Flag Day

Yesterday I finished reading Faith of My Fathers, by Senator John McCain. (The book was on the “last chance” table at my favorite bookstore, and being a voracious reader of biography, I couldn’t resist.)Filled with multiple stories of heroism, nearly all accounts of prisoners incarcerated in Viet Nam camps, I was sobered as I remembered antiwar demonstrations, heated public debate, and unpopularity of the war. The personal suffering described is painful to read decades later. In contrast, some of my peers fled the country to avoid being drafted into their nation’s service to fight an unpopular war, and I was exempted by an educational deferment.

One of the stories recounted in the book will be etched in my memory for years. A prisoner of war salvaged scraps of colored cloth over a period of months and stitched them into a crude American flag using a makeshift needle made from bamboo. The sight of the flag emboldened soldiers, airmen, navy men and Marines wracked with pain from war related injuries, repeated beatings at the hands of cruel, weakened by dysentery and hunger. When the flag was shown to prisoners struggling to maintain sanity and sufficient moral strength to resist making treasonous statements to the enemy press, the captives broke into a rousing rendition of The Star Spangled Banner. When discovered, the flag was confiscated and its creator was severely beaten, humiliated, and returned to his cell. Unconscious and in agony, fellow prisoners nursed the soldier back to consciousness. Though unable to walk, the patriot crawled to a corner – and began sewing another flag.

Symbols rally, energize, renew resolve. In February-March 1945, the battle for Iwo Jima was fierce. Only 8 square miles, the island was strategic because of the airstrips. The strength of deeply entrenched Japanese forces were stubborn and strong. A handful of Marines fought their way to the most prominent peak, Mount Suribachi, on the southern end of the volcanic island and planted the US flag. On March 26, 1945, the disheartened and weary Marines saw their nation’s flag, rallied and took the island’s airstrips, a huge turning point in World War II.

Early this morning I placed a flag outdoors in observance of “Flag Day,” June 14. Today has a special place in my heart because today is also the anniversary of Pastor Charles Green’s birth. Pastor Green was my first ministry mentor and dear friend. He taught me what could not be learned in classrooms. From him I learned to love and laugh simultaneously. This has proven to be as valuable as Greek and theology lessons. Known as “Bud” by his family and close friends, pastor shared insights into human nature and demonstrated coping skills that have served me well for the past 45 years. When he passed away in 2009, I participated at his funeral and was deeply moved by a full military ceremony at the cemetery. Charles Green had earned a Purple Heart for wounds suffered in the hills of Italy during World War II, returned home married Helen Crites, graduated from Central Bible College, pastored churches in Michigan, Florida and New Jersey. Helen Crites Green was handed the flag which had draped his coffin. I’ll never forget the moment. I’ll always remember the man.

Authentic Humility

Psychologist Abraham Maslow wrote, “If the only tool you have is a hammer, every problem tends to look like a nail.” Life’s problems are too complex for short, simple answers formulated in shallow thinking. I shake my head when I hear sincere but simplistic answers that come from formula-generated data bases laced with Bible verses. With staccato quickness of a machine gun well-meaning Christians give answers to questions wise men have pondered for lifetimes. Difficult questions like, “Why do good people suffer and bad men have lives of ease?” don’t have one line answers.

Answers offered –

1. Are often shallow and without empathy for the one asking. My brother conducted a funeral for a 21 year-old man this week. His wife and newborn son sat before my brother asking questions too deep for glib answers.
2. Are arrogant, starving for authentic humility. Rabbis teach their young charges, “Pray to God that he teaches your tongue to say, ‘I don’t know!’”
3. Often alienate would-be believers. I find it intimidating to approach someone who has an answer for everything, don’t you? Jesus’ disciples had to learn to be approachable. They shooed away children, Jesus embraced them. And, Jesus taught, “Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For he who is least among you all—he is the greatest.” (Luke 9:48)
We who follow Jesus need to discover and experience Jesus’ humility. Consider, Jesus did not answer every imponderable question. His replied to Peter’s question about John’s destiny, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.” (John 21:23) and, didn’t Jesus teach that the Spirit would be sent to continue the process by which disciples prepared for service? I am indebted to a college professor, William MacDonald, who answered the frequent, imponderable complexities posed by students with, Abraham’s words, “Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?” ( Genesis 18:25)

Is it possible that since we can speedily access so much information that we wrongly conclude that we can, and must, provide an answer for everything? Should we consider that our un-churched friends do not need answers as much as a friend as approachable as Jesus and present when daunting challenges are the most intense? Instead of hammering away with inadequate answers, let us patiently offer, “I don’t know,” or, “Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?”

