So it was a rough day for the General. On June 15th the Continental Congress had made him the Commander of the Army, and on July 3rd he formally took command. So after a few days of issuing mostly administrative General Orders, today he is tasked with something a little more heavy.
You see, the battle of Bunker Hill had been in June, and during the battle there was a blatant example of cowardice. Three men were brought up on charges, but just one was found guilty. All of this had happened before Washington came on the scene, but the sentencing was left for him to deal with. After reviewing the court martial information, the General agrees with the sentencing and dismisses Captain John Callender from the Continental Army. In the general order from this day, Washington speaks his thoughts on the dangers of cowardice.
“It is with inexpressible Concern that the General upon his first Arrival in the army, should find an Officer sentenced by a General Court Martial to be cashier’d for Cowardice—A Crime of all others, the most infamous in a Soldier, the most injurious to an Army, and the last to be forgiven; inasmuch as it may, and often does happen, that the Cowardice of a single Officer may prove the Distruction of the whole Army:“
So while Captain Callender was dismissed, John Callender was not done with the army. The general’s order had some interesting wording…..
“Capt. John Callender is accordingly cashiered and dismissd from all farther service in the Continental Army as an Officer.“
“….as an Officer.” That small phrase made all the difference. You see, while John could not be an officer, he was able to rejoin the Continental Army as an enlisted man. He rejoins a volunteer artillery company, and while this is out of our timeline, he does show heroism during the battle of Long Island. In March of 1776, his unit is under attack and some even start to break under the assault. Callender assumes command and by the “force of his example” rallies the men. While they are still overtaken, his bravery catches the attention of a British officer who spares his life, and takes him as a prisoner of war. The story of his bravery was relayed to Washington, who upon hearing was moved to strike the court martial from the record, reinstate his rank and arrange for his release. I was so surprised by this outcome and I just couldn’t wrap my mind around “why”? Why did he run during the battle of Bunker Hill but acted so bravely at Long Island? I tried looking for something written or spoken by him to see what his motivation was, but I unfortunately didn’t find anything.
What it did remind me of is something I’ve come to believe is very important for my life…. It’s not how you start, but how you finish. He didn’t start off very well, but he certainly turned it around. Captain Callender seemed to make the choice to humble himself by signing up as a lowly private, and didn’t even try to hide his unsavory story. He just mustered his courage and served his country and in these days it gives me hope. Hope that if he can, so can I.
He said, “do you see what he’s holding? He always has the good book open when he speaks.”
Again I asked, “but how do you know?”
“Do you see the words on the screen,” she smiled “it makes it so easy to follow along.”
“Yes, I see,” I answered, “but how do they know?”
“Well, look at all the people” they said.
“There is a lot, but how do we know?”
“We are a bible preaching church,” they said.
And I wondered again, “how do they know?”
And then it hit me, It’s not you, or they, or we, but I. And while all had explanations, the only one that mattered was my own. And in that moment I posed the question as it should have been from the beginning, “how do I know?”
It was then I looked at the book in my hands. Not as well worn as it should be, but getting there the older I got. Verses underlined, notes of what spoke to me and dates to mark where I was waiting for God to do His work. Dates that are growing into a timeline that shows the good He has already done….to see how far He has brought me.
This is how I know. Through a book written just for me, for you…. for all of us.
There is only one way to know. Open the Bible and make it your own.
“Simple cures to complex problems are almost always snake oil”. – Mike Cosper
It was just a couple of days ago I read that statement and it made me stop for a moment to ponder. I was in the middle of Mike Cosper’s new book, “The Church in Dark Times,” and while the comment made me stop, I didn’t stop for long. I found the connections interesting that he was seeing between what has been happening in the church and some of the observations of journalist Hannah Arendt. As I thought about the quote from the book, it really brought my mind to the state of our country, and even our world. Then out of the recess’ of my mind came a word, or at least a part of a word. Funny thing was, I couldn’t really remember where the word came from or what it meant? Luckily for me the internet can take half remembered thoughts and provide the information needed. That thought, is a Gordian Knot.
