Memorial Day

Next Monday we will fly our flag outside our house to honor Memorial Day. It is a tradition my wife brought into our marriage from her father who served in the Pacific during World War II. All across our country the stars and stripes will unfurl in the breeze, lifting and dropping, whipping and snapping above the roof tops of schools, factories and government buildings; flying over parks, parades and cemeteries. Millions will stand to their feet in stadiums across America and sing of the broad stripes and bright stars reflected by bombs bursting in the night.

Forty-six years after Francis Scott Key wrote the Star Spangled Banner, that flag hung in ominous stillness above Fort Sumter. Bearing the stars of the states that rose against it, surrounded by the sound of screaming men and thundering horses, it led the way into man-made storms of grape-shot and cannon fire. Almost a century later it was planted on the black sands of Iwo Jima where young Marines gave their lives to lift its blood-stained cloth above their heads. The flag still marks Tranquility Base where the Eagle landed and Neil Armstrong took one small step for man and a giant leap for mankind. Most of us have stood at the graveside of flag draped coffins and many mothers have held the crisply folded flag to their breast, solemnly handed to them by white gloved soldiers.

This Memorial Day the flag reminds us that America is still an experiment. Two and a quarter centuries is a very short time and our nation is still relatively young. Lincoln’s prophetic words at Gettysburg still ring true. We are a new nation “conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.” Our generation, like every other generation must rise to the test to prove whether “that nation, or any other nation so dedicated and so conceived can long endure.” Every Memorial Day we are called to a new resolve that “this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom – and that government of the people, by the people and for the people shall not perish from the earth.”

Memorial Day helps us remember young men and women who gave their lives on the battle field. But the most important battles to be fought for the future of our nation will not be with missiles and guns. The most important battles will be fought in the hearts of men and women. The preservation of our nation, its hopes, dreams and ideals, depends on the character of its people and their leaders. Honesty, integrity, compassion, generosity, goodness and faith are the elements that will determine the future freedom of our nation.  

In Proverbs, the Bible says, “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.” (Prov. 14:34) Isaiah says, “Behold My Servant, whom I uphold; my chosen one in whom my soul delights. I have put My Spirit upon Him; He shall bring forth justice to the nations. (Isa. 42:1). Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of God’s promise to bless the nations. Every person will ultimately be accountable to Him and our greatest challenge is to reflect His character and His glory.

Graduation: Visions and Dreams

Young men and women robed in caps and gowns will assemble on high school and college campuses all across our country this month. Grinning behind dangling tassels, they scan the audience in search of family and friends who search for them Cell phones and cameras illuminate the stadiums with sporadic flashes of light in an effort to capture the moment.  Few events match the excitement of graduation.

Presidents, principals, guest speakers and valedictorians will speak of new horizons, a future yet to be written, a world to be changed. They will urge those who have reached this achievement to have faith in themselves and to never stop learning, never stop believing, never stop dreaming.

All graduates who walk across stages to receive their diplomas represent unique stories.  Few are as unique as Bob Zonneville.  According to Brian Albrecht's article in The Plain Dealer, Bob Zonneville graduated from Lakeland Community College in Kirtland, Ohio last Saturday at age 88.  A World War II Veteran, Zonneville fought in the 8^th Infantry Division across Europe and participated in the Battle of the Bulge. He was twice wounded, once by a hand grenade and later by artillery shrapnel.

Zonneville says he started college in his eighties because of his wife, Carol, who passed away in 2008.  A career school teacher, she constantly urged him to get his college education. “I thought, maybe in her memory, I ought to do it.”   Given the opportunity to enroll in non-credit courses at his advanced age Zonneville said, “Nah. I’ll pay the tuition.  I’m going to be a student.  I’m going to get the credits.  I’m going to do the work.”

 One 19-year-old classmate said, “He’s also always telling us to do better for ourselves and keep succeeding.”  One professor said, “His enthusiasm is contagious, and his positive outlook on our younger generation is refreshing.” Another said, “He always wants to learn something new. He’s determined to participate and be involved.”

Graduation commencements inspire us because they not only recognize significant achievement, they celebrate new beginnings, new possibilities and opportunities.   Education offers to the young the opportunity to acquire knowledge and skills that equip them for the future.  For those who are older, a chance to re-tool and pursue new dreams.  

