In the forests of northern Europe and Asia lives little animal called the ermine, known for his snow-white fur in winter. He instinctively protects his white coat against anything that would soil it.

Fur hunters take advantage of this unusual trait of the ermine. They don’t set a snare to catch him, but instead they find his home, which is usually a cleft in a rock or a hollow in an old tree. They smear the entrance and interior with grime. Then the hunters set their dogs loose to find and chase the ermine. The frightened animal flees toward home but doesn’t enter because of the filth. Rather than soil his white coat, he is trapped by the dogs and captured while preserving his purity. For the ermine, purity is more precious than life.[1]

As people of faith we are called to protect and pursue our purity with such sacrifice.

Purity from a Biblical perspective, implies holiness or perfection.  Jesus says the expectation is “to be perfect as your father in heaven is perfect.”  Sin prevents us from meeting this standard but the expectation remains, Christians should strive for purity.

The church at Rome corrupted this concept believing that sin allowed for God’s grace to abound.  Paul addressed this in Romans 6 saying, “What shall we say then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase?” His response to this question is “by no means” or an emphatic “NO!”  As Christians, we should strive for purity and the Bible speaks loudly to this conclusion.

Do not be dismayed because we are indeed forgiven.  Jesus said, “God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.”  Because we are saved through Christ, we strive for purity. 

We can strive for purity by knowing and keeping God’s commands and guarding our hearts.  The Psalmist describes how to strive for purity:

How can a young man keep his way pure?
By keeping it according to Your word.

We know what purity looks like by knowing God’s word and storing it in our heart.  Scripture is the best defense against the lies of the evil one.  When Jesus is tempted by Satan in the desert following his 40 days of fasting, he repels each temptation with the Word of God.  we are blessed to have God’s Word in our hands and in our homes; read it and store it in your heart and be on the offensive when Satan attacks.

We maintain our purity by guarding our hearts.  Solomon provides practical instruction in Proverbs 4:23-24 stating,

Above all else, guard your heart,
    for everything you do flows from it.
Keep your mouth free of perversity;
    keep corrupt talk far from your lips.

The “heart” here is not the literal heart but the essence of man…you may have heard the expression, that guy has a lot of heart…it is the whole man the physical, intellectual, and psychological.  The heart governs all of these parts.  It is the heart that makes a person who they are in character, morality, personality, mind. 

The physical heart that beats in our chest is amazing, critical for life, it is strong and resilient, but we can damage it.  Sure, there are catastrophic events that make the heart stop but we usually damage it slowly over time and it is often too late by the time we realize the damage.  For example, we slowly destroy our heart with cholesterol.  Some of our favorite foods are loaded with it…but that doesn’t change the fact that it is harmful.  The same thing happens in our life…our character…our morality…our personality…our will…our mind…our biblical heart.  We ever so slowly destroy our spiritual heart with things that we might label as harmless. 

We protect our heart from destruction by filling it with good.  We can inadvertently destroy our hearts with negativity from books, movies, music, and headline news.  Paul urges the church at Philippi to maintain purity stating,

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

The Ermine reminds us to protect and pursue purity.  Protect your purity with God’s Word and by actively guarding your heart.

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[1] Our Daily Bread, April 21, 1997

This week as I prepared for worship and wrote the sermon for the week I began to reflect upon the months of deployment and the tasks remaining for our reunion with family and friends.  This deployment is certainly different from any other I have experienced largely because of the restrictions and uncertainty due to the global pandemic.  Whether you are deployed or domestic you have experienced a change in pattern of life.

Psychologists and Sociologists have determined that it takes 21 days to start a new habit and 90 days for that habit to become a lifestyle.  The state of Tennessee started the quarantine on March 16 and in so doing imposed changes which have since become habit and are well on their way to becoming lifestyle changes.  

Some of these changes are welcomed.  For example, one study in the United Kingdom found “four in five parents believe their families have formed an even stronger bond since parents and kids have more time together during the lockdown.[1]”  Positive habits such as game night and family dinners have been rediscovered in many homes. Families relationships are strengthened and bonds are reformed.

