No Greater Love

1993 Pat and Lionel at The Alamo

'Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends.' John 15:13

The Ultimate Sacrifice and the Greatest Love.

The first time I understood Ultimate Sacrifice was when I watched the 1960 movie The Alamo. This blockbuster movie was produced and directed by John Wayne, who also acted as David Crockett and Richard Widmark played the role of Jim Bowie. I was most impressed by the embittered character Lieutenant-Colonel William Travis, played by Laurence Harvey, who was the commanding officer. He had a very difficult task to defend against an overwhelming force and against all odds; a difficult choice to make to stand his ground and not withdraw or surrender.  

At the Battle of the Alamo, 185 Texans, Tennesseans, Mexicans and others defended the Spanish Catholic Mission and Fortress at San Antonio against 5000 troops of the Mexican Army led by the dictator Antonio López de Santa Anna. After a 13 days siege, despite the brave defense put up by the Americans, the Mexican Army breached the wall and a brutal slaughter of all 185 men ensued. These men paid the ultimate sacrifice, they laid down their lives in the fight for the independence of Texas. 

 The Ballad of the Alamo extol their bravery and their ultimate sacrifice.

   

But the Battle of the Alamo was not a wasted carnage. It delayed the Mexican advance and bought sufficient time for General Sam Houston to raise an army, eventually to defeat Santa Anna and secured the independence of Texas. Under the rallying cry 'Remember the Alamo' the Texans recognised the sacrifice of these man to establish their State.

I was 10 years old when I watched the movie but two scenes made an indelible mark on me. Somehow each scene allowed me to draw lessons of values and virtues which I could apply when I became a Christian several years later. 

The first scene was when LTC Travis drew a line on the sand of the old fort with his sabre having realised the foregone conclusion of the battle. He asked any person wanting to withdraw, escape or surrender to Mexican army, to step across that line. Not one of the 185 men walked across. They all chose to stay at fight even though they knew it was going to be certain death for them.

Centuries earlier another commander, Joshua had thrown down the same challenge. Joshua challenged the Israelites,

 'But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve... But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.' Joshua 24:15

Like that line in the sand, it was a pivotal choice to make. The Israelites like the Texans made the right choice, they replied Joshua "Be it far from us to forsake the Lord to serve other gods!" Joshua 24:16. 

This challenge is a fundamental choice all Christians need to make very early in their belief and conversion. There is no turning back.

The second scene was the closing sequence of the movie. Mrs Sue Dickinson, wife of the artillery officer, placed her daughter on a donkey and slowly out of the Alamo, one of the few survivors. As mother and daughter passed by the slain men strewn on the grounds of the Alamo, the soldiers of Santa Anna's army stood up and saluted. It was a very sad yet poignant moment. A lovely song the  'Green Leaves of Summer' sung by the Brothers Four played in the background recounting precious moments of life including the time to die.

A time to be reaping

A time to be sowing

A time just for living

A place for to die

Twas so good to be young then

To be close to the earth

Now the green leaves of summer

Are calling me home

It was the time of men laying down their lives so that others may live. Jesus Christ also spoke of this ultimate sacrifice,

'Greater love has no one more than this: to lay down his life for his brother.' John 15:13

The sacrifice at the Alamo is relevant but Jesus Christ was speaking about an even greater love, an even greater sacrifice - His sacrifice on the cross at Calvary. Because of His great love for all men, Jesus suffered a gruesome death to pay for the sins of men. Jesus laid down his life to save us from our sins - the ultimate sacrifice. Jesus died so that we can live - The Greatest Love.

'Jesus is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.     This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son (Jesus) as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.' 1 John 2:2 and 1 John 4:10

Christianity is born of the sacrifice and the blood of Jesus Christ.

In 1993, Pat and I visited The Alamo. We went not as tourists; it was more like a pilgrimage to honour the 185 men, to think of their sacrifice and to stand silently where they were slain. It was evening and the sun was setting as it was when Travis drew that line in the sand. 

