Dear Friends,
On December 17, 1944, 21 year-old Lt. Hiroo Onoda left for the Philippines to join his fellow Japanese soldiers in fighting the Allies. Onoda was given orders to lead his platoon in guerilla fighting, and he was ordered not under any circumstances to surrender or to take his own life. To the last man, he was to command and keep fighting the enemy. Lt. Onoda took those orders more literally than any commander could have given them.
When the Japanese surrendered on August 15, 1945, Lt. Onoda's work was over, but he refused to believe it and continued guerilla warfare, even when all but a few of his men were killed. In the ensuing years when leaflets were dropped several times saying the war was over, Onoda believed it a hoax and never came out of hiding.
Finally, in 1974, 51 year-old Lt. Onodo, lone survivor of his platoon, came out of the jungle and surrendered to his former commanding officer. He was pardoned by Philippine Pres. Marcos for killing 30 people and wounding nearly 100 others during his extended warfare. It took Lt. Hiroo Onoda 30 years to believe that World War Two was actually over.
When Jesus said, "It is finished!" His work as Savior was over. Some of His disciples didn't believe it, but in the coming weeks He showed Himself alive to hundreds, including His own disciples, and all were witnesses to His resurrection. They didn't all believe right away, so it took the Holy Spirit's coming in Pentecost to breathe life into that faltering group of followers. Without His resurrection, we would have no hope for heaven and there would be no Church. "If Christ is not raised, then your faith is futile and you are still in your sins," said Apostle Paul (1 Corinthians 15:17)
Easter is not just a time to be glad a long winter is over, nor is it the mere christianizing of a pagan spring festival. It is recalling that Jesus rose from the dead and knowing He truly is the Son of God whose death sets us free from the condemnation for our sins. Easter is the Christian's reason to be glad in the midst of life's struggles, and to know God loves and accepts us as His children. God loves us just the way we are, and He helps us change for the better. He helps us open our eyes to the reality of our sin and our need for His mercy, and then helps us live a new life - for Him!
Christ is risen! He is risen indeed - Hallelujah!
Monday, April 6, 2015
Monday, March 30, 2015
LEARNING TO DRIVE
I learned to drive out in an alfalfa field. My Dad took me out there one day in his old Chevy pickup and showed me how the gear shift worked and how to use the clutch and gas pedal. I didn’t do very well at first, stalling and jerking a lot, but after an hour or so I could operate it fairly well. Until I received my driver’s license, I only drove on gravel roads around home. My brother taught me how to drive on ice one winter day on a frozen lake. Learning to turn into a slide has helped me often on slippery roads.
I took one lesson with our school Driver’s Training teacher and then failed my driving test with a score of 46. The officer told me to take more lessons, so I did. My Dad drove with me around the country roads and in town until I was better. Two weeks later I passed with a score of 80.
Fortunately, that’s not how my sons learned to drive. I did take each of them to a large empty parking lot and showed them some basics, but they learned to drive from a qualified instructor. Every driver discovers the written test is easier to pass than the driving test. A twelve year-old could probably read the book and pass the written test, but getting behind the wheel and driving is harder.
This is also true in our Christian faith. We can learn the basics of the Commandments, Prayer, Holy Communion or the Creed. But putting our learning into practice requires a lot more. Knowing the information is basic, but living and making daily decisions from the Word puts our faith to the real test. Living the Christian life requires more than mere knowledge, it requires faith. A qualified instructor can help, too.
In Matthew 11:29, Jesus said, “Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me.” When we place our trust in Him and try our best to follow His will, we will learn a better way of life. Fortunately for us all, the Holy Spirit will help us put Christ’s Word into action.
Do you remember your first time behind the wheel?
I took one lesson with our school Driver’s Training teacher and then failed my driving test with a score of 46. The officer told me to take more lessons, so I did. My Dad drove with me around the country roads and in town until I was better. Two weeks later I passed with a score of 80.
