MARCHING

December 2, 2016November 29, 2016 | lindamowles

Did you ever hear someone say “He marches to his own drummer.”? I think what they mean is that the individual is somewhat counter-cultural – he does not “go with the flow” – he is an independent thinker which takes him outside the group into which he otherwise would find himself.

Marching to your own drummer may be fine if we are speaking of an individual’s independent actions. But it does not bode well for those who are supposed to be marching under orders. For example, the middle school marching band does not look too bad in a still picture, but they were a bit muddled when they tried anything other than straight lines. (I know about it since I was in that band many years ago.)

marching-band-coming-at-you — Junior High School marching band, while proud parents line the streets!

But marching takes on a whole different dimension when done by the U. S. Marine Corps at the closing-of-the-day ceremony at the Barracks in Washington D.C. The band came marching out from the barracks in strict formation, all their feet were off the ground at the same time and their backs were straight, even when carrying their instruments.

marching-band-usmc — U. S. Marine Corps band marching out of Main Barracks in Washington D. C.

The sight and sound when they lifted their instruments and followed the direction of their drum major was incredible.

band — U.S.M.C. Band standing tall while playing during parade at the Main Barracks in Washington, D.C.

Then the Corps itself came marching out from the Barracks in perfect alignment and timing.

usmc-marines-marching — Marines marching in formation. Thrilling to watch, hard to do!

And they came to a stop and stood at attention for inspection.

used-usmc-attention — Standing at attention during parade at U.S.M.C. Barracks in Washington D.C.

Marching is frequently referenced in the Old Testament when the people of Israel were going from place to place in the wilderness and when they were settling down in the Promised Land.

Of course one of the miracles in the Old Testament is found in Joshua 6:1-6 where the people were told to march around the city of Jericho and God would give them the victory. While the instructions seemed strange, especially to a military people, they followed God’s command. They were obedient and the city walls fell just as God had said.

The battle to take Jericho occurred after God told Joshua to be courageous and unafraid, that God would be with him. We have that same promise that God will be with us in the person and presence of Jesus Christ and His Holy Spirit.

The overwhelming promise of peace came as Jesus was telling his disciples that He was going to suffer, die and be raised from the dead, and then He would be taken from them. He would return, but they would be on their own for a time.

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

John 14:27

When Paul was in Corinth, the Lord came to him in a vision:

And the Lord said to Paul one night in a vision, “Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent, for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many in this city who are my people.”

Acts 18:9-10.

In our world there are many wars that are ongoing and there are many soldiers marching to the orders of their superiors. But there is a war that is greater than those raging between people on earth.

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

Ephesians 6:12.

Because the war waged against believers in Christ is from spiritual forces and cosmic powers in opposition to Christ, we human creatures are unprepared and unable to successfully fight in this battle. We are doomed if we are on our own – but if we are in God and covered in His armor, we will be able to withstand the battle.

Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. … Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication.

Ephesians 6:11. 13-18.

Praise God that He provides us with the tools we can use to fight the battle.
Praise God that He has promised to be with us as we do His will.
Praise our Lord that He has given us His peace and presence, even in the heat of battle.

Listen to “Onward Christian Soldiers” as sung on Amazing Grace Songs of Faith and Inspiration by 101 Strings Orchestra.

So, are you marching to your own drummer? Or, are you marching under the cadence and direction of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ?

We are in a war of cosmic proportions and against spiritual powers that outmatch our human abilities hands-down. If we are marching in our own strength, we will be doomed. We must march under the direction of our Risen Lord and Savior … only He has conquered sin and death, and we can rely on Him to help us conquer our fears and all the temptations that come our way. March in the sure confidence that the armor God has provided will sustain you throughout the battle.

Father, I thank You that we do not have to face this battle alone. Rather, I praise your holy name that You have provided us with the tools to effectively fight powers that we cannot see, beings that are too strong for us, through your Word and your Spirit. Forgive me when I have tried to win the battle on my own. Lead me as I march through my life so that I may be a Christian soldier who brings honor to my Sovereign Lord.

