"I Will Come Back"

Hiroo Onoda didn’t want to give up.  The Japanese Imperial Army training he received taught him a code of honor which proclaimed that death was better than surrender.  A soldier is trained to receive and to follow orders, and Mr. Onoda was a soldier.  He was, you might say, a “soldier’s soldier.”  So, when Mr. Onoda was assigned to Lubang Island in the Philippines in 1944 he was promised by his superiors that “Whatever happens, we will come back to get you.” (Wikipedia, “Hiroo Onoda”)

Lubang Island was conquered in 1945 by the forces of the United States and the Philippine Commonwealth..  The troops with whom Mr. Onoda served either died in the final battle or they surrendered when the end was inevitable.    However, Mr. Onoda and three other soldiers refused to surrender.  “Whatever happens, we will come back to get you.”  So even though the war was over, Mr. Onoda carried on, not believing the end had come.  No one had come to relieve him of his duty.  One by one his companions left or died during the “battle” which they continued to wage.  Oh, the Japanese tried to get Mr. Onoda to understand that the end had come: they sent leaflets telling him to come out of the mountains; they sent him family photos inviting him home.  There were attempts by family members making appeals over loudspeakers for him to come out of his hiding place. (WSJ 1.17.14)  But, when the commander says he is coming back, a true soldier keeps fighting until the commander comes back.

So it was in 1974 that someone prevailed upon Mr. Onoda’s commanding officer to go to Lubang Island for the sole purpose of relieving Mr. Onoda of his duties. Mr. Onoda then could finally surrender his weapons as commanded and he went home.  He was a hero on his return home, but he did not enjoy all the attention. After all, he was only doing his duty. Upon his return home he married; became a rancher; and then headed up a school in Japan.  He died in 2014.

The King says, “…I will come back and take you to be with me that you may also be where I am.” (John 14:3) Our call now, is to be the “soldiers” of the Cross. If you will accept this assignment, wherever you have been sent to serve, remember your orders:  Do not give up; no matter what anyone tells you, you are not alone, so keep up the battle; and never, ever, surrender to the enemy. “I will come back and take you with me.”  It’s hard to believe, some days more than others. But if it were not so, Jesus wouldn’t have said it.  Believe that, and live.

"Your Best Year Ever" Pt. 3

“Are you willing to sacrifice whatever is needed to achieve your goal? If not, don’t try. But if you willing, well then: Go! Start making your year the best!”

When Michigan State Football’s Head Coach, Mark Dantonio, traveled to California in May of 2013 he carried with him a goal. He wanted to take his team to the January 2014 Rose Bowl in Pasadena California.  So, being a  Big Ten football coach he found a way to get onto the Rose Bowl field where he stood, alone, forming a picture in his mind. He imagined what it would be like to be standing in that very place on January 1 as the victorious head coach surrounded by his green and white clad team.  As history would have it, that is exactly what happened. For the first time since 1987 the Michigan State football team achieved its annual goal…appear in and win the Rose Bowl.

Now, could the visualization of the coach, who, let’s face it, doesn’t even play in any of the games, make the vision come true?  I think so.  I think that what the leader of any organization, whether it is a football program, a fast food restaurant or a family unit, what that that leader dreams about makes a difference for the entire organization.  The leader’s job is to impart to the “team” the leader’s vision for the “team.”  The second step is to help them adopt that vision as their own, and to then help them take the steps needed to make the vision, the dream, a reality.  Without that last step, of course, the vision is without meaning. It is a mere fairy tale without the commitment to do what is needed to make the dream come true.  If the Michigan State football players adopted the vision and then spent the football season playing only video football then the only Rose Bowl they would be playing is the one on a video game.  Making dreams come true, whatever they are, requires a vision that for you is rational; a dream that you will write down and keep before you until achieved; and it is one that you will work at with intensity and commitment until achieved.  That’s how you make 2014 your best year.

The prophet Joel’s most famous words are “your young men will see visions and your old men dream dreams.” (Joel 2:28)  You see, God gives us visions and dreams.  God even helps to make those visions and dreams a reality.  But, we have a role in the reality-making process. This is what makes life worth living. It is what makes life fun.  Whatever your goal is for 2014, visualize it right now.  Ask God to confirm that this vision is “of God” and then ask God to stand in that dream with you and to make it real.