Acts Twelve: A great story, great lessons

The Acts of the Apostles, chapter 12, is great reading! The miracle of Peter’s deliverance from prison “will preach” in pastors’ parlance. We all delight when the good guys win and the bad guy gets “his.” But, not so fast here, there is more to the story (a tip of my hat to Paul Harvey).

Consider a few of the details concerning the ranking politician.

• Herod had already had James killed.
• Pleasing people was one of Herod’s weaknesses, and the religious establishment didn’t like Peter. Hence, Peter was in prison to the delight of the religious, and Herod’s designs were not encouraging.
• People do things out of frustration. When Peter got away, Herod turned on his own staff, ordering them killed. Remember that! Angry people are not very discriminating!
• Herod was an egotist. After making a speech, the people in attendance shouted, “This is the voice of a god,” Herod tacitly said, “You got that right!” Egotists that get angry are a force to be reckoned with.

Meanwhile, the church was authentically being the church!
• “The church was earnestly praying to God for him (Peter).” Yes, there is another evidence of the truth, “When I work, I work. When I pray, God works.” Angels were dispatched because the church was being the church.
• The congregation was multi-cultural, multi-generational. The youth were in the prayer meeting. Rhoda, a servant girl, got so excited that she failed the decorum test and left Peter standing at the door!
• In the middle of a prayer meeting interrupted by a youthful servant, the church showed its humanity, accusing Rhoda with, “You’re out of your mind.”

Here are a few take away lessons.
• When under pressure, pray. Call for special prayer for those under threat and experiencing pressure.
• Don’t expect too much of church people, even when they are praying. After all, Christian people are people, and act just like us.
• Expect to be astonished! Surprise and wonder link us in faith with every generation of the faithful.
• Tell your story of deliverance. Peter did, and yours is a unique and worthy of telling as Peter’s. Faith moves forward on the wings of a story.
• Be inclusive! There are “Rhodas” who are qualified to open doors, even if they do it imperfectly. Opened doors reveal miracle results to prayers.
• God deals with angry egotists. Those who abuse power will stand before Him! In Herod’s case, God had a bigger than usual batch of worms readied. We need not bring the abusive and vicious to trial or discredited with our slander. Pray for those in authority. Celebrate deliverances.
• Violence against the faith will continue. James died at the edge of the sword. Later, Peter also died a violent death for the faith. In other words, sometimes things don’t work out the way we plan. But, God is still God.

I woke up this morning with my mind stayed on Jesus!

It seems as if every day I relate to fewer people professionally. A cursory review of my calendar supports that. Only a few engagements are marked in “Outlook,” for my vocation. Younger men are carrying on – quite well and very creatively. Pat and I are experiencing a new season in life.

Now that every day doesn’t have a “To Do List” with dozens of tasks related to vocational responsibilities, prayer is different. I still pray, but the clutter of projects awaiting design, decision, and dispatch is less dense and more manageable. Musing, pondering, reflecting, listening is luxurious as we have fewer deadlines.

This morning, early, I awoke with the lyrics of an old spiritual wafting through my spirit. I cannot remember singing the tune more than a few times, once at a wedding ceremony, but I could hear it just the same – deep from within the wellspring of my soul.
I woke up this morning with my mind (Hallelujah) stayed on Jesus
Woke up this morning with my mind stayed on Jesus
Woke up this morning with my mind (Hallelujah) stayed on Jesus
Hallelu (Halle) hallelu (halle) Hallelujah.

Singing and praying with my mind (Hallelujah) stayed on Jesus
Singing and praying with my mind stayed on Jesus
Singing and praying with my mind (Hallelujah) stayed on Jesus
Hallelu (Halle) hallelu (halle) Hallelujah.

