After many political defeats, Abraham Lincoln upset three candidates for his party’s nomination whom most considered more qualified and able. The New York Herald wrote on May 19, 1860: “The conduct of the republican party in this nomination is a remarkable indication of small intellect, growing smaller. They pass over… statesmen and able men, and they take up a fourth rate lecturer, who cannot speak good grammar.”

Of course Lincoln became the 16th President of the United States and, like Frodo, found himself in perilous circumstances. He had to decide what to do with the time he had been given. I recently read Doris Kearns Goodwin’s “Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln.” Three strengths of Lincoln stood out to me.

First, he held to his core beliefs that his country was built on solid foundations. Kearns wrote: “An indomitable sense of purpose had sustained him through the disintegration of the Union and through the darkest moments of the war… His conviction that we are one nation, indivisible, ‘conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal,’ led to the rebirth of a nation free of slavery.”

Such a ‘sense of purpose’ led to a second strength essential for anyone facing difficult times. Abraham Lincoln persevered. Many forget the personal tragedies the Lincolns endured which greatly impacted Abraham and Mary. Son Eddie died of tuberculosis when he was three years old in 1850. And while the Civil War was raging, eleven-year-old Willie died of illness in 1862. Though he often despaired, Lincoln did not give up. Though there were many moments it looked as if the nation could not be saved, he persevered.

A third strength highlighted in Kearns’ book was Lincoln’s willingness to listen to the thoughts and advice of others. Instead of distancing himself from his political rivals, Lincoln chose to place several who opposed him in positions of leadership for the good of the nation. The three men he defeated in the primaries became members of his cabinet. William Henry Seward was named Secretary of State; Salmon Chase was Secretary of the Treasury; and Edward Bates became Attorney General. Many questioned Lincoln’s wisdom.

But as it was proven, Lincoln was wise, perceptive, and decisive. He wanted to listen to others’ views. If there was a better way, Lincoln possessed the humility to change. Assistant Secretary of War Charles Dana concluded: “It was always plain that he was master and they were the subordinates. They constantly had to yield to his will, and if he ever yielded to them it was because they convinced him that the course they advised was judicious and appropriate.”

Lincoln also respected the thoughts of the inexperienced. Two young men in their twenties, who happened to be good friends, became Lincoln’s assistants during his presidency. John Nicolay and John Hay helped with correspondence, set schedules, and served their leader any way they could. Amidst numerous critics, these were men he could trust. Lincoln considered them as sons. After Lincoln’s assassination, Nicolay and Hay teamed up to write a ten volume biography entitled: ‘Abraham Lincoln — A History.’ With little doubt, John Hay concluded, “the ‘hand of God’ had put the prairie lawyer in the White House.”

In these times in which we live, a great leader’s example can help us. I want to hold fast to the core beliefs that are true and full of hope: God is love and He is in control; abundant life is in His Son; Jesus will never leave me. I want to learn to persevere; I should never give up. Finally, I must be humble; I can listen and learn from others.

Happy New Year!

“For lack of guidance a nation falls, but victory is won through many advisers.” Proverbs 11:14

“Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love Him.” James 1:12

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:3

“In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

‘Fellowship of the Ring’ by J. R. R. Tolkien, ©1954, Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston

‘Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln’ by Doris Kearns Goodwin, ©2005 by Blithedale Productions, Inc., New York, NY 10020

In ‘The Boys in the Boat,’ author Daniel James Brown tells the story of Joe Rantz and eight other members of the gold medal USA rowing team from the 1936 Olympics. Of course the four gold medals Jesse Owens won to Hitler’s chagrin are the most famous victories of the Berlin Olympics, but the championship of hardworking boys from the University of Washington was an incredible accomplishment.

The book highlights overcoming adversity, development of character, competition, coaching, teamwork, perseverance, relationships, and the results that come when self is sacrificed for the higher good.

Joe Rantz died in 2007 at the age of 93. Roger Morris, the last survivor of the crew, died in 2009 at the age of 94.

