What's Your Agenda?

I enjoy watching Star Trek shows, but not to see the science fiction and special effects.  I like that Star Trek's writers take our human condition, our everyday issues and cultural problems, and highlight them in a distinct way, in a different environment, and in a way that makes me think.

Lately I've been re-watching episodes of Star Trek - Deep Space Nine.  Deep Space Nine is unique in that it portrays an alien culture's religion as an integral part of the story line.  

And I'm also intrigued with some episodes where characters talk about agendas.  It goes something like this:

Your agenda will color how you perceive a situation and how you respond.  Everyone has an agenda.  So what's your agenda?

I keep thinking, "Everyone has an agenda, so what's my agenda?"  

I guess I have a two-fold approach.  I want to look back on my life and have no regrets.  And I want other people to have a good experience with whatever I'm involved in, whether it's at work or serving a meal or just having a conversation.  It's probably part of my military training in preparing for the unexpected. 

And to me, that all sounds good and honorable.  But when dealing with the human condition, with my condition and my sin, I know that my selfishness abounds.  Insecurity abounds.  Wrong perspectives abound. 

I know that part of my approach is based on self-protection, as in I don't want to be the cause of problems.  I don't want to worry about hurting other people.  But living in this sinful world, I can't escape problems and bad feelings.  And I hurt people.  So much for my agenda!

But Jesus had a different agenda, to glorify His Father.

I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do.  John 17:4

While on this earth, Jesus taught and preached, and spoke truth about God.  He loved people, He healed them and fed them, and He even raised some from the dead.  

But His agenda was clear; He came to do the work of His Father, to save people from their sins, to give them peace with God.

When the days drew near for him to be taken up, [Jesus] set his face to go to Jerusalem.  Luke 9:51

Jesus set His face to Jerusalem, where He would die the death of a prophet, die as the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.

In fulfilling His work, His agenda, Jesus frees me from my own selfish ways.  He frees me to know His love and forgiveness and to love other people.   

And it's not easy, but His help and His Word are always available to strengthen me and to bring me back.  

My prayer is that, in the midst of this world, the troubles I face, and my own sins...my prayer is to remember Jesus's words to His disciples and to make that my way of looking at the world.  Jesus's looked at the world and tells us to...

Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest.  John 4:35

On the Death of a Friend

This week, my classmate and friend Danny passed from this life and this death into eternal life.  I met Danny 40 years ago in July 1980, when we both entered the United States Naval Academy as members of 2nd Company.  

When I picture Danny, two visions come to mind.  First, I see him in uniform, seriously relating an issue, an Academy event, or some 2nd Company happening.  But I also picture him sitting and talking, with that comforting and familiar grin on his face.  

Last fall, Danny and I reconnected at our class reunion.  We talked about our lives, our family, and our faith.  Afterwards, we exchanged several e-mails as he updated me on his struggles with leukemia.  The last line of a message he wrote in April, before he was hospitalized, was:

Please keep the prayers coming, thanks for thinking of me, and stay healthy – I think your walk is a fantastic idea.

Our Second Company journey began in 1980 with 35 of us; and, in 1984, 25 of us graduated.  We lived together, seeing each other all the time - having 3 daily formations, eating meals together, having classes, parades, sports, and just too much to remember.  We were and are family.

And as I think of Danny and my reunion, I have regrets.  College life is a challenge with many facets.  And life at the Naval Academy, it's crazy - totally new, tiring, always too much to think about and do, and to keep up with.  I became good at two things - time management and sleeping whenever possible.  

After graduation, when I was a 2nd Lieutenant and a Battalion Supply Officer, one day I looked at my Marines, and I unexpectedly realized how much I loved and valued them, that I even liked the quirks each one had.  Each of them was a unique person made in the image of God.  

Thinking back to 2nd Company, I regret that back then I didn't have that understanding or love for people.  I regret that I was sometimes too busy to sit and listen, or to go out to lunch and just relax and share.  

When Jesus was on earth, people were attracted to Him; some loved Him, some hated Him, but all were intrigued by Him, by what He said and by how He treated them.

Jesus saw and knew what was in man's heart, yet He still loved the people.  And that love is what drove Him to the cross, to die for the sins of the world.  

In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him.  In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.  1 John 4:9-10

Likewise, we are called to love people, to spend ourselves on them.

Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.  1 John 4:11

And it's not easy.  It's not easy to serve, love, help, encourage, listen, and care - to selflessly spend ourselves.  And it's something I fail at a lot.  But I know that, after my faith, it's the only thing that matters.  

Danny, you are and will be missed by us.  Until we meet again, Fair winds and following seas.

Take Heart...

After months of staying-at-home, our church small group has finally been able to meet.  And our current topic of study just happens to be the book of Revelation. 

I've always thought that the popular approach to interpreting Revelation, the process of trying to fit Biblical scenes into what's happening in the world today, is off base and badly mistaken.  So I've been contemplating how best to study this book.  And I have a plan. 

