The Unsecret Weapon
Stories
Object:
Contents
What's Up This Week
"The Unsecret Weapon" by Frank Ramirez
"The Unknown Churchgoers" by John Sumwalt
What's Up This Week
For soldiers fighting in a war, it is essential to have the proper weapons. Those weapons can mean the difference between living to see another day and dying on the battlefield. In "The Unsecret Weapon," Frank Ramirez explores the Hebrew exodus from Egypt, noting that while many armies have developed "secret weapons" over the centuries, the Hebrews made no secret as to what their "weapon" was. While armies use weapons to wage war, what happens when we turn those weapons on ourselves? In the church, we often let disagreements turn into real battles, fracturing the church. John Sumwalt gives us a representation of such a disagreement, and what the end result needs to be, in "The Unknown Churchgoers."
* * * * * * * * *
The Unsecret Weapon
By Frank Ramirez
Exodus 14:19-31
We're all familiar with the concept of a secret weapon. Basically, it's a weapon that's kept secret from the enemy. Because they don't know what it is, they're not able to mount an adequate defense.
Of course, once such a weapon is used, it can only remain a secret for so long. The Manhattan Project, which produced the first atomic weapons, is a good example. As long as the atomic bomb was not used, it was not duplicated. No one knew it existed. But once the weapons were used in war it was only a matter of time before first one, then several other nations figured out how to build these terrible weapons. They are very dangerous, but they are not secret.
Some secret weapons don't have near the effect the builders planned. The Germans during World War II hinted they had secret weapons that would turn the tide. They produced an unpiloted aircraft that was basically a bomb with wings called the V-1. They also produced the world's first true rocket, which was labeled the V-2. They were terrible weapons, designed to demoralize the British people, but they'd already shown their courage many times during the war, and neither weapon, though they killed many hundreds, was able to create the terror the Germans had hoped would turn the tide of the war.
What about a real secret weapon, one swift and terrible, which remained a secret? The writer Isaac Asimov wrote an essay called "The Unsecret Weapon" in which he described a true secret weapon known as Greek fire. It was used by the defenders of Constantinople against the Muslims in the year 672 AD. To this day, no one knows what chemicals it contained, although it probably included a mixture of sulfur, naphtha, quicklime, and niter. When ships clogged the harbor the mixture was shot over the water. When mixed with water it caught on fire, and drifted toward the ships, causing them to catch fire, and creating panic. It was used several times to defend the city, and then the formula must have been lost because two centuries later it was only a legendary substance.
In that article, Asimov mentioned that a secret weapon is one thing, but what about an Unsecret Weapon? What about a weapon that was tremendously powerful, but not a secret, yet which the other side refused to use?
The English during the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries had such an Unsecret Weapon. It was called the Long Bow. Six feet in length, it was the most powerful weapon of the era. An arrow shot by such a bow could pierce armor. Thousands of bowmen could fill the sky with whizzing death, the horrifying noise of the arrows presaging the descent of doom.
On more than one occasion, the English used this well-known weapon against the French army and obliterated their foes despite the fact that they were outnumbered and on foreign soil. How could they use this Unsecret Weapon to their advantage?
There were two crucial facts about the Long Bow that made it impossible for the French to use. It took special training and it took great strength. These were qualities the nobility might not have. The idea that a commoner might be more important than a knight on a horse was impossible for the French, with their notions of blue blood. Moreover, once trained a large peasant suddenly became valuable and difficult to replace. Once again, this offended the sensibilities of the nobility.
William Shakespeare, in his play Henry V, wrote about the battles fought against the French with the Long Bow. He describes the morning before the Battle of Agincourt. The English are sick and starving and outnumbered five to one. The French are wagering how many they will kill before lunchtime. One character, named Westmoreland, laments,
O that we now had here
But one ten thousand of those men in England
That do no work to-day!
And King Henry replies (or at least Shakespeare has him say):
What's he that wishes so?
My cousin Westmoreland? No, my fair cousin:
If we are mark'd to die, we are enow
To do our country loss; and if to live,
The fewer men, the greater share of honour.
God's will! I pray thee, wish not one man more.
Good King Henry then describes how in the future those who survive the battle will remember its anniversary, which was St. Crispin's Day, and that they would show off their scars and brag about it. Each year the story would come alive --
This story shall the good man teach his son;
And Crispin Crispian shall ne'er go by,
From this day to the ending of the world,
But we in it shall be remember'd;
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
It's one of the grandest speeches in literature. Later, when the English vanquish the French, losing almost none of their own while killing ten thousand of the enemy, Shakespeare makes sure that his King Henry gives God all the credit. The French themselves agree, insisting God must have wanted it that way. But truth be told, it had more to do with the Long Bow, the Unsecret Weapon, and the strong arms of the yeoman who pulled back the string.
