Remember The P.O.W.’S.
(c)2009 Don Detrick
MAIN THOUGHT: It is good for us to remember the sacrifices and challenges of others.
Then those who feared the LORD spoke with each other, and the LORD listened to what they said. In his presence, a scroll of remembrance was written to record the names of those who feared him and loved to think about him. "They will be my people," says the LORD Almighty. "On the day when I act, they will be my own special treasure. I will spare them as a father spares an obedient and dutiful child. Then you will again see the difference between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not." (Malachi 3:16-18 NLT)
Recently we’ve been bombarded by news about how some of our soldiers mistreated or abused Iraqi prisoners of war. While we’ve come to expect that type of behavior from our enemies, we are shocked to discover that type of behavior from our military. Under the Geneva Convention, there are rules of war and there are rules about the treatment of prisoners of war that civilized society should follow. However in all of the rhetoric from both sides of the political fence, it is easy to forget the sacrifices made by those who have vigilantly served to secure our freedom.
That’s what Memorial Day is all about: remembering.
Many of us can remember - just after the Viet Nam War ended - seeing bumper stickers stating, “Remember The P.O.W.’s.” During the Viet Nam era, the news of the war dominated the daily news. But once we pulled out of Viet Nam, people soon forgot about the conflict and the soldiers. But family and friends of the Prisoners of War did not forget. If your husband or father or brother did not return home with the rest of the troops, you would never rest until you knew where they were. You would never give up hope and never stop praying until you knew they were either safe or dead. That was the reason for the bumper stickers and billboards and advertisements urging us to “Remember The P.O.W.’s.”
To tell you the truth, there are many things in life that are easy to forget. Even important things, like birthdays and anniversaries can be easily forgotten if we get too busy or preoccupied with other things. A few weeeks from now Jodi and I will celebrate our 35th wedding anniversary. I am planning a little getaway for us to Tanglewood in the Berkshire Mountains of Massachusetts. We will visit the Tanglewood Music Festival, summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra—and enjoy a live broadcast of Garrison Keilor’s Prairie Home Companion radio show. Someday we will go to Paris or maybe even Antarctica. For now, a trip to the Berkshires is good. But we will remember our anniversary. I will not forget! And I remember that my parents were married for 63 years and never went to Hawaii or Europe – they should have – but they didn’t. Other things, like putting the needs of children or grandchildren above their own, were always more important to them. Unfortunately for many people, those most important things are the things most easily forgotten.
We usually remember the things that are most urgent, most important to our heart – or our own personal needs. You might forget your grandparent’s anniversary, but you aren’t likely to forget to eat lunch today! The urgent things press upon us and clamor for our attention. Like the cries of a hungry baby in the middle of the night, we aren’t likely to forget the urgent and pressing needs of the moment because they make a lot of noise and are difficult to ignore. But sometimes the things that are truly most important simply don’t demand our attention. That’s why we need reminders.
This is Memorial Day weekend. Many Americans have no idea why we celebrate Memorial Day - viewing it only as a reason for a 3-day weekend. Memorial Day has traditionally been a day of remembering the many heroes who lost their lives during the Civil War and other wars in which the United States has been involved. All told, more than 1.1 million lives have been lost in America’s wars since our nation’s beginning. However, for many people, Memorial Day is also a time to honor all loved ones who have passed on before us. Years ago it was known as Decoration Day, but is now known as Memorial Day.
It is a good thing to use ceremonies or holidays or special observances to help us remember important people or events. Referring to the emblems of communion, Jesus said, “Do this in remembrance of Me." (Luke 22:19 NLT) The word “remember” or a form of it is used more than 200 times in the Bible. Like the signs, “Remember The P.O.W.’s”, I’d like to remind you of the P.O.W.’s the Bible challenges us to remember.
1. Remember the poor. - Galatians 2:10
Galatians 2:10, “we should continue to remember the poor.” (NLT)
Have you ever been resource challenged? Have you ever had more than enough? Most of us live most of our lives somewhere in the middle ground. I think one thing we will miss is the tremendous perspective given to my generation by our parents and grandparents who lived through the 1930’s period known as the “Great Depression.”