God is always about new beginnings.  He challenges the young to set their feet on a path that leads to life. To those who are older, He offers opportunity to wipe the slate clean and start over. Paul wrote in Corinthians “If any man be in Christ, he is a new creation: old things are passed away, behold, all things are become new.”

Graduation reminds us of God’s promise at Pentecost. “Your young men shall see visions.  Your old men shall dream dreams.” God wants every person to discover His vision for their life.  Though none of us in our youth can possibly know the twists and turns that lie before us, we can know that God has a vision and a plan for our life. No matter how long we live, we are never too old to dream new dreams about the future and make the world a better place.

Angels Among Us

The winds have dispersed the mushroom cloud that hovered over the small town of West. The dust has settled.  The President of the United States, the Governor of Texas and other dignitaries have come to join in the memorial for those who lost their lives.  Most of the first responders have been buried.  Families are returning to their homes, picking through the rubble. People from as far away as Prague in the Czech Republic continue to respond with generosity.

The memories of that moment that leveled four city blocks and created a tremor the size of a small earthquake will remain for a lifetime.  As the dust settles, and as people start the long arduous task of rebuilding West, many are seeing evidences of an unseen hand at work. 

As West transitions from Disaster Relief to Disaster Recovery, they are continuing to witness the grace and goodness of God.  Some of the churches near the blast were heavily damaged.  The Brethren Church  will meet this Sunday for the first time since the explosion.  First Baptist has suspended all their scheduled activities to focus on prayer, worship and recovery. 

This week, I prayed with pastors from the Brethren, Methodist, Assemblies of God, Baptist and Catholic churches in West.  As we visited several said they were convinced there were literal angels looking over them.   While no one mourns more deeply the loss of the fifteen who died than the people of West, they referred to story after story of how God protected those who survived and the remarkable fact that more did not perish.

The Bible speaks clearly about the existence of Angels. Contrary to popular opinion, angels are not people who have died and gone to heaven and earned their wings like Clarence, in It’s a Wonderful Life.

Angels have appeared at pivotal moments in history. An angel spoke to Abraham and spared the life of his son, Isaac.  Angels appeared to Jacob, later to Moses, and ministered to Elijah. The angels announced the birth of Christ. And an angel stood watch over the open tomb when Jesus was raised from the dead.

Perhaps many in West are discovering in personal terms something we tend to forget. When we are in our darkest moments, we are not alone.  God gives his angels charge over us. (Psalm 91:11).

First Baptist West posted this statement on their website: “As trite as this may sound, the greatest and most meaningful way anyone can help us is to pray and don't stop praying for a long time.  Although this tragedy is a terrible experience and has been absolutely horrific, we have a peace that doesn't make sense and our strength is renewed day by day.  Those blessings are the only things keeping us going, and those blessings come a result of the prayers of people all over the world who are interceding for us.  We sincerely covet your prayers and we appreciate them more than we can begin to understand.”

Finishing Well

One of the great lessons taught in every sport is the importance of finishing well.  An athlete or a team can stumble at the start, but it is how they finish that makes the difference.

On November 26, 1994, 30,000 fans filled Texas Stadium to watch John Tyler play Plano East in a high school football play off game.  With three minutes and three seconds left, John Tyler led the game 41 to 17.  On the next play, Plano East scored a touch down, then proceeded to recover three on-side kicks to score three more.  With 24 seconds remaining, Plano East took the lead 44-41.  They kicked off to John Tyler whose returner took the ball on his three yard line and returned it 97 yards.  Final score: John Tyler 48, Plano East 44.

Everyone who follows golf immediately recognizes the name, Jean Van de Velde.  Leading the British Open at Caroustie in 1999 by three shots, the Frenchman only needed a double bogey 6 on the final hole to claim the coveted Claret Jug.  After a series of reckless shots that ended up in the creek protecting the 18^th green, he removed his socks and shoes and waded in debating whether to hit from the water   He triple bogeyed the hole and lost in a play off.

Robert Cheruiyot of Kenya won the Boston Marathon four times.  He was striding triumphantly across the finish line in the Chicago Marathon in 2006 when he tripped.  Although he won the race by falling across the finish line, he had to be carried away in a wheel chair. 

Most of us can make a good start at whatever we choose.  Everyone can sprint at the beginning of a race, but, what matters most is how we finish. 

Paul didn’t make a very good start.  Known in his youth as Saul, he pursued blind ambition for advancement proudly searching out Christians and throwing them in jail, both men and women.  He assisted in the cruel execution of Stephen, an innocent man, stoned to death as the first martyr following Jesus’ resurrection.

