Sharing Life—Connecting Journeys—Following Christ
Isaiah 60:18 No longer will violence be heard in your land, nor ruin or destruction within your borders, but you will call your walls Salvation and your gates Praise.
We have been blessed by Pastor Joshua preaching from Nehemiah and the narratives reflecting God’s provision and care of His people. I personally have a renewed sense that as the Jewish nation found purpose and protection in the building of the wall around Jerusalem they were laying groundwork not only for the protection of their families of the day but also lessons for us for the present day.
Historically walls have served many purposes not only to protect and define territory but also to restrict and control. Just a few walls that come to mind; the Great Wall of China that protected that nation from the Mongolian hordes, Hadrian’s Wall that protected the Roman military forces and colonists of England from the Scots and Picts of the north. Many of us remember the wall of more recent times erected to separate the “East” and “West” portions of Berlin. After World War ll the nation of Germany was partitioned between Britain, France, the Soviet Union and United States and the city of Berlin was isolated totally within the Soviet held portion. The city of Berlin itself was also allocated between the four powers with separate sections designated for each nation. As the citizens of Berlin and the surrounding countryside realized that partitioning was happening a mass migration began to occur from the Soviet held portion of the city (and the countryside) to the portion of the city held by the three western powers. The Soviets countered this by erecting first a barbed wire barrier between the two areas, then more extensive brick and concrete walls with sophisticated monitoring towers and machine gun emplacements every so many feet. The people however still found ways to escape from “east to west”. The Soviets were dealing with a real public relations problem with so many citizens fleeing from the “utopia” of the Communist State to the freedom of the nations that advocated free enterprise and self determination. In typical Soviet style they resolved that this had to be dealt with severely and immediately. Tanks and soldiers rolled into place and as we remember they blockaded the city of Berlin preventing all ground access. Starting January 26th 1948 the Soviets were going to starve Berlin into submission and hold the people of the city hostage until the nations of the west relinquished control and sovereignty over the western part of the city. The blockade would last 14 months and would initiate one of the great logistical accomplishments of the last century the “Berlin Airlift”. Berlin’s lifeline became the steady stream of aircraft departing from the supporting nations and arriving every so many minutes for 14 months straight. As my Dad recalled this event I remember that he said it made him “proud to be an American” to see our nation coming to the aid of a besieged people. Dad was so proud of that event that as soon as he was old enough to enlist he put on the uniform of the United States Air Force and would go on to serve for many years in wartime and peace.
Flash forward to 1968 and I was standing on the observation platform looking over the Berlin wall at the great Market Platz…the Wall Street of the pre-World War ll world. Now in Soviet hands the great center of commerce was a shadow of what it had been. Guard towers, barbed wire, masonry walls with great rollers and broken glass on top stood as silent reminders of the oppression that now was present. The great wall stretched into the distance both directions from where we stood. Along the west side of the wall commemorative wreaths bore witness to those who had died while attempting to escape to freedom since partition had occurred. Quiet reminders that there are things that act upon the human condition that people will pay any price to be free of. Reminders that battlegrounds don’t always have the sound of gun fire or bombs exploding. Sometimes battle fields look like schools, workplaces, malls, funeral parlors and hospitals. Places where as Thoreau put it “people lead lives of quiet desperation”. As a Life Group leader you move in that world..…so often you are the front lines of that battle where people really live. Walls and fences may not be the limiting factors in our community but relationships, and mortality certainly can be. Airlifts these days as in the past are largely a matter of caring for others right where they live and struggle.
In our desire to equip you for the front lines you serve on, our April 10th huddle will be like no other we have had……. We will have a panel of long time servants and professors of life experience……who will review with us real life scenarios…how do you as a leader, and how does a Life Group respond when;
One of your group members shares that they have been diagnosed with cancer (or other debilitating disease)…..
A marriage is disintegrating
A death occurs…expected, unexpected
A member repents and confesses to……..
And other scenarios….
Practical wisdom shared with Godly folks!!!
What we really need is you!!!! Haven’t connected for a while?
Why not be armed anyway?
Please extend the invitation to your apprentice leader (or one who fills that role).
April 10th, Saturday from 10 am to 1pm. Lunch will be provided!!!! Fireside Room.
