In traveling around the Houston area the last few weeks, I have noticed both the American and Texas flags have been flying at half-staff. It seems that they have been at half-staff more often than normal.
Flags are flown at half-staff in honor of the death of significant individuals such as a president, those who have fallen in the line of duty or those who have died as a result of some tragedy. I learned today that there is even a “widget” that will give “half-staff” notifications any time there is a determination that flying the American and state flags at half-staff is appropriate.
Recently flags have been flown at half-staff on the following dates:
US - 7/18/2016 US Flags at Half Staff Honoring the Victims of the Attack in Baton Rouge, Louisiana
US - 7/15/2016 US Flags at Half Staff Honoring the Victims of the Attack in Nice, France
US - 7/8/2016US Flags at Half-Staff Honoring the Victims of the Attack in Dallas, Texas
US - 6/12/2016 US Flags at Half-Staff Honoring Victims of Attack in Orlando
It seems that victims of attacks requiring the lowering of the national flag are becoming more commonplace. The four listed about have all taken place within a six-week period.
In light of the regularity of lowering the flag to half-mast it causes me to consider the ultimate outcome of the four tragedies mentioned.
As we consider the shooter who entered a nightclub well-armed, and the ensuing slaughter, “We might ask what positive result has come about through the death of 49 and the wounding of 53 others?” To date, I can think of no positive outcome to what took place in Orlando.
On July 7, 5 police officers were murdered in retaliation for recent police shootings deaths of black men. Five officer and the shooter are dead in Dallas. My question is this, “Did the murder of the Dallas officers bring an end to the inequities that sometimes occur at the hands of police officers? Did the murdering of others in retaliation solve anything?”
Did driving a bus through a crowd of people at a Bastille Day observance in Nice, France better the situation of anyone in France?
Did the murder of three more officers and the shooter in Baton Rouge, Louisiana resolve anything other than add to the death toll and spur more violence?
Sadly, all it seems we can do in the wake of such tragedies is lower our flags in honor of the slain and hold funeral vigils in their honor as well.
We can be sure there will be more lives taken because real, permanent solutions are not even considered! The only resource that offers mankind a way out of the savagery and brutality of these murders is to apply the principles found in the Bible.
Imagine if Paul’s instruction to the Romans were applied all over the world, “Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord. Therefore "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head." Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:17-21).
If the principles emphasized by the Apostle were practiced, there would be no unnecessary deaths at the hands of the police nor attacks upon the police. There would no killings on behalf of an ideology or religion. Instead, everyone would seek to apply the principles of outgoing concern for one another. Wounds and slights would begin to heal and we could at last move toward peace with one another.
If the five verses quoted were applied on a daily basis throughout the world, flags flying at half-mast would be a rarity.
Gary Smith
Friday, July 22, 2016
Friday, July 15, 2016
What Will America Be Like When God Stops Blessing America?
In the Sabbath Thought for this week, I thought I would reflect on the contrast between growing up in the America of the 1950’s and 1960’s and the America of 2016. It’s quite a black and white disparity.
In elementary school, we regularly said the Pledge of Allegiance, and sang “My Country Tis of Thee”. We also learned other patriotic songs such as “The Star Spangled Banner”, “America the Beautiful”, and “God Bless America”. Unbelievably in that era virtually no one objected.
It is heartening in our modern age to go to a ball game or other sporting event, and have them begin the event by playing “The Star Spangled Banner”. It is even more moving to have the crowd join in. It still happens at least at baseball games.
I will always remember the 2001 World Series after the destruction at the World Trade Center. It was a unique baseball playoff because there was an added element of patriotism and recollection of God. We were Americans, proud of it, and thankful to God for His many blessings.
I always remember the Star Spangled Banner being played before a baseball game commenced. At the seventh inning stretch, it was common to sing, “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” but I don’t remember them singing “God Bless America.” But they certainly did during the 2001 Series. It had a special significance that year.
Additionally, during that Series, Ray Charles performed his rendition of “America the Beautiful.” He had originally recorded the song in 1972 in the midst of the turmoil over the Viet Nam War. When he sang that patriotic song at Yankee Stadium in October 2001, it was a perfect choice that fit with the pain and sadness stemming the loss of so many lives.
Patriotism and thanks to God were common in the 1950’s and 1960’s and those values were briefly rekindled in 2001. But there seems to be a different spirit today.