Surely by the time God's people were led by Moses to the shore of the Red Sea, both they and Pharaoh, who was madly pursuing them, should have remembered they, too, had an Unsecret Weapon. Plagues of frogs, rivers of blood, an Angel of Death who passed over only those houses protected by the blood of a lamb -- weren't these things obvious enough to anyone? Could it have been a secret to anyone that Moses served a living God?
Frank Ramirez is a native of Southern California and has served as a pastor for nearly thirty years in Church of the Brethren congregations. Frank has served congregations in Los Angeles, California; Elkhart, Indiana; and Everett, Pennsylvania. He and his wife Jennie share three adult children, all married, and three grandchildren. He enjoys writing, reading, exercise, and theater.
The Unknown Churchgoers
By John Sumwalt
Romans 14:1-12
Following the reading of the text on September 14, two figures appear in the center of the chancel wearing paper bags with holes for eyes, nose, and mouth. A youth walks across the chancel in front of them carrying a placard that reads THE UNKNOWN CHURCH GOERS. As soon as the first placard bearer has left the chancel a small child appears holding up a placard that reads: THEY DISAGREE ABOUT EVERYTHING. After the child departs the Unknown's begin to converse. The dialogue is offered in a tongue in cheek, over the top tone.
First Voice: Say, did you hear about that new contemporary worship service they are going to start. I don't like all that loud music and clapping and arm waving. And the drumming... Don't get me started on that!
Second Voice: I always try not to get you started. But since you have started, it might interest you to know that my children like that kind of music. They always want to come to church when the Praise Team is singing.
First Voice: I don't know. I just don't think that kind of music should be in church. We have a very nice organ -- expensive too -- I helped to raise money for it. Why can't we just use the organ?
The organist plays the first line of the Doxology: "Praise God from whom all blessings flow." Then comes a loud sustained drum roll. The organist plays the first phrase of "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God." This is followed immediately by one sustained loud note or a riff from an electric guitar. The organist plays "Onward Christian soldiers, marching as to war."
Second Voice: (turning to the organist just as the last note ends, says in best Jack Benny imitation) Now cut that out! (Then turning to his unknown friend, shouts) See what you started!
First Voice: I didn't start it!
Second Voice: Did too!
First Voice: Did not!
Second Voice: Did too!
First Voice: Did not!
(The scripture reader walks into the center of the chancel and says)There they go again! (Then turns and directing her/his voice to the Unknown Church Goers, reads v. 4 from the text) The apostle Paul wrote: "Who are you to pass judgment on servants of another? It is before their own Lord that they stand or fall. And they will be upheld for the Lord is able to make them stand."(then turning the congregation reads v. 10)"Why do you pass judgment on your brother or sister? Or you, why do you despise your brother or sister? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God."
A youth walks in front of the Unknown Church Goers with the placard that reads: THEY ALWAYS DISAGREE. Then comes a small child holding up a placard that reads: BUT THEY LOVE EACH OTHER (The two unknown Churchgoers embrace and the child holding the placard bows).
John E. Sumwalt is the lead pastor of Wauwatosa Avenue United Methodist Church in suburban Milwaukee and the author of nine books. John and his wife, Jo Perry-Sumwalt, served for three years as co-editors of StoryShare. A graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary (UDTS), Sumwalt received the Herbert Manning Jr. award for parish ministry from UDTS in 1997.
**********************************************
How to Share Stories
You have good stories to share, probably more than you know: personal stories as well as stories from others that you have used over the years. If you have a story you like, whether fictional or "really happened," authored by you or a brief excerpt from a favorite book, send it to StoryShare for review. Simply email the story to us at storyshare@sermonsuite.com.
**************
StoryShare, September 14, 2008, issue.
Copyright 2008 by CSS Publishing Company, Inc., Lima, Ohio.
All rights reserved. Subscribers to the StoryShare service may print and use this material as it was intended in sermons, in worship and classroom settings, in brief devotions, in radio spots, and as newsletter fillers. No additional permission is required from the publisher for such use by subscribers only. Inquiries should be addressed to permissions@csspub.com or to Permissions, CSS Publishing Company, Inc., 517 South Main Street, Lima, Ohio 45804.
