Dear Salvation Army, Expressions of an Officer at Christmas

Perhaps this will sound poetic and a little disjunct…perhaps you will relate.
Every year we gear up, dear Officer, staff, volunteers and friends.
Every year we spend countless hours planning, preparing and executing a plan for “others”.

Expressions:
I am tired.
I am weary.
I am a little banged up and bruised.
I am bruised physically,
but most of it is on the inside…the frequent personal encounters.
the connections with the cynical, the battered, the broken, the apathetic.
many have given up.
many have lost touch with compassion.
many are consumed with self-driven purpose.
sometimes all I can do is find one solitary moment and exhale.
sometimes I have laid tired bones upon a pew in a sanctuary that is far too often deserted.

at night, following the long burdensome day
I drive home and on my way I peer past windows and homes
illuminated by twinkling Christmas lights and trees carefully donned
with ornaments, keepsakes and aspirations.
I cannot help but covet in these moments.
I cannot help but long for something that vaguely resembles idealic Christmas’
I have seen on the big screen.
I cannot help but pine for something out of reach to me.
It is selfish, I know.
It is a little melodramatic.
it is, at times, unrealistic…it is a dream, a blur in my rearview mirror.
I park the car in the driveway, hang up my coat, lounge for a time and slumber for a while
only to do it all again.

Expressions of Purpose:
In spite of these emotions.
in spite of these longings.
in spite of my covetous spirit…I plod on.
There is a reason.
There is a purpose to this.
Something beyond working tired bones to a daily grind.
Something past human personal needs.

I have seen tired, hopeless eyes.
these eyes are not the ones staring back at me in the mirror.
I see them every day.
I see them in faces of parents desperately trying to make ends meet.
I see them in the eyes of single mothers who work three jobs
and is weeping in front of me.
I see hopelessness in the dirty work clothes of an underpaid worker
coming in for a foodbox because this month’s rent is late.

We could all just pretend these needs are not real.
we could imagine they all deserve the circumstances they find themselves in
we could easily compartmentalize this
push it down
swallow the guilt and conscience…
but we are soldiers.
we are fighters
we fight for more than food boxes and funding
we fight for the lives of these hopeless souls
we fight even in the midst of our covetous moments…
when in the rearview mirror we see a life that glitters and glimmers
beckoning to us…

sometimes we have to dig down deep to keep fighting.
sometimes we have to be pulled up short to be reminded.
sometimes we enter the fray with jaded hearts.
sometimes we would prefer to spectate, deliberate and end our day
by putting it all out of our minds.

Expressions of Reason:
Yes, dear soldier,
we work this insanity at Christmas
yes, sometimes it seems unholy, improper
all in vain.
We could walk away,
others will pick up the slack
others will finish what we started
others will lend a helping hand.
Does faith play into this?
Where does our walk with the Lord lead?
Have we left Him behind in OUR works?
Have we begun to do this great thing
for man’s glory instead of His glory?
Are our intentions pure?
Or are we just chasing the dollar signs?
Capturing notoriety….
“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me...”
(Luke 9:23)
Is this what discipleship looks like?
Do we get it wrong sometimes?
are we truly denying ourselves in this?
Is this “cross” worth carrying?
These questions arise in me during this time.
Sometimes His holy presence stills these thoughts
other times they get bantered about
tossed around, chewed on, bitten into
sometimes they get spit out…

Expressions of Compassion
But in the eyes of the hopeless
in the lives of the desperate
in the darkness of the forlorn
I have an opportunity to help.
I have a chance to mend brokenness
I have these hands that are able to pick up
the broken pieces and, with the holy spirit, help
to put the pieces back together again.
Can I attain and capture this compassion?
No.
It isn’t in me…it never was, nor will it ever be…
It isn’t something I am born with
or some sort of innate empathy for complete strangers…
I am, at times,
the priest that walks on by in that parable of the Samaritan.
I am incapable of it…by my own strength, heart, and power.
Without Him, I can do nothing.
Without His strength, heart, and power
this compassion is far beyond my reach.
But…
I want to help.
I want to serve.
I want to live this set-apartness
To experience this holiness
To shine His light…
Lord,
help me to express
your restoration
your forgiveness
your deliverance
your love.
-Amen.

