The Tartan Army Takes America (by Peggy Noonan)

This last in a series on July Fourth themes is about a small sweetness that was gratefully received. As we near our 250th birthday, let us never forget the gift of the Scottish national soccer team and its followers, the famous Tartan Army—the pleasure and delight they gave as they marched through America, drank our cities dry, sang their songs and said: We love you. They brought something out in us; they moved us and helped reveal something we’d stopped noticing. They allowed us to see our battered old country whole, and through fresh eyes.

No one knows exactly how many global visitors have come and are coming to the U.S. for the World Cup. Oxford Economics predicted a surge of 1.2 million international tourists for the games, peaking in June. The U.S. Embassy in Luxembourg said as many as 10 million would come to the 11 host cities.

However many there are, we are hearing from the young ones as they fan through the country to venues down South, out West, in Texas and Utah. They are seeing an America they never imagined and have made now-famous videos about how shocked they are—in the most positive sense. They expected a dark and brooding nation; they discovered a sun-filled magnificence. It’s so big, so spacious, has such wondrous shops, the best food and absolutely wonderful people. The videos have flooded TikTok, Instagram and X, and they speak with the wonder of 18th-century explorers who discovered an unknown indigenous people on a brilliant new continent.

His Love Endures Forever

"Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.

His love endures forever.

Give thanks to the God of gods.

His love endures forever.

Give thanks to the Lord of lords:

His love endures forever.

To him who alone does great wonders,

His love endures forever.

Who by his understanding made the heavens,

His love endures forever.

Lament

Lament is a crying out to God that something is not right and needs to be righted. In its very action, lament is a step of faith. It is saying, “God, you are present. God, you are real. God, you are the only one that can fix this. God, I know you want to hear me.” Lament is therefore an act of hope in crisis.

Lament is all over the Bible. All our prophets lamented. Many of them had no one else to go to but God Himself. About 40 percent of the Psalms are straight-up lament, and if we count the Psalms that have laments sandwiched within them, we go up to 70 percent. That’s a lot of lament!

Those who have no hope do not go to God. They think God, (if they even believe in Him) does not hear them, or worse, does not care. I am reminded of a Dave Matthews song, Grey Street, where the character in that story prays, even though they fear God, if He is even there, is not listening. The belief that God does not care about you and your struggles, can plunge one deep into darkness and the absence of light grows more pronounced with each passing day. That is the foundation of despair and hopelessness, to believe there is no one to turn to, no one bigger then ourselves that could rescue and comfort us in our trial. The pain of that unbelief can be unbearable!

I cannot imagine living in that type of belief for an extended period of time. But there is good news, available to all who acknowledge Jesus Christ as their Savior and King. There is comfort, grace, kindness, hope, protection, provision, and so much more that Jesus longs to give us as we walk in the growing darkness of this world. 

But why do you think lament is important for Christians to do?

American Historical Sites I've Visited (Part I)

In 1977, one year after the Bicentennial Celebration, our high school band and choir visited the Washington D.C. and Philadelphia area. It was a fascinating trip for a young person to experience and four of the five sites I'm going to reference in this blog series were part of that trip. I'm forever grateful for the sacrifices and foresight of our teachers to allow us to visit this part of the country.  

Okay, the first site I'm going to list is the Liberty Bell Center, home of the Liberty Bell. I recall the line to view the bell was quite long, and as we were visiting in March, the weather was cool but easily tolerable. At that time you could actually touch the bell which I remember doing as I exited the viewing line. However, to my shame, my most vivid memory is my buddy Jon trying to figure out a way to stick his chewing gum inside the bell. I am happy to report he was not successful in this attempt. Anyway, after an attack on the bell in 2001, the bell was moved out of reach of visitors and a no touching ban was instituted going forward.