First, Revelation is addressed to the seven churches in Asia, similar to the New Testament letters that Paul wrote to various churches.

Paul's letters are applicable to all churches throughout history, and therefore his letters are also relevant for all Christians of all times, including us today.  As Paul writes to Timothy:

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.  2 Timothy 3:16

Even though Revelation has a lot of symbolism and references to Old Testament prophecy, it's still to be read for the comfort, the encouragement, and the edification of the church.  It's relevant for us, today, in this way.

Second, one of the commentaries I've been reading points out that, in the midst of plagues, disasters, and all sorts of "bad stuff happening" Revelation has "interludes."  

The whole idea of "interludes" has taken me a while to digest.  And then I remembered Jesus's words... 

I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace.  In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.  John 16:33

When John wrote Revelation, bad stuff was happening, especially persecutions and tribulation for the Christians, just as Jesus said it would happen.  But in the midst of relating this vision of "bad stuff" John suddenly sees and hears a great multitude singing praises.

Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb! Revelation 7:10 

And throughout Revelation, God's temple in heaven and other heavenly scenes function as a backdrop to all the bad stuff that's happening. 

The message to the churches of Revelation facing tribulation was, "Take heart.  Have peace.  Jesus is on the throne, reigning!"

And that's the message for us today, for right now.  Don't despair - whether we face racism, civil unrest, viruses, restrictions on our liberty, economic uncertainty - don't despair.  "In this world you will have tribulation.  Take heart.  I have overcome the world."  

The Lamb, Jesus, is on the throne! 

 

On Behalf Of...

Last fall, I joined the York County Veterans Honor Guard, a local group that provides honors for veterans' funerals.  To date I've served at over 70 funerals, and I've done just about everything: serving on the Color Guard, firing with the Rifle Squad, playing Taps, and assisting with the flag presentation.  And on three occasions, I presented the flag to veterans' family members. 

Two of the flags I presented were for families of Navy nurses, and I started those presentations with, "On behalf of the President of the United States and the Secretary of the United States Navy..."

Recently, as I was with the Color Guard and holding the Navy flag, I heard those same words, "...and the Secretary of the United States Navy..." and I smiled.

The new and current Secretary of the Navy is Ken Braithwaite, a Navy Admiral and Pilot, the former Ambassador to Norway, a graduate of the United States Naval Academy, Class of 1984 - and my classmate.

Presenting a flag on behalf of the Secretary of the Navy takes on a new meaning when you know the man!
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In the book of Acts, Paul visits the city of Athens and he addresses the people:

For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription: "To the unknown god." What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you.  Acts 17:23

Paul takes this opportunity to tell the Athenians about the God that he knows, worships, and serves.  

The God of the Bible, the God that Christians worship, is not a God who's far off.  He isn't one whom you just read about; He's knowable. 

...let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the LORD.  Jeremiah 9:24

He's a God who cares about and for His creation.  He cares so much that Jesus, the second person of the Holy Trinity, became a baby, one of us, and lived among us.  Our God allows us to know Him in a very personal and intimate way. 

He also promises to be with us, and to hear our prayers.  And He gives us other Christians to encourage and strengthen us in our faith.  Martin Luther said this about our God:

Now, if someone has Him who fills all things, he has more than the whole world...when a man has Him who has more than He can give away, then his heart knows that he has a gracious God and all things in Him.  What could such a heart ever lack?

And when I hear my pastor say, "As a called and ordained servant of Christ, and by His authority, I forgive you all your sins," I know that he is speaking on behalf of Jesus, of someone he knows and I know, of the One whose Word is sure and true.

May each of us grow in faith, know Him better, and always know His peace.

Why Are You Afraid?

In many places, the Bible says, "Don't be afraid."

Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.  Deuteronomy 31:6

...fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.  Isaiah 41:10 

The Christian life is a life that's meant to be lived unafraid.  The gospel message brings peace and comfort to the anxious soul.  Yet I've heard messages recently that could and probably were meant to make me afraid.

I've heard that this pandemic is being used to bring us to a one-world government that will further control our lives.  I've heard that soon we'll all be required to get an identifying tattoo or an embedded chip that contains information about us.  

The message is a warning to Christians.  And that message is, "Beware.  This is the mark of the beast.  It's coming."  

Now I don't discount that there's evil in the world, that demonic forces are at work, and that governments want to control how people live and think.  But this is just fear-mongering, because it's an incomplete message.

First, our Lord has given us governments and rulers to keep order in society.  And we have to live and navigate within that realm.  Often the rule we live under is unfair, oppressive, and hard for the Christian.  But again, the Lord is in control; He's not oblivious to this, and He gives us faith to make it through.

But second and more importantly, my salvation doesn't hinge on my being able to figure-out the "mark of the beast."  In my baptism, I was marked and sealed as a child of God.  That's my mark.