These are some expressions of an Officer at Christmas.
There’s nothing wrong or right about it, just expressions, inflections, conversations of the heart.
Often times these conversations become reality and represent us.
I understand weariness.
I understand frustrations.
I understand fighting this – for good and for ill.

In the end, at least for me, it boils down to where my heart is…whose heart is mine…what or who I serve…
this makes all the difference between pointless, mindless work and mission-filled service to the Almighty.

Something for the Army to ponder today.
To God Be The Glory!

December 10, 2014 5

Dear Salvation Army, The Angel Said Whaaaaaaat???

(Luke 1:26-45)
Today’s Pondering, Dear Soldier…

It had been a quiet morning as the sun seemingly struggled to wake the slumbering cobwebs from the earth. This is how Mary always began her day. She helped her mother prepare the house then it was off to collect water and the list went on… The sun began to pour into their dwelling, rays of gold catching every glimmer and spec of dust falling in the air. Mary enjoyed these silent, ponderous moments. Abruptly, her silent moment is caught by the heel and turned upside down in the most remarkable way possible. Perhaps, years later, she will look back upon her life and identify this as the moment when everything changed.

Her neck hairs stand on end and she immediately knows that she is not alone. Something behind her catches the eye…movement. Spinning around swiftly she is caught off guard by the imagery in front of her. Imagine something not of this earth, strikingly radiant, suddenly appearing in your home. Wouldn’t you be caught off guard as well?

She notices beyond the aura of light that a being stands before her.
“Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.’ An unknown voice calls out. The being’s voice is deep, confident and strong. Mary is afraid. A momentary swell of fear captures her and she is glued in place, unable to move. Mary peers around for the closest door, her muscles tense as she prepares to escape this fear. But The angel, for that is what it is, calls out again and says “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David,and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.”

Whaaaat???
Okay, perhaps Mary’s response wasn’t exactly like that, but a look of concern crosses her face. How could this be? She isn’t even married yet. She is, in fact, still a virgin. It is unnatural, unheard of, it is just too much to take in all at once. The Angel had told her not to be afraid and yet she was certainly anxious and afraid.

There in that lowly room so long ago, history was being made. It didn’t happen to a mighty queen, nor did it happen to one who was prepared for such a feat…but it happened to a teenage girl, inexperienced in the world, naive and young. How could this be? The Savior of the world is placed in the arms, or soon would be, of a young woman. Think of it! Mary experiences this theophany of sorts and the symphony of salvation is born to all the world!

I find it interesting that Mary doesn’t refuse the Angel’s announcement, or laugh as Zacharias (Elizabeth’s husband) does. She takes in this message. She absorbs the news. She is strong, much stronger than most…perhaps this is one of the reasons she is chosen to be the mother of Jesus. It still astounds us today if we contemplate it long enough. Salvation will be born of a virgin. Could it be that because of such a concept the Christ is not born into sin as we were? Could it be that all of the “messiah’s” who came before Jesus, the bloodshed, the violence was all in vain? Could it be that man’s attempts to find salvation and restoration from sin was imperfect for the lambs they were sacrificing were also imperfect and not enough? There is much to ponder here today my friends.

Immediately following the proclamation from Gabriel, Mary runs as fast as she can to the nearby village…(was it the same day? Was it immediately, as in ‘that day’? We don’t know, it just says “at that time” Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea.) Perhaps she stumbles a few times on the way in her haste to seek out solace and reassurance. Mary seeks out the comfort of family. She seeks out someone in whom to confide. No one will believe that she is still a virgin. No one will accept such a tale…but family, the trusted few will help, protect and guide.

