet walking the ancient paths that God has laid out, guarantees his constant companionship. Rejecting God’s way will put you on a path moving further away from God and His ancient paths.

Israel had been given prophets and teachers to help them know God’s Word. Now as they stand at the crossroads all they have to do is “ask for the ancient paths, where the good way lies; and walk in it.” God is ready to walk with them. Unfortunately, as they stand at the crossroad, they reject the ancient paths. They would rather keep going in their ways that will take them further away from God.

Connie and I had the amazing opportunity last week to be part of a 10-day Journey of Paul through Athens, Corinth, Patmos, Ephesus, Philippi, and Thessalonica (Thessaloniki). Time has taken its toll on these places, leaving little more than archeological digs, scattered stones, and remnants. However, there is a strange sense of timelessness and excitement in each place recognizing that all of these were communities of faith that were built upon the ancient paths of God.

Walking the path leading to the unearthed theatre in Ephesus I can picture the angry mob led by Demetrius who has chosen the path of the goddess Artemis instead of the ancient path of God.

Walking the path to enter the cave on Patmos I can visualize John as he captures the words of Jesus to the Seven Churches in Asia Minor in the book of Revelation.

Walking the path that leads to the Areopagus (Mars Hill) in Athens I rejoice that Paul boldly proclaimed the one true God. I am humbled that these words spoken that day will become part of my faith ancestry.

Walking the path leading to the river in Philippi I feel the water where Lydia and her household were baptized as some of the first followers of Jesus in Europe.

Walking the path in front of the prison in Philippi where Paul and Silas were beaten and imprisoned, I am overwhelmed with the courage and peace they had to be able to worship and continue to preach the Gospel.

Though I came to faith long before I walked these sites, I experienced the joy and amazement of being connected to a great throne of saints who walked the ancient paths of Christ that I am now walking.  This journey on ancient paths reminds me that often our generational-centric pride that has captured much of the modern church forgets the deep and moving legacy of our faith family that has gone before us. J.I. Packer says well of the rich heritage of the church. “Tradition is the fruit of the Spirit’s teaching activity from the ages as God’s people have sought understanding of Scripture. It is not infallible, but neither is it negligible, and we impoverish ourselves if we disregard it.”

The ancient ways of the church often seem strange in our modern, contemporary church world.  Yet it is in these traditions, that God’s way has been passed down from one generation to the next. It is in this shared heritage that we can celebrate our faith, encourage us amid trouble, and strengthen us in our weakness.

The “others” who have gone before us on this ancient path give us the courage to stay on the course that God has laid out. Larry Woiwode writes that “There is rugged terrain ahead for those who are constitutionally incapable of referring to the paths marked out by wise and spirit-filled cartographers over the centuries.”

I left encouraged to have been able to walk these ancient streets of old, not simply as a tourist but as one sharing the common bond of faith with those who have gone before me. The pathway they walked was not always easy but they trusted God. It is on this ancient path that I now walk.

The people of Israel stood at the crossroads and chose to turn away from God. Each generation throughout history has stood at the crossroads and made a choice to ask for the ancient paths or turn away from God. The Bible is filled with evidence that the ancient paths are not archaic or inaccessible. Church history is filled with evidence that the ancient paths are not irrelevant. Church tradition is filled with evidence that Jesus Christ is worthy of worship. Now our generation is standing at the crossroads, will we ask for the ancient paths? Pray that we will say yes.

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” — Psalm 119:105

God is great

Pentecost Sunday! What else would you come to expect from God who so loved the world?

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And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you. John 14:16-17 (NLT)

One of the harder words to tell anybody is goodbye but telling someone you love goodbye can be gut-wrenching.  You say the words and you feel the emotions and grief deep down, even if the goodbye will be short-lived. I still feel the emotions of that morning in January 1983 when we said our goodbyes to family and friends at Will Rogers World Airport in Oklahoma City, walking down the breezeway knowing it would be almost five years before we would see everyone again. We had done our best to get ready for this day but when the moment came, all the preparation seemed to disappear and the tears came.