"Your Best Year Ever!" Part 2

“What would need to happen for 2014 to be the best year ever for you personally?  For your family, your work, your relationship with God?  Do you want it to happen?”

These are the questions I urge you to think about in more than a passing way today and this week.  If you are able, write down your answers. I know some of my readers have physical restrictions which prevent them from writing, so ask your dearest friend to write them down for you.  And then post the results somewhere special for you, someplace where the answers will pop up as a surprising reminder of your goal.  Choose SMART, rational goals you deeply desire, which you and God together can achieve.

Some examples: a friend of mine is concerned about her business. There are some unique challenges which will make it hard to keep her successful business in operation this year. She asked me to pray about this with her, and I am going to do so.  But, it is not enough to pray just that the business is a success; it is important to pray about why we want it to succeed. How will God be glorified in its success?  My friend dedicates her business success to doing God’s work in her community.  If you have a financial or business challenge this year, will you pray for God to bless it, and will you offer God the glory when that happens, offering back to God a gift of thanksgiving?

Another friend of mine was in his mid-80’s had lived a good life, offering much back to God. Yet he had one unresolved relationship which troubled him. He had heard all of the sermons about righting wrongs but he could not bring himself to conquer this one last hurtful problem.  But, he was about to go on a trip, so he came to see me and I was authorized to invite this other person to our meeting. There, together, he said the things which needed to be said to make the relationship right.  After a decade or more the two of them were able to be at peace with each other.  My friend went on his trip and on the day of his arrival natural causes brought an end to his life.  I think that conversation made it his best year ever, for he was at peace on earth, and then he was at peace in heaven.  Making this year your  best year ever might be as simple, and as hard as this: reconcile with someone on this earth; reconcile with your God in heaven.  You have fifty weeks left to get this done, I hope.

One last question: are you willing to sacrifice whatever is needed to achieve your goal? If not, don’t try. But if you willing, well then: Go! Start making your year the best!

Shalom,

"Your Best Year Ever?" Part 1

I will start with a confession.  I missed my goal. I ended 2013 eight-tenths of a pound short of my weight goal.  For 365 days I worked toward a specific goal which I had set on January 1, 2013.  On December 31, 2013, I got on the scale and saw the bad news. I failed.  So, I began to rationalize. “Well, Bill, you lost a lot of weight that you otherwise would not have lost.” “Yes, but I failed, and why? Because in the final days of December I decided it was worth more to me to share in the holiday food and beverages with friends and family.”  “So, what was the problem, Bill? A lack of will-power?” “No, stop accusing me of that! It was a value judgment and I can accept having missed the goal for a good reason.”  “Well, William,” (that’s always what I call myself when I am upset with me) “in 2014 why don’t you have your annual goal end on Dec. 15, before the friends and family parties start?” “Great idea, Bill, I will do it!”

And that, my friends is an example of rational “goal-factoring” which is taught by the Center for Applied Rationality. (WSJ, 12.31.13)  Angela Chen writes a great article about the way scientists and software programmers are taught to develop achievable goals.  An irrational goal: saying you are getting up at 5:30 a.m. every day to exercise when you are not a “morning person.” You won’t do it and you know you won’t do it.  In setting your goal, imagine it is six months hence. How surprised are you if you did not reach your goal. If you are not surprised at imagining that you stopped getting up at 5:30 a.m. after two weeks, then it is a dumb goal to begin with.  Goal-factoring is, really, a take-off, I think, of the SMART goal-setting approach (setting goals which are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound.) (Wikipedia, “SMART Criteria”).

And what got me thinking about all of this, besides my bad encounter with the mal-functioning scale on Dec. 31, was a comment made to me by “coach” who I turn to for help in learning to lead our congregation of the faithful. He challenged me to ask, “What would it take to make 2014 your church’s best year ever?”  I am thinking through that question. I am going to ask lots of people that question this month, and by February 1 I am going to have an answer.

What would need to happen for 2014 to be the best year ever for you personally?  For your family, your work, your relationship with God?  Do you want it to happen?

"Your Best Day Ever?"

