On this Date...

Not quite a decade ago I was looking for a pocket watch that dates to my birth year. I came across this one that dates a few year older but with the name: Earl R. Renner inscribed on the back.

I bought it thinking it looked pretty cool and as it turns out, this watch was presented to Master Chief Petty Officer Renner when he retired from the Navy in December of 1965. 
What was even more astounding was the fact the he was at Pearl Harbor(on Ford Island) on December 7, 1941 and received a commendation medal for his responses that day.

Renner joined the Pearl Harbor association of Ohio in the early 1970's and went into the local schools to share his story. I spoke with the Ohio Pearl Harbor Association a year to two after acquiring this watch. Renner was a favorite in their schools to have share his story. He impacted countless teenagers with his story.

When he passed away in 2009 he had no biological children. Many things, like this watch, were sold. It is not an extremely valuable watch. It's the last American made Railroad pocket watch, a Hamilton 992b. It is not housed in a gold case with the intrinsic value of a precious metal shimmering and drawing the eye to its beauty. It is stainless steel. It is the name of a man and his story that connects you and I to this time piece and escalates the value. Because the value of his story directly affects the quality of our freedom.

Throughout the year I leave the watch in a case set with the time, 7:48, since that is the time of the attack. Some years I wind it up and carry it on December 7th, as a reminder of the sacrifice of so many, not just in 1941, but throughout our nations history.

Renner may be gone but he is not forgotten. His story continues...

How does your story affect the lives of others? 

What are you doing today that will bless others tomorrow with true value?

As we think about the sacrifices made on that December morning, I hope we may think of bigger sacrifices. Namely One.

We are told that the real freedom we may enjoy, freedom from sin and death, was made possible by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. We think of the birth of Christ and we celebrate it this time of year. We have many symbols that point to His birth. But let us not forget that the sole purpose of the Christmas story is summed up nicely in Philippians 2: 5-11. 

"Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born(Christmas) in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

Jesus' story is one of obedience so that He could be glorified and our sins might be paid for. "He became sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God through Him."

Paul said he carries the marks of Christ on his body. Paul constantly was reminded of the hope he had and the freedom given through Christ. He carried those marks willingly as a testimony and he always pointed to Jesus.

I carry a watch to remind me of that one day in recent history. May I always remember that I have a bigger purpose than what this watch symbolizes. I have a story of God setting me free from the enemy. Like Renner used his story to tell others about the freedoms we enjoy, may I (and you) be willing to share the story of our greatest battle, and how our sin was defeated by Christ. 

One day we will bow. Don't wait until the watch stops ticking.

More on Hebrews & graduates

Just a followup. Of course it is always hard to comment on a sermon. Well, it is always easy to comment on a sermon that is someone else's but care should be given when commenting on your own(and other peoples too). I said what I believed to be needed. I wish we had a pod cast. But alas, no. But what I wanted to comment on is the senior group. They looked stunning and so grown up. They were 5th graders when I came here. Now they move on. Faith in action really. Four of the eight are the majority of the praise band for our student ministry. I am number 5. Should be interesting! The reception our church showed them following the service was great. The love was real. This church has poured into these kids for a long time. I am grateful to have been their minister.

Faith and Hope

I'm preaching in the morning for graduate recognition. I'll mainly be looking at Hebrews 11:1-3 on faith and hope. We will recognize our graduates in the service and I want to encourage them to continue on with the journey of faith in Christ. Hebrews was written to believers who were worn out and struggling to continue. The message is relevant for many churches and people in transition. The journey IS tough at times. For some, most of the time. But the writer urges the believers to continue to have faith. From faith comes hope. Hope doesn't come without faith.

We will gather in the morning by faith to meet with the Faithful One.