The man who has 12 children is richer than the man who has $12 million. Why? Because the man who has 12 children doesn’t want any more, but the man who has $12 million is always grasping for more money.
· “Whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone, especially to our Christian brothers and sisters.” (Galatians 6:10 NIV)
· "Love your enemies! Do good to them! Lend to them! And don't be concerned that they might not repay. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to the unthankful and to those who are wicked. You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate.” (Luke 6:35-36 NLT)
· “Don't forget to do good and to share what you have with those in need, for such sacrifices are very pleasing to God.” (Hebrews 13:16 NLT)
When we are having financial struggles, remember that God has promised to supply all of our need. Also remember that Jesus has a special blessing not only for those who are poor, but for those “who are poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:3 KJV) The New Living Translation says, "God blesses those who realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is given to them.” When we come to the end of our human resources, we begin to realize our need to depend upon God and with that comes God’s peace.
Last night our daughter Jana, who serves as a minister on staff at Shoreline Community Church in Seattle, participated in an outreach to people on the streets of Tacoma, providing personal items, prayer, and care to those in desperate need of the love of Jesus—including those involved the area’s thriving sex industry and strip clubs. Joining Jana was her friend, Tiffany Ziesemer, who serves on staff at Life Center in Tacoma and is a firecracker of a young Christian leader. These young single women in ministry are doing more than just talking about the platitudes of the Christian faith, they are making a difference in Jesus’ name.
2. Remember the orphans and widows. - James 1:27
“Pure and lasting religion in the sight of God our Father means that we must care for orphans and widows in their troubles, and refuse to let the world corrupt us.” (James 1:27 NLT)
Have you ever felt abandoned, or all alone in this world? All people who are poor, orphaned or widowed face many challenges. Perhaps the greatest challenge is the feeling of being abandoned or forsaken – being alone and not knowing where to turn for support and provision.
We sometimes need to be reiminded that life is short, God is good and we belong to Him. We all face feelings of abandonment and challenging circumstances from time to time. But those who are orphaned or widowed, or single parents can feel that way most of the time. Scripture gives us comfort and hope:
· “A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling. God sets the lonely in families, he leads forth the prisoners with singing.” (Psalm 68:5-6 NIV)
· “Even if my father and mother abandon me, the LORD will hold me close.” (Psalm 27:10 NLT)
When we were pastors at Bethel Church in Chehalis, Washington, Tiffany Ziesemer was in our youth group and a dynamic teenager who loved Jesus and showed it in many ways. Tiffany started out in life as an orphan. Her parents, Gary & Naomi, worked through Lovebasket, a Christian adoption agency based in Missouri. Tiffany was 17.5 months when she was adopted, but the process of adopting her took 3 years and began before she was even conceived. Her mother was very beautiful – that is all that is known about her parents – on her adoption papers simply said, “Abandoned.” Tiffany may have been abandoned by her birth parents, but she was not abandoned by God. And in a few weeks, Tiffany is getting married to another young man from our church in Chehalis, Derek Bluhm!
We all could do more to remember “the widows and orphans.” If we could see through the eyes of Jesus, we would know that they have so much to offer. We all can do more to show the love of Jesus to others. And we are never too young or too old to do so. In countless congregations, there are unsung widows and widowers who are using their gifts and talents to bless and serve others. I am privileged to know many of them, like our friend Jen Annan from Bethel Church, who, though an octogenarian now, unselfishly give of their time and talents in various ministries in the service of Jesus Christ.
3. Remember the suffering of others. - Hebrews 13:3
“Don't forget about those in prison. Suffer with them as though you were there yourself. Share the sorrow of those being mistreated, as though you feel their pain in your own bodies.” (Hebrews 13:3 NLT)
Our daughter Jana also spends a considerable amount of her free time ministering to female prisoners at the King County jail. Our son Mark and daughter Kristi and her family care deeply about the needs of the homeless and suffering people around the world and often minister and give in practical ways. Our son in law Jesse is a registered nurse and did an internship at the Mission of Mercy in Calcutta. It is encouraging to see members of younger generations who vigorously embrace compassion and service to others as core values.
