Veteran’s Day is always observed on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. Today is November 8th, so Monday is the 11th day of the 11th month. I hope you pause sometime on Monday and give thanks for those who have served our country from the time of its birth in 1776.

Please read the quotes below, and give some thought to them.

“Courage is almost a contradiction in terms. It means a strong desire to live taking the form of readiness to die.” —G.K. Chesterton

“Courage is contagious. When a brave man takes a stand, the spines of others are often stiffened.” – Billy Graham

“The God who gave us life, gave us Liberty at the same time. … Can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the People that these liberties are the gift of God? That they are not to be violated but with his wrath? Indeed I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just: that his justice cannot sleep for ever.” –Thomas Jefferson

Since I’m an Air Force veteran, I have also included a link to the Thunderbirds. You can watch these awe-inspiring pilots, by clicking here.

When you look at the life of Jesus, it is easy to see that He was no ivory tower Savior.  If He was alive today, He might very well be dressed in blue jeans and tennis shoes as He went to the ghettos to visit the needy.

Jesus talked the talked, but He also walked the walked.  There was no hyperbole in the inviting words He spoke in Matthew 11:  Come to Me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  All of you, take up My yoke and learn from Me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for yourselves.  For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.

This invitation was for the lawyers as well as the lepers, and both learned that He could be touched by the untouchables of society.  In stark contrast to the  burdensome code of the Pharisees that created an ever-widening gap between man and God, Jesus was reachable; and, even the misused and abused woman at the well  found Jesus to be approachable.

Read what is said in the book of Hebrews, and you’ll discover a personal, and compassionate Savior:  For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tested in every way as we are, yet without sin. 16 Therefore let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us at the proper time.

Come to me is still His invitation today.

Whenever a battle is fought, it usually ends with either a victory dance or a white flag of surrender. On Monday of this week, I raised the white flag.

The first of many skirmishes that would inflict pain on my body began in the summer of 1965. I was playing third base and fielded a ground ball with my nose. The result was a broken nose and the start of what became a rather bad habit—I have broken my nose several times.

As a result of these injuries, breathing through my nose was difficult, and I could not sleep on my right side; so, I decided to undergo a minor procedure that would correct the problem.

My surgery has reminded of the truth of what Paul said to the church at Corinth: if one member of the body suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.

While I have experienced some discomfort from my surgery, I have not had any real pain. I have, however, become keenly aware of just how much influence a small member of the body can have on the rest of the body.

The same is true for a church as a whole: We are many members, but we are still just one body. If one part of the body suffers, the rest of the body will eventually feel the pain.

As Paul said in Romans 12, we need to: Detest evil; cling to what is good. Show family affection to one another with brotherly love. Outdo one another in showing honor. Rejoice in hope; be patient in affliction; be persistent in prayer. 13 Share with the saints in their needs; pursue hospitality. Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep.

If we have a member of our body suffering, we need to try to help alleviate their pain, and if a part of our body is honored, we need to join in the celebration.
Think About It!

Stan

I have been the pastor of First Christian for over 25 years. During this time period, I have shared in the joys and sorrows of many people. There is an interesting relationship between joy and sorrow. One or the other of two occurs when reality intersects with a person’s expectations.

There was the case with Job who expected only the blessings of God and lamented his plight when he faced some trials: “My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle, and they come to an end without hope. Remember, O God, that my life is but a breath; my eyes will never see happiness again.” (Job 7:6,7)
The problems of life can be like a pebble in a shoe. When it rubs against the tender spot of a dream, our steps are altered and we experience unwanted pain.

When Job’s pebbles turned into boulders, he needed a fresh perspective, so he began to look at his life from a different point of reference: “I know that you can do all things; no plan of yours can be thwarted. My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you. Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes… After Job had prayed for his friends, the Lord made him prosperous again and gave him twice as much as he had before.” (Job 42:2, 5,6,10)

While it is a bit of a cliché, there is a mountain of truth in the statement: What doesn’t make you bitter makes you better. I think this was the mindset of Paul when said: “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.” (2 Cor. 4:8-10)

The truth of life is this:
• Whatever you buy can be broken.
• Whatever you say can be twisted into a lie and misspoken by another person.
• Whatever you do can be perceived by someone as evil or a power grab.
• Whenever you go somewhere, there is the chance of getting lost.
• Wherever you live there will be some Goliath who is a challenge to you.

Like it or not, the potential of disappointment lives in the shadow of life. Kay Arthur has said: “The disappointment has come—not because God desires to hurt you or make you miserable or to demoralize you or ruin your life or keep you from knowing happiness. He wants you to be perfect and complete in every aspect, lacking nothing. It’s not the easy times that make you more like Jesus, but the hard times.”

