Tuesday, January 31, 2017

Staff Sergeant Hernandez - on Being Important

Staff non-commissioned officers were always fun to work with.  Staff Sergeant Hernandez was my Supply Chief while I was the Supply Officer at 1st Medical Battalion.  

One Friday after lunch, he was complaining about a phone call he'd just had from a Navy Chief.  The Chief wanted a couple of tents for that afternoon so his corpsmen could practice putting up and taking down tents.  

Ssgt Hernandez had said "no" and was ranting that the Chief should have sent a written request to S-4, at least so many days ahead of time, and on and on he went.  

I listened, shared his frustration, and we talked a bit.  Then I said, "You know, Ssgt, we're really here to support the companies.  If we can help them out, don't you think we should, even if he didn't make a written request?"

He thought about it for a minute and then said, "You're right Lieutenant."  And he went back to his office and called the Chief.  

"Chief, I just talked to my Lieutenant, and I twisted her arm and convinced her; I'm doing you a big favor and you owe me...you owe me big...you can come and get the tents, but you owe me, don't forget that."  

I just shook my head and laughed at his taking the creditHe grinned and gave me a big thumbs-up.

You see...Ssgt Hernandez and his peers were always posturing, always wanting to be the most important, to have the most power...to have others look up to them or be in their debt.

It was silly and funny at the time...but recall this:
A dispute also arose among them, as to which of them was to be regarded as the greatest.  Luke 22:24
The men closest to Jesus argued about which disciple was the most important, the greatest.

And it's no different today.  Everyone wants to matter, to be recognized, to be valued, to be important.  

And it's never enough to be important once or twice; striving to matter is a continual, never ending burden.  And, in the end, it's not even satisfying - just exhausting.

Jesus says two things about greatness and mattering. 
But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.  Mark 10:43-45
First, Jesus says that greatness comes through service, through selflessness.  And second, He says that we already matter because He, the Son of Man, gave His life for us.

The desire to matter, to be important doesn't just die, but it does have an answer.  And that answer is to look to the One who already died to self; look to Jesus. 

Wednesday, January 25, 2017

Praying for the President

When I think of Donald Trump, I think of casinos, beauty pageants, and Celebrity Apprentice.  But to see him as Mr. President....I still shake my head and laugh.

To be as successful as he is, he must be smart and hard-working, and he must surround himself with wise and capable people.   

Seems everybody, myself included, has an opinion or observation about President Trump, his work, his leadership style, his language, his family, his clothes...it's all topics for conversation.  

But I ask, "What does God's Word say about government leaders?"
...there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God...for he is God's servant for your good...he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer.  Romans 13:1,4
...I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people,  for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life... 1 Timothy 2:1-2
Government and kings are God's ideas, instituted so we can live orderly lives.  God puts rulers on the throne, both good and bad rulers.  We are to respect and pray for our leaders.  The presumption is that a peaceful society will also aid the spread of the gospel.  But note - the government is not charged with spreading the gospel - that's the job of the church.

With that in mind, I pray...

Heavenly Father, You provide us with all good things, and You've given us this country, a peaceful country, to live in, to serve in.  Thank-You for our new president - I pray for him to know his own sin and Your forgiveness, to know Your peace.  And I pray the same for his wife, his children, and his former wives.

I thank You that this country is able to make peaceful transactions of power.  I pray for President Trump's presidency - that good will come of it, that people who are suffering, who are lacking in basic needs, that they will be provided for.  I pray that our society will run well...as well as possible, in this broken world we live in...for the furtherance of the gospel.

I pray for President Trump to have a positive impact and influence on other countries, especially for peoples who are hurting, impoverished, struggling just to survive...that our country is seen not only as strong, but as compassionate - again, for the furtherance of the gospel. 

I pray that You give the President strength as a leader and give him a sense of selflessness.  Give him wisdom, encouragement, good counsel; let family life be a blessing to him.  Strengthen him when he becomes discouraged and tired.  I pray for him to look to You for that strength and wisdom, but also for Your forgiveness. 

I pray...for the sake of Jesus, for the sake of Your Kingdom, that You bless his presidency and the United States.

Amen.   

Tuesday, January 17, 2017

Corporal Alton

All Marine 2nd Lieutenants, a couple of thousand every year, attend a 6-month Officer Basic Course at Quantico, VA.  While waiting for my class to begin, I was assigned temporary duty in the BOQ office at Quantico.

One day, Corporal Alton from Disbursing stopped by; he was selling Tupperware for his wife.   I bought a set of measuring cups and spoons for maybe $10.

A few months later, about a month into my class, some type of pay mistake occurred at Quantico, and it affected a lot of people.  Second Lieutenants, whose pay was affected, were to make an appointment with their platoon commanders, who would then arrange for an appointment with Disbursing.  It was a hassle, especially since so many people were involved.