MISSIONS – MORE THAN JUST BUILDINGS

November 15, 2016November 15, 2016 | lindamowles

When we visited our daughter in Texas, she took us on a tour of some of the missions and monuments erected in and about San Antonio. It was fascinating to look at these sites and to think about the people who lived at the time they were built.

used-mission-san-jose-san-antonio-texas-1782-mission-building-itself — Mission San Jose in San Antonio, Texas, built in 1720.

Mission San José y San Miguel de Aguayo was known as the “Queen of the Missions” that were built in the San Antonio area.

The priests’ rooms were built down an exterior corridor along the side of the mission.

The priests’ rooms along the corridor at the mission.

The mission was like most Spanish missions, it was not primarily a place of worship. Rather, the mission was the focal point of activity for those living in the area. It provided safety within its walls, when many of the people lived in much less secure homes. It provided social interaction and communication among neighbors who loved long distances apart. It provided a community of people who lived together and, then, who worshiped together at this place.

san-antonio-mission-san-jose-1720 — Mission San Jose – as restored for us to see and appreciate.

Mission San José has been restored and it illustrates how all the missions might have looked over 250 years ago. The grounds are beautiful and induce a sense of tranquility even though, when the mission was in use, it was bustling with activity, people and produce.

The missionaries who established the Mission San José worked on behalf of their Lord and Savior in bringing Christ to the people who had not heard of Him before.

While we may not erect buildings such as the Mission San José, we do have an obligation, as believers in Jesus Christ, to tell others of His sacrificial death and of their need for a Savior.

Jesus told us to spread the gospel in Matthew 28:19 when He said:

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

This was repeated in Acts 1:8 when Jesus told the disciples:

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

The Apostles then and the Christian believers since then have been under Jesus’ commission to be witnesses of His gospel in our home city, in surrounding areas, and to the end of the earth. That is what missionary work is – first at home, then in local areas (home missions) and then around the world (foreign missions).

Paul understood the obligation to preach the gospel to all he encountered when he said in 1 Corinthians 9:16:

For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. For necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!

Paul saying “Woe to me”? He understood the mandate to reach others with the Word of God. His conviction was so strong, that he stated this warning. We would do well to take heed to these words.

It has been said that if we do not tell others of their sin and of their need of the Savior, we do not have a right concept of heaven and hell. If we truly believed that the unrepentant person would spend eternity in suffering in hell, we would be on the street corner grabbing any and all who would stop in our effort to avoid having even one person in that horrible place.

Missions – it may be a beautiful stone structure in which God is proclaimed and the Christian life is lived out as a testimony of the power of the gospel.
Missions – it may be speaking to people in a foreign country about God and about His Son to a people who have never heard of a God of love and grace.
Missions – it may be living a Christian life in witness to God’s grace before your coworkers and being ready to speak to them of sin and punishment, of Jesus Christ and His sacrificial death, of grace and unspeakable joy in the Lord Jesus.
Missions – it may be teaching your children or grandchildren of God’s love and of Jesus’ death on the cross, leading them to learn of Him and praying that the Spirit would work on their behalf to seal them as Christians.

The following poem was taken from a tract published by Christian Laymen’s Tract League many years ago, as it was found in my Uncle’s well-worn Bible:

Speak out for Jesus

You talk about your business, your bonds and stocks and gold;

And in all worldly matters you are so brave and bold.

But why are you so silent about salvation’s plan?

Why don’t you speak for Jesus, and speak out like a man?

You talk about the weather, and the crops of corn and wheat;

You speak of friends and neighbors that pass along the street;

You call yourself a Christian, and like the Gospel plan –

Then why not speak for Jesus, and speak out like a man?

Are you ashamed of Jesus and the story of the cross,

That you lower His pure banner and let it suffer loss?