Music: Woke up this morning Traditional African-American
Words: Anonymous
From the first moments of early morning reverie, I moved to reading Scripture and pondering. A fresh reading of Acts 10 was startling. One of the most powerful moments in Peter’s lifetime occurred while he was in an unexpected trance. Vision happens when we are not working through strategies and enlisting team members. Vision starts in heaven and –

• Interrupts the status quo. A mentor in my youth frequently repeated, “Men spend a good share of their lives seeking status, and the rest protecting quo.” Said another way, “We live without divine interruptions.” The work of the Spirit interrupts all our plans! That is the nature of the world-Spirit conflict.
• Interferes with personal preferences. If you are looking for head-shaking material for your thought life today, re-read Acts 10 and consider Peter’s debate with the Spirit about the propriety of Peter’s pending visit to a group of Italians! It is a real stretch to believe Peter, or any of the few thousand Pentecostals, would have gone to the wrong side of the religious tracks to welcome Cornelius’ household into church membership.
• Initiates new possibilities. Friends, most of us (Gentiles) would still be lost without the singular event recorded in Acts 10. I am a third generation Pentecostal, my grandchildren will be the fifth. But, 100's of generations connect us spiritually to a prayer meeting in a living room of an Italian soldier.
• Involves new obedience. You and I may learn an important lesson. Visions are easy! Moving obediently from our comfort into the Spirit’s stream of release, newness and inclusion is challenging. Peter’s argument with the Spirit wasn’t his last. He had to argue with the brothers defending his obedience. But, aren’t you glad he did?
Remember? “I woke up this morning with my mind (Hallelujah) stayed on Jesus.” When that is our discipline and experience, we should expect the Spirit to gently and persuasively burst in and rearrange our lives. Pat and I are listening for the Spirit’s visitation. His visits always affect change. Let us share how He, the Spirit, rearranges our expectations, priorities and preferences!

Joy! Laughter! Humor!

When poking fun, Mark Twain is a world class “spoof master.” In his short story, “Is he living or is he dead?” Twain describes his characters, “We were as happy as we were poor, or as poor as we were happy – phrase it to suit yourself. Claude Frere and Carl Boulanger – these are the names of those boys; dear, dear fellows, and the sunniest spirits that ever laughed at poverty and had a noble good time in all weathers.” My life has been enriched by a few people like Twain’s Claude and Carl. One person described a mentor as, “Going about like an arsonist, lighting fires of humor, causing people to laugh!” Rich, a member of a pastoral ministry team sees the brightness in everything. Our son consistently processes life from the sunny side of the street.

Bob, a friend of more than 45 years, is a world class punster. Every time I am with him I have smile material to share with others. Bob and his wife write an occasional letter, “An Encouraging Word,” loaded with home spun anecdotes and raw material for laughter. Victor, another friend of more than 45 years gushes with joy. Going through a check-out at a home improvement store with Victor is more fun than watching comedians on television. You would love to spend an evening with my friends.

Many Christians quote Proverbs 17:22, “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones,” without smiling! The same wise author was inspired, or breathed on by the Holy Spirit, to encourage all who would read his counsel, “All the days of the oppressed are wretched, but the cheerful heart has a continual feast. Better a little with the fear of the LORD than great wealth with turmoil. Better a meal of vegetables where there is love than a fattened calf with hatred.” – Proverbs 15:15-17

A recent AARP item suggests that we can be happier if we sing. Well, my friends, Christians have the best scores ever written! Some church music went platinum over 3000 years ago. Miriam’s Song is older than that! One of the newer songs has been in the church’s repertoire only 187 years, and the lyrics and truth are joyously and enthusiastically celebrated around the world every Lord’s Day.



Joyful, joyful, we adore Thee,
God of glory, Lord of love;
Hearts unfold like flow’rs before Thee,
Op’ning to the sun above.
Melt the clouds of sin and sadness;
Drive the dark of doubt away;
Giver of immortal gladness,
Fill us with the light of day!

All Thy works with joy surround Thee,
Earth and heav’n reflect Thy rays,
Stars and angels sing around Thee,
Center of unbroken praise.
Field and forest, vale and mountain,
Flow’ry meadow, flashing sea,
Singing bird and flowing fountain
Call us to rejoice in Thee.