For Us…
What do we make of this tale? What do we find reassuring from this record? Is there not something we can all glean from this? What does faith look like, dear soldier? Certainly Mary’s response to the Angel’s proclamation is a indication of courage and faith. Certainly the mother of Jesus provides us with an example of how we are to respond to the workings of the Lord. Are we so far removed from this narrative? Does this not still impact our daily lives? Mary doesn’t laugh at the Angel. She doesn’t weep and rebel and refuse to participate in this salvation story…in fact she accepts it and moves forward. It doesn’t say that her life improves immediately. I am sure she could not have hidden this pregnancy for too long. From a pure physical perspective, Mary’s life could have been in danger and at the very least susceptible to all kinds of scorn, gossip and sideways glances. “Oh look, there goes THAT Girl“.

QUESTIONS:
How do we respond to the leading of the Lord in our lives?
What is our response?
Are we fully submitted to His will or do we still struggle, moaning and groaning within this call?
Can we reflect within this holy narrative today?
Can we find comfort in a mighty God?
Have we forgotten, or taken His holy presence for granted, especially during this busy season?

Prayer:
Dear Lord,
renew us again. May we respond to you as Mary once did so long ago. We all face challenges, some large and some small, instill in us Your comfort again no matter what season we are in. We long to be your people. We long to give you praise in all things. Refine us, O Lord. Restore unto us, this joy of our salvation today! Reignite our passion to serve you and to reach out to those who are still lost. O Lord, we can do nothing without your hand upon us. Journey beside us today. This we pray. -Amen.

To God Be The Glory!

December 4, 2014 0

Merry Christmas – Re-ignite the Dance!

It is officially twelve days until Christmas, holiday shoppers are increasing while patience with our fellow man is slowly, sometimes rapidly, decreasing. Yuletide mirth and cheer are everywhere! I was driving down-town last night and the town was all aglow with ambient strings of lights hung meticulously as were the green festive wreathes on lampposts and specialty shops. The colors blurred my vision as the reds danced and twinkled to an invisible tune played by the wind as the colors of blues and greens joined in. They marked out a clear and perfect message; “Christ is almost here again!” Perhaps it was all in my head, but I heard it’s siren’s song! I heard the melodious cacophony of merriment and expectations! My heart leap within my chest as I longed to join in as its tune caught my breath and carried it away in one puff of steam rising into the cold crisp air.

I was alone, being it late at night, there in my van looking down a vacant street waiting for the light to change. The giant Christmas tree before our old red bricked city hall also glowed and pulsated as the winter wind too en-wrapped its furry bows in merriment and festooning. Such mystery and awe captured in this solitary moment. I was caught off guard and yet something that night spoke to me. Not an audible voice, nor a messenger from heaven with unfurled wings and halo to boot…though I have always longed for such a sign. But His still small voice whispered into my very soul. He made me look closely at the dance of His creation there before me. The humming rhythm and the melodies and harmonies that sauntered on the breeze and blended in an intertwining dance. He drew my eyes to the dimming lights of homes nearby and my thoughts wandered into their homes and into lives of people I have never met. They too needed to dance like this. They were missing the true celebration of Christmas. They were missing the music of creation worshiping its Creator! This music doesn’t just happen here on a cold winter night in December, but I felt closer to Him on this night. My eyes caught its fire and I was ill-prepared to take it all in.

We need to dance to the music of the Creator. We have lost this glow and joy from within our souls and hearts! Our greatest gift, our source of hope and joy is still playing our tune and message that can ignite our lives once more. We shouldn’t idly cruise on through, just trying to “survive”…I want to relish this. We have to relish this! Cannot miss this anymore. It isn’t about the lights or the trees, or even the gifts beneath the tree, it’s about God sending us His Son…It’s about Jesus saying “If they keep quiet, the very rocks will cry out!” (Luke 19:40) The rocks, lights and trees have cried out for far too long…it’s our turn to worship Him! It’s our turn to re-capture the mystery and awe of His birth! Don’t miss it again this year! Don’t be caught unaware and wake up January 1st and wonder how you will survive this next year. Stop from time to time and dance to His music. Stop and sing His praises. Stop and allow Him to shine through you into a world that still longs to wake up and dance as well.