Fortunately, that’s not how my sons learned to drive. I did take each of them to a large empty parking lot and showed them some basics, but they learned to drive from a qualified instructor. Every driver discovers the written test is easier to pass than the driving test. A twelve year-old could probably read the book and pass the written test, but getting behind the wheel and driving is harder.
This is also true in our Christian faith. We can learn the basics of the Commandments, Prayer, Holy Communion or the Creed. But putting our learning into practice requires a lot more. Knowing the information is basic, but living and making daily decisions from the Word puts our faith to the real test. Living the Christian life requires more than mere knowledge, it requires faith. A qualified instructor can help, too.
In Matthew 11:29, Jesus said, “Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me.” When we place our trust in Him and try our best to follow His will, we will learn a better way of life. Fortunately for us all, the Holy Spirit will help us put Christ’s Word into action.
Do you remember your first time behind the wheel?
Monday, March 23, 2015
SHELDON JACKSON
In Fairplay, Colorado, there is a church named after a remarkable
man, Rev. Sheldon Jackson (1834 – 1909). As a Presbyterian missionary,
Jackson travelled a half million miles and established over a
hundred missions and churches mostly in the Western United States.
Jackson wanted to become an overseas missionary, but his church board told the five foot tall man that his weak eyesight and ill health made him be better suited for ministry in the USA. Thus, he began work in the central and western states until after the Civil War. Jackson's first assignment was at the Choctaw mission in Oklahoma Territory. From there he was a missionary to natives in Minnesota and Wisconsin, where he organized or assisted in establishing 23 churches.
With the completion of the transcontinental railroad in 1869, Jackson went on an ambitious missionary tour that often resulted in establishing a church in a day. He soon became the Missions Superintendent for Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, Utah, Arizona and New Mexico, publishing a denominational newspaper and supervising the building of churches in 22 Colorado towns.
The continental US was not his only mission ground. In 1877, Jackson began working in Alaska among the native peoples by founding schools and training centers. He even made two trips into Russian Siberia to help bring reindeer to some of its native people. Though he discouraged the use of indigenous cultures and religions, he still collected artifacts so their cultures would not be lost. He became the First General Agent of Education in Alaska and died in 1909 at age 75 while attending a conference. Many churches in Alaska, Colorado and other states are named after him still today.
Rev. Sheldon Jackson’s incredible ministry was to do one thing: to teach people about Jesus. Apostle Paul wrote of the same purpose in 1 Corinthians 2:2, “For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.” I’m sure Jackson and Paul have much to discuss in eternity.
Isn’t it amazing what some people can accomplish in their lifetime?
Jackson wanted to become an overseas missionary, but his church board told the five foot tall man that his weak eyesight and ill health made him be better suited for ministry in the USA. Thus, he began work in the central and western states until after the Civil War. Jackson's first assignment was at the Choctaw mission in Oklahoma Territory. From there he was a missionary to natives in Minnesota and Wisconsin, where he organized or assisted in establishing 23 churches.
With the completion of the transcontinental railroad in 1869, Jackson went on an ambitious missionary tour that often resulted in establishing a church in a day. He soon became the Missions Superintendent for Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, Utah, Arizona and New Mexico, publishing a denominational newspaper and supervising the building of churches in 22 Colorado towns.
The continental US was not his only mission ground. In 1877, Jackson began working in Alaska among the native peoples by founding schools and training centers. He even made two trips into Russian Siberia to help bring reindeer to some of its native people. Though he discouraged the use of indigenous cultures and religions, he still collected artifacts so their cultures would not be lost. He became the First General Agent of Education in Alaska and died in 1909 at age 75 while attending a conference. Many churches in Alaska, Colorado and other states are named after him still today.
Rev. Sheldon Jackson’s incredible ministry was to do one thing: to teach people about Jesus. Apostle Paul wrote of the same purpose in 1 Corinthians 2:2, “For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.” I’m sure Jackson and Paul have much to discuss in eternity.
