Month: May 2022

But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect. 1 Peter 3:15

This past week has been a time of such shock, sadness, and grief as we once again grieve with the families who lost a child, teacher, or friend in the school massacre at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. We know of at least nineteen innocent children along with two dedicated teachers who died in the shooting. As the story unfolded on Tuesday, it was impossible to process the details of such a heinous act being committed here, yet again, in this country of ours.

One word or sentiment which was repeated time and time again during interviews with families and friends of the victims was unprepared. People alleged that the school security employees, the local authorities, and even the state was unprepared to handle an incident of this kind.

This statement reminded me of the teachers, staff, and administrators all across our land who spend a lot of time and effort doing their job of being prepared in their classrooms and schools every day. We, as teachers, have always been required to teach the students for which we are responsible the ways to safely conduct themselves during a fire drill, a tornado drill, or a lockdown. In short, we taught them then, and we teach them now how to be prepared in any and all of these situations.

Yet, how can one adequately prepare themselves or others for the actual occurrence of such an unimaginable event? In my memory, I remember vividly the Cuban Missile Crisis of October, 1962 where the world waited for 13 long days while seemingly on the brink of a nuclear war. The folks in our small towns canned vegetables, stocked up on water, and sought a room of refuge for their family if the event of war became reality. We were unprepared for things such as this.

My small town lived through the horrific murder of The Alday family on May 14, 1973 when three escaped convicts shot and killed three members of this precious family. We were all unprepared to deal with the horrors and brutality that one human could inflict upon another, innocent though they were!

The question is, how can we be prepared to deal with the many things which life seems to throw to us unexpectedly? How do we prepare ourselves for the injustice, the heartbreak, the illnesses, the unfairness, the job loss, the inflation, or the misery that many must endure as bad news seems to be the norm rather than the exception?

The Scouts of America got it right when they included as a part of their motto two words, Be Prepared. This motto is one that we should all follow in our everyday lives and our spiritual lives as well. Preparation is often the difference between success and failure. In the above scripture, Peter tells us that we should be ready and able to defend our faith and our hope in the Lord.

Athletes know the importance of preparation and they spend hours and hours training mentally and physically practicing in order to be prepared. Musicians also know the value of preparation as they spend countless hours going over scales and playing the same piece over and over again. Randy spent countless hours on preparation for his sermons every week. If you know us, you know that Saturday day and night were always sacred for preparation. Preparation is the key to success in every area of our life.

When everything around us is falling apart, Jesus is the rock to which we can cling. We should plan and prepare ourselves to set Christ as the rock even when things don’t work out as we had planned. Only through Him are we adequately prepared as our faith is nurtured through the Bible and as we celebrate the sacraments He has given us to remember Him.

In this unpredictable world, we need a power and a resource that is greater than ourselves. We need to be able to trust in Christ to supply us with His power and endless amount of resources to face all that comes our way in life. His unconditional love, His goodness, His strength, His mercy, along with HIs grace, and His constant care and blessing will prepare us for anything that we must face.

Be Prepared. God Bless this country and the people of Uvalde.

For the greatest love of all is the love that sacrifices all. John 15:13

One of the movies that brings to light the tremendous dedication, courage, and sacrifice of soldiers everywhere is the 2002 film We Were Soldiers which was based on the true story of the 1965 Battle of la Drang in Vietnam. A U.S. battalion led by Lt. Colonel Hal Moore is drawn into a trap that leads to an extended bloody battle and heavy loss of lives.

Colonel Moore’s speech to his troops before the battle has always touched me and represented the true heart of America’s finest. He said in part, “We’re moving into the valley of the shadow of death – where you will watch the back of the person next to you and they will watch yours. They say we are leavin’ home. We are goin’ to what home was always supposed to be. We are going into battle against a tough and determined enemy. I can’t promise you that I will bring you home alive. But this I swear before you and Almighty God: when we go into battle, I will be the first to set foot on the field, and I will be the last to step off. I will leave no one behind.”

At the end of President Ronald Reagan’s memorial service in 2004, the U.S. Armed Forces Chorus combined with the U.S. Marine Chamber Orchestra to perform a beautiful rendition of the song Mansions of the Lord written by Randall Wallace. It is a beautiful tribute to men and women who served and are serving in our armed forces.

