Guard Duty

The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is Arlington National Cemetery’s most iconic memorial. The neoclassical, white marble sarcophagus stands atop a hill overlooking Washington, D.C. Since 1921, it has provided a final resting place for one of America’s unidentified World War I service members, and Unknowns from later wars were added in 1958 and 1984. The Tomb has also served as a place of mourning and a site for reflection on military service.

“In March 1926, soldiers from nearby Fort Myer were first assigned to guard the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The guards, present only during daylight hours, discouraged visitors from climbing or stepping on the Tomb. In 1937, the guards became a 24/7 presence, standing watch over the Unknown Soldier at all times.

“Soldiers who volunteer to become Tomb Guards must undergo a strict selection process and intensive training. Each element of the Tomb Guard’s routine has meaning. The Guard marches 21 steps down the black mat behind the Tomb, turns and faces east for 21 seconds, turns and faces north for 21 seconds, and then takes 21 steps down the mat. Next, the Guard executes a sharp "shoulder-arms" movement to place his/her weapon on the shoulder closest to the visitors, signifying that he or she stands between the Tomb and any possible threat. The number 21 symbolizes the highest symbolic military honor that can be bestowed: the 21-gun salute.*

Precious things deserve diligent guarding. The church, consisting of the people of God, is a blood-bought organism. It was redeemed with the precious blood of Christ (1 Peter 1:18-19). It’s no surprise, then, that God planned for godly men to guard it carefully. As Paul talks with the elders of the church in Ephesus, he reminds them of their calling: “Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood” (Acts 20:28). The church is precious and deserves vigilant guarding.

God loves you!

Mike

*https://www.arlingtoncemetery.mil/Explore/Monuments-and-Memorials/Tomb-of-the-Unknown-Soldier

Worship Wars

“Worship wars” are not just a modern phenomenon. They have been around since the very beginning. Cain and Abel, sons of Adam and Eve, are an excellent example. “So it came about in the course of time that Cain brought an offering to the LORD of the fruit of the ground. Abel, on his part also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of their fat portions. And the LORD had regard for Abel and for his offering; but for Cain and for his offering He had no regard” (Genesis 4:3-5a). While there is no mention in the text of Genesis about God’s standards for sacrifices at that time, Hebrews 11:4 makes it clear that such standards did exist. “By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained the testimony that he was righteous, God testifying about his gifts, and through faith, though he is dead, he still speaks” (Hebrews 11:4).

Without more information, we can only guess at the specific source of the problem. But in some way, Cain’s offering didn’t measure up. Abel’s offering was better than Cain’s in some important way. Given these facts, Cain was at a crossroads. How would he respond to his failure? Sadly, he chose to get angry rather than bring his own heart into submission. “So Cain became very angry and his countenance fell” (Genesis 4:5b). And things get worse from there. By the time the dust settles on this “worship war,” Cain’s anger leads him to kill his brother (Genesis 4:8).

If battles over worship cause me to react angrily and my anger leads me to “murder” a brother or sister, then something is seriously wrong in my heart. If God has no regard for my offerings, then the problem lies with me, not with God or my brother or sister. When such situations arise, I need to seek God’s will and bring my life into line with His will. Worship is meant to honor God, not to become a battleground.

God loves you!

Mike

Burnt Pie

Cody Bret shares the best kept secret to a long lasting relationship: “When I was a child my grandma spent countless hours in the kitchen cooking food that was fit for kings. But one day she was taking clothes off the close line outside and forgot about the pie in the oven and unfortunately didn't have the ingredients to bake another, so she took the pie out and let it cool, and set a big piece of pie in front of my grandpa. Out of curiosity I stuck around to see what my grandpa would say. But to my astonishment he ate every morsel of the piece of pie and asked me how school was treating me. Then I heard my Grandma apologize to him for the way the pie turned out. Till this day, I'll never forget his response. "Honey, this is one of the best pies I've ever had." Later, I asked my Grandpa if that was the truth. He said "Come here my boy" as he put his arm on my shoulder and said, “Your grandma had a long day and after 43 years together I know when she's tired. I couldn’t care less about the pie being burnt, but if I had chosen to say something negative about the pie it could have hurt her feelings." We all make mistakes, but we shouldn't focus on those mistakes, rather support those whom we truly love.”

The temptation, of course, is to react negatively when things don’t go our way or when others make mistakes that affect us. When we feel the urge to respond in negative ways, remember how God wants us to react. “So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you” (Colossians 3:12–13).

Relationships are more important than pies. Remember that next time someone burns one.

God loves you!

Mike

Raining Reptiles

Don’t have enough to worry about? Let me add falling iguanas to the list. The recent cold snap in the eastern US prompted this recent article. “As residents across the Gulf Coast and Southeast experience significant drops in temperatures, experts say there's a chance iguanas could drop from trees. Through at least Jan. 12, widespread temperatures 12-25 degrees Fahrenheit below typical of early January are projected to expand across much of the central and eastern United States…This sudden cold snap brings with it an unusual hazard: cold-stunned iguanas falling from trees. These cold-blooded reptiles become immobile and can lose their grip on branches when temperatures drop below their tolerance threshold…Once the temperature drops below the mid-40s, iguanas go into a dormant or cold-stunned state and sometimes fall out of trees where they go to sleep. They appear to be dead, but they are not. They remain breathing with critical body functions still operating…When fully grown, iguanas can be up to 5 feet long and weigh up to 25 pounds. Such large lizards falling from trees can cause injury to unaware humans who don't normally prepare for raining reptiles.”*

I doubt that Jesus was ever concerned about falling iguanas but He did have something to say about worry. A significant section of His teaching in the sermon on the mount is devoted to cautioning His followers to avoid worry and anxiety (Matthew 6:34). When He explained His parable about the soils, He targeted worry as one of the thorns that can choke the growth of the Word in our lives (Matthew 13:33). The apostles of Christ mirror the attitude of their Master toward worry. Paul instructed the Phillipian church to give up their anxieties and turn to prayer instead (Phillipians 4:6). Peter invites his readers to cast all their worries on God instead of trying to carry them on our own (1 Peter 5:7).

I suppose this biblical advice would apply to falling iguanas if you lived where that was a problem.

God loves you!

Mike

*https://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/falling-iguana-alert-amid-cold-temperatures-in-florida/1730875