We had a great weekend with our family. We celebrated Independence Day at my son’s place and we did our own fireworks there. Our city, like many others, banned fireworks within the city limits, but almost no one followed that decree, as evidenced by the vast amounts of loud noises, as well as our ability to see. We did follow the city ordinance in terms of the size and magnitude of the fireworks allowed, so we weren’t complete rebels. This was a more special year, being 250 years old as a nation, and we needed to celebrate. We needed it as a reminder of our history, a commemoration of what our founders went through to make us a nation, to make our nation the land of the free and the home of the brave.
That word “home” is important. What makes something a home anyway? There is a vast difference between a house and a home, right? A house is brick, mortar, drywall, wood, paint, etc. When you move into a new house, or one that is new to you, it is much easier to remodel right away. Why? Because it is still a house, and not a home. So you can change the paint colors, redo the floors, maybe even knock out a wall or two. However, the longer you are there, the harder it gets to do those things. Why? Because it becomes more of a home the longer you are there. And that is because a home is made of memories. And it doesn’t matter if they are good or bad memories, it is the fact of the memories that make a house a home.
We have been in our house for over 20 years now. It is our home. We have a lot of memories here. Our youngest child was born to this house. That’s how we remember how long we have been here. Her age is the key. And as we have more of our kids leave, I’m not sure we would ever want to sell and move into something else. My wife and I have discussed what it would take to move out of Colorado even, and it would take a lot. We have so many memories here, so many ties with my LOGOS families, our church, our love of this state in general. Colorado is our home. We have been here more than half of our lives, and all of our kids were born here.
Why am I saying all of this? Because of this past weekend. We need to celebrate. We need to keep the memories alive, because the USA is our home. Even the bad memories are necessary because they are part of our history. Beware of anyone who would try to rewrite our history and talk about how the USA was founded on principles other than Biblical principles. Beware of people who want to try to erase the memories of our past, even, and sometimes especially our mistakes, or our natural disasters, our battles, etc.. These are part of our history too. It was in our house, our home, that I had a run in with a jointer and ended up in ER missing the tip of my left pinky. It was in this home that I recently threw a blood clot that led to my 11 hospitalization, and almost cost me my life. But it is also the place where I started LOGOS, and where we met for most of the years I have coached them. We had a church in our home for 12 years. We’ve had great time and hard times. And that’s what makes it a home, and that’s what makes the USA our home. We MUST remember, and we MUST celebrate.
Again, why all of this? Well, I also just finished my first time through the Bible on Sunday, and have started Genesis again today. This will be my fourth year reading the Bible twice through, assuming I will make is again. The Bible is full of memories, both good and bad. It starts off great, but tragedy strikes fairly soon with the Fall of Man. I read through 11 Chapters this morning. And the downfall of that society was rapid, and almost complete, except for Noah.
These chapters are the foundation to not just the Bible but all of human history. It explains why the world is the way it is now. It sets the stage for all things, esp. the coming of Jesus and His finished work on the Cross. Beware of anyone who would seek to rewrite this history. Beware of those who would say that this is just a myth, and that it is merely symbolic of what really happened. Genesis 1-11 are the most attacked portions of the Bible for a reason. If you can get rid of those, the rest of the Bible falls with it.
We must make the Bible a home, as it were. We need to live in it, create memories of it through our reading it. As a family we read through it together multiple times. My family remembers these times, and it has shaped them in many ways. The Bible needs to become familiar, like all of the areas of your home. It may be that you are reading through for the first time, and that’s great. It may feel more like a house at first, but it will become a home soon. However, the Bible doesn’t get to be remodeled. If you find that you disagree with something that it says, guess who is the one mistaken. It isn’t the Bible. You may have some questions, and that is great. There are answers to all of your questions, though some aren’t as readily available. And some we may have to wait till the other side of glory, but there are answers. Ephesians calls the Word of God the Sword of the Spirit. It is our weapon of warfare that can be both defensive but mainly offensive. We have a shield and helmet for defense. But if we are to ever win in a spiritual battle, the sword is what we need.
So, read. Make it a habit daily. Like learning to use any new tool, it will be awkward and a little uncomfortable at first. But as you continue in it, using it becomes more and more natural, and you will find yourself quoting and referring to Scripture in everyday conversation, because it has become a part of you. Like memories make a home, you will find a home, an abode, in the Word, who is Christ. This is the way you make more memories, this is how you get to know the One who made you, this is how you improve your faith and your walk with God.
Amen
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