The Pinecone

Anna Warner and her sister, Susan, lived near West Point Military Academy and regularly led Bible studies for the cadets. Susan became a best selling novelist. In 1860 she wrote Say and Seal, a story about a dying child being helped by his teacher and her boyfriend. Anna, who also wrote novels and poems, wrote a special poem for Say and Seal. It was sung to the dying boy even though it was just a poem without music. Composer William Bradbury read the poem in the novel and composed the simple yet profound melody. It has become the best children’s hymns of all time. We know it as “Jesus Loves Me.” It still inspires children of all ages.

There’s a story of a Church in Atlanta honoring one of its senior pastors who had been retired many years. Following his introduction the 92 year old pastor rose from his high back chair and slowly walked to the podium. He placed both hands on the pulpit to steady himself and then quietly began to speak. 

“When I was asked to come here today and talk to you, I was asked to tell you the greatest lesson I ever learned in my 50 odd years of preaching. I thought about it for a few days and decided there was just one thing that made the most difference in my life and sustained me through all my trials. The one thing that I could always rely on when tears and heart break and pain and fear and sorrow paralyzed me……the only thing that would comfort was this verse.”

“Jesus loves me this I know.
For the Bible tells me so.
Little ones to him belong,
We are weak but he is strong…..
Yes, Jesus loves me…
The Bible tells me so.”

God’s love so beautifully expressed by this pastor and by so many others does not just apply to children or young people. It relates to us all through life and becomes especially encouraging in our later years. Someone has even come up with a Senior Adult version of the song. It says,

Jesus loves me, this I know,
Though my hair is white as snow.
Though my sight is growing dim,
Still He bids me trust in Him.

Though my steps are oh, so slow,
With my hand in His I’ll go
On through life, let come what may,
He’ll be there to lead the way.

Though I am no longer young,
I have much which He’s begun.
Let me serve Christ with a smile,
Go with others the extra mile.

When the nights are dark and long,
In my heart He puts a song.
Telling me in words so clear,
“Have no fear, for I am near.”

When my work on earth is done,
And life’s victories have been won.
He will take me home above,
Then I’ll understand His love

YES, JESUS LOVES ME
YES, JESUS LOVES ME
YES, JESUS LOVES ME
THE BIBLE TELLS ME SO

To love God is no extraordinary thing. All that we know of Him shows He is lovely, loveable and loving. The reverse is what’s extraordinary. That God could love us is almost incomprehensible. We are often unlovely but He did not let us go unloved. How could we ever adequately express our gratitude and thanks for His personal and unconditional love? The eternal miracle is that God loves us. From John 3:16 to I John 4:9-10, 19 and many other passages we can see this powerfully described. It’s like He is saying to us, “I love you, is that alright?” Let’s joyfully reply, “Yes, Lord, that’s alright.”

Till next time, Don Johnson, Kirby Pines Chaplain

Communication is very important but can at times be catastrophic. What we say is not always what others hear, and what they hear is not always what we say. Here’s a story that effectively illustrates this issue. 

The Colonel issued the following directive to his officers: “Tomorrow evening at approximately 2000 hours Halley’s comet will be visible in this area, an event which occurs only once every 75 years. Have the men fall out in the battalion area in fatigues and I will explain this rare phenomenon to them. In case of rain, we will not be able to see anything, so assemble the men in the theater and I will show them films of it.” 

This directive was passed on through the Chain of Command in a strange and incorrect way. 

Executive officer to company commander: “By order of the colonel. Tomorrow at 2000 hours, Halley’s comet will appear above the battalion area. If it rains, fall the men out in fatigues, then march to the theater where this rare phenomenon will take place, something which occurs only once every 75 years.” 

Company commander to lieutenant: “By order of the colonel in fatigues at 2000 hours tomorrow evening, the phenomenal Halley’s comet will appear in the theater. In case of rain in the battalion area, the colonel will give another order, something which occurs once every 75 years.” 

Lieutenant to sergeant: “Tomorrow at 2000 hours, the colonel will appear in the theater with Halley’s comet, something which happens every 75 years. If it rains, the colonel will order the comet into the battalion area.” 

Sergeant to squad: “When it rains tomorrow at 2000 hours, the phenomenal 75 year old general Halley, accompanied by the colonel, will drive his comet through the battalion area theater in fatigues.” 

It reminds me of Norman Rockwell’s painting with numerous rows of people speaking into each others’ ear, passing along what was said by the first person in the chain. When the message got back to the one who had initiated it, there was no resemblance to the original saying. Too often that happens. Transferring thoughts can lead to great misunderstanding. 

This happens not only personally but in the conveyance of things by those in leadership positions. Sometimes even the initial directive may be misleading and grows worse at each level of communication. We all know too many examples of this. Can we continue to say one thing and do another? Can we lie either intentionally or accidentally and believe we can get away with it? Remember the pride which was felt when it was said, “He (or she) was a man of his word.”? Those who stand on what they say and mean it is true of an increasing smaller number of persons. When we say what we don’t mean and we don’t mean what we say, our culture cannot long survive such a shaky standard. 

In His great Sermon On The Mount, Jesus declared, “But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.” 

Psalms 19:14 is a fabulous guide for us: “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer.” 

We should avoid communication chaos everywhere we can! Let’s get the message straight! Let’s communicate it correctly! Let’s start now! 

Till next time, Don Johnson, Kirby Pines Chaplain