Despair

“ I can’t stand my life—I hate it!  I’m putting it all out on the table, all the bitterness of my life—I’m holding back nothing.”

Job prayed: “Here’s what I want to say: Don’t, God, bring in a verdict of guilty without letting me know the charges you’re bringing. (Job 10:1,2 The Message)

Despair

Job experienced despair, but we do not have to share it.  Job could see and understand that God was sending troubles to him.  But he could not figure out why.  And Job thought, at this point in the book, that he must understand his guilt to receive forgiveness from God.

But Job was lacking some information.  First, while Job did not, we know what we are guilty of.  We are guilty of everything.  Paul writes that when we break one commandment we break them all.  If you are still squirming to get out of that accusation, you might not understand how broad and rich and full the gospel is!  Job was unsure of the depth of his sin, and focused on his daily actions, finding little fault.  We, in the Spirit, can plumb the dark depths of our selfishness, motivations, hatreds, prejudices, and fears… and call them what they are.

And when we call them what they are, we can place them at the foot of the glorious forgiveness-purchasing cross of Christ, and at the empty tomb of that same Christ.

Second, Job did not understand that sin-knowledge is not a prerequisite to grace.  We are made new in Christ before we are able to understand our sin, list our sin, accept our sin.  The transforming power of the gospel allows us knowledge… it does not precede it.  Once the spark is lit, we learn to acknowledge and hate our sin.  Without that spark, we, like Job, know nothing.

Those two things keep us from Job’s despair.  God’s grace in Jesus Christ is bigger than our individual sins, and bigger than our ignorance.

We can not keep despair away.  But Christ can.

Presence

The main street of the City was pure gold, translucent as glass. But there was no sign of a Temple, for the Lord God—the Sovereign-Strong—and the Lamb are the Temple. (Rev 21:21,22 The Message)

Presence

While cell phones invade our privacy, annoy us daily, tether us to too many things, and cost excessive money, they have one absolute blessing.  Cell phones bring distant people near.

I wish cell phones had existed while we lived in Arkansas, Mississippi, and Australia.   Family and friends seemed so far away.

Today, in a moment, I can contact and even see my distant grandchildren… old friends… new friends… past congregations… and even the three famous people I know!

The best part of John’s description of heaven is that the symbol of the Old Testament for God’s presence, the Temple, will not be needed anymore.  Because the lamb of God, Jesus Christ, God Himself has become the temple.  We Christians will not need a symbol of God’s presence, because Emmanuel will be our address.

And in fact, while we are not practiced in sensing it, or being aware of it, Emmanuel is already here.

Now, we see it as if in a dark cloudy window… but soon we will see Him as He actually is.

But we can see it, cloudy, misty, fuzzy, now.

I see it when a Christian loves me undeservedly.  I see it when I catch a glimpse logically of God’s Master Planning.  I see it when I know forgiveness.  I see it when little hopes become realized now.

And you get to see those things, too.

We can not always know God’s presence, but in Jesus, we sometimes can.

Avoiding Plagues

 And the next day the Lord did this thing. All the livestock of the Egyptians died, but not one of the livestock of the people of Israel died. And Pharaoh sent, and behold, not one of the livestock of Israel was dead. (Exodus 9:6,7 ESV)

Avoiding Plagues

One of my favorite jokes goes like this: There are three kinds of people in the world… those who can count, and those who cannot count.

But in fact, there ARE two kinds of people in the world.  Those who, in Christ, are God’s people.  And those who, rejecting Christ, are not God’s people.

While we usually think of the primary difference between Christian and non-Christian being eventual heavenly residence, the difference is actually sensible now.

Paul writes that He acts in such a way that what He does is the best for His people.  But this is not the case for those outside of Christ.

The Egyptians and their slaves, the Israelites, would have noticed the difference. 

And we can notice the difference, too, if we have eyes to see.

No, everything is not always pleasant for Christians.  But God treats us differently.  He already punished Christ on the cross or our guilt, so we can absolutely be sure any troubles we have are not punishment from God.  He might be teaching, disciplining, admonishing, or guiding through our troubles, but we know that the Master Planner is doing what HE knows is best for us, even when we can not understand yet.

We can not avoid God’s wrath, anger, and punishment, but in Christ, we already have.