Isn’t it amazing what some people can accomplish in their lifetime?
Monday, March 16, 2015
OVER THE CLIFF TOGETHER
The first sheep simply jumped to its death that morning.
Then shocked Turkish shepherds watched as nearly 1,500 other sheep followed,
each leaping off the cliff. It all began after the men had left the herd to
graze nearby while they had breakfast. In the end, 450 dead animals lay on top
of one another in a billowy white pile at the bottom of the cliff, the Turkish
newspaper, Aksam, reported. Another
thousand from the flock also jumped but were saved as the pile of the dead
cushioned their fall.
“There’s nothing we can do. They’re all wasted,” said
a member of one of 26 families whose sheep were in that herd. The estimated
total loss to the families in the town of Gevas in eastern Turkey, was 100,000
Turkish Lira ($75,000), a huge amount where the average annual income is $2,700
per person. “Every family had an
average of 20 sheep,” another villager said. “But now only a few families have sheep
left. It’s going to be hard for us.”
What caused this tragedy? Why did the sheep go over the cliff?
The answer is simple and yet somewhat mysterious: Because all the others were doing it. One
jumped and the rest followed.
People and sheep have a lot in common. Most of us will
follow a leader, as long as he seems to be doing good things for us. But if our
leader leads selfishly and destructively, following him over the cliff will be
foolish.
The Bible refers to people as sheep (Psalm 100:3, Isaiah 53:6, Matthew
9:36). We are easily distracted and susceptible to group
influence, often following the crowd rather than realizing it is going wrong
and choosing a better way.
Jesus our Good Shepherd who wants the best for His sheep
says, “My sheep hear my voice
and I know them and they follow me ...and I give then eternal life.”
(John 10:14, 27)
Who are you following? A self-centered shepherd or a wise
leader? We must daily hear the voice of the Good Shepherd and follow Him. He
knows where He is going and will lead us safely in life and into eternity.
Whom will you follow today?
Monday, March 9, 2015
GOD THE BUILDER
Dear friends,
In Mere Christianity, C. S. Lewis devotes his chapter “Counting the Cost” to explaining the troubles a Christian experiences. Among his many thoughts, he wrote, “We must not be surprised if we are in for a rough time.” He goes on to explain that when a person is following Christ, he feels that things should now go fairly smoothly in life. Thus, when troubles come along, he becomes disappointed and wonders why God is letting all this happen now.
But, Lewis tells us, God is helping us become better people. He is moving us to a higher level, putting us in situations where we will have to be braver, more patient and more loving than we ever thought possible. It may seem unnecessary to us, but that’s because we don’t realize the tremendous thing God wants to make of our life.
He uses an example: Imagine we are a living house that needs some fixing. We can understand we need some changes, so we can accept that God needs to come and rebuild things here and there. At first, we can understand why He is fixing our leaky plumbing, or repairing our roof, or replacing our drafty windows.
But then God goes too far. He starts knocking walls out and it hurts! God's major repairs make so sense. Why is God doing it this way? He doesn’t need to knock us around like this!
We don’t realize this is happening because God is building a different house from the one we've had and thought we’d like. He is adding another room, building a tower or making a courtyard. We were satisfied being a nice little cottage, but God is building us into a palace, and He intends to come and live in it Himself. But this is painful!
Now, we surely can prevent God from doing this. People do it every day by just walking away from Him, denying Him, rationalizing that He doesn't exist. But If we choose to let Him rebuild us, then He will take the weakest and draftiest of us and build us into a fine, strong and house that will bless Him and others around us. The process may be long and painful at times, but this is what God wants for us – the best and nothing less.
This is why He told us through the Apostle Peter, “[You are] living stones, being built up as a spiritual house.” (2 Peter 2:5)
Have your walls been shaking lately?