One of my stress-busters during the “holiday season” is to watch syrupy, formula Christmas movies with my wife, Jill.  She selects the best of Hallmark or Lifetime, all of which follow pretty much the same plot. Someone loves Christmas; someone else threatens to ruin Christmas; a “miracle” happens to transform the “Scrooge” character so that he or she saves Christmas. And I cry at the end every time. I cannot help myself. I see it coming but, anyway, bam, they get me.  Besides the redeeming value of taking my mind completely away from everything else for 90 minutes, every once in a while there is a memorable line, like this one spoken by the Christmastide fan to the Scrooge-character: “What was your best day ever? When you don’t know you can fail; you can smell it; taste it; you know you can hit it out of the park?”

Which got me thinking about what was my best day ever?  What is the meaning of “best” anyway? Does it mean “most memorable”? “Most life-altering?” “Most fun?” And then I started wondering, would my best day ever be a day about what happened to me, or what happened to someone else, someone I love?  Is “best” defined by the best slice of pizza I ever ate or the best hotel I ever stayed at or the most romantic night I ever had with my wife?  It is really hard to select one day out of a 59 years.  The easy answer, is of course, my wedding day, and the days my children and grandsons were born.  But, for purposes of this quiz, let’s exclude those days.  What were the elements of your best day ever? Why?

I find it easier to reflect in shorter blocks of time. Like today: I am going to spend the day with our son and grandsons watching the Badgers play basketball in Madison. Or Christmas Eve, listening to our daughter share a Christmas meditation and two daughters in the faith meditate in word and song about the incarnation. Or Thanksgiving Day, having spaghetti in the box meal with Jill in a hotel room followed by a winter walk in the downtown area looking for stores opening early.  All “best days.” 

As you reflect on the year gone by, was there a day or a few days which jump off the calendar at you? Who was there? Where were you? What were you doing?  And then say a prayer of thanksgiving for that experience, for the blessing of God upon that day, that time, those people.  On you.  And wonder, is my best day ever still to come?

Sunday Dec. 22 Worship Service at Hope Church

As we were unable to have worship at Hope due to weather concerns, I am posting the summary of the elements of today's worship service. May you join your heart and voice with mine as we worship our God and the Child who is King!
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Advent IV

*Be silent as you prepare to receive the WORD...O Come Thou Dayspring, Come. Emmanuel...God is with us.

*The Word is brought forward to remind us, Christ has come, Christ is coming again.  All of the Advent Candles are lit, save for the Christ Candle.

*Our help is in the name of the Lord who made heaven and earth. Grace mercy and peace to you from God our Father and his Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ!

*O Come, Desire of Nations, bind All peoples in one heart and mind. Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

*Good Christian Friends, Rejoice with heart and soul and voice; Give ye heed to what we say: News! News! Jesus Christ is born today!

*Psalm 80: Hear us, Shepherd of Israel...Awaken your might; come and save us. Restore us Lord God Almighty; make your face shine on us that we may be saved.
*Matthew 1:18-25; The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ!

*Thou Didst leave thy throne and thy kingly crown when thou camest to earth for me. O come to my heart Lord Jesus, there is room in my heart for Thee!

*Father, we confess that we have failed to see the signs; that we have put our own spin on your signs of peace. Amen.
Friends, your sins are forgiven today, from the cradle to the cross the sign of peace is carried to your heart. Now, go and bring signs of peace to your neighbor.

*We worship again Christmas Eve at 6 p.m. Bring a friend who is seeking the calm promise of Christmas Eve as we celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ.

*We pray this day for safe travel; for healing; for a healing presence among the people of Hope; for the message of peace to heal strife-torn places. We pray that Christ, the Blessed Child, the Risen King, would be praised in the darkest places. Let your light shine upon us, Emmanuel! We pray with Christ, Our Father....

*Isaiah 7:10-16; The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God!

*Sermon: Signs of Peace
King Ahaz was troubled as his enemies came to de-throne him and destroy Judah. He fancied he should submit to the invading enemy. But, Isaiah offered a solution: ask God for a sign that he will bring peace! Ask for any sign, from the heights of heaven to the depths of hell. But Ahaz was too proud, too fearful, to seek a sign from God. He, the king, would provide the solution.  So, God sends a sign anyway, "the virgin shall conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel (God with us).  God was with the remnant of Judah, but Ahaz and his nation were defeated.

What troubles stare you in the face today? Where are you looking for solutions? Where do you seek peace? God is sending you a sign this day. Will you see it? Will you seek to understand the beauty of this simple and amazing sign: God sent his son to take on your flesh and to live in your heart. God is with you. Do you see the sign?  God will conquer your enemies if you will receive the sign of peace.