It was funny, I had no idea where that came from or what exactly was a Gordian knot? I was telling Mike about it, and he said we had heard it in a documentary about Alexander the Great. So I read more and understood why it came to mind. This Greek legend in a nutshell is this…. There is an oxcart that is tied to the palace of the former kings of Phrygia. It has a storied history and the oxcart itself was dedicated to a Phrygian god. This oxcart was tied by an elaborate knot that was unable to be untied, and that my friend is the Gordian Knot. An oracle had proclaimed that any man who could undue the knot, would rule all of Asia. Centuries passed and the knot was still fully tied. No one had been able to untie the complicated knot though many had tried in their desire to rule. Then comes Alexander, not Hamilton, but the Great. He arrived in Phrygia and immediately wanted to untie the knot. Now in the end, he was able to get it loosed, and does eventually rule all of Asia. Hence the moniker…. “the Great”.
The first version of the legend I read stated that when Alexander came and was unable to unravel the confusing knot, he took out his sword and sliced through it. “It makes no difference how they are loosed,” he is rumored to have said. This solution is looked on as “bold or unconventional action taken to remedy a difficult problem”. And what a story! There is though another ending, and I was surprised to hear this very different way the story was resolved.
So in this version, Alexander observes the knot and the complicated structure, and instead of pulling out his sword he takes the time to get a different point of view. He pulls the lynchpin from the pole that the yoke was fastened, and slides the knot off the pole so he can see the underside. When he does, he is able to see the ends of the knot and untie it. Taking the time to see the underside, gave him the ability to untie the knot.
What was so interesting, were the different ways the problem in the story was resolved. One way shows a decisive, if all be it quick and maybe even brutal decision to slice through the problem. The opposite solution took the time to look at the problem from all angles. In doing so, he was able to see a different perspective that revealed the solution.
So why does this remind me of life today? Well, as soon as I thought of the knot, I immediately saw it in my mind. The knot wasn’t made of rope though, it was made of people. A mass of humanity lumped together so tightly, that they couldn’t be easily separated. I could see us together, tightly intertwined. Like a cosmic game of twister, with arms, legs and whole bodies entangled with one another. The knot is uncomfortable and painful even, but why?
I wasn’t sure what held the knot together, until a few days later. I was listening to a podcast, and someone was talking about a study with monkeys. The monkeys were trying to get a snack out of a container, and while they could get their hand in, as soon as they grasped the snack their fist wouldn’t come out. It was then I wondered if that was what was holding my knot of humanity together?
We each have our hands around that thing we desire. It’s in our grip and we won’t let go. Now they may not necessarily be bad things, but they are so important that we lose perspective on everything else around us. We hold on tightly even if it brings pain to ourselves and other people.
It seems to me, that we all are looking for the same things in life, with minor variations. Safe neighborhoods, a good education for our children, a place to work that not only fulfills us but actually can pay the bills! Housing that is clean, safe and affordable, healthcare that you are able to access that won’t break the bank and a city where there are services and events that bring together our diverse communities. If there is so much common ground, why does this life feel like me vs you so much of the time?
Can our beliefs, point of view or individual experience be more important than someone else’s? Are those “things” more important than a person? It seems these days, we’ve put those “things” over real people. The worst part is we’ve actually let these “things,” and those who talk about them daily, color how we feel about people we know and do life with. The one who calls you when the dog is loose, or picks up your mail when you’re on vacation. They are the people that you work, attend church and do every day life with. You laugh and cry with them, they are your community. And we have seen people drop neighbors like “it’s hot” for some talking head on TV. Shame on “we”!
Let’s face it, in this world there are even good things that we desire so desperately, that we will allow our good sense to be suspended. It’s happened before, and because there is nothing new under the sun, it will happen again.
This knot of humanity is perplexing. If we look to solve the problem by just slicing through it, we could wreak havoc, and cause repercussions that we can’t even conceive. Potentially we could create an even more knotted up life in our future. So, maybe the second ending of Alexander’s story holds a solution. At first I thought so, but now I wonder?