May your Christmas be about Him, and may He ignite in you like never before!

Merry Christmas!

December 13, 2013 1

Burning the Christmas Tree

I burned the Christmas tree tonight…

warm summer breeze blew in to join

in the ol lang syne and somber tune

which added its fuel as we danced and sang

one last time.

The yule tree, now more of a yule log

hisses at us now, popping and wheezing

replacing the hohoho’s and the cheer,

blazing now here on the second of June.

This dried up timber with its wafting

scent, merriment and good tidings

cracklin’ gladly, roaring in this silent night.

I burned the Christmas tree tonight

and the boughs were a light once

more, brighter than before

in this final leg of festooning

and holiday mirth…and a lowly ornament,

long forgotten, smolders now glowing

amber, brilliantly mixing the fragrance of

the holly and the ivy with the

smells of barbecues and camping days…

and the freshly mowed green lawn.

The ornament aglow now…although more inflames,

almost reflecting the gifts now discarded

beneath its canopy, and the wrappings

now too far gone having shuffled off their

mortal coils, after advents and deepening snows

of mid february’s gustings.

So too the tree has never been

so alight tonight.

O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree

How lovely are your burning branches

The fire bright with summer light

the soothing glow of ember’s might

O Christmas tree, o Christmas tree

how lovely to behold you

…one last time.

June 3, 2013 0

My Christmas Sofa.

The wrapping paper, all ripped from the packaging is strewn on the couch and the floor. The bows have oddly landed on Christmas tree branches, the cat and the carpet. All of the children are exploring their presents, while the dog in the corner gnaws on a Christmas bone. In the twinkling lights of Christmas morning, with presents unwrapped, the tree begging for release and house eviction, and the smell of a cooking roast in the kitchen, the small voice of rest beckons to me. It isn’t very loud, but for a meek whisper which had, for two months, be drowned out by the hustle and bustle of this life. That voice whispers now into my ear, “Christmas is here”, and I find, with eyes drooping, the soft fabric of the living room sofa. That pillow, that had been someone’s seat, though still warm from gift unwrapping, makes a splendid pillow underneath this heavy head. Propping up my feet, following the countless miles of the ebb and flow of this to and fro lifestyle…ah, it feels good! Isn’t it funny how the holidays makes us pace the carpet, chew our nails, sending hyperventilation into the record books (mine was six weeks long this time around)? Now, with calloused feet de-socked and propped, and head upon this pillow still warm…that long winter’s nap calls and finally I will answer her siren’s spell. Some where in the background the noise of the television drones on, children laugh, bicker then laugh again…soon I will drift off, like a Grizzly in the wild into a hibernation state…but for a short time expelling the world, rejecting the pace while matching the tempo of a slumbering heart beat with shallow breaths…maybe a snore will be expelled, who knows?! Though here on my Christmas sofa, I am content to remain for but a moment disconnected, prayerfully undetected…let me slumber but for a bit.

Merry Christmas, and happy new nap…I mean new year!

December 24, 2012 1

A Christmas Poem

When the last wrappings
fall from hands of glee
as tinsel strays too
far from the tree
within the delight
and sparkle of the eye
we capture the
mystery of Christmas

When angels adorn
and evergreen’s hung
with songs on our lips
and carols are sung
As family gathers
both near and too far
we honor the Savior
his birth and the star

This Christmas greeting
is sent for us all
the harried, the weary
both big and the small
Christ’s birth to the lowly
redeeming, such grace
salvation for everyone
the whole human race.