I could tell my aging parents that we would come back but I knew the separation would hurt. We would write regularly and keep them informed. We would pray for them daily. We would even send pictures of where we would be living. It wouldn’t be the same as being physically present but it would provide encouragement and comfort until we returned.

Jesus knew his departure was coming soon so he started preparing his followers for his goodbye. The Gospel of John records various exchanges between Jesus and his disciples about his role, their role, and the life ahead. Confusion, fear, doubt, and uncertainty marked the tone of his disciples. How could Jesus leave them? What will happen to them? Jesus gave them a promise that they wouldn’t be left behind.

Similar to a mother who reassures her little boy that she will come back for him, Jesus reassures His followers. “No, I will not abandon you as orphans.”  In all their confusion, knowing Jesus wouldn’t leave them made all the difference. Yes, the little boy left in the nursery doesn’t know when his mother will come back but even amid his tears, he believes she will come back for him.

How great the words must have been to the disciples when Jesus said, “I’m telling you these things while I’m still living with you. The Friend, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send at my request, will make everything plain to you. He will remind you of all the things I have told you. I’m leaving you well and whole. That’s my parting gift to you. Peace. I don’t leave you the way you’re used to being left—feeling abandoned, bereft. So don’t be upset. Don’t be distraught.” –John 14:25-27 (The Message)

The days have passed quickly for the disciples since they watched Jesus’ death on the cross and then experienced the life-changing event of His resurrection. Lots of things have happened during these days since Jesus’ resurrection. Now the day came when they would hear Jesus tell them goodbye.

Over the years we have witnessed a lot of goodbyes at the airport – watched lots of airplanes taxi out to the runway for departure, stood at the window watching until the plane is no longer in sight. The disciples heard Jesus as he departed, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you…”—Acts 1:8a They had no clue as to what all this meant yet. What kind of power? They would be witnesses at home and to the ends of the earth. Sounds incredible!

Yesterday marked Pentecost Sunday commemorating and celebrating the promise Jesus gave to his disciples and us.  It was a day that empowered a ragtag bunch of men and women to become the church that would change the world.

“When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability. All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” –Acts 2:1-4,12

Pentecost Sunday reminds us that God is true to His Word. The day reminds us that nothing escapes His attention. At the end of their Pentecost Sunday, this little band of disciples who had been afraid of their shadows just a few days before now spoke with boldness and power.

The account in Acts 2 gives a list of the nations and peoples who experienced Pentecost firsthand. On that day they came to hear the Gospel in their heart language and 3,000 or so persons were added as followers of Jesus.  This first encounter birthed the unstoppable movement of God that is moving towards the day when Revelation 7:9 is fulfilled. “After this I looked, and there was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, robed in white, with palm branches in their hands.”

Pentecost Sunday! What else would you come to expect from God who so loved the world?

God is great!

Memorial Day reflections

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And the city has no need of sun or moon, for the glory of God illuminates the city, and the Lamb is its light. The nations will walk in its light, and the kings of the world will enter the city in all their glory. Its gates will never be closed at the end of day because there is no night there. And all the nations will bring their glory and honor into the city. Nothing evil will be allowed to enter, nor anyone who practices shameful idolatry and dishonesty—but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. –Revelation 21:23-27

 

 “From ghoulies and ghosties
And long-leggedy beasties
And things that go bump in the night,
Good Lord, deliver us!”

 

Strange sounding words from this old Scottish prayer. Yet it captures the long-held fear of the unknown. Throughout history, the night has been terrifying and unnerving as we waited for the morning dawn. The prayer ends with our need to seek God’s protection. It is in the darkness that we are reminded of our vulnerability and our dependence upon God.

Physically we hear the bumps in the night but we also hear them spiritually. With the advent of electricity and technological advances in the last few decades, the world is now flooded with light and 24-7 noise. We can now hide the physical darkness with artificial light, extending our day into the night. We extend the hours of light in hopes we can reduce the vulnerability that we feel in the dark. However, much in the same way as we try to hide the physical darkness, we attempt to hide our spiritual darkness with superficial light. Trish Harrison Warren writes. “Instead of sitting in the discomfort of vulnerability, we run to alcohol, work, social media, movies, entertainment, even political debate.”

