Forgotten

 "I am set apart with the dead, like the slain who lie in the grave, who you remember no more, who are cut off from your care." (Psalm 88:5)

I was out to visit my dad's grave not too long ago. Quite frankly, I couldn't remember where it was. It had been twenty years of not being home. I knew the section but too many new dead people had arrived to take up their stone residence. Found it. Remembered. Not just the location but my dad and my grandparents and my aunts and uncles and neighbors and friends. All gone. All having left this world for destinations only known for certain to themselves and God. Somber. Reflective. Quiet. Peaceful. Hopeful. Rest.

 I've often wondered why they put benches in cemeteries. I am certain that it is for reflection, but I think it reminds the living of how tired they are and tired of this life. To sit is an exercise in envy. Lord Jesus come quickly! 

But then I scan some of the headstones that are sinking into the ground, that have lost the legibility of life, of death, of whose spouse was who, or what child this belonged to in its short earthly existence. This was someone. This was a family remembrance destination at one time much like what I was doing on that day. Keeping alive a person, celebrating a life, if only in my heart and mind. A story or two popped out. "I remember when..." And suddenly the person, the stone became alive. It was still cold but yet warmth came from it. 

Several of those old white stones, worn by weather, forgotten by time, are the resting places of Civil War sons who never walked over their own thresholds again. World War I and II, Korean and Vietnam men and women whose remains have never been found. An empty box lies beneath their marker. Gone but not forgotten. A flag will be placed in their honor this weekend. 

So...while we are out grilling the brats, burning the dogs, flipping the burgers, laughing with friends and family this weekend, can I encourage you to perhaps be quiet for just a moment and go for a walk among the dead? Rest. Say out loud a name, a date. You may not even know the person. But to do so is to remember their life and their sacrificial death. 

Have a memorable Memorial Day. 

Church Refrigerator

 "He feeds on ashes, a deluded heart misleads him; he cannot save himself, or say, 'Is not this thing in my right hand a lie?'" (Isaiah 44:20)

Abraham Lincoln was in a debate, and as happens with politicians, the truth was beginning to be a bit murky.

Abraham Lincoln asked the gentlemen, "I wonder if I might ask you a simple question?" 

"Of course," his opponent said. 

"Okay. How many legs does a cow have?" 

"Four," said the man. 

"Now supposing," Lincoln mused, "you call its tail a leg. How many legs does it have now?" 

"Five," he said confidently. 

"And this is where the problem arises," said Lincoln. "Just because you want to call something by another name doesn't make it so. A cow will always have four legs no matter what you call it's tail." 

Bits and Pieces, July, 1991 [Modified]

Since the time of President George Washington the adage, "You are entitled to your opinion, but you are not entitled to your own truth" has been a common political comeback. It works in every other arena of life as well, including religion and religious philosophy.  

The prophet Isaiah was ridiculing those who were worshipping false gods made by their own hands. "It's interesting. You go out into the woods and cut down a tree. You use the wood to build a piece of furniture or a door or some type of tool or eating utensil, and the rest you use for firewood. But you have a little chunk of wood left over and so you carve it into an image, overlay it with gold or silver, decorate it with necklaces and earrings, and bow down to it calling it your 'god.'" You are delusional. 

"Delusion" is a false belief that is resistant to confrontation with certain facts." 

Disillusion vs Delusion - What's the difference? | WikiDiff. Cited 5-17-21

Fr. Alexander Schmemann, deceased professor and prolific author who taught at St. Vladimir's Seminary in New York, said that "an idol is a false absolutism." For example:  Atheism says, "There is NO god." Secular Humanism:  "Man is god. Science is god. What we will be is self-determined. There is NO God. We must save ourselves." 

He goes on to say that people are so deluded in their thinking that they will resort to differing levels of violence to maintain it. Because if they do admit that they are clinging to false "gods" or "false absolutes," they will have to admit that there is a true God. And to that true God they will have to give account.

Why does this concern me so much? It concerns me because I find myself battling other "Christians" over tightly held idols of late - false constructs, false absolutes. I never truly understood why John said in his first epistle, "Keep yourselves from idols." (1 John 5:21) But I do now. 

Perhaps I may be taking this a bit to the extreme, but I feel like certain believers have let go of Jesus' hand and grabbed Dr. Fauci's. And how dare we disagree with the CDC (Center for Disease Confusion). Wear a mask. Social distance. Get vaccinated. Except...that it has been scientifically proven that wearing a mask doesn't work (in fact it propagates respiratory illness), social distance does not work (in fact, suicide and depression rates are through the roof; far more dangerous than the one percent mortality rate if you get the disease), and...the verdict is still out on whether the vaccinations even work (or if they will be doing irreparable damage, especially to the young who don't even need it but are being socially forced into getting it by medical "professionals," educators, and even their own parents). But to say so...outloud...is to challenge the idol of science. You become the "them." 

I am not an anti-masker, anti-distance, anti-vaccinator. I believe that people have to do their own research, come up with their own conclusions, and follow through with what they believe are the right actions. All I ask is that the same grace is afforded to those who do not agree. This is called Christian liberty. I am afraid, however, that this is becoming a deluded distraction away from our primary purpose, which is to share the good news of Jesus with people. 