December 24, 2012 0

The Angelic Announcement

¹³At once the angel was joined by a huge angelic choir singing God’s praises:
¹⁴Glory to God in the heavenly heights, Peace to all men and women on earth who please him.
¹⁵As the angel choir withdrew into heaven, the sheepherders talked it over. “Let’s get over to Bethlehem as fast as we can and see for ourselves what God has revealed to us.” ¹⁶They left, running, and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. ¹⁷Seeing was believing. They told everyone they met what the angels had said about this child. ¹⁸All who heard the sheepherders were impressed. (Luke 2:13-18 MSG)

A proclamation by a stunning Angel of light would have been extremely amazing to see in and of itself. If we had been in that field on that night would our reaction been any different from that of the Shepherds? Probably not. There aren’t too many people in our day and age that have witnessed such a sight as these humble shepherds saw in pasture that night. It’s almost a scene right out of some paranormal show, right up until the angel actually speaks you could almost envision an alien stepping out of the light with tendrils extended and the spooky sci-fi music is cued to end scene. What happens next, by all intents and purposes shouldn’t have occurred. The first people to hear of Messiah’s birth are lowly shepherds. It wasn’t the mayor of Bethlehem awakened to an angelic announcement, or a foreign dignitary, the message was directed at common shepherds doing the work that others would not be caught dead doing. For many, being a shepherd was beneath their stature in the community…yet apparently these shepherds were so important to the nativity story that God’s messengers make this startling revelation to them. Herod wasn’t alerted, and of course we’re thankful for that. The officials in Rome were not on the announcement list either. Shepherds, with staffs and slings, sitting around a fire at night get this mighty earth changing announcement. Think about that for a moment, then think about who you are. If you’re someone important then you have some grain of confidence already, but for the rest of us who, in a very real sense, are nobodies in this world…you and I matter to God and his purposes here on this earth. We don’t have to have Bill Gates’ money, or Kim Kardashian looks, or the mind and intellect of Stephen Hawking to be important to God, all we have to be is available to God.

The shepherds had nowhere important to go that night; their responsibility was to care for the sheep in that field. There wasn’t a party for them to attend, or a famous symposium to speak at; they were just there protecting weakest, simple minded animal known on earth. I still find it astounding that after all this time, after prophesies had foretold Messiah’s coming, this late breaking news reaches the common working man first. It’s comforting to think, that though status on this earth is important, wealth on this earth is revered, God doesn’t care about such earthly titles and status symbols. What God does care about is the heart. It’s a humbling thought. James 4:10 says “Humble yourself in the sight of the Lord and He will lift you up.” Shepherds in a humble, lowly state embody this verse for me today. Not only did they get a single angelic messenger, they actually experienced the first and best Christmas choral arrangement never written on this earth…a master piece of music written in heaven. That additional fact boggles my mind. I’ve heard some amazing choirs, listened to some of the world’s best voices, but nothing would compare to the vocal concert the shepherds must have heard that night. For me it’s has to rank up there like an extended guitar solo at an encore performance of stairway to heaven by Led Zeppelin. The shepherds had front row seats to the best concert available at any time on earth. That blows me away! What these lowly sheep herders did next is not only extra ordinary but it reflects their angelic visit. They leave their sheep in search of this foretold child in a manger. Following their visit, still high on angelic fumes, they declare the world changing news to everyone they meet, and once told, everyone who hears is impressed at the news.

This amazing news is still relevant after all these years, and it doesn’t take the most eloquent speaker to declare it either! God wants you to declare His majesty this Christmas! God wants our humble hearts and lives to celebrate his birth once again. We may not have ever experienced that front row concert of angels, but we can’t but help to be propelled to the manger bed once again.
¹⁵When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” Luke 2:15 (NIV)

December 12, 2012 0

The First Christmas.