About this time, I ran into Corporal Alton.  He asked how my class was going, and I said something about the pay issue, wondering what had happened.  He simply said, "Don't worry.  I'll fix your pay, Ma'am."  And he did Seemingly magical to everyone else, my pay was fixed.

When I tell this story, people often quote the Bible, saying we'll be rewarded for our good deeds.  But I think something more is going on here.

Buying Tupperware and fixing someone's pay are simple acts of kindness, done one-to-another.  But Corporal Alton didn't just return a kindness - he gave of his time, and he gave me something that I needed and valued.  In that exchange, my heart was enlarged to giving and receiving.  Even today, I am surprised at what he did, and I know what it feels like to be grateful, to have someone "make a difference" in serving me.  

Corporal Alton took care of my need for free, just because we were friends.

The Lord's Prayer of "give us this day our daily bread" is a request to supply all our needs.  And, He does supply all our needs...and He does it through other people.  During a conversation with a friend, I'll often recognize a need, and I'll know how to meet that need.  That's my opportunity to give and to serve

In serving others and being served, we move a little closer to understanding the kindness and love of God in not only supplying us with every need, in not only amazing us with kindness, but with giving us a Savior, forgiving our sins, giving us peace with Him, and life. 
Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.  Ephesians 4:32

Wednesday, January 11, 2017

God's Word

A major benefit of growing up Baptist is that Bible reading, Bible knowledge, and memorization are valued and practiced.  I may have not understood the gospel or gotten the big picture, but I read and knew my Bible, and the words I read still live in me and are part of me today.

Bible reading and study is important because God’s Word is powerful.  I am more convinced of this as I continue to read it, to hear it preached, and to hear others share their faith. 

My pastor once said: 

“God’s Word always nourishes.  God's Word is never without effect.”  
I don’t think that means God’s Word is magic - just that it does what it says it will do. 
So shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.  Isaiah 55:11
Consider these examples:

In the very beginning, God speaks, and creation comes into being:

And God said, “Let the earth bring forth living creatures according to their kinds...” And it was so.  Genesis 1:14
Nehemiah records the peoples’ conviction of their own sin: 
For all the people wept as they heard the words of the Law.  Nehemiah 8:9
Martin Luther understood the simplicity and sweetness of the gospel while reading:  
For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”  Romans 1:17
And from Hebrews:
For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.  Hebrews 4:12
So, when I read my Bible, when I listen to preaching and teaching, when someone shares how faith affects daily life, I am encouraged, and I grow in faith.  Bible reading is nourishing, preaching is effectual, and faith sharing from the heart is precious. 
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.  Colossians 3:16

Tuesday, January 3, 2017

Saint and Sinner

I love the line from one of Derek Webb's songs: "A saint and sinner is what I am."   That line speaks such truth for me...but it wasn't always so.

I grew up in a small town in Kentucky, and, even today, the town has no Lutheran church.  I attended the Baptist church, but we also had a Presbyterian, Methodist, Episcopal, and Roman Catholic church along with various smaller churches.  From my group of friends, I didn't know who went to church and who didn't, but I equated going to church with staying out of trouble and following the rules.  It was all about performance - if you do right, you're good.

While at the Naval Academy, I had friends and classmates from various denominations, still no Lutherans.  And my focus became, "Whose teaching is correct?"  And despite the busyness of service academy life, I managed to read and read and read my Bible, looking for answers.  It was all about knowledge - if you knew and understood correctly, you're good.

When I got married, had children, started dealing with a house, finances, meals...I needed help, and found that Christian bookstores had resources on every issue, and Christian radio had experts on every topic.  If I followed one book, I'd have the perfect marriage.  And this popular radio host taught me about having behaved children, or fixing healthy meals, or wisely managing finances.  It was all about having the perfect Christian life - and if all looked perfect, you're good.

And, there's nothing wrong with trying to obey the rules; there's nothing wrong with pursuing knowledge or with seeking advice on Christian living.  

The problem is...while we know and profess Christ and Him crucified, we expect all that we do and all that we have to make us happy, and to be evidence that we are Christians.  In the midst of all the attempts at  Christian living, we can forget that our heart is dark.  We start to feel good about ourselves and become the Pharisee who said:
God, I thank you that I am not like other men...I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.  Luke 18:11-12
And this is where Lutheran teaching is spot on.  Despite all the outward appearances of living a happy Christian life or of praying for that perfect life...I know that I'm both a saint and a sinner, all the time.  I live with the tension of this, with the mixed motives, with a dark heart, that I know is dark because the Spirit also is there and testifies to me, even as I do good works, and even as I enjoy life.

It's maddening to want things to be a certain way, to try to live "that" life, to be "that person" but to have such little control over my own self.  


And, it's in the midst of this frustration that Jesus shines.  It's when I best know my own sin and failures that I best see that man, my savior, hanging on that cross.  And that is my peace; that is my hope.