Remember....Flander's Fields

Freedom...an interesting word. The Oxford Dictionary describes freedom as: "the power to act, to speak, or to express your wants...without hindrance or restraint. "
 In the U.S....we call this "Liberty"...an independence, an emancipation...a freedom to express what you are really thinking....

 Here is a story that grips my heart:

 It was at the age of 41 John McCrae enrolled in the Canadian Expeditionary Force...during World War I. McCrae happened to be both a physician and...a poet. He used a style of poetry known as "rondeaux", which was an old form of poetry that was popular both in the 13th century and again in the 15th century. It was introduced during the Renaissance Age and was of French origin. 
 This style of poetry was structured in a format that offered a pattern of repetition focused on one central theme...or thought. The words of the author "painted" an almost "song and/or dance" as the words were read.

Here is what happened...

On April 15th, 1915, the German army attacked the Canadian army...with a chemical warfare...a chlorine gas, yet were unsuccessful in defeating the Canadians.
 It was 17 days of "pure hell"...constantly remaining awake, sights of the dead, the maimed, the wounded, and the atrocities of chemical warfare. On May 2, 1915. McCrae's close and dear friend was killed, his name being Alexis Helmer. John McCrae himself performed the burial service, and during the funeral McCrae noticed how quickly the poppies were growing around the graves of his fellow comrades.
 The following day, while riding in the back of a military ambulance, these words began to flow...from the depths of his heart...

                                             In Flander's Field

 In Flander's Fields the poppies grow
Between the crosses, row on row
That marks our place, and in this sky
The larks still bravely singing...fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead...short days ago
We lived, felt Dawn, saw Sunset glow
Loved and were Loved, and now we live
In Flander's Fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe
To you...from failing hands we throw
The torch...be yours..to hold it high.
If we break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though the poppies grow
In Flander's Fields.

 Poppies, their scientific name being "papaver rhoeas", is a flower that is used to identify
 with those who gave their lives...for our very freedom.
 This is not about who used these chemical means to win...this is about the brave...the ones who sacrificed their lives...so we can be free...today!...regardless of which side we were on.
 Red poppies symbolize the loss of life given, white poppies serve as a reminder to never use chemical warfare...again. and the purple poppies?....remind us of the victims that remain...long after war!

" There is no greater love than this, that a man lay down his life...for his friends." John 15:13

"Party like a Corinthian"...or experience "Godly Sorrow"

During the times when the New Testament was written, there was this city in Greece named Corinth. The more I study this culture, the more I sense  a type of thought and likeness we have today in our own culture that was present in the Early church...in Corinth............

 Corinth was a major city in Greece during the times of Saint Paul. It was a definite world trade center of it's time and is estimated over 750,000 lived in Corinth during this period in history.
 The Believers, that is to say those who had yielded their hearts and lives to the Lord Jesus...were mostly Gentile (non-Jewish). The expansion of Christianity had begun and was now in full swing, separating itself from being another "sect of the Jewish faith". Saint Paul had become the leader of Gentile Christians, and stood by their side with honor, Paul himself at one time being a full conservative Jew...and totally against the Christian faith.

 The center of attraction for the city of Corinth...the Temple of Diana (or Artemis in some cultures). Why?...because she was the goddess of love...and fertility. The highlight in the worship of Diana was that part of the worship given to her included having sex with male and female priests...within her glorious Temple...which is considered even today as one of the 7 wonders of the world.
 As a result of this "type of worship", came a party-like atmosphere...drinking, partying, and sexual gratifications...in all it's various forms.
 From this quite "festive mode" came a saying among many people living in that culture that would be often quoted in a manner similar to this: " Man, I think I'm going Corinthian this week-end, I just want to relax, get drunk, and find someone to go to bed with."
 Because of all this emphasis on sex...and equating that with worship, sexual sin did indeed become an issue...within the church at Corinth.