In our need to keep away from things that go bump in the night, we do everything humanly possible to secure our surroundings and ourselves. Since 9/11, the United States has spent $7.6 Trillion on defense and homeland security seeking security. The increase in violence has caused projected revenue in the security segment to reach $5.82 billion in 2022.

The Psalmist writes in Psalm 77, “When I was in deep trouble, I searched for the Lord. All night long I prayed, with hands lifted toward heaven, but my soul was not comforted. I think of God, and I moan, overwhelmed with longing for his help.” Through the course of the night, as he prays and seeks God, the Psalmist comes to the realization, “But then I recall all you have done, O LORD; I remember…” At this point, he can finally move from the darkness to the light proclaiming, “O God, your ways are holy. Is there any god as mighty as you?

We will never find in our artificial spiritual light what gives meaning to our souls. Only in the pure light that radiates from Jesus will we find the light to walk without fear, face the unknown and rest in his presence.

“Keep watch, dear Lord, with those who work, or watch, or weep this night, and give your angels charge over those who sleep. Tend the sick, Lord Christ; give rest to the weary, bless the dying, soothe the suffering, pity the afflicted, shield the joyous; and all for your love’s sake. Amen.” (The Book of Common Prayer)

Memorial Day can be a beautiful time to meditate upon the hope of God’s Kingdom. Yes, there will come a day when the darkness is finally gone.  A time when the gates of the city are kept open and no evil will be in the city. No longer will we face the dark waiting for morning. For now, we rest in the calm assurance that, “The LORD himself watches over you! The LORD stands beside you as your protective shade.” (Psalm 121:5)

Shortly after the Civil War, the deadliest conflict in our nation’s history, a time of remembrance was set aside to commemorate the lives of Americans killed in battle.  Since the revolutionary war, over 1.3 million men and women have died in war and armed conflicts. On this Memorial Day, we remember those who died fighting against darkness.

Take time this Memorial Day to reflect and give honor for the lives of young men and women who never made it home. Memorial Day was created to honor those killed in war. However, it can also be a day to stop and use as a time of deep reflection in these times of darkness.

Reflect and give honor:

  • As we mourn the loss of 19 beautiful innocent children and their teachers who fell victim to the demonic actions of a young man.
  • As we grieve the senseless violence that has spread across this nation creating chaos and pain.
  • As we pray for the peoples of Ukraine and Afghanistan who are victims of tyranny and injustice.
  • As we lament the spiritual condition of our souls and seek the fresh touch of God in our lives.

Father, we honor those who sacrificed their lives in battles for freedom and peace. We pray for families who gave up their sons and daughters as they never returned home. Today we mourn the death of innocent children who simply went to school, shoppers who simply went to the store to buy groceries, for worshippers who simply went to church. We know life is not simple and we desperately cry out to you for help. Would you awaken our nation and ourselves to your presence to receive your gift of salvation and hope? We long for the day when the city gates are open, when there is no darkness and no evil is allowed to enter the city.  Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!

God is great

 

Tell the Next Generation

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After the plague the LORD said to Moses and to Eleazar son of Aaron the priest, “Take a census of the whole congregation of the Israelites, from twenty years old and upward, by their ancestral house, everyone in Israel able to go to war.  Numbers 26:1-2

Florida State University legendary coach Bobby Bowden died last year. Bowden’s football record and accomplishments were truly impressive.  One of these was being inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. Yet his football accomplishments paled in comparison to his spiritual legacy. Bowden’s son, Tommy said of his father that he “coached until age 80 because the high-profile profession offered so many opportunities to share Jesus with others. He wanted to coach as long as he could to advance the kingdom of God and that his dad wanted to take as many people as he can to heaven with him.”

His football fame will become interesting statistics but his spiritual impact will last for eternity. Bowden once said, “Faith allowed me to stay focused on things within my power while leaving the rest of it in God’s hands.” The most important parts of Bowden’s past continue to impact the future.

 

“Close to you I waken in the dead of night, and start with fear-

are you lost to me once more? Is it always vainly that I seek you,

you, my past?