Thou art giving and forgiving,
Ever blessing, ever blest,
Wellspring of the joy of living,
Ocean depth of happy rest!
Thou our Father, Christ our Brother,
All who live in love are Thine;
Teach us how to love each other,
Lift us to the joy divine.

Mortals, join the happy chorus,
Which the morning stars began;
Father love is reigning o’er us,
Brother love binds man to man.
Ever singing, march we onward,
Victors in the midst of strife,
Joyful music leads us Sunward
In the triumph song of life.

People of the Spirit know “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self–control,” and ought to be spreading joy without being obnoxious or insensitive. Will folk remember us as dour dragons of despair continuously pointing to the dark and dismal side of every issue, or as arsonists of joy who went about lighting fires of joyful hope? Go ahead, laugh! Laughter is contagious!

By the way, you can read “Is he living or is he dead?” in The Man That Corrupted Hadleysburg and Other Essays and Stories. It’s in your public library and a real happy read.

Prayer requests

Are we spending our time wisely?

Sinclair Lewis, America’s first Nobel Prize winner for literature, made an observation about culture in his novel, Main Street. “The greatest mystery about a human being is not his reaction to sex or praise, but in the manner in which he contrives to put in twenty-four a hours day. It is this which puzzles the longshoreman about the clerk, the Londoner about the bushman.”

Lewis echoes a theme from Scripture. The psalmist wrote, “Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” (Psalm 90:12) Jesus taught about he final judgement, based on how “the manner in which we contrive to put in twenty-four hours a day.” (Matthew 25) And, Saint Paul adds a sober reminder, “So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.” (2 Corinthians 5:9,10)

A poem sometimes used in funeral services captures my thoughts more cleverly.

I read of a man who stood to speak at the funeral of a friend.
He referred to the dates on her tombstone from the beginning... to the end.
He noted that first came her date of birth and spoke the following date with tears, but he said what mattered most of all was the “dash” between those years. (1934 -1998)
For that dash represents all the time that she spent alive on earth...and now only those who loved her know what that little line is worth.
For it matters not, how much we own; the cars...the house...the cash, what matters is how we live and love and how we spend our “dash”.
So think about this long and hard...are there things you'd like to change?
For you never know how much time is left, that can still be rearranged.
If we could just slow down enough to consider what's true and real, and always try to understand the way other people feel.
And be less quick to anger, and show appreciation more and love the people in our lives like we've never loved before.
If we treat each other with respect, and more often wear a smile...remembering that this special “dash” might only last a little while.
So, when your eulogy's being read with your life's actions to rehash...would you be proud of the things they say about how you spent your “dash”?
Copyright by Linda Ellis

By the way, Main Street is a fascinating study and great read.

Will we learn from history?

History ought to be teaching us lessons. Too often events, attitudes and actions of the past are discarded in favor of current wisdom. For instance, my mother discarded my baseball card collection because it was taking up space in the attic. In that collection was an Al Kaline rookie card, an early Mickey Mantle and several other Hall of Fame players. Mom innocently discarded value she could not see.

As our culture careens in careless amorality we may learn a great lesson by remembering the past. In 1956, Elvis Presley made a historic appearance on the "Ed Sullivan Show," reaching an audience of 56 million. Incredibly, lest Presley's trademark hip gyrations scandalize the era's conservative viewers, the show's producers issued an unusual order: that the cameras not shoot anything below Mr. Presley's waist. We’ve come a long way, haven’t we?

In the last 25 years many churches disbanded Sunday School and replaced it with nothing. And, Biblical literacy is plummeting. Congregations once agreed to cultural expressions of personal behavior for church membership. Many of the commonly held norms have been jettisoned because they were old fashioned and legalistic. Now we have no stated boundaries of acceptable behavior and the church looks and behaves more like the world than ever. Even pulpit language has been diluted.

Should we go back? I doubt that we can in the short run. But, if we patiently look with a longer view of history, we may learn to deliberately proceed to a rich faith and an admirable life style which reflects our understanding of God’s Word and values our heritage. Peter, when describing early Christian events in the book of Acts used “the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob” as an historical mooring post, a connection with the past. God back? We cannot! But, we can go ahead with an appreciation for the past and complete what has been put in motion by our fathers.