 The Believers in Christ Jesus seemed to generate from the middle and lower classes living in Corinth. Many of these new Believers in Jesus were now changing their lifestyles, moving away from the worship of the goddess Diana and all her religion had to offer. Now, the Believers in Corinth were beginning to experience something new...a "Godly Sorrow"...which seemed to give them power to change their way of thinking....their attitudes on life...and even their way of living...the lifestyles were changing. As for Saint Paul, he was delighted over what was going on and wrote two major letters to the new church in Corinth...which are now part of our New Testament books.
 Yet...there were a few Believers...who were not "buying the encouragement" Paul was giving to the Corinthian believers through his letters. These Believers were catering more to false teachers and other leaders who did not like Paul...in fact they did not like him at all...and made comments like:
1. "Paul is by no means a great leader...and should not be our leader...trust me....he isn't all that."
2. " Paul writes all these powerful letters...yet have you seen this guy in person? He is not an elegant speaker...not whatsoever."
{NOTE: These words give an image much like we would see in the movie "The Wizard of Oz." In the movie, the "wizard" projects this large image with his words being heard " I am the powerful Oz", only to pull back the curtain and see a little man from Kansas...with his gadgetry.}
3. "Paul has no "Hollywood look" about him...and he seems to carry some type of illness around his eyes. Now, is this really a type of leader we want?"
4. "Why doesn't Paul accept money from us for his labors?...others do! Is our money not good enough...for him?"
5. "Besides, Paul is not a "real apostle". He is not one of the 12 Jesus originally chose."

 Yet, with adversity, Saint Paul keeps hope of the great work the Holy Spirit is doing in the hearts...of many believers in Corinth.

 In the second letter to the Corinthians, Paul writes making it abundantly clear he is not encouraging the believers in order to have some type of control over them. Quite the opposite, Saint Paul desires the believers in Corinth to experience for themselves...the joy of having Christ Jesus in their hearts and the true joy of knowing Him.

 So, what is the "secret ingredient" that caused these Believers in Corinth to rise of out of sexual sin and not be influenced by false teachers and false statements made about Paul himself?....The gift of "Godly Sorrow".

 Godly Sorrow is by design a true gift given to us through the power of the Holy Spirit. Why? Because Godly Sorrow allows us to experience the ability to turn from our former thoughts and lifestyles to one that Christ Jesus want us to have...in order to have His Joy in our everyday lives.
 Godly Sorrow is different from just being sorry about something. Godly Sorrow gives us a solution to areas in life we may be facing...and not having to resort to "partying like a Corinthian" as the only way to appease the hurts of life. Godly Sorrow gives us the strength to resist and repent of sin in our life, deepen our friendship with Him, and provide a way of life we too...like the Believers in Corinth...can find that true enjoyment in life that only He can provide. It gives us a purpose...to live.

                         A Gleaning from 2 Corinthians 7: 10-13

 " For God will use sorrow...yet this sorrow is one that comes from Him. The purpose of Godly Sorrow is it gives us strength to turn from sin...and go after Him! Godly Sorrow is not focused on ourselves, rather, it relies on each of us putting our trust and faith in Him, which then leads us to freedom!...through the act of repentance...without regrets.
 Worldly Sorrow is not like that. Worldly Sorrow leaves you in a state of distress, and can actually cause you to turn away from Him, because your own hurts and frustrations are hinged on you...you trying to change yourself...and there is no cure in that. Worldly Sorrow simply leaves you hopeless...much different than true repentance, which is not simply an act of your will, rather, it is putting your reliance...in Him!
 Sin and sorrow is not a "finger pointing exercise"...who is right and who is wrong. It's not about punishing someone and refusing to ever accept someone again because of some gross sin.
 Godly Sorrow does expose sin in a person's life...particularly when it affects the lives of others...and does demand the sin to be dealt with.

 But, Godly Sorrow does not stop there!

 Godly Sorrow leads one to repentance and provides a way for each one of us to live in harmony with one another...and experience the joy...of knowing Him!
 Titus has confirmed this Godly Sorrow operating in your lives. He was so happy and delighted to share with me how you gave him such a warm welcome and was refreshed in experiencing for himself...Godly Sorrow operating in your lives...putting his mind to rest."