I stretch my hands out, And I pray- and a new thing now I hear:

The past will come to you once more, and be your life’s enduring part,

through thanks and repentance. Feel in the past God’s forgiveness and goodness,

Pray him to keep you today and tomorrow.”

 

These are the words from the last stanza of Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s poem, The Past. Our past is really forever since our tomorrow will soon be our past. Our past is both the ordinary and spectacular events that makeup life and yet, the richest part of our past is the people who intersected with us in life. They are the individuals who shaped us, taught us, loved us, and occasionally hurt us. We remember events most often because of the people who shared that moment of time with us.

Bonhoeffer’s understanding of the past as reflected in his poem most likely formed his understanding of the importance of connecting the spiritual generations together. Writing from his Tegel prison cell to his nephew at his baptism, Bonhoeffer said:

“You are the first of a new generation in our family, and therefore the oldest representative of your generation. You will have the priceless advantage of spending a good part of your life with the third and fourth generations that went before you. Your great-grandfather will be able to tell you, from his own personal memories, of people who were born in the eighteenth century; and one day, long after the year 2000, you will be the living bridge over which your descendants will get an oral tradition of more than 250 years.”

Moses had walked faithfully with God through the wilderness leading the nation of Israel. God commanded Moses to count the people by their family heritage. The census became a family tree for those getting ready to enter the promised land, a record of faith that has been passed down from one generation to the next. It was a past that was not always glorious, but a past that linked each generation to the next.

Biological family trees are critical in reflecting our connection to life. However, maybe just as important is the richness of one’s faith family tree. Our spiritual family creates a unique bond that establishes generations together in ways our biological family is unable to do.  Our faith family trees often include many of our biological family members and many others such as school teachers, neighbors and Sunday school teachers.  These relationships add much depth and richness to life. “To be deeply rooted in the soil of the past makes life harder, but it also makes it richer and more vigorous.” (Bonhoeffer)

Who makes up your faith family? What relationships, writers, artists or places have shaped your ways of believing and worshipping? Try the following exercise during a personal spiritual retreat. Create a faith family tree of spiritual influencers in your life by drawing yourself at its base. Then on the branches and trunk nearest you, write the names of those most directly engaged in your spiritual journey. As you move away from the base, place names or descriptions of other influences on your spiritual life.

Allow this exercise to become holy ground for you as you pray and reflect upon those who God has used to water and shape your tree of faith.  Pray over each name, place, or event that shaped you as a gift of gratitude. In this personal retreat experience, let it become a precious and moving time of worship.

“Take care and watch yourselves closely, so as neither to forget the things that your eyes have seen nor to let them slip from your mind all the days of your life; make them known to your children and your children’s children.” Deuteronomy 4:9

God is great,

Walking Billboards for Jesus

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The LORD spoke to Moses, saying: Speak to all the congregation of the people of Israel and say to them: You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy. Leviticus 19:1-2

Leviticus – the third book in the Bible, that many try to speed read on their way through their “Read the Bible in a year” plan. However, if and when we slow down in our reading we realize that “Be holy, for I am Holy” is at the heart of Leviticus. We come face to face with the holiness of God.  If your church still has hymnals, pick up one and let the words of this great hymn, “Holy, Holy, Holy” speak to your heart in a new and fresh way.

Holy, Holy, Holy! Lord God Almighty!

Early in the morning our song shall rise to thee:

Holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty!

God in three Persons, blessed Trinity!

Leviticus is not normally read as good news and most certainly not in the context of how the world now determines what is a modern, culturally acceptable worldview. However, J. A. Motyer looks at Leviticus differently. He writes, “Leviticus is good news. It is good news for sinners who seek pardon, for priests who need empowering, for women who are vulnerable, for the unclean who covet cleansing, for the poor who yearn for freedom, for the marginalized who seek dignity, for animals that demand protection, for families that require strengthening, for communities that want fortifying and for creation that stands in need of care. All these issues, and more, are addressed in a positive way in Leviticus.”

Spend some time meditating upon chapters 18 and 19 in Leviticus. Try reading these verses as one who seeks God, treating life as holy, and allowing God to have control of your life. At the heart of each requirement is the holiness of God in the life of his people, a people set apart from the world. Culture no longer determines the standards, only God does.

