MONDAY MORNING REFLECTIONS - MEMORIAL DAY

I have two posts this Memorial Day. The first is posts have been shared with my by friends on Facebook.  The second comes tomorrow.

MONDAY MORNING REFLECTIONS:MOTHER'S DAY

My mother, Marilyn and Dad

BY STEVE DUNN

 Yesterday much of America observed Mother’s Day.  It is one of the most celebrated holidays in our nation.  People have mixed emotions about this day—depending on whether or not your mother is deceased or you are a woman who suffers from infertility that prevents you from giving birth or a youngster whose Mom is stationed overseas in defense of our country or whether you are a mother whose children no longer call or visit or whether you have a cherished mother that you can connect with.  (I know that was a very long sentence.) For some it is a source of joy and some a source of cynicism (“the holiday created by Hallmark,” someone once told me.)  For others it is a source of pain because of the emptiness of the womb or the loss of a mother who was a treasured friend.

Perhaps you are not familiar with the origins of Mother’s Day.  It was 1876 and the nation still mourned the Civil War dead. While teaching a Memorial Day lesson, Mrs. Anna Reeves Jarvis thought of mothers who had lost their sons. She prayed that one day there could be a "Memorial Day" for mothers. The prayer made a deep impression on one of Mrs. Jarvis eleven children. Young Anna had seen her mother’s efforts to hold the war-split community and church together. As she grew into adulthood, the younger woman kept Mrs. Jarvis dream in her heart. On the day of her mother’s death, Anna was determined to establish Mother’s Day in her honor.[i]

Through local observances that were imitated and repeated, word-of-mouth, some organized campaigns-Anna and her compatriots finally saw the movement spread to 45 states.  In 1914, President officially designated the second Sunday in May as Mother’s Day.

I, for one, celebrate Mother’s Day.  But as a pastor sensitive to the hearts of many women in my community, I remind people that we are blessed with biological mothers and spiritual mothers.  The former brought us into the world and provided the love and security that began to shape us as persons. The latter have been women who led Sunday School, who served as an extra grandmother, worked with youth groups, mentored and modeled the values of Christ that have helped make us people of Christian character and commitment.

Both mothers are to be honored—and when we have both—we are blessed.  These are the women whose “children” rise up and call them blessed. (Proverbs 31:28)

© 2018  by Stephen L. Dunn.  You have permission to reprint this provided it is unchanged, proper authorship is cited, it is in a publication not for sale, and a link is provided to this site or to www.drstevedunn.com. For all other uses, contact Steve at sdunnpastor@gmail.com 

Dianne, mother of my four children and grandmother to their seven

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[i] Source Sermon Central.Com downloaded May 13, 2018

MONDAY MORNING REFLECTIONS - HONORING BARBARA BUSH

BY STEVE DUNN

Saturday morning in St. Martin's Episcopal Cathedral in Houston, America celebrated the life of Barbara Bush. I was amused by a news reporter's comment that her faith and friends were very important to her, but most important to her was her family.  Mrs. Bush's quote on the subject earlier in her life was in a different order saying the most important things were faith, family and friends.  In a 2013 interview for a C-Span series on First Ladies, she made that clear: "I'm a huge believer in a loving God," she said. "And I don't have a fear of death for my precious George or for myself because I know that there is a great God."  A lady of great Christian dignity, Cleve R. Wootson, Jr. of the Washington Post added. "Even in the 2013 interview she took pains not to sound too sanctimonious. 'That sounds so arrogant," she said, turning away from the interviewer. I'm a big shot. I have a faith in God. I do have a faith in God. And I don't question it. I have no fear of death. And I think that's very comforting."  SOURCE: The Oklahoman -News OK website-April 18th, 2018.Cleve R. Wootson Jr. The Washington Post

Her values informed her ideas and thoughts and words.  Here are some of those definitely worth remembering.

To the Wellesley College graduating class: "At the end of your life, you will never regret not having passed one more test, not winning one more verdict or not closing one more deal. You will regret time not spent with a husband, a friend, a children, or a parent."

"Never lose sight of the fact that the most important yardstick of your success will be how you treat other people -- your family, friends, and coworkers, and even strangers you meet along the way."

"When you come to a roadblock, take a detour."

"I hate the fact that people think 'compromise' is a dirty word."

 "Don't cry over things that were or things that aren't. Enjoy what you have now to the fullest."

“Bias has to be taught. If you hear your parents downgrading women or people of different backgrounds, why, you are going to do that.”

 "You have to love your children unselfishly. That is hard. But it is the only way.”

"You have two choices in life; you can either like what you do or dislike what you do. I have chosen to like what I do."

"Libraries have always seemed like the richest places in the world to me, and I've done some of my best learning and thinking thanks to them."

"Giving frees us from the familiar territory of our own needs by opening our mind to the unexplained worlds occupied by the needs of others."

"I'm a liberal when it comes to human rights, the poor; so's George Bush. . . . But Liberal and Conservative don't mean much to me anymore. Does that mean we care about people and are interested and want to help? And if that makes you a Liberal, so be it."

" If human beings are perceived as potentials rather than problems, as possessing strengths instead of weaknesses, as unlimited rather that dull and unresponsive, then they thrive and grow to their capabilities."

