We must stop and remember.
Remember the price of war.
Remember the price of peace.
Remember…
The
prophets in the bible have a way of getting right to the heart of the matter.
It can be jarring and difficult to hear. It is amazing how they can do that
even though they speak of places and times so many years ago. Yet even today their
words echo true. Amos is just one of those prophets. He was a prophet but not
descended from a line of prophets. Which is just another way of saying that he
wasn't part of the religious elite. He was a shepherd – called to a special job.
God sent him to speak a word to the wealthy northern kingdoms of Israel. God
was roaring like a lion from Jerusalem inviting, calling begging for the people
to return to God – “seek good, not evil, that you may live.” (Amos 5:14) The
people of the northern kingdom with all their prosperity did everything they
were supposed to but justice was scarce and worship did not come from the
heart.
So
Amos proclaims this word from the Lord: “I
hate, I despise your festivals, and I take no delight in your solemn
assemblies. Even though you offer me your burnt offerings and grain offerings,
I will not accept them; and the offerings of well-being of your fatted animals
I will not look upon. Take away from me the noise of your songs; I will not
listen to the melody of your harps.” (Amos 5:21 – 23)
Pretty
harsh words. I despise your festivals and songs and do not want listen to the
melody of your harps. Amos’ words echoed in my mind all week as I prepared for
worship as I thought about the Veterans who gave their lives that may I have
the life I do today. Every time I saw an ad for Christmas selling the idea that
if we buy more, if we have the perfect decorations, if we have more things, we
will be happy and the world will be right. And then the word from Amos roars
like a lion, “I hate, I despise your festivals.” And I wonder what God would say about us
shopping til we drop when there are people who are hungry and have no homes and
in there is war and destruction in many parts of our world. And I wonder if I,
if we have done all we can do for those who are hurting, who are suffering.
Prophets
speak challenging words. They call us to look at our lives and our relationship
with God – to seek good that we may live. God proclaims a word of life for all.
God dreams of a day when there will be peace in all the lands and when all will
have what they need to live. Amos cries out, “let justice roll down like
waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.” (Amos 5:24) It is an
invitation to lean on the heart of God and to let God’s light shine in the
world.
Martin
Luther King Jr. quoted this passage from Amos in two of his most famous
speeches – “I have a Dream” and “I’ve been to Mountain Top”. Each of these
speeches in their own way has helped shaped a new way of living and the
reminder that beyond the colour of skin, beyond all those things that divide us
one from another, we share a common humanity. Whether it is Amos calling for
justice, people fighting for freedom or Martin Luther King Jr. dreaming of the
day when all are judged by the content of our character, the call is for us to
live into the dream of a world where there is justice, where there is
compassion, where there is peace for all.
Last
night Newman Sound helped us to pause, remember and give thanks for those who
fought in wars on distant shores. They sang one song that reminded me of what
it the world looks like when justice rolls down like water and righteousness
like an ever-flowing stream. It was called, “Christmas in the Trenches.” It is
a song that tells the story from WWI of two enemies refusing to fight one another
on Christmas Day. Enemies singing carols, sharing stories of their families and
learning that in the end they are the same. Listen to the words:
“Soon daylight
stole upon us and France was France once more
With sad farewells we each began to settle back to war
But the question haunted every heart that lived that wonderous night
Whose family have I fixed within my sights.
Twas Christmas in the trenches and the frost so bitter hung
The frozen fields of France were warmed, the songs of peace were sung
For the walls they'd kept between us to exact the work of war
had been crumbled and were gone forever more.
Oh my name is Francis Tolliver, from Liverpool I dwell
Each Christmas comes since World War I have learned its lesson well
For the one who calls the shots won't be among the dead and lame
And on each end of the rifle we're
the same.” (Christmas Eve in the
Trenches)
The call of the
prophets both ancient and modern day was lived out as for one day in one battle
as soldiers on both sides of the trenches paused in peace and shared their
common humanity. That is our calling
today as we remember:
In the
lonely, echoing call of the bugle;
We must stop and remember.
As the flowing flag furls above our heads;
We must stop and remember.
Through the war-etched faces of veterans young and old;
We must stop and remember...
In fields of crosses row upon
row;
We remember stop and remember
Remember the price of war.
Remember the Prince of Peace.
Remember.
AmenWe must
stop and remember.
Remember the price of war.
Remember the price of peace.
Remember…
In the fields of white crosses row upon row;
We must stop and remember.
Remember the price of war.
Remember the price of peace.
