Jesus Is Our Commander

June 28, 2026
 
Reflections from the Heart of Allan Redenius 
At the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Washington DC, precisely every thirty minutes there is a changing of the guard. As the new guard assumes his position with his weapon over his shoulder, he marches exactly twenty-one steps, pauses, changes direction, and marches another twenty-one steps.  The number of steps, twenty-one, symbolizes the twenty-one gun salute.  Every movement of the guard is with precision and purpose.  Each movement, symbolic of protecting and honoring he who lies within the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
 
I knew a man who was a guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.  He once said that to keep their uniform pants from becoming wrinkled, as they rode the bus from the army base to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, they had to pull their pants down around their ankles.  True or not, that's what he said.
 
Maybe, with not so much ceremony, an old navy man once told me about General MacArthur wading ashore in the Philippines during World War II.  We've all seen the picture of General MacArthur wading in his boots to come ashore to fulfill his promise of, “I shall return.”  The ship upon which this man sailed and relayed the story, was nearby General MacArthur's famous, “coming ashore” moment.  What he said was that it was all “staged.”  There were cameras and photographers all around General MacArthur as he stepped into the water and waded ashore.  True or not, that's what he said.
 
I knew a man who served with General Patton’s 3rd Army at the Battle of the Bulge during World War II.  Among the many stories that he told, I remember this one distinctly.  This man was a tank commander under General Patton.  Once he was under his tank repairing something that was broken and as he crawled out from underneath it and stood up, he was face to face with General Eisenhower.  As any good private would do, he saluted.  This is what General Eisenhower said to him.  “Soldier, do not salute me.  Should the Nazis see your salute, they know that I am a high-ranking soldier. Knowing that, I then become a target for any snipers that might be out there.”  True or not, that's what he said.
 
I know a man who is the commander of the Lord of hosts.  To Him I do not salute, but bow down in awe and reverence.  You might know Him as the King of kings and Lord of Lords.  His name is Jesus.  This I know to be true.
 
In Him,
Pastor Allan
 
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