And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee. 2 Corinthians 1:21-22

My salvation is secure with the cross, the empty tomb, and the risen Jesus - my Lord, the One who's ascended to the throne of power.  That's my faith, my hope, and my comfort.

This whole tattoo/chip idea reminds me of years ago, when entering a theme park, how you'd get an invisible ink stamp on your hand so that you could reenter the park.  And this "mark" didn't and doesn't affect my soul or change my heart. 

But faith in Jesus has and does affect my soul.  Jesus referred to the Jewish leaders as "white-washed tombs."  On the outside, they looked good; but on the inside, they had a heart of stone.  It's their heart that was marked.

And my Lord looks at my heart.  It's a sinful heart that He's taken and pierced with His Word of truth, with the reality of my sin and the comfort and the reassurance of His forgiveness and love.  He's taken my heart of stone and given me a heart of flesh.  And He's said, "Fear not."

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.  John 14:27 

What's "the New Normal" for Christians?

It's called "the new normal" - life during this pandemic.  And when the stay-at-home order is lifted and everyone starts venturing out, then we'll have a "new, new normal."  

And although "new normal" is a fitting phrase, I don't like it, because it implies something "not so good" - something that I'm going to have to adjust to. 

So I've been thinking about another "new normal" - the one that matters to me.

For the Christian the "new normal" actually began in the Garden of Eden.  It began when Adam and Eve disobeyed God, broke their relationship with Him, and were thrown out of the garden.  But here's the thing, God promised them that One would be born who would restore that relationship and fix everything, fix what sin, Satan, and death had taken away.  

All throughout the Old Testament, God's people lived this "new normal" - looking for and waiting for the Messiah, the One who would restore their relationship with their God.  It was reiterated to Abraham and spoken of by the prophets.  It was on their minds, and the people were reminded of it in how they lived and especially in their many sacrifices.  Until...

...when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.  Galatians 4:4-5

Another "new normal" - a better one.  With the birth of Jesus, the Messiah, the kingdom of God had come to earth!  And the realization and the significance of this "new normal" first became clear when Jesus's empty tomb was discovered and then later with the coming of the Holy Spirit.

And that's the Christian's "new normal" - a treasure that was given to each one of us when we were baptized and given faith.  It's a "new normal" of forgiveness of sin, of receiving the Holy Spirit, of faith and hope in salvation and eternal life. 

Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?  We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.  For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. Romans 6:3-5

And when this pandemic is dying away, when people are out working again, shopping, socializing, no matter how weird or difficult it may be, I'm praying that my "new normal" will be to "walk in newness of life" and to know that the "new normal" of being a Christian surpasses every other "new normal" and every situation I face.  

Jesus said to her, "Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again.  The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life."  John 4:13-14

 
 

The Lord's Provision and Worship

I hate to shop.  During my homeschooling years, my middle son and I would go on a grocery shopping trip every three weeks.  We each had a list, we'd get two carts, and we'd go off in opposite directions, zooming through the store and filling our carts.  About 10 minutes later, we'd meet up and check out.  On the drive home, we'd always share a cherry coke or iced coffee. 

These days I'm shopping once a week, I'm alone, and I'm wearing a face mask.  And because of "social distancing" I can't even zoom through the store.  Fortunately my grocery store hasn't been crowded, and I've always found the items I needed...until yesterday.

Yesterday, the meat section was practically empty.  No chicken and no beef except for ground beef.  

Now we are in no ways starving or lacking for food.  But when I see empty meat shelves, I start to think, "What if this continues?  What will I fix?"  

It reminds me of how the Israelites, God's people, felt when they were in the wilderness, concerned that they weren't going to be fed.  The Israelites knew the Lord provided for them, they'd seen His provision, yet they still doubted.

Most of us, in this land of plenty, have never faced a food shortage.  I recall gas shortages and lines in the '70s, but that's about it.

And I can't help comparing this possible lack of food and daily supplies to my inability to attend Sunday worship.

My weekly "Ten Commandments - Prayer and Confession" devotion says this:

Help me to worship knowing that all is a gift from You.

Being able to attend weekly worship services, to hear God's Word, to hear His forgiveness of sins, to "take and eat" the Lord's Supper, to be encouraged by fellow Christians, to pray together - it's all a gift from the Lord.

Like the empty meat shelves, I'm deprived of seeing this site on Sunday mornings and of participating in worship at my church, of receiving God's gifts.

This week, I noted this prayer from Psalm 60 in the Lutheran Study Bible. 

When we face defeat, O Lord, keep our eyes on Your promises.  When we experience loss, keep our hearts filled with Your peace.  When we don't understand Your plan for us, keep the cross of Christ always before us - the depth and breath and height of Your love for us.  Amen.

 And as I pray, Psalm 43 comes to mind:

Why are you cast down, O my soul,
        and why are you in turmoil within me?
    Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
        my salvation and my God.  Psalm 43:5