MONDAY MORNING RFEFLECTIONS - HE KILLED A FRIEND OF MINE

BY STEVE DUNN

Almost eight years ago I published a story on one of my other blogs about a lady who I was privileged to be her pastor for 14 years.  As I have been reflecting on the state of our nation lately and what ordinary people can do to return reason and grace to the discussion, my mind went back to this lady and I am reposting to share her story with you. - Steve

Emma Kreger was a school teacher.  Emma taught school in the days of one-room schoolhouses, a phenomenon in Indiana where we lived that survived well into the 20th century.  Her classroom was young people from first through eighth grade.  Emma was so dedicated to her profession that she did not marry until well into her fifties, inheriting a family of adult children who absolutely adored her.

When I met Emma she was a widow, well into her 90s. She was the oldest member of the church that I was serving.  A gentle, unassuming, sincere and slightly ornery little gal.  Still dressed with the dignity and the audacity of a life-long teacher.

One Christmas I was visiting her in her little two room apartment at St. Anne’s Home.  By that time she had been a resident for several years, not really venturing into the outside world-but riding her little motorized scooter to meals and bingo. As I attempted to make conversation, I commented on her collection of Christmas cards, noting a particularly colorful one.

“Oh, that’s from Lyle.  He’s an inmate at Pendleton,” was her response.

I was completely taken aback. Pendleton was one of the maximum state prisons in Indiana at the time, a lot of hard core criminals residing within its walls. The look of shock on my face must of been obvious.  “Emma, how do you know someone in Pendleton.”

“Oh,” she answered matter-of-factly, “he killed a friend of mine.”

Emma proceeded to tell me about Tammy, a troubled young lady who had rented the upstairs apartment in Emma’s home  many years ago.  “I learned quickly that Tammy had a drug problem.  Instead of throwing her out, I tried to help her.”

As I caught my breath in awe, she continued. “Tammy finally gave her heart to Jesus Christ and gave up her drugs.  The first thing she did was to go and turn in her pusher. His name was Lyle.”
“But you know how it goes.  He got out on bail right away. He was furious. He came right over to the apartment and shot Tammy dead right there. The police arrived quickly and arrested him and soon he was sentenced to life in prison in Pendleton.”

It was an incredible story, but then Emma said something amazingly grace-filled.  “Pastor, that man was crazy ! He had to be crazy to come so boldly and kill her, knowing he would be caught and convicted.”
I nodded my head in agreement and she concluded, “I decided a crazy man needed Jesus.“  Emma proceeded to tell me how she had been writing to Lyle for several years and praying for him. And then one day, through the work of Prison Fellowship, Lyle became a Christian.  Now he was being allowed to go to high schools to tell kids what would happen to them when they got caught in drugs.

What a life change. All because of a grace-filled, insistent little school teacher, who decided that craziness should not separate someone from the love of God.

© 2010, 2018  by Stephen L. Dunn.  All rights reserved. You have permission to reprint this provided it is unchanged, proper authorship is cited, it is in a publication not for sale, and a link is provided to this site or to www.drstevedunn.com. For all other uses, contact Steve at sdunnpastor@gmail.com 

HAITI TODAY - ONE WAY TO HELP

by STEVE DUNN

A friend of mine, who I first met when we took a trip to Haiti, and a pastor from my stream of Christianity, is leading an awesome work New Life in Haiti.  Hurricane Matthew has left them with a great challenge as this article from the Napierville Sun Time circulated by the Chicago Tribune reveals.  This IS A PLACE WHERE I HAVE SEEN JESUS LATELY.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/naperville-sun/ct-nvs-churches-respond-haiti-st-1014-20161013-story.html

MONDAY MORNING REFLECTIONS - THIS HAS TO STOP

BY STEVE DUNN

July 7 our nation was shocked by the killing of five Dallas TX police officers and nine more were wounded by a sniper while they were protecting a demonstration.  Then July 11, three Baton Rouge LA policemen were ambushed and killed and a fourth deputy critically wounded by still another person bent on killing law enforcement officers.  As our nation has spiraled into a cycle of violence, the men and women charged with keeping the peace and protecting the public as they exercise their right of free speech, are being targeted by people of hatred. 

The three law-enforcement officers killed in Baton Rough, Louisiana , were, from left, Montrell Jackson, Brad Garafola and Matthew Gerald.

 

 

The Dallas shooting was the deadliest incident for law enforcement officers since the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks that cost the lives of 72 police persons.  Dallas Police Chief,  David Brown, reports continuing death threats against his family.

Dallas Police Chief David Brown, shown here last week, said “We're asking cops to do too much in this country.” (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Read more here: http://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/community/fort-worth/article90175207.html#storylink=cpy

A police officer bows his head during the funeral for Dallas Police Sr. Cpl. Lorne Ahrens at Baptist Church in Plano, Texas, Wednesday, July 13, 2016. Ahrens and four other officers were slain by a sniper during a protest last week in downtown Dallas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

  

My fellow citizens, this must stop.  I am vividly aware that there are police officers who have broken the law, and that innocent and ordinary African males can legitimately report harassment and abuse from stressed out and sometimes rogue policeman.

But so many police officers are simply good people, who love God and love their communities, who work long hours in thankless tasks--and they are in some communities a thin blue line between chaos/anarchy and our desire to live peaceably as a free people.

THIS MUST STOP !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

© 2016 by Stephen L. Dunn.  You have permission to reprint this provided it is unchanged, proper authorship is cited, it is in a publication not for sale, and a link is provided to this site or to www.drstevedunn.com. For all other uses, contact Steve at sdunnpastor@gmail.com