 This is the only time in Scripture...Godly Sorrow is directly addressed.

"How 'bout them Vikings?"

Still lovin' the Viking series on the History Channel, and am coming to appreciate how well thought out the series is and how accurate it attempts to project the Viking lifestyle of that time period. 
 The History Channel provides some interesting facts on the the Viking way of life, and would like to pass on some of the info the History Channel has graciously provided...in a paraphrase format....

 First, the Vikings were for the most part...farmers. Although we often see Vikings depicted with a horned helmet, sword, and shield...the truth is...they were given to farming. Vikings or Norsemen as they are commonly called, would plant oats, rye, and barley as their choice of vital crops for survival during the harsh winter months, and had learned skills such as the domestication of livestock for food rather than just going on hunts continually. The livestock included cattle, sheep, pigs, and goats and would give much needed food supplies to their families.
 In the T.V. series, there is a scene where "Ragnar Lothbrok" gives emphasis to the value of...English soil.

2. Viking women seemed to have more rights or equality than other cultures of that time period. It was not uncommon for a girl of the Norse tribes to be married at the early age of 12, and yet with her marital responsibilities came the running of the household....while the husband was away during "Raiding Season". It has now been discovered the wife was able to inherit property, request a divorce, and even reclaim their dowries if their marriage came to an end.

3. The Vikings really did bury their dead...in their beloved boats...the infamous longboats in certain situations. Because of the Viking love and enjoyment of this style of boat making, it was considered honorable to be buried in one. Some of this thought was derived from the Norse religion, who considered the boat a means of transportation...their final voyage...to "Valhalla".
 The Vikings would place their dead comrade in a boat, along side weapons, valuables, supplies, and sometimes their slaves...that had been sacrificed in honor of their owner's death. The boats would often be set on fire as it headed out to the open sea.

4. Who needs charcoal to start a fire? To start fires the Vikings would collect a fungus grown on the bark of trees called "Touchwood". After collected, they would boil this fungus...in urine...for several days. Afterwards, this fungus soaked urine would be pounded out into a rather thin and flat surface, and with a high saturation of sodium nitrate from urine, would provide a great source for a "fire starter" for any fires needed.

5. Vikings..."clean freaks"? Recent archaeological finds reveal the Vikings put some real emphasis on cleanliness. There have been found combs, razors,tweezers, and even ear cleaners made from animal bones or antlers of deer. Vikings were also found to bathe...at least once a week...which was far more than some other European cultures of their day, and "Hot Springs" seemed a particular enjoyment to these Norsemen.

6. The Vikings were quite active...in slave trade.... in fact, human trafficking was a great source of income for the various Viking tribes.
 During the "Raiding Season", pillaging areas like England, Ireland, and Spain, the Vikings would capture and sell as slaves young women and men from where they had been raiding. The Vikings referred to these captives as "Thralls", and would sell these captives throughout numerous and sometimes quite large slave markets, extending across the European continent as well as into the Middle East.

7. Vikings preferred...blondes! Brunette Viking women have been discovered to have bleached their hair with a lye-based strong soap to enable their hair to be blonde... even the men would use this soap to lighten their beards. The "bleaching of hair" actually had a two-fold purpose...it not only made their hair blonde, but would kill of head lice, a common problem during this time in history.

8. Vikings probably did not call themselves..."Vikings". Like numerous cultures of that time period, entire regions of the Scandinavian countries we know today were comprised of tribal communities with a chieftain type leadership. There really wasn't a national unity of Norse tribes, and in fact Norse tribes were known to attack one another. This was similar to the Spartans of Greece...who were led by their tribal chief.

9. Vikings liked to...ski? Vikings enjoyed the ability to get around their snowy landscape..by aid of skiing. Although Russia is given credit to this "sport", the Vikings were active in skiing perhaps as far back as possibly 6000 years. The Norse religion even had one of their many gods devoted to skiing, his name being ULLR.