That second ending seems like a more reasonable way out of the knot, but then my mind goes back to the monkey. While we like to think the knot is more of a “they” problem than an “us” problem, I really think it’s a “we” problem. The knot is not only made up of people, but we’re all a part of the knot and many of our actions continue to allow it to grow. We have made it so tight and now that we’re in it, we won’t make the choice to let it go.
Alexanders knot had a lot riding on it, but no one was going to be hurt by either slicing through or carefully unknotting the rope. Our human knot, well that’s a different story. It’s laced with the hopes and dreams of those who may agree with us, and others with different beliefs. It’s made up of the lives of our family, friends, strangers and neighbors.
No matter what style the problem solving takes, the question that really bears asking is….will it last?
I am beginning to think neither way would solve our knot of people. As soon as we think we have one section undone, our humanity comes roaring back, and we simply reach out and grasp what we desire. So my question is this, how is the knot undone and how do we keep it from becoming so twisted and hurtful again? The solution may seem simple, but it is definitely not snake oil.
We let go, and we love!
“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And He said to him “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ Upon these two commandments hang the whole Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 22:36-40
I know it sounds like a Hallmark card, but love IS still the answer. This is not just any love though, it’s the love that God has for the humans He’s created. It’s a love that when we accept it, and let it flow through our lives, brings healing into a dying world. It’s the kind of love that moves you to seek good for the people around you, and may even compel you to lay down your life for others. It’s the kind of love that gives us the strength to let go!
Letting go is hard though, especially when everyone is holding on so tightly to what they want, need or think they need. It’s even harder to be the first one to do it! I think that’s what really holds us back, or on a more personal note, holds me back. If we all followed these steps, wouldn’t it be a better world? No one would be in need, because we would each be looking out for each other. If I am sharing with my neighbor and helping them, and they are doing the same for me, we each would have enough. “What a wonderful world it would be”….to quote the amazing Louis Armstrong!
Ok… so we are good with the “loving God” part, but it seems we push back on “loving our neighbor.” We ask ourselves the question, “If I love my neighbor, will my neighbor love me?” Unfortunately, we think we know the answer to that question already, and only carefully give out this love we’ve been gifted. So since I don’t trust you to let go, I will keep my own tight grip. Which leads us back to our Gordian knot.
Over the last couple of weeks, I have been both up and down as I asked myself these questions. You see, when I am writing I am not really talking to you. This is just me wrestling with God.
As I hear the clanging gong of opinion daily through different outlets, It’s more important than ever to keep my priorities straight. Each time I hear the noise, it makes me want to shrink further into myself and turn my back on people. I want to hold tighter to my peace and security. Most of all, I don’t want to suffer the judgement of others, so I tend to hold tight to my observations. My hand is in the jar and I don’t want to let go. You see….I have my own place in the knot.
So as I was trying to finish this up, I went to church on Sunday and heard a message from John 15:9-17.
“I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love.When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me. You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name. This is my command: Love each other.
The sermon was a timely one for me, as it seemed to fit into everything I was wrestling through. The main idea was a simple one, but the simplicity does not detract from its impactful truth.
“Without love we will be lost.” -Chip Bungard
This kind of love is a matter of faith. Am I really ready to live like Jesus asked us to? Will God protect and provide for my family if I let go, even if others don’t? I believe that it comes down to trusting God to move things into place, one day at a time. It is truly trusting that the love He brought into this world will transcend anything that is weaponized against it. And as we trust Him each day, we can let go of the things that hold us back. Anything that gets in the way of loving others, as God Himself would love them!
I feel like this is a movie and I am starting with a flashback. So back in December 2024….
