Mike Henderson

Patrick of Ireland

History has a way of giving away to legend and folklore.  Such is the case when it comes to St. Patrick's Day.  You would think that if we were going to set aside a day and honor someone we would at least get some of the historical facts straight.

Probably the two biggest things people associate with the day is pinching someone because they did not wear green or drinking.  Not sure where those two things came from.  And we can also add in parties and parades.

Consider what Patrick himself said.  "I am greatly a debtor to God, who has bestowed his grace so largely upon me, that multitudes were born again to God through me.  The Irish, who had never had the knowledge of God and who worshipped only idols and unclean things, have lately become the people of the Lord, and are called sons of God."

Most of what we know about Patrick come from his two books, Confession and Letter to Coroticus.  He speaks of being taken captive at age 16 and becoming a slave of an Irish master.  Following his conversion he became a man of prayer. 

After his release six years later, he chose to return to Ireland and be a missionary and church planter.  He ministered in Ireland in the middle of the 1400's.  While we lack a lot of details he does give us an overview of his work.

Patrick had an incredible pasion "for the salvation of others."  Thousands were baptized under his ministry. 

So this March 17, St. Patrick's Day, let's remember a man who was lost who was born again.  A man who became a missionary to Ireland, planted hundreds of churches, led thousands to Christ, and left a great legacy, even though history has lost sight of the real, historical Patrick.

Pearl Harbor and Spiritual Warfare

Today is December 7, the day President Roosevelt described as, "a date that wil live in infamy."  2,400 Americans were killed as Japan launched a surprise attack on the naval base on Oahu Island, Hawaii. 

The man who planned the attack, Admiral Isoruku Yamanoto, was correct when he said, "I fear we have only succeeded in awakening a sleeping giant."  He had no idea that what he did would ultimately lead to the creation ofthe atomic bomb and the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.  Hundreds of thousands of Japanese lost their lives.

Pearl Harbor repeats itself every day in the invisible war now going on.  Spiritual warfare is a topic most of us never think of as we go about our daily business.  However, Satan is alive and well on planet earth. A war is going on and Christ-followers are the target.  So lets' draw a few lessons on warfare from Pearl Harbor.

1. Life can turn instantly.  When one of the bombs went right down the funnel of the battleship Arizona a thousand soldiers died instantly.

2. America was unaware of the surprise attack, but Christ-followers have been warned (1 Peter 5:8).

3. Sunday morning is still a popular time of attack by the enemy.  Prior to December 7 Sunday morning seemed to be the least likely time one would expect an attack.  That's why Japan attacked at that time. Too many believers wake up every day as if there is no war going on.  For the record, Sunday morning is still a popular time for the enemy to attack.  Kids get sick, kids won't get up, couples argue, or the alarm fails to go off.  Why Sunday morning.  Because that's the day the church gathers as a body to celebrate Christ, receive encouragement, hear the Bible preached (which by the way leads to an increase of faith; Romans 10:17), and be challenged and equipped for another week of warfare. Here's a quick lesson.  If small stuff keeps someone out of church, expect lots of small stuff to keep happening.

4. As Christ-followers we are more vulnerable than we realize.  Who would have thought the airbase at Pearl Harbor would be attacked?  Satan, referred to as a lion, is always on the prowl.

5. The consequences of war, wounds, and death are far reaching.  Think of the spouses, kids, and parents who were affected.  The toll spiritual warfare has taken on families is astronomical.  Just look around.  Divorce, debt, broken relationships, bad attitudes, and anger.

6. You may as well engage the enemy, because you are at war.  On December 7 three NFL games were being played when news came of the attack.  The next day America officially entered World War II.

The bottom line is, if you are breathing, you are at war.  However, take heart, because "greater is He Who is in you than he who is in the world." (I John 4:4)