Don’t Fall Prey: Brief thoughts on Trump and #takeaknee

So, the blog has been pretty quiet. I just thought I’d pop in and share a few brief thoughts on the uproar over Sunday’s “take a knee” controversy. I posted these thoughts on my personal Facebook page, but they seem to be resonating with my friends on both sides of the political spectrum, so I thought I would share them here. It’s not spectacular oration, just the earnest ramblings of a mid-western mom that would like to see things accomplished in Washington for the sake of America and in America for the sake of Christ.

 

Guys. The take a knee thing started a year ago. Trump is fanning the flame to be divisive, fire up the base, and distract from other issues. Don’t fall prey. Racial justice is important. Our national defense is important. Freedom of speech is important. So are affordable health care, tax reform, immigration reform, and the little matter of impulsive national figures vainly puffing their chests with nuclear weapons at their fingertips. Stick to the issues. Work toward compromise. Love your country. Love your neighbor. Honor our military. Stand for justice. Be mature. These things are NOT mutually exclusive.

Don’t fall prey.

And Christian, remember. Our ultimate citizenship is in heaven. People are hurting. People are dying. People need the gospel. Stick to the issues.

Grace and peace, friends!

Labor Day! When Your Service is Known But to God

From the True Woman archives, a piece I wrote back in 2015 which poses the question, if my most fervent, difficult, selfless labors are known to God, and God alone, is that enough? It should be, right? But is it?

Atop a hill overlooking our nation’s capitol, a simple monument of white marble lies under perpetual watch at Arlington National Cemetery. Inscribed on the structure’s west-facing side are these words:

Here rests in honored glory an American soldier known but to God.

This, of course, is what’s known as the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and incidentally, the subject of my son’s American history project. Although the monument now honors soldiers from World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War as well, the original “unknown” was selected on Memorial Day, 1921, having been one of four American unknowns exhumed from four World War I cemeteries in France. Highly decorated World War I veteran U.S. Army Sergeant Edward F. Younger was chosen to make the selection as the soldiers lay before him, encased in identical caskets. A spray of white roses was placed by Younger on the third casket from the left, and that soldier became America’s World War I Unknown.

And so it is that this soldier’s story rests in shadow along with a multitude of others whose lives met the same fate. His age and hometown are sealed in the tomb. His rank is a mystery—in fact, the tomb sentinels do not wear their insignia while guarding so as not to outrank him. We will never know whether he died providing aid to another soldier or lying in a trench. Any acts of valor, any deeds of sacrifice, anything good or hard or praiseworthy that he had done is buried with him . . . unknown but to God.

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Your Weekly Newsrick is Back! (Bi-weekly. Fine.)

Whew! It’s been a busy couple of weeks! I’ve had more work to do at my “day job” so time to think about posting has been scarce. It’s been another tough news-week, but without further ado, here is my attempt at the week’s news in lilting limerick form:

 

As Harvey’s dark water subsides,

Common Grace–human kindness abides.

But still turmoil’s about,

Will Trump throw DACA out?

While in Asia, pompous Kim assails Japan’s skies.

Grace and Peace, friends . . . -LJE