In that serenity, we made a silent family prayer and rededicated our lives - 'As For Me And My House We Will Serve The Lord.'

Lionel

   

 

La Vie En Rose

'The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.' Psalms 34:18

This is a beautiful love song. La Vie En Rose literally means life in pink. It can be  translated as life in rosy hues and or life seen through happy lenses. I was drawn to its tune and lyrics but even more so to the French singer and composer of this song, Édith Piaf. 

Her life was very tragic. Edith was called la môme, the orphan sparrow, reflecting her difficult childhood of extreme poverty. Her mother, a café singer, abandoned her at birth, and she was taken in by her grandmother, who brought up the young girl in a brothel. Piaf became blind at age three, a complication of meningitis, but recovered her sight four years later. A few years after that she joined her father, a circus acrobat, accompanied him wherever he performed and sang in the streets of Paris eking a meagre living. 

Later in life Edith Piaf was involved in several serious car accidents. She suffered from failing health, due partly, to alcohol and drug abuse. She died young, aged  47 years, from lung cancer. 

Her death was mourned internationally and in France, thousands lined the route of her funeral procession. She was able to move audiences with her passionate rendition of songs of love and loss with her unadorned but unique sultry voice. 

Edith Piaf led a tragic life, yet this song of life seen in happy hues gave no hint of her unfortunate circumstances. Furthermore, this song was composed by her in the final years of World War 2. It was a statement refusing to acknowledge the ravages of war but instead expressing a hope for a better age. No wonder this song is far more than a hit; it is honoured by some as the unofficial national anthem of the French. 

Hold me close and hold me fast

The magic spell you cast

This is la vie en rose

When you kiss me heaven sighs

And though I close my eyes

I see la vie en rose

When you press me to your heart

I'm in a world apart

A world where roses bloom

And when you speak

Angels sing from above

Everyday words seem

To turn into love songs

Give your heart and soul to me

And life will always be

La vie en rose

This song, its lyrics and the circumstances surrounding its composition, reminds us that life can be lived optimistically in spite of difficulties and tragedies. Such an attitude can help us through the most difficult times. Indeed it can help us journey the tough times of the Covid-19 pandemic. In the same way, St Paul wrote to encourage Christians:

'We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.'

2 Corinthians 4:8,9. 

Similarly, King David was pursued relentlessly twice in his lifetime, at first by King Saul and then by his own son, Absalom. He wrote many Psalms of his plight but he never buckled under his circumstances; he always hoped in God to deliver him from his enemies.

'Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord'.' Psalm 31:24

'For You have been my hope, Sovereign Lord, my confidence since my youth.' Psalm 71:5

Why, my soul are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Saviour and my God.'  Psalms 42:5

Instead of being downcast we can remain optimistic through bleak times. Remember the old Sunday School Song? 

Have faith hope and charity

That's the way to live successfully

How do I know?

The Bible tells me so.

Life is not always a bed of roses but it should always be seen through rosy hues, La Vie En Rose!

Lionel

Try A Little Kindness

'Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourself with compassion, kindness, humility and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgive you.' Colossians 3:12-13

My friend, Dr William Wan, pastor, theologian, lawyer is the General Secretary of the Singapore Kindness Movement. This movement was formed in 1997 with the aim of encouraging daily acts of kindness. It was felt that it is timely to invest some effort to promote kindness so as to achieve a more gracious Singaporean society. Probably the Singapore government realised that in an urban and fast-living environment, there is not much time nor attention left to care about anyone else other than oneself. 

But kindness has its rewards. Remember your childhood Aesop Fable of the Lion and the Mouse? 

A timid mouse chanced upon a lion sleeping in the forest. It ran across the lion's nose hoping to cross the lion but woke the sleeping beast instead. Woken up from his nap, the angry lion caught the mouse by its tail. The mouse begged for mercy stating that if it was spared it will repay the kindness someday. The lion, amused that a little mouse could ever help the king of the beasts, nevertheless felt kind and let the little mouse go.