Some of these changes are less fruitful.  I recently saw a meme which said, “Day 29 of Quarantine…Netflix complete.”  There is no question that people around the world have turned to television to pass the time.  Last week Comcast published a report revealing household “are watching eight more hours of television a week since early March, from 57 hours a week to 66 hours a week.[2]”  The negative effects of binge watching tv range from anxiety and depression to physical health issues like obesity and back problems associated with inactivity.  In some cases, “binge watching can create a pseudo-addiction to the show.[3]”

With this in mind, I wonder how quarantine has affected our spiritual habits.  At least one change is that we have brought Church home.  Virtual worship services abound and this includes all faith backgrounds.  The Army Chaplain Corps has promoted Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu, and Christian spiritual opportunities.  Social Media jokes that when churches begin to gather it will be hard to give up the pajamas for our “Sunday Best.”

As this trip continues and reunion is on the horizon, I want to issue a 21/90 challenge.  We face a viral pandemic so I issue a “viral challenge” (pun intended); for the next 21 days challenge yourself to create a new habit to strengthen your relationship with your creator.  Throughout Scripture, God’s people are encouraged to “seek him” with all of their heart.  The Psalmist declares[4],

How can a young person stay on the path of purity?
    By living according to your word.
¹⁰ I seek you with all my heart;
    do not let me stray from your commands.
¹¹ I have hidden your word in my heart
    that I might not sin against you.

The prophet Isaiah implores, “Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness and who seek the Lord: Look to the rock from which you were cut and to the quarry from which you were hewn”

Jesus says, ““Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. ⁸ For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.[5]”

There are at least three habits we can instill in our lives to seek God: 1. Read the Scriptures; 2. Pray; 3. Fellowship with Believers.

Accept the challenge to Read the Scriptures daily.  There are many Apps and reading regiments that can assist you in this endeavor like the One Year Bible, the New Testament in 30 Days, and A Proverb a Day.  These Apps often have reminders that can help you to be proactive and achieve your goal of seeking God throughout the scriptures.

You may want to accept the challenge to pray daily.  The Apostle Paul tells the church to “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.[6]”  There is no doubt a lot for us to pray for in these times; consider keeping a prayer list and/or writing out your prayers in a journal.

Social distancing has definitely challenged our ability to fellowship with other believers but this does not need to be limited to Sunday. Maybe you would consider and accountability partner who can encourage you in your walk of faith.  Technology provides a lot of ways to fellowship with other people of faith who can encourage as you seek to connect with God.

In conclusion, the global pandemic has changed the way we live life in many ways.  Maybe you will consider taking the 21/90 challenge.  I pray that one of the changes we experience is a closer relationship with God and a more spiritually resilient Army family.

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[1] https://www.studyfinds.org/quarantine-quality-time-4-in-5-parents-say-coronavirus-lockdown-has-brought-family-closer-together/

[2] https://www.foxbusiness.com/lifestyle/coronavirus-television-viewership-habits

[3] https://www.nm.org/healthbeat/healthy-tips/emotional-health/binge-watching

[4] Psalm 119:9-11

[5] Isaiah 51:1

[6] 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NIV)

Over the past weeks as I made the short walk to the DFAC here in Erbil, I noticed the flowers in bloom and the birds belting out the songs of spring reminding the world that Spring has sprung.  Soon chicks will hatch and fawns will be born and the circle of life unfolds before our eyes.  Springtime is upon us and we are reminded of new life and of new hope. 

These sights and sounds, which can easily be missed in times of stress and crisis, are a reminder from our Creator of his love for us and his creation.  I confess I have been distracted by depressing headlines and worry over family who are isolated due to the quarantines levied in the United States and around the world.  So, I stopped and picked a flower, placed in a water bottle, and was reminded that God blesses us in the little things.

This little flower took me back in time to a Texas spring when my daughter was little girl.  She picked a spring flower and marveled at its detail and delicate beauty.  She asked many questions about the flower; she asked about the delicate and beautiful petals; she asked why God chose this color.  She looked at the flower in awe of God’s creation and together we were blessed by God in his creation. 

We are quick to give God praise when grants huge blessings such as a miraculous healing or He intervenes in some huge way and forget God in the great big little things we encounter each day. It is easy these days to be overwhelmed by the negative…corona virus, the stock market, separation from family and friends. 

Today I want to challenge you and remind MYSELF to see God in the little things. I believe if you see God in the little things you can grow in your relationship with Him and be uplifted to face the challenges of life on this earth.

The Apostle Paul writes in Romans 1:20 says, “From the creation of the world His invisible attributes, that is, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what he has made.” They say you can learn a lot about an artist by observing his art, but unlike an artist who creates from an observation God created from nothing.  We are moved by great works of art such as Claude Monet’s “Water Lilies” but nothing compares to the original artist work; just ask my daughter.  God reveals himself through his creation and we are blessed.