At the beginning of each chapter, Brown quotes George Yeoman Pocock, a British boat builder and expert in rowing who moved from England to Seattle in 1912. A mentor to coaches and athletes, his wisdom inspired generations. Here are a few of his words:

Every good rowing coach, in his own way, imparts to his men the kind of self-discipline required to achieve the ultimate from mind, heart, and body. Which is why most ex-oarsmen will tell you they learned more fundamentally important lessons in the racing shell than in the classroom. (p 39)

One of the first admonitions of a good rowing coach, after the fundamentals are over, is “pull your own weight,” and the young oarsman does just that when he finds out the boat goes better when he does. There is certainly a social implication here. (p 149)

Where is the spiritual value of rowing?… The losing of self entirely to the cooperative effort of the crew as a whole. (p 353)

If Jesus were an author, He could also title a book ‘The Boys in the Boat.’ Like Brown’s non-fiction, the central characters would come from a common geographical area and mainly be working-class guys without wealth or privilege. Several literally made their living in a boat as fishermen, but when the Rabbi beckoned, they left their nets and surrendered self for a higher call.

Three years with Jesus and beyond His resurrection, all but one of these boys heeded the instruction of their Coach. Their competition was ultimately Satan, who rules ‘spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms’ (Ephesians 6:12)… and perseverance was a necessity. Loving each other and developing deep relationships with all who surrendered to Jesus became one of the important messages of the apostles. They taught their Master’s mantra: “One must lose his life to truly find it.”

The good news for us is that Jesus actually is an Author… He is the ‘Author and Perfector of our faith.’ (Hebrews 12:2) He is also calling us into the boat… and He is the Boat. We come humbly, admitting we deserve nothing, but believing His Kingdom is our destiny. Will we surrender self for His higher purpose? Will we accept His ‘coaching’ and learn to overcome with His power and grace? Will we build strong, lasting relationships in His Body… allowing His love to shine forth in such a way that people will know we are His? Will we stand against evil and make a difference in this world? He is our hope.

“Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” Hebrews 12:3

“For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope – the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave Himself up to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for Himself a people that are His very own, eager to do what is good.” Titus 2:11-14

Quotes from ‘The Boys in the Boat’ by Daniel James Brown, Penguin Books, New York, ©2013

Our country got into a political crisis that led to an economical downfall. After unfair elections and cruel treatment of peaceful protesters, which included torture and severe beatings of the arrested (about 7000 people), 6 people died. Some of them were killed by bullets and some of them were tortured to death. Nowadays, it is not safe to live in our country. OMON (the special forces) were arresting people on the way home or to a store. Doctors were horrified seeing the victims of these arrests and their condition upon their arrival to the hospital. We could see a lot of this action taking place outside of our windows. After the riots I was a volunteer next to the prison in Okrestino where the arrested were released and I could talk to them. All of them shared horrific stories of what happened to people in that place. A lot of them were standing there to get their belongings that had been taken from them. Almost all of them had bruises and signs of beatings on their bodies. Quite a few of these people could not find their things and valuables. A lot of people are planning to leave the country.

Because of all these problems we completely forgot about COVID-19, it is definitely not a primary concern for our country right now.

This situation in our country is a great challenge for churches and ministers. Church leaders are being threatened not just generally by the president but by personal phone calls or emails as well.

We are trying to figure out how to share God’s Good News with people and be the light in this darkness. In spite of all these difficulties our nation has come together, and people are helping and caring for one another. We continue our Sunday meetings, participate in volunteer work, and just take care of each other and our unbelieving friends.

Please pray for the presidential power to be given to its rightful owner, for the end of violence and repressions.

Pray for our church to be able to use this opportunity to share Jesus, to encourage and comfort those who suffered psychological and physical trauma.

We are very thankful that you are thinking and praying for us, helping us in our need.

We really need your prayers right now!

September 1 was the day in 1939 when Hitler revealed his true intentions and invaded Poland. British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain’s “peace for our time” was not to be, as the world was soon swallowed in war. The Jews of Poland were the ‘firstfruits’ of Nazi evil. Anyone who doubts the reality of the relationship between spiritual and physical war should simply read history.

Steven Spielberg won seven Academy Awards for his 1993 movie: ‘Schindler’s List’. I read the book this past summer and wrote the following:

Tel Aviv first honored Oskar Schindler on his fifty-third birthday in 1961 with a plaque in its Park of Heroes. Shortly after, in Jerusalem, he was honored as a ‘Righteous Person’ — a Gentile that God had chosen to help His people, the Jews.

By most people’s standards, Oskar would not be considered righteous… and he surely would not have described himself in such a way. He drank a lot, lied a lot, and carried the reputation of being a womanizer. So what led to his heroic behavior?

