Remembering Those Who Serve In Every Season: Even the Bitter Cold!

When you step out into the briskness today and bristle against howling winds and biting cold, consider those who are facing these punishing conditions in training.

There is a discussion in a closed group to which I belong, reminding everyone to pray for those soldiers in the midst of meeting the requirements of the US Army Ranger School at this very moment in one of the harshest winters in years. While we fight the cold on our own terms, these amazing volunteers fight it on the unrelenting terms of the US Army Ranger School, outdoors, 24/7.

Some members of the group reflecting on their own similar experiences in the mid 1980's, recall the mission objective literally becoming survival. I recall receiving news during that era of 2 Ranger students and an instructor dying of hypothermia when caught in a particularly sudden and wicked winter storm. Many other soldiers and military personnel from all branches of service similarly continue to train as the demands do not relent in inclement weather for anyone on mission.

Do not fail to pray and give thanks for those who eagerly give of themselves for the rest of us. Consider this as you snap your coat and bundle up for today's frigid temperatures!

Day 17 of 40 Days of Prayer: Be A Servant - The Sledgehammer School of Learning

I met Mr. Tom Petty the 1^st semester of my first year in seminary.  He needed help unloading an old Toyota pickup he called “Doulos II” that was loaded with fresh vegetables for the cafeteria.  After I finished helping me, he asked me if I was interested in coming alongside him for ministry training.  I was delighted, as Mr. Petty was known far and wide as someone deeply committed to ministry and an excellent disciple-maker.  He seemed satisfied and told me to meet him at his home where my instruction would begin early Saturday morning.  He told me to dress very casually.  “Definitely my type of guy!” I thought to myself.

I arrived at Mr. Petty’s house bright and early that Saturday morning.  He was waiting for me and greeted me warmly with a friendly handshake.  He handed me a pair of work gloves and pointed me to a sledgehammer laying at the end of a very long and uneven concrete path. “Sam.” He began with his soft-spoken Southern gentlemanly drawl, “I want you to bust up this concrete for me.  It will probably take all day.”

It took all day.  I stopped only for lunch and a few water breaks, and by the end of the day, had busted up all the concrete, and was soaked with sweat from the late summer South Carolina sun.  I was also furious.  “I came here to minister!” I thought to myself. “And this joker has me doing his manual labor for him!”  As if he had read my mind, Mr. Petty put his hand on my shoulder and said, “If you want to minister, you must learn how to serve!” “Wax on, wax off!”  I thought. “I’m training with a Southern, Christian version of Mr. Miyagi!” 

I wasn’t far off target! For the next 5 years I spent in Columbia, Mr. Petty taught me how to serve, assigning me countless tasks, great and small, all focused on serving others.  Many of them were extremely physically challenging and time consuming.  Being ready to serve anytime, anywhere also made me available to rub elbows with some fantastic leaders and allowed me have some very visible moments of ministry with the Governor of South Carolina, leaders in Washington, D.C. and opened the door for me to take part in a special mission to the Philippines that was a truly life-changing experience!

A great classic from the 60’s was titled, “If I had a Hammer” citing the great changes the singer would make with his world changing instrument of justice and freedom.   Well, I had a hammer, and it enabled me to begin a journey of learning through the school of sweat and elbow-grease, teaching me what serving truly means.  Jesus said, “The one who wishes to be greatest among you, must be servant of all.”  I am still learning lessons in service, but know that the Heavenly Father calls His children not to Lord over others, but to kneel and serve.  Help me, Lord, to keep carrying my hammer, continuing to serve and to be a blessing for others!

Chicken Carbonara al Jacksoni

Chicken Carbonara al Jacksoni

Ingredients:

Parmesan cheese, chicken breasts, pasta, onion, (veggie of choice: kale, asparagus, and bell pepper work well), bacon, whipping cream, chicken broth, cream of mushroom soup, salt and pepper, olive oil.

The Process:

Lightly coat chicken breasts with salt, pepper and parmesan cheese

Pan fry breasts in olive oil until nice and brown and cooked on the inside. Set aside when cooked.

Sautee veggies of your choosing (we used onions and kale, which we later added to the sauce. You can use red bell pepper, parley or asparagus as well.)

Fry a few strips of bacon (or use already cooked bacon) and set aside.

For the sauce, we cheated and used ream of mushroom soup to start, added whipping cream, some chicken broth and parmesan cheese, brought them all to a boil, add the veggie mixture, crumbled bacon, then simmered at very low heat.

Cook the pasta of your choice. Drain.

Mix the sauce and pasta, place in serving container.

Slice the chicken breasts place on top of the pasta and sauce.

Sprinkle with parmesan cheese and you’re done

Season to taste along the way!

 Enjoy!

Day 16 of 40 Days of Prayer: Yes! When It Hurts the Most , Be A Peacemaker!