But there is more than one kind of prison, you know. There are those trapped in a prison of fear, feeling chains of anxiety and worry holding them back from experiencing the freedom of faith. There are those who are living in a prison of intimidation or frustration, feeling that they can never measure up to their own expectations or the expectations of others. So they live in isolation, silently suffering and seldom leaving the security of their own cell. Others are trapped by various bondages and addictions. Jesus wants us to remember those who are suffering in any way and help them in any way we can.
We often don’t look beyond a person’s outward appearance to recognize the pain on the inside. The next time you are tempted to just pass someone by, I challenge you to dig a little deeper – to ask yourself if this person might be a person Jesus is asking you to help in some way. We are to remember the poor, the orphans, the widows and the suffering. But we are also called to help the prisoners, the oppressed, the weary and the strangers that cross our path.
One of my favorite professors at Eugene Bible College was R. Bryant Mitchell. He studied pre-med at UCLA and graduated from Biola University, L.I.F.E. Bible College and Drake University. Dr. Mitchell had served as General Superintendent of the Open Bible churches and as their Director of Missions.
His brother, Hubert Mitchell had gone to the Island of Sumatra (Western Indonesia) in 1934 as a missionary. Sumatra is the fifth largest island in the world, larger than California and Nova Scotia combined with a population at the time larger than the combined states of California, Oregon and Washington. Conditions were primitive there, and World War II was threatening the area.
Evangelism in the jungles was difficult, but God was blessing with a harvest of souls. During the steaming hot days of the summer of 1940, Hubert and his wife were expecting another kind of harvest, the birth of their second child.
Hubert's wife, Helen, had been an accomplished soloist, often singing for Aimee Semple McPherson at Angelus Temple. Things seemed to go well during this pregnancy and on September 14, 1940 she gave birth to a little girl, Jean Marie. The next day, however, Helen had a severe headache, which turned into a coma and convulsions. Without adequate medical care, Helen soon succumbed. Little Jean Marie was just three days old when her mother died.
The Mitchells were talented people, and could have led successful lives and careers at home in America, but they chose a life of service to the Lord. They had a great impact on reaching the people of Sumatra. So great had been their influence that the head of the Dutch bank took care of all the funeral arrangements. Due to conditions, the funeral had to be held on the same day. All the city officials attended the service. "Before coming to Sumatra, Hubert had written the music to the famous poem of Annie Johnson Flint, 'He Giveth More Grace.' The song was sung at the graveside. There were only a few dry eyes as the words were sung by another missionary couple. As the song was sung, Hubert said he 'felt the sting of death being drawn out, and he then spoke to them all in Malay with the anointing of God's Spirit upon him.'"[1] News of Helen's death took six weeks to arrive in America by letter. This was the first public performance this song that has blessed so many for the past 64 years. Here are the words by Annie Johnson Flint:
He giveth more grace, when the burdens grow greater.
He sendeth more strength, when the labors increase.
To added affliction, He addeth his mercy.
To multiplied trials, His multiplied peace.
His love hath no limit, His grace hath no measure.
His power hath no boundaries known unto man.
For out of his infinite riches in Jesus,
He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again.
When we have exhausted our store of endurance.
When our strength has failed, 'ere the day is half done.
When we reach the end of our hoarded resources,
Our Father's full giving has only begun![2]
God gives – He provides for the poor, the orphans, the widows and the suffering. He often uses us as channels of His provision. Won’t you ask the Lord to help you Remember the P.O.W.’s, and look for opportunities to be conduits of God’s resources, providing for those who are hurting?
Without God's provision, it would be impossible to sing the words "He giveth and giveth giveth again" at your wife's funeral. The "peace of God" passes all human understanding! We all need to be reminded about that, don’t we? Here are a few more reminders to consider this Memorial Day Weekend:
· We need to be reminded that life is short: Psalm 90:12 "Teach us to number our days. . ." A visit to a cemetery, hospital, or care home can remind us that life is fragile and short.
· We need to be reminded that Jesus is Lord and God is in control.
· We need to be reminded that while we can’t always change our circumstances, we can change our attitude.
· We need to be reminded that prayer changes things.
[1]Mitchell, R. Bryant and Lucille M. "Heritage & Harvests." Des Moines: Open Bible Publishers, 1995, p. 49.
[2]Gariepy, Henry "Songs in the Night." Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans, 1996, p. 5-6.