Reward

“He replied to the one speaking for the rest, ‘Friend, I haven’t been unfair. We agreed on the wage of a dollar, didn’t we? So take it and go. I decided to give to the one who came last the same as you. Can’t I do what I want with my own money? Are you going to get stingy because I am generous?’ (Matthew 20:13-15 The Message)

Reward

Our eyes are too small.  One Christmas Eve, I stared under the Christmas Tree with self-pity.  My parents, my sister, and my brother all had numerous wrapped boxes nestled under the fake boughs.  But I only had one small, by which I mean tiny, present.

I pouted.  I sulked.  I wished that I believed in Santa Claus so I could write him a nasty note.

But when the time came to open the present, inside that tiny package was a guitar pick.  As I looked in confusion at my parents, they pointed to the hallway door.  When I looked, there was an electric guitar, amplifier, music stand, and a collection of guitar books.

I was measuring the gifts that year by the wrong standard.

We easily do this with our eternal reward, too.  We measure God’s blessings by checkbook balances, neato cars, attractive faces and  clothes, and some sort of subjective gauge of today’s happiness.

But… we… have… Christ… now… and… forever… in… heaven.

Better than an electric guitar, better than a yacht, better than popularity, better than cold cash, better than career success, better than long life, better than family, better than health, better than anything.

That’s the reward we receive for being known by and loved by Christ… for knowing and loving Him.

Our rewards are subjective… but in Christ the reward is Him.

News

And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never has been since there was a nation till that time. But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone whose name shall be found written in the book.  (Daniel 12:1 ESV)

News

Read any journal, essay, or article from nearly any time in history, and somebody somewhere is saying, “THIS is the worst time ever to be alive!”  And humanity’s eyes seem eager to read those statements.

Today, the news sells horror stories because we buy horror stories.  It seems, sometimes, that we desire negative news, fearful forecasts, and despairing declarations.

But no matter how bad it has gotten, how bad it is, or how bad it will be, Daniel was told that God’s people will always be delivered.  It is pretty strong unconditional language, actually.  “Shall be” does not might “might be,” or “could be,” of “if.”  God’s deliverer is coming, comes, and has come.

Christ, the Redeemer, is the difference between bad news and good news.  Christ, the Redeemer, is the difference between despair and hope.  Christ, the Redeemer is the lens with which we can read every journal, essay, or article.

The bad news seems loud, but Christ is louder.

Worse

And the Lord said by his servants the prophets, “Because Manasseh king of Judah has committed these abominations and has done things more evil than all that the Amorites did, who were before him, and has made Judah also to sin with his idols…” (II Kings 21:10,11 ESV)

Worse

When I was fourteen years old, my father let me back the car out of the garage one Sunday morning.  It did not go well.  Inexperienced, illogical, and impatient, I went fast when I should have gone slowly, and slow when I should have moved fast.  I turned the steering wheel the wrong way, and ended up with a dented fender, a bent garage door frame, a lot of noise, and a lot of shame.

But my dad eventually smiled.  He said simply, “… first time for everything.  Next time you’ll know more.”  It was six months before he let me try again…

People act according to our knowledge level.  Teenagers lack driving knowledge, generally.  Car mechanics lack human anatomy knowledge.  Surgeons lack automotive engineering knowledge. Toddlers do not know how to preach, and preachers do not know how to eat dirt.

King Manasseh was more evil than the Amorites not necessarily because he was more atrocious.  But because he knew more.  He had God’s Word available.  But he still worshiped idols.

It might feel gratifying to watch the news and see non-believers act like non-believers.  We shake our heads and our fingers, and utter pronouncements of guilt.  And those pronouncements are probably accurate.

But we, like Manasseh, are worse.  Because we are selfish, even though we know more.  We are greedy, even though we know more.  We are impatient, even though we know more.  We are unloving, even though we know more.

The fact is, while the Amorites around us might seem worse, we need Jesus more.  Because we know more.

We are worse, but Jesus still can redeem, even us.

Unintentional

If anyone sins, doing any of the things that by the Lord’s commandments ought not to be done, though he did not know it, then realizes his guilt, he shall bear his iniquity. (Leviticus 5:17 ESV)

Unintentional

I have hurt people intentionally, and I have hurt people unintentionally.  While the difference between the two types of hurt might seem important when satisfying my conscience, intentions do not sooth the hurt.