Remember…
The
prophets in the bible have a way of getting right to the heart of the matter.
It can be jarring and difficult to hear. It is amazing how they can do that
even though they speak of places and times so many years ago. Yet even today their
words echo true. Amos is just one of those prophets. He was a prophet but not
descended from a line of prophets. Which is just another way of saying that he
wasn't part of the religious elite. He was a shepherd – called to a special job.
God sent him to speak a word to the wealthy northern kingdoms of Israel. God
was roaring like a lion from Jerusalem inviting, calling begging for the people
to return to God – “seek good, not evil, that you may live.” (Amos 5:14) The
people of the northern kingdom with all their prosperity did everything they
were supposed to but justice was scarce and worship did not come from the
heart.
So
Amos proclaims this word from the Lord: “I
hate, I despise your festivals, and I take no delight in your solemn
assemblies. Even though you offer me your burnt offerings and grain offerings,
I will not accept them; and the offerings of well-being of your fatted animals
I will not look upon. Take away from me the noise of your songs; I will not
listen to the melody of your harps.” (Amos 5:21 – 23)
Pretty
harsh words. I despise your festivals and songs and do not want listen to the
melody of your harps. Amos’ words echoed in my mind all week as I prepared for
worship as I thought about the Veterans who gave their lives that may I have
the life I do today. Every time I saw an ad for Christmas selling the idea that
if we buy more, if we have the perfect decorations, if we have more things, we
will be happy and the world will be right. And then the word from Amos roars
like a lion, “I hate, I despise your festivals.” And I wonder what God would say about us
shopping til we drop when there are people who are hungry and have no homes and
in there is war and destruction in many parts of our world. And I wonder if I,
if we have done all we can do for those who are hurting, who are suffering.
Prophets
speak challenging words. They call us to look at our lives and our relationship
with God – to seek good that we may live. God proclaims a word of life for all.
God dreams of a day when there will be peace in all the lands and when all will
have what they need to live. Amos cries out, “let justice roll down like
waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.” (Amos 5:24) It is an
invitation to lean on the heart of God and to let God’s light shine in the
world.
Martin
Luther King Jr. quoted this passage from Amos in two of his most famous
speeches – “I have a Dream” and “I’ve been to Mountain Top”. Each of these
speeches in their own way has helped shaped a new way of living and the
reminder that beyond the colour of skin, beyond all those things that divide us
one from another, we share a common humanity. Whether it is Amos calling for
justice, people fighting for freedom or Martin Luther King Jr. dreaming of the
day when all are judged by the content of our character, the call is for us to
live into the dream of a world where there is justice, where there is
compassion, where there is peace for all.
Last
night Newman Sound helped us to pause, remember and give thanks for those who
fought in wars on distant shores. They sang one song that reminded me of what
it the world looks like when justice rolls down like water and righteousness
like an ever-flowing stream. It was called, “Christmas in the Trenches.” It is
a song that tells the story from WWI of two enemies refusing to fight one another
on Christmas Day. Enemies singing carols, sharing stories of their families and
learning that in the end they are the same. Listen to the words:
“Soon daylight
stole upon us and France was France once more
With sad farewells we each began to settle back to war
But the question haunted every heart that lived that wonderous night
Whose family have I fixed within my sights.
Twas Christmas in the trenches and the frost so bitter hung
The frozen fields of France were warmed, the songs of peace were sung
For the walls they'd kept between us to exact the work of war
had been crumbled and were gone forever more.
Oh my name is Francis Tolliver, from Liverpool I dwell
Each Christmas comes since World War I have learned its lesson well
For the one who calls the shots won't be among the dead and lame
And on each end of the rifle we're
the same.” (Christmas Eve in the
Trenches)
The call of the
prophets both ancient and modern day was lived out as for one day in one battle
as soldiers on both sides of the trenches paused in peace and shared their
common humanity. That is our calling
today as we remember:
In the
lonely, echoing call of the bugle;
We must stop and remember.
As the flowing flag furls above our heads;
We must stop and remember.
Through the war-etched faces of veterans young and old;
We must stop and remember...
In fields of crosses row upon
row;
We remember stop and remember
Remember the price of war.
Remember the Prince of Peace.
Remember.
AmenWe must
stop and remember.
Remember the price of war.
Remember the price of peace.
Remember…
In the fields of white crosses row upon row;
We must stop and remember.
Remember the price of war.
Remember the price of peace.
Remember…
In the fields of white crosses row upon row;
We must stop and remember.