10. Finally, the Viking head gear or helmets were..."horn-free". Ancient Viking helmets that have been discovered reveal no signs of horns being attached.
 It appears artists of the 1800's began to depict the ancient Vikings with this attire...both by Greek and Roman historians as well. The thought behind this was to put emphasis on how ruthless and savage these ancient Vikings were...at least in the minds of later artists and various historians.
 It is recognized that priests of the Norse religion did wear a type of horned helmet...but for ceremonial purposes...not during the aggression of "Raiding Season."
  

"Pain and Glory"...hard to comprehend at times" part 2

Continuing on with thoughts of pains and adversities in this life and the glorious hope of  an afterlife...with Him, it becomes somewhat apparent to me that any situations in our present day  life, good or bad, are not capable of producing hope...or hopelessness in our lives. Rather,it's  ourselves, through our thoughts and attitudes, our rationale and deductions, our faith and understanding, that create a hope...or for some... a hopelessness.....

 As a Christian, my faith in God requires...even demands at times...for me to dig and tap into the real meaning of God's Grace being acknowledged in my life. This is particularly true when adversity strikes in it's various forms, and I really don't know what God is doing in my own life or in the lives of those around me. I catch myself praying "God's Will be done" or the famous "If it be they Will", when in reality I don't have a clue what God's Will is for me or for those around me.
 When a child is struck with a horrible disease, a friend has an accident and dies leaving behind a wife and 2 small children, a person who has been horribly abused, or a wife or husband has been found cheating on the other, are tough scenarios we all seem to face in life. The thing is, it happens to everyone....believers of the Christian faith as well as those who reject and deny Jesus as the True Messiah. 
 What makes these times of distress almost sickening to me is the "Christian rationale" given to explain these things that happen: sin in our lives, God punishing us, or we are not really committed to Him. 
 Personally, I don't "buy" it, yet here is what I have found to be most helpful during these times: Get real and confront Him. And you know what, I think He likes that approach as well. Yet here's the thing...first I must give Him a chance to explain how life is...the good and the bad...and to trust Him...that when it is all said and done...life makes a little more sense. 
 Often we as Christians grasp this "Walt Disney" thought that because we have made the decision to give Christ our very hearts and lives....the life of suffering, hurts, or even unexplained tragedies will not come near us...because we have Jesus in our hearts. The birds softly lands on our shoulders and sings in beautiful harmony , a little deer speak to us, the flowers are jubilant with joy, and the sun shines...everyday...just like in the movies. Yet, we all know this is not true.

 So, who is this God we serve that allows suffering in its various forms...to be a part of our daily lives?...and more importantly...why? 

 Bible historians are not conclusive as to who wrote Psalm 1. Many of the Psalms are written by King David, who faced numerous difficult circumstances...some brought on by himself....yet some he did not. 
 Here in Psalm 1, there is definite instructions on how to deal with life...particularly when adversity strikes.........

                                         "A Gleaning from Psalm 1"

  " Here is how God establishes His blessings into your lives. The first thing to do is not to listen to all the suggestions and advice of those...who DON'T know Him. How these "haters" came up with their advice I am not really sure: maybe they thought God abandoned them when the first sign of adversity was near them, maybe they thought suffering and adversity were no longer a part of lives who had given their hearts to Him, or maybe they really were not real friends with God in the first place...who really knows! At any rate...you got to look at where these people are getting their information.

 Here is a better idea!