A sign does not create faith though. God still expects you to step forward in faith. God expects you to trust him in your journey. Where do you need to trust God's direction by faith today?  Then, after you step forward in faith, God will send you a sign to confirm that your faith was well-placed.

Joseph doubted whether to stay with Mary, the mother of the miraculously conceived child. But, he was reminded, this pregnancy is the will and act of God. So, he married the young girl, the virgin mother.  And so, the sign of peace given to Ahaz was lifted up again: God is with us. Trust God to make a way.

As it was with Joseph, so it is with us: do we hear the angel speak; do we trust the Spirit's action? If so, then God will send a sign to confirm God, this is of God.

Jesus is with us. Now, and in the hour of our death, and then in the hour of our new birth.  Look for the signs of peace that confirm Jesus is here: 5000 meals offered in First Hope Meals. 5000 hours of companionship and prayer for our Kids Hope kids.  Mary Justus starts a little wave of peace-giving, one person at a time.

There are signs of peace all around us. Will we be blind, like Ahaz, and trust our worst enemy? Or will we be faithful, like Joseph, trusting that God knows what he is doing in your life, and that whatever it is, and wherever it takes you, God is with us.  Look for the sign of peace in your life this week. God is with you! Amen.

*I heard the bells on Christmas Day: God is not dead, nor doth he sleep; the wrong shall fail, the right prevail, With peace on earth, good will to men."

*The Lord Bless you and Keep you; Accept God's Love; Be confident in your faith and hope; and Carry the Light of the Cross. And on this final Sunday of Advent, let there be peace on earth and let it begin with....

*Let There Be Peace on Earth

AMEN and AMEN!!

"Imagine This!" Rated PG-13

Mrs. Claus was in top form.  Her audience, consisting of daycare kids ages 2-5, were in awe that Mrs. Claus had taken time to visit them. And, what with Christmas Day being so close, of course Santa was not expected to be there in person.  Mrs. Claus acknowledged the Elf on the Shelf, recalling for the children the work he had done so well at the North Pole before being dispatched to be Santa’s eyes and ears in the daycare center. The curious children asked the questions about the reindeer and flying around the world and a dozen other topics which gave evidence to their being true believers.  All except for one little girl who stood quietly in the back of the room.  She eyed Mrs. Claus with great suspicion, for she had the appearance and voice which looked just too much familiar, bearing an eerie resemblance to the lady from the front office who sometimes comes to talk to the adults running their daycare.  And anyway, perhaps the little girl wondered, how exactly did Mrs. Claus get here if the reindeer are at the North Pole?  Well, the time came for Mrs. Claus to head back to supervise the final preparations for Santa’s big day, so she bade farewell to the children.  All except the doubting little girl who now slowly approached Mrs. Claus and as she got close she peered into her eyes, just double-checking if this was the front office lady or not.  And then she reached up with her tiny arms and put them around Mrs. Claus’ neck and hugged her tight saying, “Thank you so much for coming. I am so glad you are real.”

Now, here’s why this is rated PG-13: Mrs. Claus is not real.  One day reality meets our imagination, and one day, sometimes with a boom and sometimes like a slow dawn, we learn it isn’t so.  But, we, or least I, never want to be the one who tells a true believer that it isn’t so.  Imagination is, after all, the beginning of faith.  You see, children of the Most High God are introduced to the concept of a God they cannot see; and Christian children are introduced to the idea of the baby Jesus, at about the same time they first meet the red-suited couple and their little helpers.  They imagine it all. And they have no reason not to believe any of it because Momma or Grandpa says it’s so, and so it is.  But then, one day, we all learn the Claus’s are not real.  And then something amazing happens: the God, the Jesus, we imagined becomes more real.  Born inside of us is a faith which knows that God, that the Baby and his young mother Mary and her trusting husband Joseph are as real as Papa and Grandma told us.  Oh, sometimes we wonder where God is, and maybe if he is.  But the gift of the Spirit is a sign just when we need it that the Gift in the straw is real.  We may approach the stable doubting,  needing to look someone right in the eye, just double-checking. But then each Christmas we finally are able to say, “Thank you so much for coming. I am so glad you are real.”

Merry Christmas!