In the last days, the Bible says "as wickedness increases, the love of most will grow cold (Matthew 24:12). I fear the refrigerator door has been left open in the Church kitchen. Let's agree to close it. 

Lord, grant us grace with each other. 

Wake Up!

 "Woe to him who says to wood, 'Come to life!' Or to lifeless stone, 'Wake up!' Can it give guidance? It is covered with gold and silver; there is no breath in it. But the LORD is in his holy temple; let all the earth be silent before him."  (Hab. 2:19-20)

The above poster shows a woman in stars and stripes and symbolizing a sleeping America. After two years of neutrality, the United States entered World War 1 on April 6th, 1917. "The war to end all wars." James Montgomery Flagg created and published this poster in New York City on April 19th. "Wake Up!" for there is an ominous cloud on the horizon. 

First of all, self-discloser, I'm not having a bad day today. Actually the opposite. I'm not in a "mood." I don't need to vent. I'm not by nature a pessimist but an eternal optimist. But that does not mean that I look at my world through rose colored glasses. I see things for what they are and I see God's hand in the midst of it. If anything, I'm sad and concerned about what type of country my grandchildren will have to navigate as followers of Jesus. I reflect knowing full well that the world is celebrating all that I am expressing in opposition. 

I feel like we should be putting the poster up again. "Wake Up, America!" While you were asleep millions of babies have been murdered out of convenience. While you were sleeping God's plan for marriage and sexuality has been hijacked by the Lesbian, Bisexual, Gay, Transgender, Queer, community. They've even hijacked the symbol of promise - the rainbow - as their own symbol. While you were sleeping God has been forced out of schools and courtrooms and social discourse and replaced with the religion of secular humanism. While you were sleeping "work" became a dirty word and "welfare" and "socialism" have become the mantra of the lazy. While you were asleep "intolerance" became "tolerant," but only if you agreed with the permissive masses. While you were sleeping "science" or should I say, "pseudo-science" has become your god. While you were sleeping personal responsibility was replaced with Critical Race Theory and blame shifting. While you were sleeping America, "white" and especially "white males" and worse, "white males who are evangelical" became homophobic, racist, KKK, terrorists and should be eliminated ["guillotined" says one WOKE spokesperson]. They are clearly the problem - so the historical revisionist keep trying to convince us. While you were sleeping police officers became evil and criminals became celebrated social martyrs. While you were sleeping our national debt became unrepayable and our debt to love one another unimaginable. While you were sleeping evil became good and good became evil. While you were sleeping the wicked prospered and the righteous suffered. 

While you were sleeping, America...the Church of Jesus Christ slept as well. And now she finds herself marginalized and irrelevant to the world where she was supposed to be salt and light. She spent too much time entertaining herself and becoming a religio/social service club rather than a spokesperson for the Good News of Jesus Christ. A Savior has come for pitiful sinners. Wake up, America... To hear the words, "And God gave them over..."  

Is there any hope for America? I don't know. I fear not. I pray, "yes." Is there any hope for the Church? If it weren't for Jesus' words, "...and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it," I would fear not. I pray, "yes." But I leave you with the concluding words of Habakkuk 3:17-18: 

"Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, 

Though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, 

Though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, 

Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior." 

John Knox

 "I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession, and thanksgiving be made for everyone - for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness...I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands and pray without anger or disputing." (1st Timothy 2:1-2, 8)

The great Scottish Presbyterian Reformer, John Knox (A.D. 1514 -1572) was known for his great zeal for the Scottish people to be free from the tyrant rule of English Anglicans and Roman Catholics of his day. But he is best known for his prayer life. 

Queen Mary of Scotland (Bloody Mary) stated she feared the prayers of John Knox more than the assembled armies of England. He prayed with power. He prayed with assurance. He prayed expecting. He prayed with conviction. 

He not only prayed for those in authority but he also challenged them publicly when they strayed from the moral rule of law set forth by God. How far we have moved.  

Honest question:  What happened to our Christian influence? Does anyone fear our prayers? Do we pray with power. Do we pray with expectation? Do we pray with conviction?

I must confess that when it comes to the governing authorities, in particular, the federal government, I gripe and complain and criticize and, quite frankly throw my hands up in frustration. What I do not do is pray. 

I am not sure that it all falls into the category of "defeated" but prayer is not my "default." There is a part of me that knows that this is the plan of God - for things to get worse, for governing authorities to be more and more antagonistic toward those who follow Christ and Christian morals. Why pray against something bound for hell? But therein lies the sin. Listen to the words of the prophet Samuel. 

"As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by failing to pray for you [rebellious Israel]. And I will teach you the way that is good and right." 

But my flesh rises up and says, "But they repented and asked him to pray. They were open to instruction" True. But Jesus also said that we are to pray for our enemies. Ouch. 

Someone has said that the power of prayer is not in the ability of the sinner but in the passion for one's Savior. 

John Knox did not have a hatred for the English people as much as he had a passion for the Savior. John Knox did not have a hatred for Queen Mary as much as he had a hatred for authority that was against the teaching of Scripture. His hatred didn't make people tremble. His passion for Jesus made them tremble. 

The National Day of Prayer is tomorrow. I can already feel the shaking. Pray for the king.