During difficult times, we should remember that, “Hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.” (Rom. 5:5)

As I was going through a checkout lane, I asked the clerk: “So how’s your day going so far?” Admittedly, I expected the usual reply: “Oh, okay” or perhaps an “under the circumstances, fine.”

I really did not expect a blow-by-blow very detailed account of her life over the past 48 hours, but that is what she gave me; but, since I asked the question I needed to listen. Evidently, she had needed someone to listen for quite some time.

As I thought about my reaction to this lady, I reflected on the characteristically keen observations of Jesus. In Matthew 9, Jesus “saw the crowds, and He was moved with compassion for them because they were hurting and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.”

I wondered to myself: Was I moved with compassion or curiosity? Was my question one of genuine concern or complacent kindness?

Far too many times, I think I make the mistake of hurriedly looking through those who are in need, while Jesus lovingly looked deep down inside a person to see not just their wants by also their wanting.
• He saw the potential of Peter when everyone else thought he was a failure.
• He witnessed to a prostitute when others testified of her moral failures.
• He embraced sinners who were guilty of a myriad of sins, while others looked down on them with disdain.

When I left the store, I smiled at the young lady, and I said: I hope the rest of your day goes a little better. She returned the smile, and she looked as though her heavy load was a little lighter. Why? Simply because I did nothing more than take the time to just listen to her story.

I think Paul got it right when he said: “As we have opportunity, we must work for the good of all, especially for those who belong to the household of faith (Galatians 6:10).”

In September of 2005, on the first day of school, Martha Cothren, a History teacher at Robinson High School in Little Rock, did something not to be forgotten. On the first day of school, with the permission of the school superintendent, the principal and the building supervisor, she removed all of the desks in her classroom. When the first period kids entered the room they discovered that there were no desks. ‘Ms. Cothren, where are our desks?’

She replied, ‘You can’t have a desk until you tell me how you earn the right to sit at a desk.’

They thought, ‘Well, maybe it’s our grades.’ ‘No,’ she said.

‘Maybe it’s our behavior.’ She told them, ‘No, it’s not even your behavior.’

And so, they came and went, the first period, second period, third period. Still no desks in the classroom. Kids called their parents to tell them what was happening and by early afternoon television news crews had started gathering at the school to report about this crazy teacher who had taken all the desks out of her room.

The final period of the day came and as the puzzled students found seats on the floor of the desk-less classroom. Martha Cothren said, ‘Throughout the day no one has been able to tell me just what he or she has done to earn the right to sit at the desks that are ordinarily found in this classroom. Now I am going to tell you.’

At this point, Martha Cothren went over to the door of her classroom and opened it. Twenty-seven (27) U.S. Veterans, all in uniform, walked into that classroom, each one carrying a school desk. The Vets began placing the school desks in rows, and then they would walk over and stand alongside the wall. By the time the last soldier had set the final desk in place those kids started to understand, perhaps for the first time in their lives, just how the right to sit at those desks had been earned.

Martha said, ‘You didn’t earn the right to sit at these desks. These heroes did it for you. They placed the desks here for you. They went halfway around the world, giving up their education and interrupting their careers and families so you could have the freedom you have. Now, it’s up to you to sit in them. It is your responsibility to learn, to be good students, to be good citizens. They paid the price so that you could have the freedom to get an education. Don’t ever forget it.’

In 2006, Cothren was awarded the Veterans of Foreign Wars Teacher of the Year for the State of Arkansas.

As an end note to this article, I must say none of this is original to me. I was fortunate enough to have a friend send it to me as an email, and I think it is a worthy lesson to share.

When it comes to my morning coffee I usually drink my first cup of Folgers at about 5 AM. I’ve never drank a latte or a cappuccino, and I probably never will.

For all the Starbucks stylized hype about coffee, there isn’t much of a difference between latte and cappuccino. Café Latte is Italian and translates into “coffee with milk.” Since my taste buds reject any hint of milk, cream, or sweetener, I’ll keep mine simple—just black.

I read that the average price of a Starbucks latte starts about $3.50. That is about 6 times more than what I pay for my simple cup of black coffee at McDonalds—thank you Sr. Discount!

In round numbers, we’re talking the difference between $1200 and $219 which is $981. What is $981? Let me show you the power of $981. It is:
• 3,000 meals for starving children
• 9 goats and 18 chickens to help nourish a village
• A great way to start to address the water and hygiene needs of the 783 million people who lack access to safe water.

What can we do to change lives here at home and around the world? If we give up the price of a cup of coffee for a week, month, or year, are we sacrificing? What kind of an impact could we make if we gave up the price of a coke, a birthday gift, a dip of ice cream, or a cable TV channel?

What is $981? It is you and it is me. What are we willing to do to make a difference?