Consider an article by columnists, L. Brent Bozell III and Tim Graham entitled, “Now Controversial: ‘God Bless America.” They write, “The folks at the New York Daily News have embraced a mission to become the most provocative jerks in the Big Apple. One day it's personal attacks on those praying for the victims of terrorism, the next it's declaring the National Rifle Association to be murderous. In keeping with this stream of insulting behaviors, columnist Gersh Kuntzman has issued a demand, saying, "Major League Baseball must permanently retire 'God Bless America,' a song that offends everyone."
They note that the columnist Kuntzman went on to say, “It's time for God to stop blessing America during the seventh-inning stretch. Welcome to the July 4 weekend — when once again, baseball fans will be assaulted by the saccharine-sweet non-anthem 'God Bless America' at stadia all over this great land." The song, he says, "should be sent permanently to the bench."”
In 1939, Irving Belin wrote “God Bless America.” 1939 was a time when the dark clouds of world war were on the horizon. Maybe he recognized the need for God’s blessing on America.
He wrote:
"While the storm clouds gather far across the sea,
Let us swear allegiance to a land that's free,
Let us all be grateful for a land so fair,
As we raise our voices in a solemn prayer. "
God Bless America,
Land that I love.
Stand beside her, and guide her
Thru the night with a light from above.
From the mountains, to the prairies,
To the oceans, white with foam
God bless America, My home sweet home.
A question arises in light of this attitude toward God blessing America, “What will America be like when God stops blessing our nation?”
A more important consideration in light of the sad events unfolding in our country, “Has God already withdrawn His blessings from our country?”
As this Sabbath approaches, you might consider the need for God’s blessing on our country. Hopefully, it’s not too late and God will once again bless America.
Gary Smith
In elementary school, we regularly said the Pledge of Allegiance, and sang “My Country Tis of Thee”. We also learned other patriotic songs such as “The Star Spangled Banner”, “America the Beautiful”, and “God Bless America”. Unbelievably in that era virtually no one objected.
It is heartening in our modern age to go to a ball game or other sporting event, and have them begin the event by playing “The Star Spangled Banner”. It is even more moving to have the crowd join in. It still happens at least at baseball games.
I will always remember the 2001 World Series after the destruction at the World Trade Center. It was a unique baseball playoff because there was an added element of patriotism and recollection of God. We were Americans, proud of it, and thankful to God for His many blessings.
I always remember the Star Spangled Banner being played before a baseball game commenced. At the seventh inning stretch, it was common to sing, “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” but I don’t remember them singing “God Bless America.” But they certainly did during the 2001 Series. It had a special significance that year.
Additionally, during that Series, Ray Charles performed his rendition of “America the Beautiful.” He had originally recorded the song in 1972 in the midst of the turmoil over the Viet Nam War. When he sang that patriotic song at Yankee Stadium in October 2001, it was a perfect choice that fit with the pain and sadness stemming the loss of so many lives.
Patriotism and thanks to God were common in the 1950’s and 1960’s and those values were briefly rekindled in 2001. But there seems to be a different spirit today.
Consider an article by columnists, L. Brent Bozell III and Tim Graham entitled, “Now Controversial: ‘God Bless America.” They write, “The folks at the New York Daily News have embraced a mission to become the most provocative jerks in the Big Apple. One day it's personal attacks on those praying for the victims of terrorism, the next it's declaring the National Rifle Association to be murderous. In keeping with this stream of insulting behaviors, columnist Gersh Kuntzman has issued a demand, saying, "Major League Baseball must permanently retire 'God Bless America,' a song that offends everyone."
They note that the columnist Kuntzman went on to say, “It's time for God to stop blessing America during the seventh-inning stretch. Welcome to the July 4 weekend — when once again, baseball fans will be assaulted by the saccharine-sweet non-anthem 'God Bless America' at stadia all over this great land." The song, he says, "should be sent permanently to the bench."”
In 1939, Irving Belin wrote “God Bless America.” 1939 was a time when the dark clouds of world war were on the horizon. Maybe he recognized the need for God’s blessing on America.
He wrote:
"While the storm clouds gather far across the sea,
Let us swear allegiance to a land that's free,
Let us all be grateful for a land so fair,
As we raise our voices in a solemn prayer. "
God Bless America,
Land that I love.
Stand beside her, and guide her
Thru the night with a light from above.
From the mountains, to the prairies,
To the oceans, white with foam
God bless America, My home sweet home.
A question arises in light of this attitude toward God blessing America, “What will America be like when God stops blessing our nation?”