But, following his conversion to Christ, he lived a consistent life of faith and finished well.  Looking back over his life the Apostle Paul stated, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.”

You might stumble today.  You might regret some things in your past. But a race is still to be run and God gives to everyone the opportunity to finish well.

When Jesus prepared for the cross, he said to the Father, “I have finished the work you gave me to do.”  The last word he spoke before he died was, tetelestai, “it is finished.”  He had demonstrated God’s glory on earth in a perfect, sinless life and “paid in full” the penalty for our sins so that we might have eternal life with Him in Heaven.

Is God Just?

The senseless bombing at the Boston Marathon last week set off a number of emotions: horror, grief, confusion, anger.  Most of us joined our government leaders in calling for justice.

Speaking at the Interfaith Service in Boston, President Obama said, “Yes, we will find you. And yes, you will face justice. We will hold you accountable.”  Massachusetts Senator, Elizabeth Warren stated, “we will identify whoever did this – and we will bring them to justice.” The FBI Special-agent for Boston said, “We will go to the ends of the Earth to identify the suspects responsible for this despicable crime.”

Somehow, being able to identify whoever committed this crime and bringing them to justice restores a sense of balance.Four days later one suspect is dead, the other badly wounded and in custody. 

This, of course, is not the first time our nation has been stricken by senseless slaughter.  The Federal Building in Oklahoma City, the Twin Towers on 9-11, Fort Hood in 2009, all remain vivid in our memories.  In each case the heroism, love and sacrifice of thousands vastly overwhelmed the criminal hatred of the few.  And in each case we felt compelled to go to every extreme to find and punish the perpetrators.

Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols were arrested for detonating the explosive in Oklahoma City that killed 168 people including 19 children under the age of six.  McVeigh was executed by lethal injection on June 11, 2001.  Terry Nichols is serving a life sentence in prison. 

After the Twin Tower attacks in 2001, we launched an all-out war against Saddam Hussein and Iraq.  U.S. Navy Seals eventually cornered Osama bin Laden in his compound in Pakistan and gunned him down. The Fort Hood attacker faces the death penalty in a court martial scheduled for May 29.

Justice is a multi-billion dollar business. Every day the news is riddled with crime reports and subsequent accounts of the apprehension and conviction of the criminal. We are mesmerized by courtroom drama.  Our novels and movies largely revolve around the contest of good vanquishing evil, the twists and turns that lead to justice and vindication of right over wrong.

Why is it that in our human relationships, we require justice, but when it comes to God, we seem to think everyone is going to Heaven? Somewhere along the way, we have forgotten that the God of redemption is also the God of justice. Isaiah wrote, “But the Lord of hosts will be exalted in judgment, and the holy God will show Himself holy in righteousness.”  (Isa. 5:16).

When Michelangelo painted the Sistine Chapel he portrayed Jesus’ promise to return and render judgment to all men (Mt. 26:31-41). “In that you have done it to the least of these,” Jesus said, “you have done it to me.”

Our efforts at justice are imperfect. Sometimes the guilty go free. Sometimes the innocent suffer. But the courts of God are perfect in every way. As the Scripture says, “It is appointed to man once to die, but after this the judgment.” (Heb. 9:27). And as the Apostle Paul wrote, “Do not be deceived. God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows this shall he also reap.” (Gal. 6:7).

When Suicide Strikes

The world was stunned two weeks ago when Rick Warren’s son, Matthew ended his life with a self-inflicted gunshot.  Author of one of the best selling books of all time, The Purpose Driven Life, with more than twenty-million copies sold world-wide, Rick Warren and his wife, Kay, have been open about their grief and the long struggle with their son’s mental illness that led up to his suicide. Warren’s church described Matthew as “an incredibly kind, gentle and compassionate young man whose sweet spirit was encouragement and comfort to many. Unfortunately, he also suffered from mental illness resulting in deep depression and suicidal thoughts.”

Virtually every family has been touched, directly or indirectly, by suicide and its painful aftermath. According to the World Health Organization, almost one million people die of suicide world-wide each year, a rate of 16 per 100,000, up 60% over the last 45 years. It is among the top three causes of death for those ages 15-44 and the leading cause of death for those ages 10-24. More teenagers and young adults die by suicide each year than by AIDS, birth defects, heart disease, cancer and influenza combined. Placed in historic context, we may well be experiencing a global suicide epidemic.

