War. What Is It Good For?

There’s an old song that proclaims this adage for some, “War. What is it good for?” And the singer answers himself to say, “Absolutely nothing!”

*I do not own nor possess this pic.*

As we have a war raging on the other side of the world, this song came to mind, and it caused me pause…

Pause, to think.

Pause, to wonder.

Pause, to ponder.

War is always devastating. It is always mind boggling. It is always consumed with questions and concerns. It is always heartbreaking and oh. So. Overwhelming.

Overwhelming enough to bring panic.

Overwhelming enough to bring depression.

Overwhelming enough to bring paralysis.

War often can bring a surprise along with it. Although, we wish it came so differently, it can bring a sense of togetherness, a bonding that would never happen in any other scenario. Whether they be broken, fearful, wounded or strong, it’s a gathering of souls.

Souls that need protection.

Souls that need encouragement.

Souls that need reckoning.

Souls that need redemption.

War, in a crazy kind of way, can bring about resilience never realized until that moment. War can bring about courage that is fortified in the midnight hours. It can bring about a needed change to rebellious hearts.

Hearts that beat as one.

Hearts that beat with anger.

Hearts that beat with fear.

Hearts that beat with love.

Love can rage war on evil like nothing else ever can. Love can bring light to the darkness. Love can bring hope to the hopeless. Love can bring resistance and a halt to evil that would try to prevail.

And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

1 Corinthians 13:13

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have thegift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.

1 Corinthians 13:1-3

Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.

1 Corinthians 13:4-8a

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

John 3:16

Whose Hero Will We Be?

I’d like to ask our modern culture and our “evolved” Christian believers, “When did we get to the place where Truth cannot be spoken for fear of offenses and sin cannot be confirmed for fear of judgement?”

If we are a follower of Christ, Truth is absolute and irrevocable, and sin is sin, not just “grace-filled” or “judgement-filled.”

When did we get to the point where we care more that we not offend someone than we do about their very souls? When did we get to the point where we work so hard to preach grace that we forsake the reality of sin, hell and an eternal death?

If we read the Bible, from the front cover to the very last page, God is so very clear: the wages of sin is death.

We’ve gotten to the place where we’d rather argue, and too often quite hatefully, with our brothers and sisters in Christ over the possible offenses taken or not taken over an issue rather than the merits of truth.

We’d rather drum up dissension over the intentions of someone’s words rather than seek His Word for His truth on the subject at hand.

We’d rather slash the hearts of our fellow kinsmen, and in turn, wound those who are listening and trying to find their own answers, rather than speak with love AND truth and let the Holy Spirit bring forth His conviction and mercy.

It sounds too much like the arguments of old, when men and women would argue over the color of the pews and the length of the choir robes while their babies were battling issues of sex, drugs and rock and roll.

It smells too much like the wayward youth of decades past who fought so hard for their independence and their owns rights that they forsook the ancient boundaries set before them to show them The Only Way.

It looks too much like the sly dealings of darkness who always brings forth confusion, contention and chaos in order to distract, disengage and devour those who are most vulnerable and afraid.

Wake up, Church. Lift up your eyes.

Look upon the One whom we have pierced! Gaze upon His torn flesh, His stripes, His pierced hands and feet.

He was wounded for OUR transgressions.

He was bruised for OUR iniquities.

It was not for someone else but for you and me.

It was for our own prideful stance. It was for our own arrogant words.

Not a one of us is not guilty. Not a one of us is worthy of the mercy and grace He gives.

It is time for us to stop claiming our own opinions and laments as Gospel. It is time we stop doing what is right in our own eyes.

Lives are at stake.

The innocent lie within the balance.

It is time we all repent.

Moses stood between the children of Israel and God’s burning wrath. Moses stood between the children of Israel and the armies of Pharaoh.

Moses cried out to God for their lives to be saved.

Moses was their hero. God was their Savior.

Whose hero will we be?

…if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

2 Chronicles 7:14

Peace, Peace, America 🇺🇸

I used to sing this song to my boys as I rocked them to sleep at night.

No matter how rambunctious or adventurous their day had been, miraculously, it always seemed to calm them.

I wish I could symbolically “sing” this over our nation tonight…and even our world.

It may be a bit old fashioned, but maybe take a minute to listen…

https://youtu.be/lZtuYAgHIvU

Christian or Nah?

Spent a lot of time reading today, and one particular thought kept recurring through my head as I read this post by a “Christian” and that blog by an “nonbeliever” and a tweet by a “Christian who is a professional” and then an article by a “self proclaimed heathen” and so on…

Observation for today: If you call yourself a Christian, yet mock those who have overcome failures and defeat, focus more on race, politics and cultural agendas, and create division rather than unity by your words and/or actions,

what is setting you apart from the world??

…and if we are not set apart from the world, why would “they” want anything we have?