What's Up This Week
"The Unsecret Weapon" by Frank Ramirez
"The Unknown Churchgoers" by John Sumwalt
What's Up This Week
For soldiers fighting in a war, it is essential to have the proper weapons. Those weapons can mean the difference between living to see another day and dying on the battlefield. In "The Unsecret Weapon," Frank Ramirez explores the Hebrew exodus from Egypt, noting that while many armies have developed "secret weapons" over the centuries, the Hebrews made no secret as to what their "weapon" was. While armies use weapons to wage war, what happens when we turn those weapons on ourselves? In the church, we often let disagreements turn into real battles, fracturing the church. John Sumwalt gives us a representation of such a disagreement, and what the end result needs to be, in "The Unknown Churchgoers."
* * * * * * * * *
The Unsecret Weapon
By Frank Ramirez
Exodus 14:19-31
We're all familiar with the concept of a secret weapon. Basically, it's a weapon that's kept secret from the enemy. Because they don't know what it is, they're not able to mount an adequate defense.
Of course, once such a weapon is used, it can only remain a secret for so long. The Manhattan Project, which produced the first atomic weapons, is a good example. As long as the atomic bomb was not used, it was not duplicated. No one knew it existed. But once the weapons were used in war it was only a matter of time before first one, then several other nations figured out how to build these terrible weapons. They are very dangerous, but they are not secret.
Some secret weapons don't have near the effect the builders planned. The Germans during World War II hinted they had secret weapons that would turn the tide. They produced an unpiloted aircraft that was basically a bomb with wings called the V-1. They also produced the world's first true rocket, which was labeled the V-2. They were terrible weapons, designed to demoralize the British people, but they'd already shown their courage many times during the war, and neither weapon, though they killed many hundreds, was able to create the terror the Germans had hoped would turn the tide of the war.
What about a real secret weapon, one swift and terrible, which remained a secret? The writer Isaac Asimov wrote an essay called "The Unsecret Weapon" in which he described a true secret weapon known as Greek fire. It was used by the defenders of Constantinople against the Muslims in the year 672 AD. To this day, no one knows what chemicals it contained, although it probably included a mixture of sulfur, naphtha, quicklime, and niter. When ships clogged the harbor the mixture was shot over the water. When mixed with water it caught on fire, and drifted toward the ships, causing them to catch fire, and creating panic. It was used several times to defend the city, and then the formula must have been lost because two centuries later it was only a legendary substance.
In that article, Asimov mentioned that a secret weapon is one thing, but what about an Unsecret Weapon? What about a weapon that was tremendously powerful, but not a secret, yet which the other side refused to use?
The English during the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries had such an Unsecret Weapon. It was called the Long Bow. Six feet in length, it was the most powerful weapon of the era. An arrow shot by such a bow could pierce armor. Thousands of bowmen could fill the sky with whizzing death, the horrifying noise of the arrows presaging the descent of doom.
On more than one occasion, the English used this well-known weapon against the French army and obliterated their foes despite the fact that they were outnumbered and on foreign soil. How could they use this Unsecret Weapon to their advantage?
There were two crucial facts about the Long Bow that made it impossible for the French to use. It took special training and it took great strength. These were qualities the nobility might not have. The idea that a commoner might be more important than a knight on a horse was impossible for the French, with their notions of blue blood. Moreover, once trained a large peasant suddenly became valuable and difficult to replace. Once again, this offended the sensibilities of the nobility.
William Shakespeare, in his play Henry V, wrote about the battles fought against the French with the Long Bow. He describes the morning before the Battle of Agincourt. The English are sick and starving and outnumbered five to one. The French are wagering how many they will kill before lunchtime. One character, named Westmoreland, laments,
O that we now had here
But one ten thousand of those men in England
That do no work to-day!
And King Henry replies (or at least Shakespeare has him say):
What's he that wishes so?
My cousin Westmoreland? No, my fair cousin:
If we are mark'd to die, we are enow
To do our country loss; and if to live,
The fewer men, the greater share of honour.
God's will! I pray thee, wish not one man more.
Good King Henry then describes how in the future those who survive the battle will remember its anniversary, which was St. Crispin's Day, and that they would show off their scars and brag about it. Each year the story would come alive --
This story shall the good man teach his son;
And Crispin Crispian shall ne'er go by,
From this day to the ending of the world,
But we in it shall be remember'd;
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
It's one of the grandest speeches in literature. Later, when the English vanquish the French, losing almost none of their own while killing ten thousand of the enemy, Shakespeare makes sure that his King Henry gives God all the credit. The French themselves agree, insisting God must have wanted it that way. But truth be told, it had more to do with the Long Bow, the Unsecret Weapon, and the strong arms of the yeoman who pulled back the string.