So, in this time of isolation and uncertainty we can find hope and peace through God’s creation.  I encourage you to pause and look up at the clouds like a child and see God’s artwork in the skies.  Pause and look at the complexity and beauty of the maple leaf and be reminded of God handiwork.

Maria might have summed it up best in the Sound of Music when she sang[1]:

Take the time to see God in the little things and you will be blessed and reminded that things are not so bad.  God Bless!

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[1] Richard Rogers and Oscar Hammerstein II. Favorite Things. Williamson Music, 1959

This Friday, April 24, marks the 40^th anniversary of Operation Eagle Claw.  Operation Eagle Claw was the failed joint military operation ordered by President Jimmy Carter in an effort to rescue hostages held captive in Iran.  This tragic mission cost the lives of 3 Marines and 5 Airmen and brought scrutiny to both the United States and the fledgling Special Operations community. 

The investigation that followed the incident revealed significant deficiencies in the special operations systems including mission planning, command and control, and inter-service operability.  Seven years later, on April 16, 1987, the United Special Operations Command was founded bringing all Special Operations Branches under one single command.  The result is the highly trained, lethal, and synchronized special operations command we know today. 

As I reflected on this operation I realized that some of our greatest innovations and cultural shifts were made during times of hardship.  Difficult times bring people together and new ideas are generated and implemented.  The polio outbreak in the United States during the 1940’s gave us Candy Land.  World War II gave us M&Ms and the ability to mass produce penicillin.  The 9/11 attacks brought patriotism and unity back to the United States. 

And now we face the pandemic known as COVID 19 or coronavirus. When I say we, I mean mankind; all the peoples of the earth.  What will our legacy be?  What innovation will be created to change life or medicine?  We do not know the answers to these questions yet, but I am encouraged by the words of James who said,

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

The same God who created the heavens and the earth knows you and knows the trials you are experiencing today.  These tests of faith produce perseverance and will make you stronger, more mature, and complete to accomplish the mission God has prepared for you.  I know many soldiers and family members in our formation are facing trials that are well hidden; be assured that while we don’t fully comprehend the “why” today God has a plan for you, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”[1]

The struggle is real and we the people of this earth are in it together.  Be patient. Be strong. Be courageous.  Allow your faith to grow.  Persevere through the trials. The world will no doubt be different when you emerge from your cave of isolation and social distancing, but God is preparing you to help shape it.

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[1] Jeremiah 29:11

Did you know that April 15 is Anime Day?  Good, neither did I.  Here is what I learned though.  Anime Day is all about celebrating the history of anime and bringing people together to enjoy their favorite anime shows and characters. The holiday has its own convention and is celebrated at conventions across the United States and the world.[1] A large part of Anime Day and the anime culture is costumes and masks. 

When you think about it, wearing masks is something that mankind has been enamored with since the beginning of time.  The Venetians have a centuries old tradition of wearing mask during Carnival in Venice; the mask is usually as a device for hiding the wearer’s identity and social status. The tradition of wearing costumes on Halloween originated with the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, when people would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off ghosts. The afore mentioned Anime fan may choose a character mask based on the virtues and ideals of that character.  Perhaps, the favorite mask in our culture is the mask of the perfectly happy person who never does anything wrong and always has the right answer. 

Why do we like to wear these masks?  One of the most common reasons people wear masks in life is fear.  Psychologist call it imposter syndrome. One psychologist put it this way, “One of our greatest fears is that if we show our true selves, the world will say, ‘Oh, it’s just you.’”[2]  In our fear we are basically telling God, “You made a mistake;” I am no good the way you made me.

When we put on masks we are not trusting in God we are trusting in ourselves.  We are trusting that we can control the situations of life.  When we put on masks we are living lives that are less than what God intended for us.  When we put on masks we are shoving dreams and joys and regrets and fears and jubilation into a dark corner of our hearts!  We never experience the real joys of the good times and we never release sadness of the bad.

The reality is that God knows what you are like without the mask and he loves you anyway.  Paul writes in Romans 5:8, “God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”  Additionally, God created you for a purpose. You are no mistake. The Psalmist writes in Psalm 139:1-4;13-14.