So to tell you the truth, this morning I started off looking at the news online. Ugh! Such a wrong move! Now there’s a guarantee that my blood pressure will go up. So as I read about the threat of ANOTHER government shut down, because if you’re not paying attention all sides allow it to happen every year, there was a new twist to this years storyline and that is a man named Musk. As I read of his objections to the spending bill and his opinion of what should happen to those who vote for it, I was so irritated. Now are some of the things he says correct? Of course! Who wouldn’t want a balanced budget and the money spent to run the government be done in a fiscally responsible way? What bothers me about him, is the fact that he can use his money to shape things, events and people. I know that kind of power can be used for good or bad, but his boldness in assuming some kind of perceived authority because of the size of his bank account, is off putting to me. I was angered by this power play, until a song popped into my head. I’ve loved the song since 1981 and my MTV video zombie days, but I’ve always had a hard time understanding it.
“History never repeats, I tell myself before I go to sleep,” the song starts.
It’s a catchy song, but I couldn’t understand how he could be so sure that history will never repeat? It seemed to me that history is set to continual repeat! The other day though, I heard the song differently. Maybe he was trying to convince himself that history doesn’t repeat? Towards the end of the song he says,
“And there’s a light shining in the dark, leading me on towards a change of heart.”
Maybe by the end of the song he realizes that he was wrong, and that history does repeat? I don’t know what the songwriter was trying to convey, but at that moment, I was reminded of the repetition of history.
History merely repeats itself. It has all been done before. Nothing under the sun is truly new. Ecclesiates 1:9
And in the repetition of history, I found peace. Why? Well, it comes down to remembering that while I haven’t been through this before, God has. That means everything! Through the years our country and world have had leaders in business, government, religion, medicine, science and humanities. Some were good and others bad, but most were a combination of those elements to some degree or another. No one is all good or all bad and most of the time we wind up being a bit of both. The good news though is that we have made it through, and we will continue to not only survive, but thrive. How do I know this? I see it in God’s word, and I see it reflected in the history of our world. While that may give me peace, in the greatest commandment, I have hope!
And He said to him, “ ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, ‘you shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ Upon these two commandments hang the whole law and the prophets.” Matthew 22:37
So fast forward to today….MLK Jr and Inauguration Day 2025.
How many problems could be solved with those simple directives…..
I had pretty much started writing this in December, and since I have a day off, today I knew I needed to finish. While seeing the continual repetition of history brings me some peace, I do admit that while I think we will survive, people can still be hurt.
Even when God is in control, it doesn’t mean challenges won’t arise, or that those in leadership won’t stink! And if there are challenges, or those who govern decide to do what is not good for everyone, I believe that Jesus Himself has given us the key to be ready for whatever happens. He gave us instructions that will cover those we do life with, if good happens and even if the not so good happens. And it is through the actions of His people!
“Love God and Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Love God. Let the love of God fill you, so that you can bring that love to a messed up world! His love is transformative! That’s what gives us the ability to love our neighbor, like we love ourselves. So if there is injustice or hate that is directed toward others, stand up and stand with those who are targeted. Where there is a need, be an advocate and an avenue of assistance. Bring the joy of your salvation to a world that needs some joy! Be the conduit of God’s love that I believe the Bible tells us we are! When we all stand together and surround ourselves and our community with the love of God, He is more than able to cover each and every one of us in the strength of His hand.
While the incense was being burned, a great crowd stood outside praying. Luke 1:10.
So the scene is set. Zechariah is in the sanctuary burning incense and there are people outside praying together. At this point I can imagine God breathing in the smell of incense, and hearing the prayers of His people. Did they all start praying together….Maybe not the same prayer, but with the same spirit?
Not with homogeny, but humility
Prayers that don’t necessarily agree with each other, but do agree with God. I wonder if that’s what prayer is really for? It’s the opportunity not to get our requests granted, but for God to teach us to align our prayers with His will. And when we bring another person, or people into that dynamic, we give God the opportunity to align an entire community to His will. I am sure there were prayers going on at the temple most days, but I always pay attention when details are in a story. Details are important or they would be left out. So what does this detail tell me?
Prayer is important…. Essential even for the work of God to flourish. There is a humility in prayer, when we “make our requests known to God.” We ask for what we may need or desire, and then we are told to let go and let God handle it. Not an easy thing to do, especially when we are told to have joy when we do it!
