From the Mouth of Babes

I had one of those very proud daddy moments the other day. My oldest daughter brought home a social studies test with a 100% on it (which is not rare), and my beautiful wife said, "I think you should take a look at this." I glanced, saw the grade and told my sweetheart what a good job she did, but my wife said,"No, I mean you need to read this, you would really appreciate it." Thank God for godly wives like mine, because this was one of the greatest things I ever read. 


Question:
If you were going to present a law to be passed please (1) tell me what the law would be and (2) why you would want it to be passed.


(my daughter's answer)  
A law that I would like to be passed is no war. I want that to be a law because people wouldn't die in sneak attacks. I would also like that law to be passed because there would probably be more children with parents. Also there probably wouldn't be as many people dieing. Another reason I would like that law to be passed is because children's dads or moms or both wouldn't leave them to go off to war. Another reason is kids wouldn't be waken up by big bomb explosions. Another reason is everyone would be treated fairly and have equal rights like the United States if they were not fighting each other. That is why I would like this law to be passed.

Not only is this a beautifully thoughtful answer, but it means even more to me. My daughter at age 9 has expressed what it took me until very recently to fully realize. 

You see, I have always know that I could never go to war, that I could never commit myself to a cause that would mean killing another person. I spent years questioning why I did not have this deeply patriotic feeling of obligation to fight and die for my country. Killing in the name of patriotism, liberty, democracy, justice, freedom, or even God never justified killing. 

Not long ago, my friend and I were talking about my outlook on war, and he told me about many Gospel preachers in the time of the civil war who wrote about having the same feeling, and how they were unable to reconcile what they read in the Scripture with what they heard men on both sides defending their cause with. 

I was floored when my friend then joined a branch of the military. I reminded him of how I felt, but told him I respected him. I respected him the way I respected my other friends who "joined the cause." I appreciated their devotion and the ends they wanted to bring, even though I knew that I was at odds with the means. I respected the long line of soldiers in my bloodline. Cousins in the army, grandfathers in the national guard and navy, great-grandfather in the civil war, etc. But it was different this time.

This friend had been in front of or beside me through every step of my spiritual growth since I was 18. We were always looking at the same Scriptures, debating the same issues, coming to better understand the same concepts. This was the first time I felt we were divided. But that's the way it is, you don't always see things the same way, and it is ok. It is part of being an individual, it rarely makes one person closer to or further from God. So I continued on my path and he on his. I came to see more and more clearly that war was not a part of God's plan for Christians. Little did I know that my friend was on the same track.


Recently, this same friend introduced me to a group of Christians who feel the same way. People who, through study of Jesus' teachings came to see that, as Paul put it "God has called you to peace" (Col. 3:15). The message we bring is the "Gospel of peace" (Eph. 6:15), Jesus said pray for and love your enemies (Matt. 5:38-48). Paul said do not repay the evil of your enemies, but feed them, give them a drink, be good to them (Rom. 12:17-21). This Church of Christ Peace Fellowship embraced the fact that Jesus, the apostles, and all the New Testament writers have nothing positive to say about war. Jesus may have said that taxes belong to Caesar but He also said that His servants would fight if His kingdom was of this world, but it is not (John 18:36).

This took me years to understand, and I have shared this message with those who would listen, but not with my daughter. Why? I don't know. We are still working on more basic Bible concepts I guess. Without my help, she came to the same conclusion. What brought her to it? Her love for others. One of her friends had a visit from her dad who is in the army. She cried when he dad left and shared with my daughter how much it hurt to worry about weather or not her father would die in some foreign country and never see her again.

Here is the funny thing. Soldiers came to John the Baptist to be baptized, you know what he told them? "Do not extort money from anyone by threats or by false accusation, and be content with your wages" (Luke 3:14). Why did he not say don't go to war? I believe that it is because he did not want to say it was a damnable sin to go to war, and I am not saying that either. He set them on the path of righteousness, he directed them to Christ. Christ taught love as our defining mark (John 13:35), and love eventually teaches us that peace is to be honored above war. War may be a way to bring about some good things, but it is not the only way, it is not the best way, and it brings many bad things along the way.




I have heard a thousand prayers offered up for those dying to buy our freedom, but brave men and women who died for a belief did not buy my freedom. Christ died for my sins, He freed me from sins (1 Cor. 15:3), He freed me for freedom sake (Gal. 5:1), and God rules in the kingdoms of men. So, spiritual, physical, and judicial freedom comes form Christ. It's time we thanked Him, It's time we were grateful enough for His sacrifice to take a look at what He thinks and feels about war, peace, and love. Maybe we should have the pure heart of a child, and love our fellow man enough to give peace a chance. 

Call me a hippie if you want, that's fine. But remember, I love our troops more than you or they will ever know, I love the Al-Qaeda, I love the Viet Cong, I love the African and South American drug lords, and I love each and every one of the people that all of these people hurt, mistreat, and kill. Most of all I love the bearded, sandal-wearing, peace preaching, sinner loving, big hearted, savior of us all, and I just want to be in His kingdom.

I'll chose a Dove over and Eagle any day.

Baptized in the River

I spend most summers doing crazy, pointless, childish things with the youth group. No wrong things, just ... you know off the wall things. It's how we bond together as a group and build memories. But this summer, we managed to do something that was actually meaningful. 