In Mere Christianity, C. S. Lewis devotes his chapter “Counting the Cost” to explaining the troubles a Christian experiences. Among his many thoughts, he wrote, “We must not be surprised if we are in for a rough time.” He goes on to explain that when a person is following Christ, he feels that things should now go fairly smoothly in life. Thus, when troubles come along, he becomes disappointed and wonders why God is letting all this happen now.
But, Lewis tells us, God is helping us become better people. He is moving us to a higher level, putting us in situations where we will have to be braver, more patient and more loving than we ever thought possible. It may seem unnecessary to us, but that’s because we don’t realize the tremendous thing God wants to make of our life.
He uses an example: Imagine we are a living house that needs some fixing. We can understand we need some changes, so we can accept that God needs to come and rebuild things here and there. At first, we can understand why He is fixing our leaky plumbing, or repairing our roof, or replacing our drafty windows.
But then God goes too far. He starts knocking walls out and it hurts! God's major repairs make so sense. Why is God doing it this way? He doesn’t need to knock us around like this!
We don’t realize this is happening because God is building a different house from the one we've had and thought we’d like. He is adding another room, building a tower or making a courtyard. We were satisfied being a nice little cottage, but God is building us into a palace, and He intends to come and live in it Himself. But this is painful!
Now, we surely can prevent God from doing this. People do it every day by just walking away from Him, denying Him, rationalizing that He doesn't exist. But If we choose to let Him rebuild us, then He will take the weakest and draftiest of us and build us into a fine, strong and house that will bless Him and others around us. The process may be long and painful at times, but this is what God wants for us – the best and nothing less.
This is why He told us through the Apostle Peter, “[You are] living stones, being built up as a spiritual house.” (2 Peter 2:5)
Have your walls been shaking lately?
Monday, March 2, 2015
THE WORLD'S REAL PROBLEM
A recent TIME magazine article told of how a CEO of a major coffee company wanted to change the world, beginning with America. The article focused on racial problems and how he felt America was at a tipping point, although I’m not quite sure what he meant would happen it if tipped too far. About 40% of his company's employees are minorities, and many of them have faced problems due to their race.
If he meant that too many more racial incidents would result is riots, that has already happened fifty years ago. “The country is not going in the right direction,” he said. “There is no company you can point to that is as dependent on the human condition as we are.” The article told of several commendable programs his company has instituted to help people get along better.
But it will take more than a coffee CEO to fix what’s wrong with our world. America and all other countries, do need to foster greater respect among races and groups, beginning with greater respect for Christians. I had thought being a Christian in the 1900s was the most dangerous century in history, but the 2000s are on their way to being worse. Christian men, women and children worldwide are being butchered and tortured at an ever-increasing rate by vicious people, intent on imposing their beliefs on the rest of the world. For some reason, the news outlets don't think it important.
The real news is not about American minorities being shot by police. It is that village after village worldwide is being slaughtered by self-righteous killers. The CEO’s words could be expanded, “The world is not going in the right direction.”
But even as the hatred of Christians has been rising, so also the numbers of Christians worldwide have been rising. It is estimated there are now 2.5 billion Christians in the world, with faith in Jesus is growing faster than any other religion.
God’s people have never given up easily. Others may kill, insult and rob them of everything, but still they continue to trust in Jesus as Lord. Just as the early Church grew in the blood of its martyrs, so it is growing today. We pray for an end to the hatred and persecution of Christians, as well as a change of heart for those who wish them evil. Jesus words, “Love one another as I have loved you” (John 15:12) are more important than ever.
Are you praying about this? God will hear and answer!
If he meant that too many more racial incidents would result is riots, that has already happened fifty years ago. “The country is not going in the right direction,” he said. “There is no company you can point to that is as dependent on the human condition as we are.” The article told of several commendable programs his company has instituted to help people get along better.