The words are: To fallen soldiers let us sing. Where no rockets fly nor bullets wing. Our broken brothers let us bring, to the mansions of the Lord. No more bleeding no more fight; No more prayers pleading through the night. Just divine embrace, eternal light. In the mansions of the Lord.

Memorial Day is so much more than the beginning of summer, picnics, and a day away from work. It is a day to honor, remember, and cherish our freedom and those who gave everything to defend it.

Originally known as Decorations Day, Memorial Day originated in the years following the Civil War. It didn’t become an official holiday until 1971. After the Civil War, the loss of life was so great that it became necessary to establish the country’s first national cemeteries. On this day across our land, many families will forego the picnics and the celebrations in order to visit the graves of those they knew and loved who sacrificed everything for our freedom and liberty.

Liberty is defined as the state of being free within a society from oppressive restrictions imposed by authority on one’s way of life, behavior, or political view. In 1775 in Williamsburg, Virginia, in an effort to encourage the Second Virginia Convention in the upcoming battles for freedom Patrick Henry said, “Give me liberty or give me death”. This Memorial Day we honor those who lived by that motto which includes veterans of all wars.

This year is especially meaningful to us because this year we lost one of our special veteran friends who gave so much to his country, his community, his church, his friends, and his God. Mike Boyce’s loss made us all more aware of the sacrifices made by so many who have come before us, and their contribution to the liberty and freedom that we enjoy.

Remembrance is a value which is elevated throughout the scriptures, and one that is necessary for our faith. Without it, the foundation of our relationship with God begins to erode. History is important in every family, community, country, and church. Throughout the Bible, we find references to monuments, memorial feasts, and ritually repeated stories which serve to reinforce the remembrance of God’s people. These narratives are there so that we, as Christians, will not forget what God has done for us throughout time. Forgetting to remember the sacrifices, the trials, the value of our heritage, and the source of our blessings, makes it likely that we will begin to take for granted all that we are and all that we have.

When the prophets called upon God’s people and told them to remember the works that the Lord had done in the past, it was to prepare them for the future. They were asked to remember the wonders of the past so that their lives would be open to even greater wonders that God would do for them in the future.

Just as the laying of the wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is a memorial to those who gave their lives for this country, The Lord’s Supper is a great example of how we should remember God and our faith. It reminds us of the sacrificial love of our God. It is a love that will not let us go but rather reaches out to us. It is a memorial that reinforces our hopeful memory.

With Memorial Day upon us, it’s a time to think of the past and those who have sacrificed. We as Christians believe that there are great things yet to come for those of faith who have already died. We live in the light of the resurrection and know that those deaths will not be the end. Those brave men and women lost to us have entered into the Mansions of the Lord.

For there is one God, and there is only one mediator (bridge builder) between God and man. The man is Christ Jesus. 1 Timothy 2:5

Three short weeks ago, I settled in and watched the Country Music Awards. The highlight of the show for me was the performance by Naomi and Wynonna Judd of Love Can Build a Bridge. The words are so beautiful, and with the help of an outstanding choir, their first performance in twenty years was touching and so memorable.

One week later, it was announced that Naomi had died after a long battle with mental illness. The news was sobering and so sad, but in retrospect the words of the song, coupled with the look of deep sadness in her eyes that night, were very telling.

We live in a world where daily news is depressing enough without having a tendency toward the disease of depression and/or mental illness. Imagine how it must feel to listen to and see the horrors in the Ukraine, the political hatred, the stories of innocent people being killed, and even churches falling apart when a person is already in the depths of despair. It’s all too much some days.

It seems that Naomi Judd was a woman of great faith. She raised two daughters by herself for years after her divorce, went to nursing school, and eventually launched a successful singing and song writing career with her daughter. The words of the song they sang that night seem to be a plea for this world to build bridges together between “your world and mine” rather than ignore the need to come together.

There are many different kinds of bridges in this world. Some are wooden, some are stone, and some are made of steel. Some are large, some are small, but they all have basically the same function. They span a chasm and make it possible for people to get from one side to the other. They connect.

It is said that there are two types of people in this world: those who build bridges and those who burn them. Jesus was clearly a bridge builder. He built bridges to fishermen, lepers, prostitutes, tax collectors, adulterers’, not to mention the sick, hurting and hopeless.