Surely by the time God's people were led by Moses to the shore of the Red Sea, both they and Pharaoh, who was madly pursuing them, should have remembered they, too, had an Unsecret Weapon. Plagues of frogs, rivers of blood, an Angel of Death who passed over only those houses protected by the blood of a lamb -- weren't these things obvious enough to anyone? Could it have been a secret to anyone that Moses served a living God?
Frank Ramirez is a native of Southern California and has served as a pastor for nearly thirty years in Church of the Brethren congregations. Frank has served congregations in Los Angeles, California; Elkhart, Indiana; and Everett, Pennsylvania. He and his wife Jennie share three adult children, all married, and three grandchildren. He enjoys writing, reading, exercise, and theater.
The Unknown Churchgoers
By John Sumwalt
Romans 14:1-12
Following the reading of the text on September 14, two figures appear in the center of the chancel wearing paper bags with holes for eyes, nose, and mouth. A youth walks across the chancel in front of them carrying a placard that reads THE UNKNOWN CHURCH GOERS. As soon as the first placard bearer has left the chancel a small child appears holding up a placard that reads: THEY DISAGREE ABOUT EVERYTHING. After the child departs the Unknown's begin to converse. The dialogue is offered in a tongue in cheek, over the top tone.
First Voice: Say, did you hear about that new contemporary worship service they are going to start. I don't like all that loud music and clapping and arm waving. And the drumming... Don't get me started on that!
Second Voice: I always try not to get you started. But since you have started, it might interest you to know that my children like that kind of music. They always want to come to church when the Praise Team is singing.
First Voice: I don't know. I just don't think that kind of music should be in church. We have a very nice organ -- expensive too -- I helped to raise money for it. Why can't we just use the organ?
The organist plays the first line of the Doxology: "Praise God from whom all blessings flow." Then comes a loud sustained drum roll. The organist plays the first phrase of "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God." This is followed immediately by one sustained loud note or a riff from an electric guitar. The organist plays "Onward Christian soldiers, marching as to war."
Second Voice: (turning to the organist just as the last note ends, says in best Jack Benny imitation) Now cut that out! (Then turning to his unknown friend, shouts) See what you started!
First Voice: I didn't start it!
Second Voice: Did too!
First Voice: Did not!
Second Voice: Did too!
First Voice: Did not!
(The scripture reader walks into the center of the chancel and says)There they go again! (Then turns and directing her/his voice to the Unknown Church Goers, reads v. 4 from the text) The apostle Paul wrote: "Who are you to pass judgment on servants of another? It is before their own Lord that they stand or fall. And they will be upheld for the Lord is able to make them stand."(then turning the congregation reads v. 10)"Why do you pass judgment on your brother or sister? Or you, why do you despise your brother or sister? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God."
A youth walks in front of the Unknown Church Goers with the placard that reads: THEY ALWAYS DISAGREE. Then comes a small child holding up a placard that reads: BUT THEY LOVE EACH OTHER (The two unknown Churchgoers embrace and the child holding the placard bows).
John E. Sumwalt is the lead pastor of Wauwatosa Avenue United Methodist Church in suburban Milwaukee and the author of nine books. John and his wife, Jo Perry-Sumwalt, served for three years as co-editors of StoryShare. A graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary (UDTS), Sumwalt received the Herbert Manning Jr. award for parish ministry from UDTS in 1997.
**********************************************
How to Share Stories
You have good stories to share, probably more than you know: personal stories as well as stories from others that you have used over the years. If you have a story you like, whether fictional or "really happened," authored by you or a brief excerpt from a favorite book, send it to StoryShare for review. Simply email the story to us at storyshare@sermonsuite.com.
**************
StoryShare, September 14, 2008, issue.
Copyright 2008 by CSS Publishing Company, Inc., Lima, Ohio.
All rights reserved. Subscribers to the StoryShare service may print and use this material as it was intended in sermons, in worship and classroom settings, in brief devotions, in radio spots, and as newsletter fillers. No additional permission is required from the publisher for such use by subscribers only. Inquiries should be addressed to permissions@csspub.com or to Permissions, CSS Publishing Company, Inc., 517 South Main Street, Lima, Ohio 45804.