I like to think of that day and the prayers that were being said. Not perfect prayers, but the humble requests of every day people. People just like you and me. And I pray the hope that is revealed in the angels words to Zechariah, “God has heard your prayer,” would give us the encouragement needed to keep praying and let God do his miraculous work!
I am ready for Christmas! The tree is up, decorations fill the house and jazz Christmas music is playing on my Spotify. All the elements are in place for a blissful holiday season. Or are they? While the house is ready on the inside, I am not so sure about the outside. The weather outside may not be frightful yet, but it is certainly cold. 26 degrees that feels like 11 is not my typical cup of tea, so I am really trying to figure out this whole “dressing warmly” thing.
While it’s pretty cold, it’s not really the weather that has me wondering if I am ready for the season, it’s my own head and heart that are my concern.
Am I truly ready for Christmas?
What does that look like and what does that mean for me?
For some reason those are the questions I am asking myself this morning, because I do want to be ready for Christmas! So here we go!
The story of Jesus birth is found in the gospels of Matthew and Luke. The two authors split up the narrative, so you end up putting it together like puzzle pieces. I was reading in Luke, and struck by the priest Zechariah. We know a good amount about him, priestly lineage, married, old, obedient and not only he, but his wife was righteous in God’s eyes. We also know that they had no children. So while there was much good in both of their lives, there was also pain and disappointment. In this part of the story, I also found a clue to being ready for Christmas.
Here was this man who was a priest, taught about God from his youth, so he would be ready for the job he would one day fulfill. He is serving God in the temple, and then is chosen by lot to enter the sanctuary of the Lord. There he burned incense with just a curtain separating him from the dwelling place of God on earth. It was then that all heaven breaks loose! (Well I couldn’t say it the other way!). He is met by an angel, but it’s not just any angel, but Gabriel himself. After Gabriel relays the news of the impending pregnancy of his wife and the role that child would play, Zechariah questions, “How can I be sure this will happen? I am an old man now, and my wife is also well along in years.” This is when I imagine that Gabriel stands to his full height and in his indignation states, “I am Gabriel! I stand in the very presence of God.” Luke 1:19. Like dude, who do you think I am? While I may leave you awestruck, I am just a messenger for the God of the universe. You are in the place where God dwells with man and you are questioning if what I say is true? What kind of falsehood could even be spoken in this most holy place? I imagine that thoughts like those may have rushed through Gabriels mind before he spoke.
It seems to me that Zecharaiah was positioned to hear from God. He was spiritually right and even physically in the Lord’s house. The man was chosen by lot, or God Himself, to enter the dwelling place of God on earth. There is no better position to be in than close to the Lord, set up to hear the whisper of His voice. So…. How do I position myself to hear from God?
Seeking to be righteous. This is nothing holier than thou…..none of us are perfect and never will be. Being righteous is about being right with God. That is the work that Jesus did on the cross giving us that pathway to righteousness. I seek to be righteous by reflection, confession and repentance.
To not fear. Did you know there are 366 verses in the Bible where people are told not to fear? As I read through the story of Jesus birth, this story is filled with the reminder “do not fear.” I was watching Grantchester last night, and one of the characters said, “Fear makes you feel that there is no way out.” That trapped feeling can disrupt how I respond to God and others. Fear brings distortion, but clarity comes with the absence of fear.
To be humble. The humility of those who trusted God to work out their lives abounds in this story. For me this year, most noticeably is Elizabeth. She is in the lineage of Aaron, the priestly line of Israel, married to Zechariah who is also a descendant of Aaron. Here is a woman who should be looked up to and admired, but there is a problem. We read by her own words, that she is disgraced. “He has taken away my disgrace of having no children” Luke 1:25b. Yet, she was “Righteous in God’s eyes, careful to obey all of the Lord’s commandments and regulations.” Luke 1:6. That takes humility! Up to this time in her life she has lived with a cloud over her head. You know how people talk, and I can just imagine what was said behind her back. And I am sure she would’ve imagined too. Yet she did as she was called to do, live blamelessly before her God.