 To receive the blessings of God...that by the way being true blessings God has intended for you to have, you must first get acquainted and find comfort in knowing God is true...and faithful to each of us. Your comfort will develop as you adhere to His Commands, and you will come to the realization what He has spoken...is true, and the plans He has for me...are good plans.
 You will also come to realize that circumstances that happen in life...even the unexplained, does not have enough power or ability to turn us from Him. Instead, it drives us...to dig deeper and grasp hold of His Mighty Commands and gain a trust in the words He has spoken.
 When we make our decision to do so...to trust His Mighty Commands,  not lose respect as to who God is, and not let the influence of others be the deciding factor on which "road" we choose to go...you will be like a strong fruit tree whose roots are planted deeply in a riverbank...and because of this...produces luscious fruit...every harvest season! It does not matter how much heat it has had to endure, or how dry the season has been, or what threats of disease that it has had to overcome, or how strong the winds have been...testing the heaviest of it's branches or how solid the roots of the tree are secured. Instead, the leaves of the tree do not die, but are green and full of life, and brings with it the rewards and satisfactions...to the hardest questions life may present us.

  Yet, make no mistake...for those who think Christ is nothing more than an "old wive's tale" or ancient mythology, their experiences are quite different.
 When the first sign of suffering or adversity strikes...these people simply fall apart. They seem to blame it on a God they do not even know, and as a result any suffering is a result of God being a failure.
 In fact, they set themselves up...for the day they stand before this loving God...and expect God to apologize for the words He has spoken...that He has refused to stand up to the adversity they have faced. The truth is....they have simply run out of excuses with our loving God.

Instead:


Take your hope in this: God...chooses the life and challenges you may face...and is fully, I mean fully...acquainted with what suffering you may face. Yet, what He looks for?...that your trust...is in Him!
 As for those who tell you it is "stupid..and hopeless" to put any trust in this One you refer to as God...because of your circumstances...or say...look at what the "cards of life has dealt you"! Simply remember...they are wrong...and what they tell you leads to ruin...and destruction!"

"Pain and Glory"...hard to comprehend at times..."

It seems to me as each day proceeds forward in life, people around me are fighting off bouts with Depression...anti-depressant pills seem to be almost like candy these days, Worry is personified in the faces of many, Loneliness is staggering with so many divorces, and the "Doom and Gloom" outlooks on life....all these various scenarios circling around  like tornadoes about to drop from the skies and strike...causing devastations wherever its trails are left. 
 It's kind of weird to me...we live in a society where the comforts in life are at an all-time high...there is no generation in history that has experienced an easier way of life (recognizing their are certain societies that face extreme hardships).
  Yet, many live in pain...and all kinds of pain...

 Saint Paul in his letter to the Romans puts some emphasis on these almost "epidemic" pains and sorrows many seem to face...and he lived almost 2000 years ago.
 In Romans chapter 8, Paul begins to remind the believers in Christ Jesus in Rome the importance of having the Holy Spirit in our lives and how He is very much aware of the pains we face in everyday life. Paul explains how many have suffered various pains and disappointments and how troubles escalate in life at certain times....and Paul includes himself!
  Yet, Paul also writes we are not to get things mixed up. Our "Hope in God" is not to be judged by our present circumstances or how we feel. Our "Hope in God" is remaining focused and continuing to learn what the characteristics of God really are, reminding us how He loves us more than anyone else ever could.

 We are taught to put a personal trust and faith in God, and by doing so we will get to Heaven. Yet, I am coming to realize it is hope...our hope in Him, both to our Eternal home as well as in life in the present, that saves us from all harm...in what we face at present as well as in the world to come.
 Discouragement, those times of Dryness that arise, and Frustrations in life that rear it's ugly head...all of us face these elements. Yet, the key is not to allow these things to overwhelm, defeat, and capture us...no matter who or what has caused us disappointments.
 Even King David expresses this type of thought in Psalms 42:11 writing: "My emotions...my determination...my thoughts...all of my inner self...why have I chosen to make myself so miserable? Why has Discouragement and Frustration suddenly become my "best friends"?
 My Hope...is in Him! I am a friend of God Himself...the One and only True God. I do trust Him!...He has been faithful...and will continue to be faithful. that is what true friendship really is...He has taught me that...time and time again.
 This thought alone gives me plenty of reason to express my joy and gratitude...in knowing Him as my friend. You are my ever-present help...and because of this...You are my God!" (a Gleaning format)

 Gonna need a Part 2 for this....