In God’s law, we are responsible for our unintentional sin, just like the things we do purposefully.  And perhaps that might cause us concern.  I can not cover the sins I do on purpose!  How can I expect to cover the sins I do accidentally, or unknowingly, or unwittingly?

The answer is, I can not.

But the gospel is big enough for all of my sin.  Using good intentions to soften my sense of guilt not only is not effective, but it is unnecessary.

Because Christ on that cross paid for all sins of all His people.

Becoming aware of our sinfulness leads to sorrow, and then to peace, because whether we are aware or not… Christ’s grace is rich.

Even more, we get to eagerly seek a more full awareness of sin.  So that we can rest even more securely in Christ, and Christ alone.

We can not fix our poor intentions.  But Jesus can.

Opinion

Amon was twenty-two years old when he became king. He was king for two years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Meshullemeth, the daughter of Haruz. She was from Jotbah. In God’s opinion he lived an evil life, just like his father Manasseh. (II Kings 21:19-20 The Message)

Opinion

Historians have found evidence that King Amon was a popular King of Judah.  Apparently improved the economy, strengthened the military, and was well liked.  But in God’s opinion, he was a bad King.

Which opinion mattered, really?

We forget that God is the judge when we try to please our neighbors, our friends, our community, and our governments instead of living to please God.  At times, we are able to do both.  But more often, living to please God makes pleasing the other groups more difficult.  And living to please the other groups diminishes our devotion to God.

Perhaps the problem is that the other groups seem to have louder voices.  If that is the case, let us listen more to God’s shouting Word.  Perhaps the problem is that the other groups are more visible.   If that is the case, let us learn to discern Him who is behind the scenes in vivid technicolor.  Perhaps the problem is that the other groups cater to our pleasure, power, and pride.  If that is the case, remember who we are before the One True Living God.

What Amon needed was more Messiah.  And what we need is more Jesus.

He is the bridge between earth and heaven.  He is the bridge between opinion and fact.  He is the One focused on our real needs, our real troubles, our real brokenness. 

He knows us and judges us, and finds us in need of Himself… and then offers Himself to us.

We do not seem to be able to judge ourselves, but thankfully Jesus can.

Order

So the last will be first, and the first last. (Matthew 20:16 ESV)

Order

These words by Jesus seem manipulatable.  So, Jesus says the last will be first?  Then why not maneuver in just the right way to be last? 

I had a teacher in elementary school who got tired of students clamoring to be first in line for recess.  So she began to wait until the pushing and shouting diminished, and then choose whoever was last in line, and let them go first.

It worked for a day or two, but then we all started clamoring to be LAST in line.

Jesus was not giving instructions to connive our way to the front in any area of our lives.  He was not proposing a secret code where the first exchanged places with the last, the second exchanged places with the second last, and on down the line.

Instead, He is telling us to worry less about commonly touted results.  Because in the end, HE is ultimately, in His loving sovereignty, in charge of the end results. 

So focus on what matters.  Let Him take care of the results.

What our culture and society says is most important, Jesus says is least important.  At least until our culture and society become more Christlike.  On Christ’s scorecard, things like humble and sacrificial love are first, even though the world sees them as last.  The way Jesus lived, things like obedience to God and focus on His Word are first, even thought the world mocks them.  As Christians, we get to follow God’s first born Son, even though others ignore Him.

We do not determine importance, but Jesus does.

Guessing

Then Bildad the Shuhite answered and said: “How long will you say these things, and the words of your mouth be a great wind? Does God pervert justice? Or does the Almighty pervert the right? If your children have sinned against Him, He has delivered them into the hand of their transgression.” (Job 8:1-4 ESV)

Guessing

We might look down on Bildad for being one of the shortest people in the Bible, but Bildad’s advice to Job the Sufferer is actually more worthy of our criticism.

God’s actions in the world, and in our lives, are hard to interpret.  While He graciously has given us His Word to read, and His Spirit to help us apply it, we often desire more straightforward statements from God.  Bildad said that the children of Job deserved to die.  And maybe they did… but the bald fact of their death, observed from our perspective, is not enough to assume their particular guilt.