I will admit, it’s been a couple of days writing down my thoughts, and I’ve already had a run in with one of my points. And I lost. That was one day though, and I thank God for new mornings that come with the opportunity to start all over again. To position myself in a way so that I will be ready for Christmas!
I noticed her again at church. Sitting alone and with a blank expression. It could have meant anything, but I guess from her body language, I assumed she was alone. There was no one sitting with her, and expression seemed sad. I missed her one Sunday, as I wanted to shake her hand after service, but she was gone before I could speak with her. This Sunday was different. It was time to greet people, and I had again forgotten about that haunted look. Greeting time was almost over when I remembered, or was reminded as I like to think. I moved from my spot and walked over and shook her hand and introduced myself. Her face lit up and I was gifted by a very lovely smile. It was just a moment and then it was gone. I saw her later and she was speaking with a gentleman after the service. Maybe she wasn’t as alone as I thought?
It was then I wondered if the moment wasn’t really for her at all, maybe it had been just for me? An exercise in wholeness, where a still small voice prompted me from hearing to doing.
I heard something the other day and I thought, “so what are you trying to say?”
It’s happened a couple of times during a preach, just a quick comment about a character or story in the bible. It may go something like, “you’ve probably never heard of this,” and they name an obscure character or bible story. When I hear a comment like that, it just strikes me funny, and not in the “ha ha” way. Maybe they say it that way because what they really want to say, “you would know it if you read your bible,” might not be received so well.
Now don’t get me wrong, because for longer than I care to admit, I would probably be like, “yep never heard of that guy.” That definitely changed when I picked up my bible and just started reading through it. I wasn’t doing anything special like following a study, reading the bible in a year, or doing it with a group of people. I was just reading and underlining things that jumped out at me. In turn, I found that I liked it! Reading the bible is like having a conversation with God. It’s a long, and slightly confusing conversation at times, but a conversation where I slowly know Him better. Most of the time, it’s also helped me know me better too.
After pondering it, I wondered if the answer to my question really mattered? Why? Well, whatever the reason the comment was made, it seemed like a missed opportunity. A teachable moment if you will. I know, those are what we think belong to children, but we adults have them too.
So I wondered, what if instead of tossing off a comment that may or may not be useful, why not see this as a teachable moment? Wouldn’t this be the perfect time to encourage your listeners to read for themselves what God has placed in His book? Instead of just assuming they’ve never heard of the character or story, ask IF it’s new to them? If it is, that is the perfect time to invite them to go home and read through the passage themselves. To take some time and ponder what the words say and the context of when they were written. To make space for the Holy Spirit to take the words on the page, and the message from the pulpit to speak into our every day lives.
So if you hear a comment like that in a preach, sermon, teaching (whatever you happen to call it) just remember the opportunity you have before you. If the story or character IS new to you, check it out more! Read the passage in different translations, check out a commentary and talk about it with a friend. The stories are old, but we are told that “there is nothing new under the sun.” So in these stories and the people who lived them out, we have the opportunity to see a reflection of our own lives.
I am feeling a sense of renewal today. I feel like I’ve just finished a good rest. Maybe I needed time to rest, be quiet and listen? Time to hear that still small voice and work to align my heart with what I’ve heard.
Or maybe I was sleep walking? Going through the motions, getting things done, and wrestling with God. Trying to shut out that still small voice, and trying to get Him to align with my plan.
….“Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” Ephesians 5:14
I love this verse because it always reminds me of the movie “Shawn of the Dead.” I know, not high art, but It was through this movie that God gave me a perspective of a life I could easily fall into.
We humans are all at risk of sleep walking. It’s hard to sleep though a whole life, but maybe there are periods of time that just seem to slip through our fingers. Periods of time we waste just going through the motions. I believe my time has been a bit of both. Time to seek and see what is next on the horizon, while wrestling against what I already know. Time to get back to the writing that helps me “work out” my salvation, and hopefully encourages others along the way.
Cheryl Mendoza 