Clinging to Carrier Pigeons
“When the Swiss Department of Defense announced in 1994 that it would have to give up its 77 year old carrier-pigeon service because of financial constraints, a pro-pigeon group emerged to protest. If enough signatures were gathered, the issue of whether to abolish one of the world’s last units of military carrier pigeons would go to referendum.
“Although the country’s then 400,000-man reserve army has not fought a foreign war since 1515, its military traditions are almost sacred. The Swiss army’s pigeons, which fly faster than 35mph, were used in both world wars to relay messages over mountainous terrain. Until 1994, the army owned some 7000 pigeons and had another 223,000 birds owned by private breeders on standby in case of a national emergency. Pigeon breeders were especially angered by the plan because they trained the birds for difficult missions. The abolition of the carrier service meant that 250 militia soldiers would be trained for other duties, and a carrier-pigeon station near the capital city of Bern would be closed.”
Carrier-pigeons, as messengers, played an important role during times of war. Keeping lines of communication open can mean the difference between victory and defeat. This holds true in the conflict between heaven and earth as well. As this spiritual battle plays out, the Bible describes the important role played by angels (a word which means messenger) as they relay vital information among themselves, as well as to man. But this important work isn't left only for the angels. God has also employed apostles (sent ones), preachers, pastors, evangelists and those who do the work of an evangelist, to carry His message across enemy lines.
"And there came war in the heaven; Michael and his messengers did war against the dragon, and the dragon did war, and his messengers" (Revelation 12:7).
Ordinary Night / Holy Night
Reading , Ordinary Night/Holy Night by Max Lucado
“There is one word that describes the night He came—ordinary. It was a beautiful night—a night worth peeking out your bedroom window to admire—but not really an unusual one. No reason to expect a surprise. Nothing to keep a person awake. An ordinary night with an ordinary sky.
The above is one in a series of Christmas readings by Max Lucado. Each reading can be used separately to emphasize a single element of the Christmas message or used as part of a series of readings and carols to create a moving Christmas Eve Candlelight Service as follows (the additional readings can be found on this site under the same category "Christmas" or by visiting the source above):
Reading , Ordinary Night/Holy Night
Song – O, Holy Night
Scripture - Matt 1:20-21
Reading, From One Father to Another
Song – Hymn #262, Away In A Manger
Scripture - Luke 1:46-49
Reading, Mary’s Prayer
Song - Mary Did You Know
Scripture - Luke 2:8-20
Reading, The Meek Were Kneeling
Song – Hymn # 265, The First Noel, vv. 1,2,6
Scripture Matt 2:1-2
Reading, Following the Star
Song – Hymn # 288, We Three Kings
Scripture – Luke 2:25-32
Reading, Wide-eyed And Watching
Song – Come, Thou Long Expected
Scripture - John 1:1-5, 14
Reading, Love’s Remarkable Plan
Song – Hymn # 277, Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
Scripture – Phil 2:5-11
Reading, Timeless, Boundless Love
Song – Love Came Down At Christmas OR Love Has Come
Reading, Silent Night, Holy Night
"The Moscow Rules"
Once, while I was in the Washington, D.C., area holding a gospel meeting, I had the privilege of going through the International Spy Museum near Chinatown. Having an avid interest in both military history and the former Soviet Union, I was thrilled at the opportunity.
Although the museum displays how ancient the espionage game is, the greater part of the exhibits covers just the last 100 years. There is a whole section of the museum devoted to espionage during the Cold War. This period of intense espionage developed it's own “ten commandments” of spying (some say there are forty or more). The museum itself published ten of these so-called "Moscow Rules."
Some of these rules include: “assume nothing,” “don’t look back,” “there is no limit to a human being’s ability to rationalize the truth,” “maintain a natural pace,” “…if it feels wrong, it is wrong….”
Former CIA operative Jonna Mendez, as well as countless others, is quick to say that these rules are used by agents around the globe today. Many of these rules boil down to trusting instincts.
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Whereas Christians battle a foe that will not collapse or capitulate until the Lord returns, we have been given rules of engagement that we must follow for our own spiritual preservation in, as our foe is the most formidable of them all (see 1 Peter 5:8; 2 Corinthians 11:14; Revelation 2:10; etc.).
We need to mature to the point of having our powers of discernment trained (cf. Hebrews 5:14). This will give us the kind of instincts we need to be most aware of our enemies tactics (cf. 2 Corinthians 2:11). We should not become paranoid or see problems where they do not exist, but we must not let our guard down either.
God’s Word will protect us and serve us heroically in this terrific battle (cf. Ephesians 6:17), but only if we know how to use it properly.
"Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you" (James 4:7).