Bildad, of course, might have been presuming the absolute surety of the sinfulness of Job’s children.  If so, Bildad would have been correct.  However, even the unclear theology of the Old Testament folk understood that while all deserve death before God, God’s people are promised a Redeemer.

If Bildad is going to assume their guilt, Bildad also could assume their redemption.

Guessing God’s motivation and intention is never safe.  But Jesus does not have to guess, because in that incomprehensible way of the Trinity, He IS God.

When trying to interpret the (often hard) events of our lives, remember that.  We do not simply know what God is up to.  But we do know that Jesus Christ loves His children enough to die in our place.  He is amazing enough to defeat Sin’s power, punishment, and presence.  He is trustworthy enough to be working on our behalf, not against us.

We can not guess what God is doing.  But Jesus knows.

Earnings

And Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” (Matthew 19:23-24 ESV)

Earnings

Religious people in Jesus’ day hoped that financial success was a sign of God’s salvation.  They hoped that popularity was a sign of God’s salvation.   They hoped that any form of success was a sign of God’s salvation.

They were wrong.  But we think similarly, I fear.  We hope that membership in a good church is a sign of God’s salvation.  We hope that conversion-notches on our Bible-spines is a sign of God’s salvation.  We hope that getting along with people is a sign of God’s salvation.

And we, too, are wrong.

It is harder rich person, or a popular person, or a successful person, or a good member, or an active evangelist, or good neighbor to get into heaven than for for a camel to crawl through the eye of a needle (whether a literal needle, or the so-called small door through the wall of Jerusalem).

Because God’s salvation does not depend on any of those things. 

Those things are all fine things, admirable things, desirable things.  But they are not salvific things.

Our entrance into heaven depends on one thing.  Heaven’s gate is opened by Jesus’ hands on our behalf.

Personally, I am glad.  If heaven’s gate opened by my knocking, I would not get in.

We can not earn heaven, but Jesus already has.

Impossible

And that night the angel of the Lord went out and struck down 185,000 in the camp of the Assyrians.[1] (II Kings 19:35 ESV)

Impossible

The Assyrians were attacking Jerusalem, and the Assyrians were tough. The Assyrian Army was huge, and well armed… Judah’s Army was small, and with old-fashioned arms.  The Assyrian Army was experienced, and Judah’s Army were almost amateurs.  The Assyrian Army seemed unbeatable, and Judah’s Army was a joke.

When King Hezekiah prayed to God for help, we do not see in Scripture that anyone else thought it would do any good… only the Prophet, Isaiah.

But Hezekiah and Isaiah knew that while the Judean Army can not do impossible things, God can. 

Even more than the defeat of the Assyrian Army, God did an amazingly impossible thing.  God saves dirty rotten sinners like me.  God saves dirty rotten sinners like you.  God did this impossible thing by the incarnation of Jesus, the death of Jesus, the Resurrection of Jesus, and the Ascension of Jesus.  All of which were also impossible things.

We have troubles that seem impossible to solve.  We have empty hearts that seem impossible to fill.  We are so broken that it seems impossible that we can be fixed.

But Jesus solves them, fills them, and fixes them.

We can not do impossible things, but Jesus can.

[1] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), 2 Ki 19:35.

Delusions

Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness (I Thessalonians 2:11, 12)

Delusions

I did not teach my daughter to walk, but she watched the rest of us ambulate and she wanted to learn, so she learned.  I did not teach my son to read, but he saw early that books were important and he wanted what was in them, so he learned.  I did not teach my dog to ‘come.’  And he does not yet see the value, so he does not come when called.

Learning happens, particularly regarding the gospel, because the Holy Spirit applies God’s Word to His people’s hearts, and we learn. 

Our submission to God, our love that responds to His love, our openness to His sovereignty, our willingness to know what He knows are what causes God to teach us.

If we are not submitting, loving, open, or willing, instead He allows us to delude ourselves.

That is an unpleasant sentence to read.  But it is how God works.  While He is Master, Lord, and Sovereign, He tends to lead us as we want to be led.

Our remaining delusions are not His fault.  We bring them on ourselves.  Our remaining ignorance is not His fault.  We bring it on ourselves.  Our remaining childishness is not His fault.  We bring it on ourselves.

