11/05/2020
There was a game that I loved to play as a child. It wasn’t your typical fun-filled game. In fact, not many people wanted to even play it with me! It was called Stratego. Stratego is a board game for two players on a 10×10 square board. Each player controls 40 pieces representing officers and soldiers in an army (from Marshall down to Scouts). Yes, I was INTO this game!
The objective was to find and capture the opponent's Flag, or to capture so many enemy pieces that the opponent cannot make any further moves. Players can’t see the ranks of one another's pieces, so strategy is key. One player has red pieces, the other has blue pieces – I didn’t think there was anything political going on at the time, but…
It was the strategical nature of the game that fascinated me. I loved that game! My big brothers would get so mad when I would beat them – but the more I played the better I got. Strategy is key to being a good soldier in times of war.
The Christian life is often compared to spiritual warfare in the New Testament:
“Indeed, we live as human beings, but we do not wage war according to human standards; 4 for the weapons of our warfare are not merely human, but they have divine power to destroy strongholds.”
2 Corinthians 10:3-4, NRSV
Wait! We have some weapons, some tools to help us fight this fight? Yes, we do! And strategy is still the key. So, how do we do this? How do we live in the world and not be of it? How do we dwell among the wicked and remain holy? It’s a war out there!
Not only that – but there’s a war going on inside of ME – it seems as though the wicked are having their fun, but I’m miserable. I’m up one day and down the next, and the next, and the next… Get up soldier! Stand at attention – there is a word from headquarters. We’ve got marching orders, and we can’t get distracted!
Join us this Sunday at 10:00am, as we get a word from the Lord on what it takes to be a soldier in the army of the Lord. Also, we will celebrate our awesome veterans, those who know what it takes to be a good soldier. We will also consecrate our pledges, our support for the mission of God. Please bring your pledge cards to the church office by Friday, or you can bring them on Sunday because guess what – the weather is going to allow us to have another outdoor in-person worship celebration! To reserve your spot click on this link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080c4fa9ae2ea2fe3-november. If you can’t join us in the Prayer Garden, please join us online at www.umcgt.org and worship with us!
Blessings,
Pastor Linda