Some days later the lion was caught in the coils of a poacher's net. Unable to break himself free, he roared ferociously to no avail. Realising that the lion was in distress the tiny mouse ran to his aid. Looking at the net that entrapped the lion, the mouse started to gnaw at the coils. Eventually the ropes burst and the lion was set free. 

The lesson from Aesop was  'No Act of Kindness No Matter How Small is Wasted' and many a parent taught her children kindness by reading this story to them.

It is strange to think that kindness can be taught. Why feature a kindness movement in a successful and prosperous city like Singapore? Should we think that teaching kindness is only meant for children?  That these little things and acts do not matter for adults? Adults can easily skip the small acts of kindness as  we aspire to so more significant deeds. Unfortunately we will miss this Sesame Street lesson - 'If you try a little kindness, you'll be surprised how good it makes you feel'.  

When William took on a leadership role in the Singapore Kindness Movement I was surprised. After so many years in Christian ministry in very exacting leadership positions, why take on a namby-pamby job promoting kindness? Then I realised that kindness is the anchor act of Christian love. How would we love our neighbour as God commanded us if not to show kindness? 

Loving one's neighbour is not just a sentimental response. It is the practical giving of one's self and its shows the love we have for others. In Matthew 25:34-36 Jesus said that acts of kindness will be the evidence of our Christianity,

For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat,

I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink,

I was a stranger and you invited me in,

I needed clothes and you clothed me,

I was sick and you looked after me,

I was in prison and you came to visit me. 

And so, my good friend William got it right. If you want to be a good Christian, try a little kindness.

If you see your brother standing by the road

With a heavy load from the seeds he sowed
And if you see your sister falling by the way
Just stop and say, "You're going the wrong way"

You've got to try a little kindness
Yes, show a little kindness
Just shine your light for everyone to see
And if you try a little kindness
Then you'll overlook the blindness
Of narrow-minded people on the narrow-minded streets

Don't walk around the down and out
Lend a helping hand instead of doubt
And the kindness that you show every day
Will help someone along their way

In the same way John Wesley taught his followers, the Methodists to do good deeds, in an almost feverish pitch:

Do all the good you can,
By all the means you can,
In all the ways you can,
In all the places you can,
At all the times you can,
To all the people you can,
As long as ever you can.

Lionel

Give What You Cannot Keep, Gain What You Cannot Lose

'But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world and we can take nothing out of it.' 1 Timothy 6:6,7 

In recent years we have seen the ascendency of digital or cryptocurrency with the Bitcoin, founded in January 2009. There are no physical bitcoins just a virtual commodity that has purchasing power or value that could be traded online and even for real goods. Bitcoins are not backed by gold, banks or governments. They are not even legal tender. Yet, one Bitcoin is valued at S$47,641 today, up from S$0/- when it was introduced in 2009 and S$0.08 in 2010. In the month of May 2021 alone, one Bitcoin was valued at the lowest price of S$45,569 to highest price at S$78,000.

In that volatility, many investors in Bitcoins have gained and some have lost their fortunes, almost instantaneously. It seems that nowadays, money need not be hard earned. 

Life has become complicated. 

What is the value of things? What is Wealth? "Our wealth is not measured by what we own but what we give away," wrote Bishop Robert Solomon (Ref 1) Bishop was not merely advocating generosity with that statement, he was urging us to keep life simple and not to allow one's wealth to complicate one's life. The missionary and martyr, James Elliot learned this lesson early in life, "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose."

John Wesley urged Methodists, "Earn all you can. Save all you can. Give all you can." Each instruction in the dictum highlights a certain way to live, a certain habit to develop, a certain value to possess. They are Diligence, Frugality and Generosity. Living by these principles, Bishop Solomon surmised, will bring Simplicity to one's life.