I have been blessed to come to know Anthony, who is one of the many hard working people who are concerned with correcting the social injustice, provide for the needs, and the futures of the people of this earth. Brother Anthony has worked to make a difference in his community, first in Memphis and now in North Little Rock.

I like Anthony's outlook on life and the ministry. He says, "I show up and make myself available to be used by God to help the poor and homeless know Him and make Him known." And this the work of God! Paul said of God, "As it is written, 'He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.'" (2 Corinthians 9:9). 

This was also the mission for Jesus Christ when He came to earth. "And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written, 'The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.' And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. And he began to say to them, 'Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.'" (Luke 4:17-21). And this is the very work that we were blessed enough to be involved in this summer.

We came to River City Ministry on a Saturday, a very busy Saturday. On this Saturday RCM was hosting their...

And, understandably, everyone was exhausted when we arrived. That night we talked about our plans for the week, had a little fun, and went to bed.... eventually. We might have watched a little (or a lot) of LOST before we hit the hay. (whatever, think of me what you will, I love the show and think it has a great message about people changing their lives, overcoming or submitting to evil, yada yada. If you don't like my choice of TV get your own Youth Group and watch Dr. Quinn or something... rant over).

They call this The Lostsupper lol... *Wipes away a tear from being so amused*... it's ok, I'm over it

The next day began with a prayer walk. And if you have never been on one, you should. We just asked people if we could talk with them about God and if they had any struggles they would like the Lord to help them with, and then we pray with those who are willing. Great way to get to know people, share the Lord, and get out of that stupid shell we tend to build up around ourselves. 

Then we were able to worship with the River City congregation. Beautiful to hear people whose lives are so full of hardship sing with such love and appreciation to the Lord. It was a very exciting, moving, uplifting, and Spirit filled experience. The young man who brought the message is an amazing young man. Although life has not been easy for him, he works mightily for the Lord. He is wonderful at connecting with others and sympathizing with those who are in pain. He is a great example of what young people can do for the Lord if the have a desire to serve Him.

I'm not sure how well you can see the artwork over the baptistery, but it is the beautiful work of a young lady who received assistance from River City Ministry, and is now working with them to help others.

After the close of the service, we went to The River City Ministry building for lunch. 

More artwork by the people who make River City Ministry meaningful

Here we were able to mingle with the people, get to know them, learn from their experiences, talk and listen about God. We were also able to help serve the meals to these wonderful people. Several congregations prepare and bring food to RCM each Sunday. And boy can they cook, take a look.

Afterwords, we prepared for the days to come, had a group devotional, and went to bed even later.

We began the next day with another prayer walk (it was over 100 degrees, not complaining... just saying), and we were able to talk to several of the people who had visited the day before. The wonderful people we were blessed to meet taught us such a lesson about honesty, trust, and humility. So often we hide our problems and struggles from our brethren, or even try to hide them from the Lord, but not the wonderful men and women we met that day. These wonderful children of God knew how to share, knew how to lay it all before the Lord, and how to let go of worry once it was in the Lord's hands. We all need to learn how to do that.

Then came the support letters, because it takes money to do anything. And there were a lot of letters too.

I think it gave us all a real look at the work. It's not all as fun and instantly gratifying as talking with someone who wants to know the Lord, helping someone who is in a jam, putting food on someones table, or growing together in love. Some of the work is just tedious and boring, but it's all a part.  

About half way through the day, Anthony came to tell us that one of the men he had been studying with was ready to give his life God. Praise the Lord! And one of our young men were able to help baptize him into Christ. What a wonderful and joyful experience!

We were able to help with lunch once again, and I was able to share the lesson before lunch (Soul food before belly food). 

Monday night we were able to be a part of a rehabilitation program. Brother Don has labored with his wife and others to create a friendly, loving, Christ focused, and judgment free group meeting for people struggling with any kind of addiction. It was once again wonderful to learn such honesty and such faith in the Lord.

Tuesday was much like Monday, but one of our young men, Shawn, brought the lesson of the day.

He did a wonderful job and i am very proud of him. And, Shawn also got to help baptize someone that day! Two more people were added to the Lord that day!

That evening we helped with the Vacation Bible School for the children in the area, which was lots of fun and very rewarding.  

And just when we thought we were all done, a lady knocked on our door and asked for a Bible Study! How often does that happen?! Of course I was happy to do this, and I pray that this lady and her family continue on their road to growing closer to God

Wednesday, after another morning of stuffing and addressing envelopes, lunch, and a lesson, we took several vans full of children to the local water park (and the owners even gave us the tickets!). EVERYONE had fun.

When we got back, showered, and put on dry clothes, I got soaked again, because there was another baptism! It was a wonderful, wonderful day. And Anthony, Keith, and the other hard workers at RCM treated us to Mexican (my favorite!) and... made sure I would not forget it. 

It's as blurry as all get out, but I got covered in whip cream

And even though our schedule seemed busy, we were not involved in all the things that River City Ministry does on a daily basis! They also have a program to help people find jobs and better the marriages/family lives which they have every weekday. they have housing programs, they pick up the children who come to the events, Bible studies with those who are interested, etc.

River City Ministries helped us to become immersed in the work of the Lord (for those of you wondering if the title would ever come into play). I think we all have grown though the experience, and that it has awakened a desire in us to serve the Lord. Thank you so much to all the people who work with River City, and all those who provide the work to be done. God bless you all.