On the night I began preparing this devotional thought, my daughter shared an experience of personal and racial insult that had been directed towards her that fired the fury within me.  As I shared my angst through posting and contemplated how I might deal with the situation, I remembered the subject at hand – Be A Peacemaker!

As I considered Biblical ammunition that would support a more martial approach to conflict resolution, “To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under Heaven. A time of war…” I also remembered the words of Jesus in Luke Chapter 6,  “Blessed are you when people hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil… Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their ancestors treated the prophets.”  Soon thereafter, Jesus’ words in the Sermon on the Mount came to mind, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” 

It occurred to me that the most important time to act like a Child of God, is when people call you everything BUT a child of God!  When the conflict is most intense, the need for peace is most acute.  The Bible is clear, when conflict arises, peacemakers must rise up as well, ready to combat hostility with truth, love, forgiveness, resilience and joy.  After sharing, Victoria invited me to pay a game of indoor catch while we swap stories and discuss matters of import.  Our time was cathartic and allowed me to renew my thoughts and regain my resolve to answer hatred with loving compassion.

It is the peacemakers that Jesus said bear unmistakable resemblance to the Heavenly Father.  The best time to display traits of the family of God is when the heat is on!  Let us obey His commands to love our enemies and pray for those who provoke and disparage us, “that [we] may be children of [our] Father in heaven.”

Living As A Disciplined Peacemaker - Pastoral Thoughts On Political Banter

For many years, while I lived as a Christian, I evaded a call to ministry that I knew deep in my heart I needed to embrace.  After a period where I was in Jonah-like flight from my calling, the Lord used painful but effective means to capture my attention and redirect me to acknowledge and pursue my calling. 

Once I embraced the call, I truly began my life as a follower of Jesus, and took great care in how I approached that call and conducted my life. One area that demanded and still demands on-going wisdom and care is the area of political commentary.  I have observed that preachers are often been called upon to endorse candidates or political parties, or to "anoint" a personality as "God's person" of the hour, extending a specific blessing or curse towards someone based on a policy position or stance. I resist such endorsements and refuse to use inflammatory language towards someone I do not necessarily admire. 

I won't speak to the spiritual condition of public figures when I don't know them personally, and especially when their standing is ambiguous or "shape-shifting." I will, at times, comment on situations or issues that arise when I believe it is necessary for Gospel clarity and when I believe it might be of benefit to others.

I refrain from general political commentary and exercise care in taking part in many discussions because of the incendiary nature of many of these "discussions" and I have not found such "discussions" to be particularly helpful, edifying or informative. If I do comment or address a specific issue I attempt to take great care in respecting others regardless of their stances or positions because I am commanded, as are all believers, "If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone" (Romans 12:18).

I also try to keep in mind that written and verbal statements now remain easily accessible for perpetuity. It is therefore prudent to make sure that one's statements accurately represent what one truly believes and reflect, at the very least, an attempt at exercising care for one's message and respect for the opinions of others.

More than anything, I attempt to stay on mission, encouraging and loving others while applying this Scriptural reminder to my life and practice:

He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God (Micah 6:8).

And so, in faith, I press on, seeking to live a disciplined, peacemaking life!

Day 15 of 40 Days of Prayer: Real Love Equals Real Action

Many of the conflicts and much of the strife that damages relationships amongst Jesus followers comes from a lack of love. These conflicts can disrupt church life and disrupt the effectiveness of the prayers we lift up before God.  

Perhaps one of the sources of problems with respect to insufficient love comes from the erroneous belief that love is primarily about one’s emotions or feelings. While emotions and feelings are certainly an aspect of what love is, love is more than anything, action and deeds. 

1 John 3:18 gives this directive for the follower of Jesus, “Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.”  Loving words have a place, but it is loving action that melts hearts, breaks down walls and most decisively identifies those who know and follow Jesus.

As we approach God’s Throne of Grace, let us be sure to live and act as agents of His love and Grace. In our service and help, let us be identified as His children, in sync with Him in our prayers, obeying His call among one another and everywhere we go.

Day 14 of 40 Days of Prayer: Teach Others What You Know

Though we have eternal life in Christ, our earthly voyages are limited, and every generation is mortal.  Nevertheless, while we have limited physical longevity, we can  keep our spiritual heritage alive by entrusting what we have learned in our walk of faith to others who follow our path.  Paul called his faithful student Timothy to follow the example Paul had set for him with these words,

“And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others” (2 Timothy 2:2).

In the course of your walk of faith, invite someone else to walk alongside you.  Pass on the knowledge you gain in your experiences and studies to someone else. Be intentional.  Take opportunities to pray with them, meet them over coffee, share meals and just hang out to pass along the wisdom and insights you have gleaned from your personal walk with Jesus.

It is a wonderful to grow in one’s personal walk with Jesus. It is even better to help someone else grow to increased maturity, strengthening the legacy of faith for generations to come.