You have searched me, Lord,
    and you know me.
You know when I sit and when I rise;
    you perceive my thoughts from afar.
You discern my going out and my lying down;
    you are familiar with all my ways.
Before a word is on my tongue
    you, Lord, know it completely…

For you created my inmost being;

    you knit me together in my mother’s womb.

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

We are living in an uncertain and challenging time and I believe many of us are wearing a mask.  We are scared. We are lonely. Our marriages are hurting. We are depressed. We feel trapped. We feel like we have no one to talk to. And yet, we put on our mask; the one with the big smile and when asked we say everything is okay.

Let me encourage you with this: God is bigger than your fear, your loneliness, the problems in your marriage, your depression, your feelings of entrapment; Jesus says, “take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”[3]  And not only is Jesus ready for you to take off your mask and cry out for help, he has placed people in your life who are ready walk with you.  There are several safe options to take off your mask; meet with your Chaplain, Pastor, MFLC, or Behavior Health Counselor because if we are all honest and mask free, we can all say, “the struggle is real.”

Shed the mask, trust God, burden Christ, and remember we are all #inthistogether.

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[1] https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/anime-day/

[2] https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/blog/laugh-your-way-well-being/201510/the-masks-we-wear

[3] Matthew 11:29-30

As I prepared my sermon for Sunday I came across and old sermon from my days as a youth minister; some of these old sermons are quite comical (and not intentionally so).  I did come across the following story, which I am sure I stole from someone else.  

A Sunday School teacher asked her class on the Sunday before Easter if they knew what happened on Easter and why it was so important. One little girl spoke up saying: “Easter is when the whole family gets together, and you eat turkey and sing about the pilgrims and all that.” “No, that’s not it,” said the teacher.

“I know what Easter is,” a second student responded. “Easter is when you get a tree and decorate it and give gifts to everybody and sing lots of songs.” “Nope, that’s not it either,” replied the teacher.

Finally a third student spoke up, “Easter is when Jesus was killed, and put in a tomb and left for three days.”

“Ah, thank goodness somebody knows” the teacher thought to herself. But then the student went on: “Then everybody gathers at the tomb and waits to see if Jesus comes out, and if he sees his shadow he has to go back inside and we have six more weeks of winter.”  KIDS WILL SAY THE CRAZIEST THINGS!

This Easter weekend will likely look different and you may miss many of the Easter traditions, like Easter dresses, community egg hunts, and bunny rabbits but the core of the celebration has not changed in over 2000 years.  The Bible tells us that Jesus Christ died on a cross, was buried in a tomb, and on the third day he conquered death so that we might have life and life abundant.  On that first Easter morning, a day that was likely similar to today, the angel said, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen.”  The Coronavirus pandemic has brought the world to its knees just as Jesus did when he conquered sin and death and the Good News remains “Christ has Risen, He has Risen Indeed!”

Don’t let the coronavirus dampen your Easter Worship Experience.  Let me encourage you to find a virtual community to celebrate Easter with this coming Sunday.  There are virtual celebrations you can log into from your own Google machine, even for those of us who are forward deployed, and rediscover the true meaning of Easter this year.

The Emperor Penguin is the largest of all penguins and is a magnificent bird; these animals are interesting that two full length feature documentaries were made about them.  The first of the documentaries, March of the Penguins, introduced the world to these majestic dwellers of Antarctica.  Here are some intriguing facts I learned from watching the film.    

First, Emperors are monogamous; a relatively unique feature in the world of animals; they have one mate for life. Perhaps even more interesting is the fact that it is the male Emperors are the ones that care for the egg until it hatches. Every year, when mating season is over, the female Emperors head off for the ocean; all of them together in one huge flock traveling hundreds of miles so that they can fish and get plenty to eat to sustain them and their new chick for a year. Meanwhile, back on the frozen tundra, the male penguins care for the eggs. Each male tucks his egg between his feet to keep it from breaking and to keep it warm in the cold, harsh, winter winds.

But here’s the thing, when all those females return from the ocean, hundreds, perhaps even thousands of them, how do you think they find their mate in the equally large crowd of males? There is no address or even a nest. The Emperor penguins always find their mate by the sound of their call, their voice. It seems impossible, but a flock of thousands of penguins sort themselves out by the sounds of their voices.

Watching this miracle unfold on the screen made me think of Jesus’ words in John 10:27-28, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish…”  What a comfort it is to know the voice of the Savior and for him to know my voice. 

