Flag upside down?
4th of July • Sermon • Submitted
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Communion:
26 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.” 27 Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. 28 This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
During the lock down Tammy and I started taking walks.
We started to see our surrounding neighborhoods in ways we could not have imagined.
The week after the protest, riots, and civil unrest we were taking one of our morning walks and noticed something I had never seen before.
There was an American Flag that was being flown upside down!
In my ignorance I thought how unpatriotic is that! What are they trying to say?
I was a little annoyed. So later I looked up what it means when you fly the stars and stripes up side down.
Flying the American flag upside down is considered by many, including those who have served our country in uniform, to be disrespectful. Amen that is right! I knew it! They are being disrespectful.
My discuss with this home owner was now justified because the internet validated my opinion.
Then I read on that the U.S. Defense Department says the flag should only be flown upside down “to convey a sign of distress or great danger.”
OK witch is it? Disrespect or Distress? It has to be Disrespect right?
How will I know for sure? It is none of my business right? I should just leave it alone.
Two days later we walked by the house that still had the stars and stripes up side down and I started to think what if… What if someone is in distress at that home?
What if they are not being disrespectful? What if they were signaling for help?
The next day I had a Popeye moment. "That's all I can stands, 'cause I can't stands no more!"
So I drove by and the owner of the home happened to be home.
He was wearing a Navy hat with the ship he served on.
My interaction with my retired Navy neighbor.
There are warning signs all around us. But do we notice them?
What to do when we see tail tail signs of distress? How do we approach ppl and offer help?
1 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
Ephesians 4 is discussing the unity in the church but couldn’t also apply to those that don’t know God yet?
1 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.
In case you forgot Paul mentions “I am still in prison”.
Vs 1: Urge is can be translated beg, it is the gentle wooing of love. Same word used in Romans 12:1
1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.
Paul begs us to walk worthy of the gospel. People may not be telling you this, but they are evaluating whether you are a real child of God through the way you walk, talk and treat them.
Live a life worthy of the calling you have recieved.
2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.
Be humble: I was not humble when I saw the flag upside down!
I got humbled when I found out that this retired Navy seaman was battling cancer and that he accidently flew the flag upside down.
Have you ever done that? Got on your high horse about something?
Vs 2: Be Patient - Don’t have a quick fuse. Online comments have a way of firing ppl up. 5 wk sermon series coming up titled: Me & My Big Mouth.
Lincoln wrote a harsh letter to General Meade saying he could have easily have stopped the Confederates and his failure to do so would prolong the war indefinitely.
Lincoln famously thought over the letter and never delivered it, leaving it sealed in an envelope marked “To Gen. Meade, never sent, or signed.” The war continued nearly two more years before ending with Lee’s surrender.
Could you take a day before you write a response to commit that you disagree with ? Could you open up the notes app on your phone and vomit in it instead of on the internet for everyone to see? Just a thought!
Vs. 2 bearing with one another in love.
Do you notice the difference between you being frustrated with some you love and someone you don’t love or like.
3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
Make every effort? To keep the unity of the Spirit? Bond of peace.
What warning signs do you see?
15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.
6 Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.
Grace is your being on the side of, or “for,” the other person as well as the relationship.
Truth is the reality of whatever you need to say about the problem.
Great questions to ask if you think someone is showing warning signs.
Are you OK?
Is there anything I can help with?
I have noticed
Can we talk?
Are you willing to cash in some relationship capital in the hope of helping them? Jeremy Wright. Selling drugs. Prison. I should have helped instead of looking the other way.
What tough conversation do you need to have?
This world is crying out will someone please help?
This world is crying out does anyone care?