Have you forgot His suffering? Did He die for you in vain?

If not, then live and speak for Jesus, and speak out like a man.

Here is a musical offering that I pray will be a blessing to you. Ms. Robin Kochis is singing “How Beautiful” from the album Great is Thy Faithfulness. How beautiful are the feet of those that bring the message of Jesus Christ to a lost soul seeking relief from sin that only Jesus can bring.

May each of us, both men and women, bear His message wherever we go without being ashamed to raise His name!

Lord, forgive me when I have failed to speak your name to others. Forgive me when I have kept your gift of salvation to myself and have not shared with others the joy and comfort of an intimate relationship with the Creator God who we can now call Father because of your sacrifice. I praise You, my Lord and Savior. Give me the wisdom, strength and courage to speak your name to others today.

TRAINS – TOOLS FOR TRANSFORMATION!

January 30, 2016 | lindamowles

At the outset, I want to thank my Beloved Husband for acting as my consultant extraordinaire on the topic of trains, engines, fuel, etc. This has been a hobby/interest of his for decades and I appreciate his willingness to help me with the accuracy of my account below.

——-

Every Christmas we watch the 1946 classic movie “It’s a Wonderful Life” starring Jimmy Stewart as George Bailey, a man who gave up his personal dreams in order to help others. The primary dream that George Bailey had was to travel across the world, having adventures and thrills that were simply not available in the small town of Bedford Falls.

Near the beginning of the movie, George hears a train whistle and the following colloquy occurs between George and Uncle Billy:

George: There she blows. You know what the three most exciting sounds in the world are?

Uncle Billy: Uh huh. Breakfast is served; lunch is served; dinner…

George: No no no no. Anchor chains, plane motors and train whistles.

Trains. Where distances made it virtually impossible for travel between communities, the train removed that impossibility; indeed, they increased mobility and the speed at which you could cross our continent. In 1869, the first transcontinental railroad even linked both sides of our country together!

Long train — Long passenger train going to California.

Take for example this long passenger train going cross country, from Illinois to California. The picture does not say the destination, but I was on that train in 1955 as we went to visit my grandparents.

Train travel expanded the horizon so that people could experience areas of the country far from their local community. Families that were divided by hundreds and thousands of miles could now visit, after a marvelous trip on the train.

There were trains of various sizes and purposes, fueled by a variety of materials; but all were intended to go from one place to another.

The Norfolk and Western 611 is a steam engine that was based in Roanoke, Virginia. My husband has a long history with this particular locomotive. It has recently been restored to pull excursions.

Train 611 in curve — The 611 steaming through a curve.

The Alaska Railroad runs trains throughout the State of Alaska and the trains provide vital links to supplies and assistance to those folks who live in areas outside of the cities. Numerous reality television shows illustrate the railroad and its involvement with the “off-griders” in Alaska.

Train Alaska Railroad train engine, cropped Anchorage (C) — Alaska Railroad train engine.

The Alaska Railroad also has tours of the state, with beautiful observation cars for the tourists’ enjoyment.

Train Alaska Railroad Train observation car, Anchorage Alaska, Moore (C) — Alaska Railroad observation car.

Railroad train - inside observation car — Inside the Alaska Railroad observation car.

And there are train engines that have specialized purposes … consider the snow plow in Alaska!

Train - snow plow on engine front — Snow plow to be used on the train tracks in Alaska.

Then there are the trains that carry freight from one place to another. Imagine how many trucks would be required to carry the freight that one train can pull!

Train - Freight train Rio Grande — Freight train Rio Grande Railroad.

Yosemite 2011 Sugar Pine Railroad Train (C) — Yosemite Sugar Pine Mountain Railroad.

Along the Blue Ridge Parkway, you can go just a little off the road and find train tracks that have long been abandoned, reminiscent of the logging activity that took place there centuries ago.