As you read these two chapters, mentally or literally, create two columns. At the top of the columns, title one “God’s values” and the other “Human Values.”  It doesn’t take long to realize God’s values and human values are worlds apart.

Augustine wrote that “The LORD himself not only shows us the evil we are to avoid and the good we are to do (which is all that the letter of the law can do) but also helps us to avoid evil and to do good things that are impossible without the spirit of grace. If grace is lacking, the law is there simply to make culprits and to slay; for this reason, the Apostle said; “The letter kills, but the Spirit gives life” (2 Corinthians 3:6)”

Unfortunately, chapters 18 and 19 are not a Golden Corral buffet of principles. We don’t get to go through the line choosing what we like and leaving out the others. It can be so easy to pick a verse and sling it at someone, yet at the same time avoid verses we would prefer to overlook. The problem is that God didn’t give us a choice. Each requirement interlocks with each other forming a strong family, church, community, and culture.

Leviticus’ requirements set a people apart from the other nations. Jesus would take the law and empower it with grace. “Christ came provided with the Holy Spirit after a peculiar manner…that he might separate us from the world, and unite us in the hope of an eternal inheritance.”—John Calvin

Living a life set apart from the world requires God’s grace. Our focus shifts from the world to God. Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote that “Your life as a Christian should make non-believers question their disbelief in God.”

New Orleans Saints linebacker Demario Davis won the NFL 2021 Bart Starr Award for outstanding character, integrity, and leadership on and off the field. His wife, Tamela told the Christian Post, “Our primary mission has always been to be a walking billboard for Christ, so that others may be able to see and encounter Him through us and our experiences.”

Undoubtedly, Leviticus is a challenging book with some difficult passages, yet what a difference when our heartbeat is that of being holy. Take some time in prayer and reflect on where you are in light of God’s values. What will it take to restore and empower you to live a life set apart for God? Thomas Kelly wrote, “It is said of St. Francis not merely that he prayed, but that he became a prayer.”

Maybe in a world that is growing indifferent to God’s message, the best way we can reflect a different image is to become “walking billboards for Christ,” or as Jesus said, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” –Matthew 16:24

God is great!

Celebrating the Fourth Week of Advent – The Angel Candle – Peace

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Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” Luke 2:13-14

Peace and goodwill – the seemingly ever-elusive state that the world seeks, but never quite achieves. Lots of options are offered every day but only one source of peace will endure forever. Peace is not found in activities, methods or materials, but in a person. Peace marks the fourth week of Advent.

Merriam-Webster defines peace in very good technical terms as “a state of tranquility or quiet. Freedom from civil disturbance. A pact or agreement to end hostilities between those who have been at war or in a state of enmity offered the possibility of a negotiated peace.”

Yet why is peace so elusive?

The Institute for Economics and Peace released their annual Global Peace Index for 2021 report showing that the level of global peacefulness deteriorated again this year. It is the 9th deterioration in peacefulness in the last 13 years. Based on 23 qualitative and quantitative indicators measured across three domains of societal safety and security, ongoing domestic and international conflict, and degree of militarization. Iceland remains the most peaceful country, with Afghanistan coming last and The United States ranking 122 out of 163 nations.

For American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, peace seemed such a distant memory as he sat in the medical tent holding the wounded body of his oldest son, Charles following a battle during the American Civil War. The pain of his son stirred the pain within himself as he still grieved the death of his beloved wife. It was in this moment of despair that Longfellow heard the church bells tolling in the background for Christmas day. How can there be peace? Longfellow began to capture his thoughts in the poem “Christmas Bells.”

I heard the bells on Christmas Day
Their old, familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet
The words repeat
Of peace on earth, good-will to men….

And in despair I bowed my head;
“There is no peace on earth,” I said;
“For hate is strong,
And mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!”

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
“God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
The Wrong shall fail,
The Right prevail,
With peace on earth, good-will to men.”