Bridges can also be made of feelings and emotions shared when others are hurting. Building bridges to help others takes sacrifice on our part, it takes compassion, and it takes action. In order to build bridges, we have to reach out, and we have to be the one to do the reaching!! When is the last time we have reached out to build a bridge between others?

There is a poem by Will Allen Dromgoole entitled “The Bridge Builder”. It tells the story of an old man who came upon a chasm while walking one cold, gray evening. In order to cross the chasm, he had to wade through a “sullen tide”. Once the man had safely reached the other side, he turned around and built a bridge back the way he came. A fellow traveler asked the old man: “Why, when his journey was nearly over, would he build a bridge that he would never use?” The man explained that on his journey he had seen “a fair haired youth” who would be traveling the same way after him. The chasm which had been no problem for the old man might be a pitfall for the youth. The old man concluded, “He, too, must cross in the twilight dim: Good friend, I am building this bridge for him.”

In this world of today, we all need to be bridge builders. It’s our job to build a bridge to the lost, the disconnected, and the hurting. Just as a bridge is constructed because there is a need to get from Point A to Point B, we should be building bridges to connect those among us who need an encouraging hand.

Thank God Jesus cared enough to build bridges to us. It’s time to put down the matches, the lighter fluid, and stop burning bridges, rather start building bridges to each other. The clock is ticking on our chance to build bridges during our time here, so let the building begin!

Best wishes to all our graduates. Go and build a bridge.

I’d gladly walk across the desert, With no shoes upon my feet, To share with you the last bite, Of food I had to eat. I would swim out to save you, In your sea of broken dreams, When all your hopes are sinkin’, Let me show you what love means. Love can build a bridge; between your heart and mine. Love can build a bridge, Don’t you think it’s time? Don’t you think it’s time? When we stand together, it’s our finest hour. We can do anything, anything, Keep believin’ in the power. “Love Can Build a Bridge” by The Judds

You should be known for the beauty that comes from within. the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit which is so precious to God. 1 Peter 3:4

Mother’s Day has left us with a deep appreciation for those who have given us life and sustained us during our growing up years, our adult years, and our lives to this point. During the celebration, memories of those we hold dear flooded my heart and mind, and I began to ponder the importance of the legacy that we all leave behind.

During the past few weeks, some of us have had the sad privilege of sitting at the funeral of those friends whom we held dear. It was a time to reflect and celebrate their life’s accomplishments by those who knew the person best. I remember thinking at every one, “I wish I had had the opportunity to know them better.”

The word eulogy is defined as a speech or piece of writing that praises someone highly. An obituary is a notice of death containing an autobiography, but a legacy is something we leave behind for the next generation. This legacy can be possessions, principles, or people we have influenced whose lives are better because of knowing us. If an obituary tells that a person lived, a eulogy tells how well they lived.

Recently, my sister found a few pages that our Mama had written reflecting on her first fifty years. She said, “I need another fifty to do all the things I’ve started and would like to finish. Now, I find myself on the fringe of an exciting new age that I, in all likelihood, will only be afforded a fleeting glimpse. At the same time, I can look back over the past fifty years and marvel at all the many discoveries and changes and relish the thought of having been part of the wonder and progress of this age.”

Our Mama lived her eulogy. She loved life and was fascinated by the changes in the world during her life time. She lived for intrinsic markers of success, such as meaningful relationships and fulfilling work that would impact others. If you ask people who knew her, what they would miss about her, there would be dozens of different answers that included everything from her smile, to her voice, from her get well cards, to her macaroni and cheese, the list was endless. She made an impact and humbly walked and lived her faith.

Most of the time a eulogy is written by a loved one after one’s death. I read somewhere that the practice of writing our own eulogy wherever we are right now in life is a powerful exercise. I’ve found it to be true. If we write down what we want people to say about us at the end of our life now, it can change our current life and help us to align ourselves with what is really important. Bonnie Ware said, “writing your eulogy can help you live a courageous life true to yourself and not what others expect of you.”

Today is all we have to make changes for the good. None of us know if we will be around to see tomorrow, for we don’t know what a day may bring. (Proverbs 27:1)

No matter who we are, we will live a legacy. Proverbs says, “A good person leaves an inheritance for their children’s children, but a sinner’s wealth is stored up for the righteous.” When someone loves us enough to leave us a legacy, we treasure it and treat it in a way that honors them.