Australian novelist Thomas Keneally published a book in 1982 that described an Austrian-born, adventurous young man who launched a profitable business in Krakow, Poland at the beginning of World War II. His mother was a strong Catholic, but Oskar followed in his father’s footsteps… he was not faithful to the Church or his wife. Growing up, the Schindlers had Jewish friends in their neighborhood, but no friendship seemed to point to the extraordinary path Oskar would take after realizing Hitler’s intent to persecute and exterminate all Jews in Europe.

In 1941, all Schlender’s Jewish workers were moved to the Krakow Ghetto. As the Ghetto was being depopulated before March of 1943, they were all moved to the nearby Plaszow labor camp. Hearing of the living conditions and atrocities of Plaszow, Oskar built barracks in his factory and arranged for all his workers to be residents of his ‘camp.’ Such decisions eventually raised suspicions. Over the course of the war, Schindler was arrested by Reich officials three times. A smooth talker, the business man always justified his actions as ‘essential’ to keeping skilled workers healthy and the production of critical supplies moving.

But talk alone would have never have resulted in nearly twelve hundred saved lives. Oskar was famous for hosting extravagant parties. Decision makers, Nazi officers, city officials, and others were wined, dined, and bribed to look the other way or simply forget their host’s missteps. These people of influence, who considered themselves friends of a generous business man, would often be instrumental in rescuing Oskar and allowing him to carry on.

Throughout the war, cigarettes, fine wines, scotch, vodka, diamonds, and loads of cash were exchanged for lives. Towards the close of 1944, as concentration camps were liquidating and eliminating evidence of evil, the famous ‘list’ was created to shift Schindler’s business location out of Krakow to Brinnitz, Czechoslovakia. The chosen six hundred men and three hundred women boarded separate trains in October for a several-day journey in freezing weather to work for Herr Direktor Schindler in another camp.

Tragically, the women were first taken to Auschwitz — a destination of no return. Having just spent eight days in prison after his latest arrest, Oskar scrambled to undo the transportation error. He exerted all energy and influence to save his women workers from certain death. He basically purchased them with his own money. Never had a group of prisoners been rescued from the infamous Auschwitz. When they arrived at Brinnitz in November, sick and emaciated, Oskar simply said: “You have nothing more to worry about. You’re with me now.” (p 330)

In danger of being killed by the invading Russian army, or captured and accused of war crimes by the Americans, Oskar and his wife Emilie left Brinnitz five minutes after midnight on the last day of the war. Before departing, he said to his workers: “Don’t thank me for your survival. Thank your people who worked day and night to save you from extermination… Don’t go into the neighboring houses to rob and plunder. Prove yourselves worthy of the millions of victims among you and refrain from any individual acts of revenge or terror.” (p 371)

The newly freed prisoners gave him a letter written in Hebrew that chronicled Schindler’s role in their salvation. They also presented Oskar with a Hebrew-inscribed gold ring with a saying from the Talmud: “He who saves one life, saves the world entire.” The precious metal was donated by Mr. Jareth, who volunteered the removal of a gold dental bridge from his mouth so it could be melted down and re-formed. (p 368)

The Schindlers had no money or influence after the war. Oskar had given everything to rescue the targets of the Holocaust. He was sometimes spit upon and otherwise mistreated in Germany for being a ‘Jew lover’. He and Emilie moved to Argentina where he farmed ten years before going bankrupt. He moved back to Frankfurt, but Emilie stayed in Argentina. Eventually, many of the ‘Schindler Jews’ who settled in Israel invited Oskar to visit. There he was honored as a hero. He died in Frankfurt in 1974. Keneally’s book closes this way:

“The Franciscan parish priest of Jerusalem had given his permission for Herr Oskar Schindler, one of the Church’s least observant sons, to be buried in the Latin Cemetery of Jerusalem… Oskar’s body was carried in a leaden casket through the crammed streets of the Old City of Jerusalem to the Catholic Cemetery, which looks over the Valley of Hinnom, called Gehenna in the New Testament. In the press photograph of the procession can be seen – amid a stream of other Schindler Jews – Itzhak Stern, Moshe Bejski, Helen Hirsch, Jakob Sternberg, Juda Dresner. He was mourned on every continent.” (p 397)

What causes a man to forfeit his freedom, expend all his possessions, and risk his life for foreign outcasts? “Lord, teach me…”

“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” John 15:13

“For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own than are the people of the light. I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.” Luke 16:8-9

Schindler’s List, by Thomas Keneally, Simon & Schuster Inc., NY, NY, ©1982

“Something, though, troubled me deep down. When Noah spoke of turning from sin and looking to God, I knew he was speaking truth. Everyone admitted our culture was wicked… but who wanted to change? I actually seriously talked to my wife about joining Noah, but she did not want to lose all our friends.