Mental disorders, especially depression and alcohol, are a leading cause. Suicide’s social stigma coupled with fear, embarrassment, grief and spiritual misunderstanding may contribute to our inability to address helpful solutions. But, increasingly, churches are seeking ways to help people who wrestle with this deadly emotional illness.

 Frank Page, President of the Southern Baptist Executive Committee, lost his 32-year-old daughter to suicide in 2009. His book, Melissa: A Father’s Lessons from a Daughter’s Suicide, will be released June 1. He writes, “Did you ever wonder where God was when you sat up at night asking questions that had no solvable answers? Did you ever doubt His love and goodness? Did you feel abandoned by Him? Deserted? Alone?

“I understand if you did. I understand if you still do. Suicide is not a situation that lends itself to casual conversations with God. It hurts. And more than that, it seems as though He could have prevented it all if He'd wanted to. At those times when the loss seems the most impossible to bear, at times when you can't believe what your child is doing or has done to themselves, it can feel like God is nowhere this side of heaven to offer all that comfort His Word so confidently promises.

“But I can tell you by the testimony of Scripture, He is strong enough to weather our hot accusations against Him, patient enough to withstand our desire to seek distance from Him (though such a thing is, of course, theologically impossible), and compassionate enough to feel emotion at the deep, hollow anguish that can often stand between us and our tottering faith.”

If you are wrestling with suicide issues in your own life or among your family and friends, there are resources to help. Call the national suicide prevention hotline at 800-273-TALK (8255),  Boys Town hotline at 800-433-3000, or Christian Suicide Prevention at 888-667-5947. Visit www.texassuicideprevention.org or www.allianceofhope.org.

The Stranger Among Us

My “multi-great” grandfather, Thomas Tinsley, landed in Jamestown in 1638 after a risky voyage across the Atlantic. My mother’s family, the Harper’s, came to America from Ireland. Along with them came others from Norway, Poland, Germany, Italy, and a host of captives from Africa. They were followed by still more from Asia, including refugees from Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Thailand. Native Americans came first, beating all of us to this continent by a few thousand years.  We have come from every corner of the earth. We are a nation of immigrants. 

We are one nation with many ethnicities embracing every skin color and many languages. More than ninety languages are spoken in Houston.  Polish is the third largest language group in Chicago with a Polish population equal to Warsaw. 

The recent explosion of the Hispanic population with the rise of undocumented citizens has put pressure on our immigration systems to the point that we are tempted to forget our immigrant history and heritage.

In light of this, evangelicals across the United States are calling for an Evangelical Day of Prayer and Action for Immigration Reform on April 17, 2013.  Leaders organizing the event include Leith Anderson, President of National Association of Evangelicals; Richard Land, President of Southern Baptist Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission; and Gabriel Salguero, President of National Latino Evangelical Coalition.  Keynote speakers at the Washington D.C. event include Bill Hybels, Willow Creek Community Church; Laurie Bechore, Mariners Church;  and Lee de Leon, Templo Calvario in Orange County, CA.  Supporters include a long list of evangelical organizations such as Focus on the Family, Navigators, Lifeway, and Missio Nexus.  This represents a huge network across denominational lines to bring focus to one of the pressing issues of our time.

According to the event’s website, evangelicals across America are calling for prayer and bi-partisan legislation that: “respects the God-given dignity of every person, protects the unity of the immediate family, respects the rule of law, guarantees secure national borders, ensures fairness to taxpayers, establishes a path toward legal status and/or citizenship for those who qualify and wish to become permanent residents.”

M. Daniel Caroll-Rodas, distinguished professor at Denver Seminary, speaking to evangelical leaders in Ft Collins said, “The Bible teaches us to welcome strangers, and we must live that. We must make this a foundation for what we are communicating to our congregations.”

Faith leaders met in Florida on April 3 for “Who Is My Neighbor? A Forum on Immigration.” They urged people to turn to the Scriptures to see what Jesus would say about welcoming the stranger.  Matthew Soerens of World Relief said, “We are working to build a moral movement of evangelicals who believe in just and practical immigration solutions that include an earned process for citizenship. Tens of thousands of Christians have accepted the ‘I Was a StrangerChallenge’ and are reading 40 days of Bible verse to learn about God’s heart for the immigrant.”