Mary, seated on the back of a donkey, grimaces again as this journey seems to never end. In her discomfort, who could blame her if her attitude had turned sour amidst the many miles from Nazareth to Bethlehem? Their journey, almost four days in the making, travel weary, dusty and dirty… Mary and Joseph press on despite the constant protests by their only source of transport, the gray stubborn mule who brays every now and then breaking the pensive silence along the many miles. Over the next horizon a sight which both excites and disheartens at the same time. Bethlehem spills into their vision over the rocky crags and dusty path. It’s not a huge city mind you, but it is this young couple’s destination for the mandated census. What began with excitement having reached the end of their discomfort on the road, not settles into a strained sight. Many sojourners have also made this journey reaching Bethlehem before them. Lines of people stream in and out of Main Street; the population has drastically increased and in Joseph’s stomach settles a whole list of doubts, and fears. A series of “what if’s” float through Joseph’s head. “What if there is nowhere to stay? What will I do to help Mary get off her swollen feet? What if…what if…what if. Doubt climbs from Joseph’s stomach and into his heart as these questions become valid as they near yet another establishment offering shelter from the road. Joseph never imagined that following his supernatural visit by a heavenly being things would seem harder than before. After all, wasn’t Mary with child not of human origin proof enough, why couldn’t the Angels or even God assist in providing a place to find comfort and rest for a few days? For a brief moment He let these doubts take up residence and then as quick as an exhale of breath, he shook them off. “No.” God would provide, his messenger was certain proof of that. Casting the doubts and fears away again, Joseph and Mary continue on down the thorough fare of Bethlehem in search of bed and food.

Mary grimaces again; the contractions are closer this time, no thanks in part to the bumpy road and jarring hipbones of the mule she is seated on. It’s only a matter of time before what had been prophesied nine months earlier, would become tangible and also audible in the cries of a new born child. Mary has contemplated since the start of the journey what the baby’s features would be like, whether they would differ from any human on earth. She has felt him stir continually in the womb; he is certainly an active, healthy baby. Nearing another establishment on the far side of town, Mary breathes heavily trying desperately to remain calm in the midst of uncertainty as to where or if they can find a place to have this child. She hums the song she has hummed since the first time she felt him stir…the voice of a mother singing to her yet unseen child, is there any better picture of love than that of a love for child by their mother?

Joseph returns, but not with news of a warm bed and a room exactly…where will we be staying? The question lingers on Mary’s face before another contraction erases all concerns of comfort and replaces it with panic and a “get me off of this animal!” look on her face. Behind the small home, now converting into motel of sorts, is a place for travelers to house their mules and other journey weary animals. It’s a cave…not a four star hotel, not even a hostile on the roadway. But it’s a place to rest, and at this late hour, also a place to welcome into the world a child who is Savior of it. This is not exactly how Joseph envisioned God’s son would enter into this world. A palace would have seemed more fitting, or perhaps at least a large bustling city in a stately home, but this was not to be. He spreads the straw on the ground for Mary to get comfortable, taking off his outer garments; Joseph wraps Mary in his cloak. In the presence of livestock and the smell of dung and feed, the Savior of man enters our world. Isn’t it interesting that not only does he enter our world in the lowliest of states but Jesus amidst the earthy smells of a barn cries his first cry? The King of kings, the one who was present at the beginning of creation is now in the presence of his creation, and he is as defenseless as…well a baby. Could the scene be any more out of the ordinary? While kings and those in power jostle for more power and control, Jesus enters the world with neither…yet the entire existence and hope of the world weighs in the balance of this child laying in a feeding trough of animals. It boggles the mind. It also reminds us too of the eternal rather than the temporal. The Savior, foretold many years before this age, was here…and who was there to welcome him and invite him in? Animals, a handful of celestially shocked shepherds and eventually a few wise guys from far away.

Will you invite Him in this Christmas? Will you welcome our Savior again, renew your relationship with Him? Share it, declare it and be partakers in His birth.

“O come let us adore Him…Christ the Lord”

Adeste fideles laeti triumphantes,
Venite, venite in Bethlehem.
Natum videte Regem angelorum.
Venite adoremus (ter)
Dominum.

Deum de Deo, lumen de lumine
Gestant puellae viscera.
Deum verum, genitum non factum.
Venite adoremus (ter)
Dominum.

December 11, 2012 0

Tag: Christmas