A more important consideration in light of the sad events unfolding in our country, “Has God already withdrawn His blessings from our country?”
As this Sabbath approaches, you might consider the need for God’s blessing on our country. Hopefully, it’s not too late and God will once again bless America.
Gary Smith
Friday, July 8, 2016
Summer Camp: Guided By God’s Word
Camp Pinecrest is over for 2016, but the experience provides a lesson for this week’s Sabbath Thought.
This year, camp began on Thursday, June 23, with the arrival of 49 staff members and about 60 campers. It is a remarkable thing that over 100 people can get together and create something that is pleasing to God. It is not only an outcome that is pleasing to God, but is most encouraging as well.
When we go to camp, we are, first of all isolated. There is little traffic to contend with and no TV’s to be seen or heard. The teens turn in their electronics on Friday and, as a result, there is no distraction from what we are trying to achieve for the next week.
Outside of our little community at the camp, the world goes on as always. People continue to choose from the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil whether they know it or not. Sadly, man seems to be choosing from the tree of death more than the tree of life. What we are doing in Fredericktown, Missouri is of little import to the world at large. But from God’s perspective our week long gathering is of great significance.
Why is camp significant from God’s point of view? And why is it encouraging to the participants young and old?
Camp is significant to God because you have 49 adults from all over the Midwest. Volunteers from diverse backgrounds, points of view, temperaments, and various levels of spiritual maturity come to serve as staff. The overriding feature of those who give of their time at camp is their willingness to yield to God and one another so that the teens can be well served. More importantly, if the teens take the time to consider what is taking place they can see the atmosphere at camp is produced because of the application of God’s way of life.
Paul summarized what takes place at camp each year, “from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love” (Ephesians 4:16).
Should we be surprised by this positive outcome? Absolutely not! God’s way, when applied, always works. It always has and it always will.
For Liz and I in our position of administrating the camp, it is easy to focus on the minutiae—the injuries and the human failings that inevitably happen when you run a summer camp. But to only see the negative is the miss the bigger picture which is most encouraging.
We are encouraged by camp because above all we can see the staff making sacrifices, willingly helping one another, and being willing to help even when it is not their job. To put the outcome in terms of this year’s camp theme, they are willing to be “Guided by God’s Word.” This willingness to submit to God and apply the truths of the Bible is an annual reminder that God’s way always works.
With that encouragement in mind, we look forward to Camp Pinecrest 2017.
Gary Smith
This year, camp began on Thursday, June 23, with the arrival of 49 staff members and about 60 campers. It is a remarkable thing that over 100 people can get together and create something that is pleasing to God. It is not only an outcome that is pleasing to God, but is most encouraging as well.
When we go to camp, we are, first of all isolated. There is little traffic to contend with and no TV’s to be seen or heard. The teens turn in their electronics on Friday and, as a result, there is no distraction from what we are trying to achieve for the next week.
Outside of our little community at the camp, the world goes on as always. People continue to choose from the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil whether they know it or not. Sadly, man seems to be choosing from the tree of death more than the tree of life. What we are doing in Fredericktown, Missouri is of little import to the world at large. But from God’s perspective our week long gathering is of great significance.
Why is camp significant from God’s point of view? And why is it encouraging to the participants young and old?
Camp is significant to God because you have 49 adults from all over the Midwest. Volunteers from diverse backgrounds, points of view, temperaments, and various levels of spiritual maturity come to serve as staff. The overriding feature of those who give of their time at camp is their willingness to yield to God and one another so that the teens can be well served. More importantly, if the teens take the time to consider what is taking place they can see the atmosphere at camp is produced because of the application of God’s way of life.
Paul summarized what takes place at camp each year, “from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love” (Ephesians 4:16).
Should we be surprised by this positive outcome? Absolutely not! God’s way, when applied, always works. It always has and it always will.
For Liz and I in our position of administrating the camp, it is easy to focus on the minutiae—the injuries and the human failings that inevitably happen when you run a summer camp. But to only see the negative is the miss the bigger picture which is most encouraging.
We are encouraged by camp because above all we can see the staff making sacrifices, willingly helping one another, and being willing to help even when it is not their job. To put the outcome in terms of this year’s camp theme, they are willing to be “Guided by God’s Word.” This willingness to submit to God and apply the truths of the Bible is an annual reminder that God’s way always works.
With that encouragement in mind, we look forward to Camp Pinecrest 2017.
Gary Smith
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