And the answer is found in Jesus.  Listening to Him wipes out delusions.  Listening to Him defeats ignorance.  Listening to Him brings maturity.

We can not teach ourselves, but Jesus can.  

Leaders

Then King Darius wrote to all the peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth: “Peace be multiplied to you.  I make a decree, that in all my royal dominion people are to tremble and fear before the God of Daniel, for He is the living God, enduring forever; His kingdom shall never be destroyed, and His dominion shall be to the end.” (Daniel 6:25,26 ESV)

Leaders

King Darius is the kind of leader I want.  I do not know if he would be a Democrat or a Republican today.  I do not know if he would favor a graduated income tax, or abolish income tax.  I do not know if he would protect immigration, or close the border. I do not know if he would be pro-life, or pro-choice. 

Those issues are all important issues.

But they fade before one question.  When considering a leader, we should see if they acknowledge and favor the One True Living God.  In other words, are they pro-Jesus?

King Darius had learned the hard way that God is King, eternally.  King Darius learned the hard way that Darius serves God, or Darius serves nothing.  King Darius learned the hard way that the loving fear of the Lord is what matters.

Because really, Darius leads nothing.  Neither does any other earthly King.  Neither does any elected official.  Neither do we.

Only Jesus leads. 

We can not really lead, but Jesus can and does.

Leaders

When he had torn Israel from the house of David, they made Jeroboam the son of Nebat king. And Jeroboam drove Israel from following the Lord and made them commit great sin. (II Kings 17:21 ESV)

Leaders

There is a close connection between a people’s leaders, and their faithfulness to the Lord who puts leaders in place.  Sometimes the warning seems clear, that God gives His people the leaders we deserve.  Sometimes the opposite seems more prevalent, that God uses leaders to drive His people.

But whichever the case, it is unsettling.

Because whatever your political opinion, it is clear that we rarely have satisfactory leaders these days.

And perhaps that is exactly what God is doing.

Perhaps we look too lovingly, or too hatefully, at our leaders.  Perhaps we expect too much, or too little from them.  Perhaps in our focus on political leaders, we lose focus on our true leader.

We have a King, you see, that we do not deserve, but through His life and death and life, He causes us to deserve Him, in God’s eyes.

We have a King, you see, that does not lead us astray, but if we follow Him and Him alone, wow, what Joy and peace are found.

The fact is, none of us are reliably good leaders, unless we are following the One True King, Jesus.

We can not lead nor follow well, but Jesus can lead us.

-=-- ---

Safe

And the Lord said to Moses, “Go down and warn the people, lest they break through to the Lord to look and many of them perish. (Exodus 19:21 ESV)

Safe

The One True Living God is not sweet, kindly, nicey-nice, or pleasant.

We moderns have come to think of Him like that.  But His presence, described in Scripture, is always terrifying, intimidating, and awful. 

Because of what people are like.  God’s wrath against sin is absolute, documented, and the right reaction for Him to have.

The Israelites, gathered at the foot of Mt. Sinai, had begun to be complacent about His presence.  They had watched the thunder and lightning at the distant peak, and they had survived.  They had not seen any signs of God’s wrath in quite awhile.  And Moses had spoken about God as if he knew Him. 

But God knew how dangerous He was to them.  God knew their sin separated, angered, and damned.  And so God instructed Moses to warn them to stay back.

In C.S. Lewis’s terms, God is not a tame lion.

But yet…

Because of Jesus, we can approach that God.  Because of our Jesus, God’s wrath is placed elsewhere.  Because of our Jesus, we have been made safe.

God sees us through the lens of Christ’s perfection.

And we see God through the lens of Christ’s love.

We are safe because of Jesus, when we pray.  We are safe, because of Jesus, when we read His Word.  We are safe, because of Jesus, when we approach Him in worship.  We are safe, because of Jesus, even when we deserve wrath.

We would not be safe, but in Jesus, we are.  So come to Him!

Sin

All the congregation of the people of Israel moved on from the wilderness of Sin by stages, according to the commandment of the Lord, and camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. (Exodus 17:1 ESV)

Sin

One of the things I look forward to asking God when I get to heaven, is about the coincidences in our English Bibles.  Here are the Israelites, on the way to the Promised Land, and what is the name of the region they must travel through?  It is the wilderness of Sin!