Remember the price of war.
Remember the price of peace.
Remember…
The
prophets in the bible have a way of getting right to the heart of the matter.
It can be jarring and difficult to hear. It is amazing how they can do that
even though they speak of places and times so many years ago. Yet even today their
words echo true. Amos is just one of those prophets. He was a prophet but not
descended from a line of prophets. Which is just another way of saying that he
wasn't part of the religious elite. He was a shepherd – called to a special job.
God sent him to speak a word to the wealthy northern kingdoms of Israel. God
was roaring like a lion from Jerusalem inviting, calling begging for the people
to return to God – “seek good, not evil, that you may live.” (Amos 5:14) The
people of the northern kingdom with all their prosperity did everything they
were supposed to but justice was scarce and worship did not come from the
heart.
So
Amos proclaims this word from the Lord: “I
hate, I despise your festivals, and I take no delight in your solemn
assemblies. Even though you offer me your burnt offerings and grain offerings,
I will not accept them; and the offerings of well-being of your fatted animals
I will not look upon. Take away from me the noise of your songs; I will not
listen to the melody of your harps.” (Amos 5:21 – 23)
Pretty
harsh words. I despise your festivals and songs and do not want listen to the
melody of your harps. Amos’ words echoed in my mind all week as I prepared for
worship as I thought about the Veterans who gave their lives that may I have
the life I do today. Every time I saw an ad for Christmas selling the idea that
if we buy more, if we have the perfect decorations, if we have more things, we
will be happy and the world will be right. And then the word from Amos roars
like a lion, “I hate, I despise your festivals.” And I wonder what God would say about us
shopping til we drop when there are people who are hungry and have no homes and
in there is war and destruction in many parts of our world. And I wonder if I,
if we have done all we can do for those who are hurting, who are suffering.
Prophets
speak challenging words. They call us to look at our lives and our relationship
with God – to seek good that we may live. God proclaims a word of life for all.
God dreams of a day when there will be peace in all the lands and when all will
have what they need to live. Amos cries out, “let justice roll down like
waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.” (Amos 5:24) It is an
invitation to lean on the heart of God and to let God’s light shine in the
world.
Martin
Luther King Jr. quoted this passage from Amos in two of his most famous
speeches – “I have a Dream” and “I’ve been to Mountain Top”. Each of these
speeches in their own way has helped shaped a new way of living and the
reminder that beyond the colour of skin, beyond all those things that divide us
one from another, we share a common humanity. Whether it is Amos calling for
justice, people fighting for freedom or Martin Luther King Jr. dreaming of the
day when all are judged by the content of our character, the call is for us to
live into the dream of a world where there is justice, where there is
compassion, where there is peace for all.
Last
night Newman Sound helped us to pause, remember and give thanks for those who
fought in wars on distant shores. They sang one song that reminded me of what
it the world looks like when justice rolls down like water and righteousness
like an ever-flowing stream. It was called, “Christmas in the Trenches.” It is
a song that tells the story from WWI of two enemies refusing to fight one another
on Christmas Day. Enemies singing carols, sharing stories of their families and
learning that in the end they are the same. Listen to the words:
“Soon daylight
stole upon us and France was France once more
With sad farewells we each began to settle back to war
But the question haunted every heart that lived that wonderous night
Whose family have I fixed within my sights.
Twas Christmas in the trenches and the frost so bitter hung
The frozen fields of France were warmed, the songs of peace were sung
For the walls they'd kept between us to exact the work of war
had been crumbled and were gone forever more.
Oh my name is Francis Tolliver, from Liverpool I dwell
Each Christmas comes since World War I have learned its lesson well
For the one who calls the shots won't be among the dead and lame
And on each end of the rifle we're
the same.” (Christmas Eve in the
Trenches)
The call of the
prophets both ancient and modern day was lived out as for one day in one battle
as soldiers on both sides of the trenches paused in peace and shared their
common humanity. That is our calling
today as we remember:
In the
lonely, echoing call of the bugle;
We must stop and remember.
As the flowing flag furls above our heads;
We must stop and remember.
Through the war-etched faces of veterans young and old;
We must stop and remember...
In fields of crosses row upon
row;
We remember stop and remember
Remember the price of war.
Remember the Prince of Peace.
Remember.
AmenWe must
stop and remember.
Remember the price of war.
Remember the price of peace.
Remember…
In the fields of white crosses row upon row;
We must stop and remember.
Remember the price of war.
Remember the price of peace.
Remember…
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