I love Grenville Kleiser”s thoughts on life. He says, “Your life is like a book. The title page is your name. The preface is your introduction to the world. The pages are a daily chronicle of your efforts, trials, pleasures, discouragements, ambitions and achievements. One day the word, Finis must be written. Let it then be said of your life that it is a record of noble purpose, generous service, and work well done.”

When we ponder the question, “What would our grave marker say about us?” There are two things I would like to try to do. The first is to be intentional every day. That way, the odds of making an impact on the next generation are increased. Secondly, I would remember that the sum of how we live each day becomes our legacy. Each day should consist of inspiration and ideals.

Henry David Thoreau voiced his concern that when it came time to die, he would discover that he never fully lived. If we live our eulogy that will never happen to us!

Honor one another above yourselves. Romans 12:10

We are coming up on another running of the Kentucky Derby in beautiful Louisville, Kentucky. The race has been referred to as the most exciting two minutes in sports even though it literally only takes two minutes from beginning to end! Twenty thoroughbred horses line up in the starting gate, the words, and they’re off are spoken, and the race is on!

Even though the race is over in the blink of an eye, the preparation of horses, trainers, jockeys, and owners is a process which is carefully and meticulously orchestrated. On the first Saturday in May, all this preparation leads up to Crunch Time for all involved.

Crunch time is defined as a critical moment or period (usually at the end of a game) when decisive action is needed. These two minutes are crunch time. In this world of today every day is bringing all of us closer to crunch time where we have to take decisive action or suffer the consequences.

I’ve heard it said that there’s no reason to watch a full game of basketball because the game really boils down to the last two minutes where players and coaches enter crunch time especially when a game is close. The players are more physical and the coaches view every possession as critical.

Duke and their long time coach lost their bid for the NCAA championship to UNC in crunch time a few weeks ago. Not only was it his last game of the season, but it was also the last game of Coach K’s career. After the game when reporters could only dwell on how he felt about losing the last game of his career, Coach K said, “This is about these guys and how they feel. I will think about me later.”

His statement brought the scripture Honor one another above yourselves to mind as I contemplated the unselfish attitude portrayed by Coach K’s words. He put his players ahead of any sadness or disappointment that he was feeling. Jesus always preached doing for others and put them above His own needs.

At some point in the crunch time of life, we realize that it’s not just what we do in life, but rather what we do for others. The most miserable people on earth are those who hate, hinder, and hurt others, while the happiest are the ones who spend their lives helping others. Putting others above ourselves is what Jesus would want in each of us. It’s simple really, the degree to which we’re helpful to others is the degree to which we are happy!

The poet John Albert Holmes said, “It’s well to remember that the entire population of the universe, with one trifling exception, is made up of others.” All things in this life are based on relationships with one another, and if we don’t acknowledge that truth, we will miss out on the life that God has promised us.

The story is told of a successful man who was driving his car through a poor neighborhood when a young boy tried to flag him down. Not wanting to get involved, the man passed by the boy. The gentleman was stopped at a red light when a brick came crashing through his car window. The man jumped out to find the same boy he had passed by earlier had thrown the brick. The man was enraged and yelled at him, “You will go to jail for this!!” At that, the young boy cried, “I’m sorry, mister, but my Mom is on the floor of our apartment, and I think she’s dying. Our phone has been cut off, and I’ve been out here for ten minutes looking for help! I need a doctor.” The man now full of shame said, “I’m a doctor. Take me to her.” The woman lived, but it’s a sad world when we have to throw a brick to get someone’s attention when we need help.

How many times do we pass someone in need because it is inconvenient? Maybe we are guilty of not listening to the needs of others? Maybe we minimize the accomplishments of others to make ourselves look better? No matter what the situation, when we live for others relationships are made, people are encouraged, and needs are met as we humble ourselves. We need to resolve to be in crunch time every day so we don’t miss our opportunities.

Coach K ended his interview by explaining that in these basketball games, one team is either crying for joy or crying for sorrow. Whether it’s joy or sorrow, it’s a good thing because then you know they’ve given their all.

Michael W. Smith says it best in his song, I Will Carry You. We were never meant to walk this road alone; We are bound together when we say; I will carry you, Be your strength and pull you through. Reach for me and take my hand. We will pray and we will stand.