Kent Nerburn wrote in the Introduction to his book Simple Graces, "We dream our lives in grand gestures, but we live our lives in small moments. For though we may not live a holy life, we live in a world alive with holy moments. We need only take the time to bring these moments into the light." (Ref 2)

How then do we keep our lives simple, contented and unafraid? Jesus reaches out to us and tells us to walk with Him. A song 'I Know Who Holds Tomorrow' clarifies this.

I don't know about tomorrow

I just live from day to day

I don't borrow from its sunshine

For its skies may turn to grey

I don't worry o'er the future

For I know what Jesus said

And today I'll walk beside Him

For He knows what is ahead

Many things about tomorrow

I don't seem to understand

But I know who holds tomorrow,

And I know who holds my hand

I don't know about tomorrow

It may bring me poverty

But the one who feeds the sparrow

Is the one who stands by me

And the path that be portion

May be through the flame or flood

But His presence goes before me

And I'm covered with His blood

Many things about tomorrow

I don't seem to understand

But I know who holds tomorrow

And I know who holds my hand

But I know who holds tomorrow

And I know who holds my hand

 Jesus said in Matthew 6:25,26 and 34

 

'Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body what you will wear. is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.' 

Keep Life Simple. 

Lionel

Ref 1. Bishop Robert M Solomon. Spiritual Disciplines for Urban Christians. Genesis Books, 2021

Ref 2.  Kent Nerburn. Small Graces, The Quiet Gifts of Everyday Life. New World Library, 1998.

Parable of The "Lazy" Gardener

An English Garden in Spring May 2006

'For as the soil makes the sprout come up and a garden causes seeds to grow, so the Sovereign LORD will make righteousness and praise spring up before all nations.'  Isaiah 61:11

There is nothing more pleasing than a walk through an English Garden. On a cool spring day, it is a sheer delight to take in the sights, sounds and smells of a well laid out landscape. 

How does your garden grow? Tending to the garden should not be taken too lightly, it is hard work. We may take these beautiful gardens for granted and miss the tremendous efforts of the gardeners to plant, manicure and maintain such  artistic displays. 

Yet, despite their hard work, the gardeners cannot cause the plants to grow nor cajole the flowers to blossom. Beneath it all, the discerning person should see the hand of God, invisible yet clearly evident, in the making of the garden. This is the miracle of growth.

Remember, the English nursery rhyme? It makes gardening so easy.

 

Mary, Mary, quite contrary,

How does your garden grow?

With silver bells, and cockle shells,

And pretty maids all in a row

Jesus in Mark 4: 26-29 explained that while one can acknowledge the labour of the farmer, the miracle of growth takes over and we all benefit from the harvest.

'This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.'

a. Growth is a miracle. When we leave it to God, the seed left alone will grow. God gives the increase

b. Growth is gradual. Don’t expect crops to grow overnight. The patient hand of God is at work.

All we need to do is to plant a little seed. The Story of Teddy Stallard helps to drive home this point

The story is an encouragement for the witnessing teacher, doctor, pastor, missionaries, indeed for all of us! Don't think that the things you do are insignificant, Jesus said in Matthew 13:32 and Matthew 5:16

"Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches."

"Let your light shine before others that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven."

A song released in 1969 'Put A Little Love In Your Heart' echoes these same sentiments.   

Think of your fellow man

Lend him a helping hand

Put a little love in your heart

You see it's getting late

Oh, please don't hesitate

Put a little love in your heart

And the world will be a better place

And the world will be a better place

For you and me

You just wait and see

Another day goes by

Still the children cry

Put a little love in your heart

If you want the world to know

We won't let the hatred grow

Put a little love in your heart

Take a good look around

And if you're looking down

Put a little love in your heart

 I hope when you decide

Kindness will be your guide

Put a little love in your heart

Do we need any more convincing? To do a lasting deed, plant a little seed.

Lionel