“When the animals started walking up the ramp into the ark, I once again knew in my heart that Noah’s preaching was true. I came so close to repenting and asking God to forgive me… but, again, I failed to act. When the door shut and the rain began… it was too late.”

“Hello, my name is Timon. I lived in the days of Peter and heard him speak on the Day of Pentecost, shortly after the man named Jesus had been crucified. The fisherman spoke with passion and power and though some said he was drunk, I knew he was not. When he proclaimed Jesus to be Messiah, my heart sensed it was true… but I suppressed the thought.

“Even as thousands responded to Peter’s message and were baptized in the name of the Nazarene, I resisted the urge to join them. I was a young man with a young wife and infant son. I had witnessed the way our elders disdained the followers of Jesus and did not want my family to be targeted.

“Shortly after, it looked like I had made the right decision. Followers of Jesus were persecuted mercilessly. Most fled Jerusalem and scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. I thought: ‘Whew… if I had responded to Peter’s invitation on Pentecost, we too would be fleeing.’ Little did I know what was to come.

“My wife of forty years, my children, and my grandchildren were my pride and joy. When the Romans surrounded the Holy City, I knew we were doomed. How I wished I had chosen differently on the day I heard the truth.”

“Hello, my name is Lewis. I am also living in unprecedented times… but I do not want to be like Seba and Timon. Of course, it would be easy to go their same route and ignore God. Confined to our houses, it is tempting to watch the news constantly with only one consuming question: ‘When are things going to get back to normal?’

“But a friend of mine challenged my thinking. He says sin is far more deadly than any virus. I first thought: ‘Please… don’t use this crisis as an excuse to push your religion,’ but deep down, I know my friend tells the truth. I have always thought there must be a God, but now I am determined to seek Him.

“My friend says he is not promoting a religion… but a Person. He says Jesus is really who He says He is… the Son of God. So I have been reading the Bible… about a Creator who has made a way to restore sinful mankind back to Him. The One named Jesus is the main message of the Book… He is the Good News. Jesus desires all to know Him… and His Father… and the Holy Spirit.

“So I have decided to follow Jesus Christ. I am calling on His Name and asking Him to take over my life. I believe in my heart He died for us all and then rose from the dead. I am confessing Jesus as Lord and I am planning to do everything He tells me. We’ll see what happens next…”

“Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision.” Joel 3:14

On the surface, it looks like Ahaz, king of Judah, gave a humble, spiritual reply to the prophet Isaiah… but this was not the case. Ahaz did not want a sign because in his heart, he did not trust the Lord. Instead, he looked to gods and leaders from other nations. (see II Kings 16 and II Chronicles 28)

“Ahaz was twenty years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem sixteen years. Unlike David his father, he did not do what was right in the eyes of the Lord. He walked in the ways of the kings of Israel and also made cast idols for worshiping the Baals.” (II Chronicles 28:1-2) Ahaz set up a foreign altar in front of God’s temple in Jerusalem. He even gave the silver and gold from the temple as a gift to the king of Assyria.

After the king declined God’s invitation, Isaiah replied: “Hear now, you house of David! Is it not enough to try the patience of men? Will you try the patience of my God also? Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a Son, and will call Him Immanuel.” (Isaiah 7:13-14)

To an arrogant, rebellious king, God promised the deepest revelation of Himself the world has ever known. Why was good news given to Ahaz? As Jesus tells us how to respond to opposition, He points to His merciful Father: “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.” (Matthew 5:44-45)

Immanuel – ‘God with us’ – the greatest Gift ever – was given to the undeserving.

Merry Christmas!!

More from Isaiah… written over 700 years before the birth of Jesus:

“For to us a Child is born, to us a Son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over His kingdom, establishing it and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord will accomplish this.” Isaiah 9:6-7

“A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a branch will bear fruit. The Spirit of the Lord will rest on Him – the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and power, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord – and He will delight in the fear of the Lord… Righteousness will be His belt and faithfulness the sash around His waist.” Isaiah 11:1-5