This Sunday the Christians around the world will celebrate Palm Sunday, a remembrance of Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem and the beginning of Holy Week.  There is no doubt, The Palm Sunday 2020 worship experience will definitely have a different look and feel as many Christians will gather digitally and celebrate remotely.   

But, the one thing that will not change is precious voice of Jesus calling his people to salvation.  His voice has not changed and will never change.  His voice was heard through plagues, floods, hurricanes, wars, all sorts of calamity.  Even in the chaos of COVID-19 and the insanity of 2020, the voice of the “Good Shepherd” brings hope, courage, and safety to the world.  As we look forward to Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday be encouraged that Jesus is victorious, the tomb is empty, and there is no fear for “God is with you…and will uphold you with his righteous right hand.”

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Featured Image: Michel, Christopher. Emperor Penguins. 2013 https://www.flickr.com/photos/cmichel67/19403325870. Photograph. 1 April 2020

If there is one word that describes our world over the past month, it would be chaos.  Cities are in lockdown.  Churches no longer gather physically but virtually.  Public school has become homeschool.  March Madness (as well as all other sports) is cancelled.  Your Facebook friends are now medical experts.  And the true sign that we have descended into mayhem, Netflix was asked to reduce its streaming quality to ease the burden on the internet as the lock downed masses turned to binge TV to ease stress.  

When everything is out of control, remember God says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalm 46:10.

“Be still, and know that I am God.”  Let that soak in for a minute.  When was the last time you were truly still in body and soul before God?

If we are true with ourselves we are uncomfortable with being still, especially before God.  If not corona virus, it would be another distraction.  I have to go to the gym, go to this meeting and that meeting, read the latest book on leadership, call home, reply to emails, or even prepare a sermon. 

Let me encourage you today that the cure to the chaos of life is to be still before the Lord?  If we want to hear from God and receive his encouragement and blessing we need to pause, be still, and listen. 

The prophet Elijah was fleeing for his life from the evil Queen Jezebel and God told him to go stand on the mountain to meet with Him.  Elijah did as he was commanded and scripture says,

Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.

Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

With mercenaries nipping at his heals God instructed Elijah to stop, be still, and listen. Then God spoke to Elijah in a gentle whisper.

Make time today (and everyday) to be still before God and hear His voice.

From generation to generation there are history changing moments that have forever altered our nations course…moments we often ask, “Where were you when…?” For my grandparents it was Pearl Harbor, for my parents it was has man’s first steps on the moon, for my generation it was the terrorist’s attacks of 9/11. We might now add the COVID 19 epidemic to this historic list.

COVID 19 has brought the world to a screeching halt and the headlines are dominated by fear. A recent google search for the word fear in the news googled fear in news headlines rendered 318 million hits. We are faced with a situation that we have no control over and there are many unknowns.

I currently sit in quarantine (due to recent travel) and I must confess there is fear in my heart. I am concerned for my family and their health. I am concerned for their safety because in times of crisis mankind can behave poorly. My biggest fear is that my family faces this scary time without me present.

The good news is that in the midst of my fear, I know that God is Good, and God is in control. Daniel 3:1-30 records the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and their encounter with the “Fiery Furnace.” These men knew and understood fear.

Shad and the boys were men of God and were also slaves to the Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar. King Nebuchadnezzar set up a statue of himself that measured 90 feet high and demanded the people of the city bow to the statue whenever special music was played; the punishment for not bowing down was death in a furnace used to melt gold. Shad and the boys refused to bow down to the idol or the king; when faced with the fear of death in the fiery furnace Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego told King Nebuchadnezzar,

“we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”

Shad and the boys faced life and death with a determined faith. Their message to the king was powerful, God will deliver us, or He might not but God alone is in control and worthy of worship. In the midst of chaos Shad and the boys chose to focus on the rock of their immutable God.

In the end, Shad and the boys were thrown into the “Fiery Furnace;” and God was there by their side and God delivered them from the flames. They emerged from the flames unscathed and were a testimony to God’s power.

Today the world finds itself in the midst a seemingly fiery furnace. The corona virus has everyone scared. The news touts mayhem. You may even ask yourself where is God in the midst of the chaos. I assure you God is where he has always been and that is by your side. Just as God walked into the furnace with Shad and the boys, he also walks by your side in these trying times.

Isaiah 41:10 – So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

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Daniel 3:25 reads, “He said, ‘Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.’” Many scholars believe the fourth man in the furnace is a Christophony (a physical appearance of God before his incarnation).