But it will take more than a coffee CEO to fix what’s wrong with our world. America and all other countries, do need to foster greater respect among races and groups, beginning with greater respect for Christians. I had thought being a Christian in the 1900s was the most dangerous century in history, but the 2000s are on their way to being worse. Christian men, women and children worldwide are being butchered and tortured at an ever-increasing rate by vicious people, intent on imposing their beliefs on the rest of the world. For some reason, the news outlets don't think it important.
The real news is not about American minorities being shot by police. It is that village after village worldwide is being slaughtered by self-righteous killers. The CEO’s words could be expanded, “The world is not going in the right direction.”
But even as the hatred of Christians has been rising, so also the numbers of Christians worldwide have been rising. It is estimated there are now 2.5 billion Christians in the world, with faith in Jesus is growing faster than any other religion.
God’s people have never given up easily. Others may kill, insult and rob them of everything, but still they continue to trust in Jesus as Lord. Just as the early Church grew in the blood of its martyrs, so it is growing today. We pray for an end to the hatred and persecution of Christians, as well as a change of heart for those who wish them evil. Jesus words, “Love one another as I have loved you” (John 15:12) are more important than ever.
Are you praying about this? God will hear and answer!
Monday, February 23, 2015
TRUST YOUR MIRRORS
“You need to trust your mirrors.” That the advice I got from an old man when I was learning to back up our travel trailer. “Good mirrors don’t lie,” he said. “They tell you what’s really back there.”
For 22 years Carol and I owned a vintage Airstream travel trailer. It was given to us by Carol’s parents and we enjoyed using it many years, either parked on a mountain acreage, or pulled around the country on trips behind our Chevy Blazer.
The first time we used it, we were not well prepared. We forgot some essential items inside, and discovered the furnace didn’t work well. The hardest part, besides pulling it up a steep mountain road, was backing it into the narrow space we’d rented for the night. After several attempts, an old fellow came over and helped me back it in. Seeing me turn my head around, he said, “You need to trust your mirrors.” It was good advice for seeing, and it saved me from an aching neck as well.
People often tell us not to look back on our lives, to leave the past and just keep moving forward. But there are times when looking back is helpful, and even necessary. The mirror of our memory can help us recall where we’ve come from as well as remind us how we made it this far. The mirror of a life well-lived, that of a parent or valued friend, can also help us know what choices to make.
The mirror of God’s love is most evident in Jesus. When we look at Him, we see God's love in action. Jesus urges to live so that when others see us, they can also see God. I believe that’s why He said, “Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16)
Not trusting our mirrors can force us to twist our head so far around that we can't drive properly. It’s always best to trust the mirror God gives us in His Word. That also means trusting Him when we're going forward. Good mirrors don't lie, and God doesn't either.
How can you trust your mirrors today?
For 22 years Carol and I owned a vintage Airstream travel trailer. It was given to us by Carol’s parents and we enjoyed using it many years, either parked on a mountain acreage, or pulled around the country on trips behind our Chevy Blazer.
The first time we used it, we were not well prepared. We forgot some essential items inside, and discovered the furnace didn’t work well. The hardest part, besides pulling it up a steep mountain road, was backing it into the narrow space we’d rented for the night. After several attempts, an old fellow came over and helped me back it in. Seeing me turn my head around, he said, “You need to trust your mirrors.” It was good advice for seeing, and it saved me from an aching neck as well.
People often tell us not to look back on our lives, to leave the past and just keep moving forward. But there are times when looking back is helpful, and even necessary. The mirror of our memory can help us recall where we’ve come from as well as remind us how we made it this far. The mirror of a life well-lived, that of a parent or valued friend, can also help us know what choices to make.
The mirror of God’s love is most evident in Jesus. When we look at Him, we see God's love in action. Jesus urges to live so that when others see us, they can also see God. I believe that’s why He said, “Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16)
Not trusting our mirrors can force us to twist our head so far around that we can't drive properly. It’s always best to trust the mirror God gives us in His Word. That also means trusting Him when we're going forward. Good mirrors don't lie, and God doesn't either.
How can you trust your mirrors today?
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