According to maps, Sin was unavoidable on the way from Egypt to Canaan. 

Just like in our lives.

As we wander, between our conversion and our ascension into heaven, be sure that we will struggle with sin.

But for us, it is no longer a wilderness, although it might seem like it.

But our guide has become more than a mere pillar of fire at night, and smoke during the day.  Our Jesus has traveled this path, and paved the roads!  Our Jesus has brought fertilization (sanctification), crops (the fruit of the Spirit), and the very city of God!

While our sin is horrid, ugly, and damning, Jesus has given us beauteous robes to wear, bound our wounds, and taught us to laugh again.

The Israelites, and we, would perish in the wilderness of Sin, but Jesus can AND DID navigate.

Calendars

For a thousand years in Your sight are but as yesterday when it is past, or as a watch in the night. (Psalm 90:4 ESV)

Calendars

We just celebrated National New Calendar Day.  It seems that new years, new months, new days, new calendars are of the utmost importance. 

But not to God.  Our observation of the passage of days, and our elevation of the importance of such events is a focus on the finite, mortal, and selfish.

And it makes sense.  We live in calendars.  We live in days.  We live in months.  We live in years.

And such life can be daunting.  Knowing our days and counting them leads to an awareness of the limitation of such things.

But we have Jesus.

And while He did dwell here among the calendars, He also dwells eternally where such measurements have no meaning.

When our calendars cause despair, talk to the One who laughs at calendars and calls them minute.

We are presently stuck in time, but Jesus is not.

Always

The Thirteenth Day of Christmas

… but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect.  (I Peter 3:15 ESV)

Always

A danger in celebrating the amazing incarnation so enthusiastically is that we might fall into the trap of not constantly rejoicing in Immanuel.

Immanuel does not cease on December 26, January 6, or ever.

God is with us.  And we need God with us.  And we get to celebrate it constantly.

Our problems are always in our minds.  Our struggles are always in our hands.  Our pains are always in our eyes.  Our sinfulness is always in our hearts. 

And so, we need that God/man present in our lives all of the time.

Let us be more like Ebenezer Scrooge.  After his transformation, he always celebrated the love, joy, and peace of Christmas.  So much so, that his friends and neighbors were annoyed by him.

But maybe (and I admit I MIGHT be reading more into Dickens’ words than Dickens intended!) Scrooge knew that he needed the gospel every day.  And so did all of London.

So, he never stopped acting like it was Christmas.

When Peter writes that we should honor Christ, as Lord, in our hearts, he is talking about the incarnation and the incarnation’s effect and power.

Every day, circumstances, our thoughts, and the words of others might attack the power of the gospel.  But Christ’s gospel always wins.  We do not always notice it… but the gospel wins!

We can not survive in this world, but Christ enables us, because of the incarnation, because of Immanuel, because of His love, joy, and peace.

Soldiers

Day Twelve: Twelve Drummers Drumming

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. (Psalm 46:1 ESV)

Soldiers

A Virginian merchant in 1861 desired to join a regiment being recruited in his hometown.  He believed in the cause, loved his community, and hoped to serve.  But he had no soldierly skills.  Seeing his desperation, the Captain accepted him as a soldier, and assigned him the role of drummer.  This task was usually given to youngsters, too young to fight.  But this man accepted the position gladly.  He is said to have announced, “I can not fight, but I can drum for those who do.”

With all respect to modern drummers, a drum is not usually a solo instrument.  Drumming provides stability, accent, and continuity.  Drumming adds necessary facets to music.  Drumming might not always be noticed, but its absence is felt.

We are soldiers of our Lord.

But He actually does the fighting.  Sometimes we convince ourselves that he needs us in the battle.  But He does not.  We do not have soldierly skills.  But He accords us the role of drumming.

We drum when we follow Him wherever He goes, publicly noting His presence.  We drum when we help raise the spirits of the discouraged and hurting.  We drum when we urge those around us to follow, too.  We drum when we proclaim our soldier, announce our soldier, praise our soldier, obey our soldier, and humbly follow our soldier.

We really can not fight, but Jesus can