Peace will always be elusive if we look for it in world power, politics, and earthly wealth. Jesus gives the only valid answer to the question, yet why is peace so elusive? “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

External surroundings no longer define inner peace because of the birth of Jesus. Over the decades since Longfellow captured the words to his poem, hundreds of wars have raged, civil unrest has erupted within nations, economic disasters, and personal tragedies. Yet the truth of that night in Bethlehem still echoes power and hope for us today. Jesus – The Prince of Peace!

God allowed the ringing bells to awaken Longfellow out of his hopelessness. His poem has inspired many songwriters since that Christmas morning to adapt the poem to music, I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day. Yes, the struggles you face are real, the challenges seem overwhelming. Yet may you hear again the bells on Christmas morning that Jesus came to offer life and peace for you this day!

“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.” John 14:27 NLT

God is great,

 

Celebrating the third week of Advent: The Shepherd Candle – Joy

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And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the LORD appeared to them, and the glory of the LORD shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the LORD. Luke 2:8-11

One of the most beloved and famous of our Christmas carols, “Joy to the World” didn’t start as a song, especially not a Christmas carol. Isaac Watts published a book of poems based upon the Psalms. “Joy to the World” was an adaptation of Psalm 98 as Watts interpreted the psalm as a celebration of Jesus.

               Joy to the world! The Lord is come; Let earth receive her King…

               Joy to the earth! The Savior reigns; Let men their songs employ….

               No more let sins and sorrows grow, nor thorns infest the ground….

               He rules the world with truth and grace, and makes the nations prove…

Joy to the world became a reality for a group of shepherds working in the cold, dark night of Bethlehem’s fields. These men probably wouldn’t rank high on the social and influencer scenes of their day, yet these lowly shepherds experienced what the sheep owner may never have experienced: joy.

These nameless shepherds may not have had warm beds to crawl into that night, they didn’t have a cozy house to eat dinner in that night, nor did they have job security if raiders stole their sheep.  However, they had something far greater, they had a life-changing encounter with the Christ-child. Their status in life didn’t change, but their hearts and lives were forever and dramatically changed. They experienced the joy that superseded any expectation of happiness.

As the previous week’s Hope and Faith Advent candles burn, this week the Joy Advent candle is lit. A candle reflecting the anticipated joy of the coming Messiah. According to the most recent United Nations “World Happiness Report,” The United States ranks number 19 among the world’s nations in terms of happiness. The report is based upon external things that supposedly make a person happy.

This week’s advent candle doesn’t celebrate happiness but something far more profound: joy. Though people often interchange the terms, in reality, they are a world apart.  “Things” may seem to make you happy but will never bring you joy. However, on the flip side, the lack of “things” never impacts one’s joy.  Barbara Johnson shares the story about a man on her bus who understood the reality of joy.

“The day started out rotten. I overslept and was late for work. Everything that happened at the office contributed to my nervous frenzy. By the time I reached the bus stop for my homeward trip, my stomach was one big knot.

As usual, the bus was late—and jammed. I had to stand in the aisle. As the lurching vehicle pulled me in all directions, my gloom deepened.

Then I heard a deep voice from upfront boom, “Beautiful day, isn’t it?” Because of the crowd, I could not see the man, but I could hear him as he continued to comment on the spring scenery, calling attention to each approaching landmark. This church. That park. This cemetery. That firehouse. Soon all the passengers were gazing out the windows. The man’s enthusiasm was so contagious I found myself smiling for the first time that day. We reached my stop. Maneuvering toward the door, I got a look at our “guide”: a plump figure with a black beard, wearing dark glasses, and carrying a thin white cane.”

I doubt if the shepherds ever experienced what the world considers wealth. What I do know is that they experienced the greatest treasure of all time—Jesus.  The shepherds left the stable that night transformed.  “When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.” (Luke 2:17-18,20)

Happiness may or may not be found in brightly wrapped presents under the Christmas tree. Maybe the size is all wrong or the color is not what you wanted or what you wanted is still on a ship in the middle of the harbor. Whatever the gift, it will be temporary.

Joy will be found this Christmas and every Christmas after when you receive the gift of Jesus. A gift that never grows old, wears out, or becomes outdated. It is a gift that is new every day, a gift that is eternal.

Joy to the world! Jesus, the true joy of Christmas.

God is great,