Train Century old logging railroad train in Blue Ridge Mountains — Centuries old abandoned logging tracks through mountains along the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Trains made the impossible possible. The Iron Horse pulled loads that were way beyond the ability of human or equine strength. The train could go into terrain and through inclement weather better than any transport available to man. Communities were brought closer because of the connection made by the train schedule. Isolation was lessened when the train arrived with materials from far away places.

Indeed, trains encouraged dreams and imaginations, as exploration of what was beyond the normalcy of life became a reality. While airline and automobile travel may have eclipsed the train for some, it is hard to comprehend what our country would be like if it were not for the trains that belched their way onto the scene in the Nineteenth Century.

But trains would not have accomplished the revolution that they did if they just sat on the tracks and didn’t GO. In order for the Iron Horse to fulfill its mission, it needed power. That power came from various sources: wood, coal, diesel oil, and electricity, but there is no debate that power was required to have functional trains.

As Christians, we are to be Jesus’ hands and feet, His words are to come from us and we are to express His love to those around us. It certainly is no easy task since we are sinners, saved by grace, and we have to fight our sinful nature to do that which Jesus commands. In short, we cannot live the Christian life in our own power – we have to have the Holy Spirit within us to give us the power to overcome evil, sin and Satan.

Prior to the beginning of his ministry, immediately after his baptism by John, Jesus was led into the wilderness and was tempted 40 days by Satan. Jesus successfully withstood the tests hurled at him and, at the conclusion of the 40 days, Scripture tells us in Luke 4:14 that:

Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and a report about him went out through all the surrounding country.

Through this Holy Spirit, He was able to heal and teach as no other had done before. See Luke 4:32 where we read that the people “were astonished at his teaching, for his word possessed authority.” The King James Version of this verse says that “for his word was with power.”

In Luke 14:29 Jesus promises that the disciples would receive power from the Father, but they need to wait.

“And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”

In the Book of Acts, Jesus tells his disciples why they would receive power from His Father:

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Acts 1:8 [ESV]

On the day of Pentecost, this promise was fulfilled, and as evidence of the power of the Spirit that filled the disciples, we read:

And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. Acts 4:33 [ESV]

The same Spirit that powered Jesus is available to us as Christians for the empowerment of our life and witness. Indeed, when we become Christians, the Holy Spirit takes up residence in our heart and we read the Scripture with open eyes and an understanding that the Spirit provides. The Holy Spirit empowers us to be bold in our testimony so that we give an answer to any who ask about our Savior. In short, the Holy Spirit is the power for our life in Christ.

The train transformed our world. Its power accomplished much and we have evidence of the trains’ successful work throughout not just our land but the entire world. Trains had a variety of functions and purposes, but they all worked together to transform society.

Jesus Christ has transformed our world in a much more important, eternal way. His disciples are not all the same, each has his/her own spiritual gift to be used for building up of the Body of Christ. One by one, His disciples are spreading the gospel throughout the world and people are hearing of His work and saving atoning grace through His death and resurrection. Through that witness, God’s mercy is extended to people who are becoming children of God and are being adopted into His family through faith in Christ alone.

The train cannot sit in the station without power and expect to do any work. The train’s impact on the world becomes evident when power is used to get the job done. Likewise, we, as Christians and believers in Jesus Christ, cannot sit in the church pew and expect that we have fulfilled some sort of obligation to our Savior. We must access the all-sufficient power of the Spirit that will transform all those who are to come to salvation in Jesus Christ. We must represent Jesus Christ to each individual we meet, all through the power of the Holy Spirit and to the glory of God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Father, forgive me when I have failed to access the power you have provided through the Holy Spirit. Forgive me when I have not ministered to others as Christ would have me do, simply because I was too lazy to take action. Forgive me when I have failed to spread your Word to others in need. May I have the impact on my world that you want me to have so that your kingdom will be increased, all to your glory and honor.