Happy Freedom Week

The Forth of July can be a time that reminds us that not everyone is free in the USA. We are a divided nation in which many are still oppressed and not walking in the freedom we declared in our "Declaration of Independence" 242 years ago:
 ...that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. 

As a Christian, my heart grieves that we have so much injustice taking place. America; we have a long way to go. 

But one of the greatest freedoms we have as a nation is that we can speak up and draw attention to issues and wrongdoings.

This and other freedoms were paid for by men and women; dare I say even youth, whose passions for other people's freedom drove them to do something about it. 

Many of them paid for your freedoms and my freedoms with their bodies, minds, and even their lives.

I have never served in military and over the past few years I have become very grateful for those who have paid for all of the freedoms that I have as a citizen of the United States of America. 

To those of you who have served I say; "THANK YOU!" from the bottom of my heart.

The following is an old blog that I wrote eight years ago when my oldest son Jonathan was graduating from his basic training. 

Aug 20, 2010

Mighty Warrior

I feel the need to state upfront that I am not really a “paramilitary” person, nor have I ever been a part of the armed forces; I wasn’t even a boy scout. I grew up in a generation that for the most part looked down upon anyone who had anything to do with the military; mostly due to the mishandling of the Vietnam War. During the mid-seventies, my short-term fix (should I have been drafted) would have been to go to Canada and make sure that I was being taken care of, after all, I was free to do what I wanted.

I admit that this mentality was wrong and that I was self-focused and self-serving. Freedom isn’t free; on the contrary is has been paid for sacrificially by men and women; dare I say boys and girls, who chose to lay down their time and some their lives. Everyone who has ever served in the military paid for my freedom to reject any participation in the military service. To each of you reading this who have been or are currently in the military (in one branch or another), I say a long overdue; “Thank you” for paying for my freedoms I receive as an citizen of the United States of America.

My mind has been thinking about the military today partially because this week I attended the graduation ceremonies for my oldest son Jonathan, who (at age 28 ½) graduated from basic training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. I am now the father of a soldier. Jonathan will continue to pursue his training as an officer and serve as a soldier in the National Guard. I am very proud of my son Jonathan for following a dream that he has since he was ten years old; to be a soldier.   

While at the Fort I saw a plaque that caught my attention. It said; “EVERY SOLIDER IS A WARRIOR”.   

Written below that phrase were the following bullet points: 
     • MISSION FIRST.
     • REFUSE TO ACCEPT DEFEAT. 
     • NEVER QUIT. 
     • NEVER LEAVE A FALLEN COMRADE. 

Surrounding the plaque were seven values: 

1. LOYALTY. Bear true faith and allegiance to the U.S. Constitution, U.S. Army, Army Acquisition Corps, Acquisition Support Center and our Soldiers
2. DUTY. Fulfill your moral obligations to the best of your ability each and every day
3. RESPECT. Treat other people as you yourself want to be treated — with dignity and respect
4. SELFLESS SERVICE. Put the welfare of the Nation, the Army and the Soldiers you support before your own
5. HONOR. Live up to all the Army Values. Be honest, truthful and sincere in all of your actions
6. INTEGRITY. Do what's right, legally and morally, in both word and deed
7. PERSONAL COURAGE. Face fear, danger or adversity (physical or moral). Do what you know is right

Powerful words that caused me to ponder; “What if Christians followed each of these statements throughout their daily lives; would it make a difference?” 

What if Christians followed each of these statements on the aforementioned plaque throughout their daily lives; what difference would it make? Read the values and make the translation into how we as Christians should live; I think that you can see the application. These are values that WE as Christians should be living as an example of what it means to be a Christian; a “follower of Christ”.

Jesus, the ultimate Mighty Warrior said; “And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple” (Luke 14:29)

The Apostle Paul wrote: “You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 4 No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier. 5 And also if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules.” (2 Timothy 2:3-5)

How about you; Are you simply tired of fighting battles in your life with seemingly no results? Do you wish that you were a part of a larger “army” of people who would be willing to come along side of you and fight for you and watch your back? 

The Bible says that when we surrendered our lives to His Lordship, we become a member of the family of God; the Body of Christ. Have you ever surrendered your life under the Lordship of Jesus Christ? Listen my friend; you can be a part of this great “army” today by simply: 

Go to the following link athttp://www.billygraham.org/specialsections/steps-to-peace/steps-to-peace.asp

Or drop me an email.

Mighty Warrior Lyrics and Music by Debbye Graafsma
Mighty Warrior, dressed for battle
Holy Lord of all is He
Commander in chief, bring us to attention
Lead us into battle to crush the enemy

Satan has no authority in this place
he has no authority here

For this habitation

Was fashioned for the Lord’s presence
No authority here

Jesus has all authority in this place

He has all authority here
For this habitation
Was fashioned for the Lord’s presence

No authority here

Why Do I love God…

I am surprised that people don’t like God. He seems to get blamed for everything that goes BAD and gets none of the credit when things go right.

Then I realized that maybe; just maybe not everyone KNOWS Him like I do. Maybe not everyone has experienced just how GOOD He really is!

So, I’ve found something that was written a long time ago. It is a testimony from someone who also has discovered just what God is really like.

I share it with you today to tell you just how good God is and why the writer loves God. He wrote:

“I love the Lord because He hears my voice and my prayer for mercy. Because He bends down to listen, I will pray as long as I have breath!

Death wrapped its ropes around me; the terrors of the grave overtook me. I saw only trouble and sorrow. Then I called on the name of the Lord: “Please, Lord, save me!”

How kind the Lord is! How good He is! So merciful, this God of ours! The Lord protects those of childlike faith; I was facing death, and He saved me.

Let my soul be at rest again, for the Lord has been good to me. He has saved me from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling. And so, I walk in the Lord’s presence as I live here on earth!

I believed in You, so I said, “I am deeply troubled, Lord.” In my anxiety I cried out to You, “These people are all liars!”

What can I offer the Lord for all He has done for me? I will lift up the cup of salvation and praise the Lord’s name for saving me. I will keep my promises to the Lord in the presence of all His people.

The Lord cares deeply when His loved ones die. O Lord, I am Your servant; yes, I am Your servant, born into Your household; You have freed me from my chains. 

I will offer You a sacrifice of thanksgiving and call on the name of the Lord. I will fulfill my vows to the Lord in the presence of all His people— in the house of the Lord in the heart of Jerusalem.

Praise the Lord!”

(Note: This is the New Living Translation Version of Psalm 116)

New Living Translation (NLT)

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Baggage

If you are a channel surfer, you will eventually come to the conclusion that not everything on television should really be on television. Or have you already come to that conclusion?

One of these shows that probably should have never made it to prime time (or to television for that matter) is called “Baggage”. This is a dating show on which contestants tell embarrassing secrets which are referred to as “baggage” while attempting to not be dismissed for having “too much baggage” in comparison with the other contestants who are also divulging what is wrong with them.

One after another, suitcases are opened, revealing contestants’ deepest and darkest secrets, and the main contestant must choose which secret they find less shocking. Whoever makes it through and is chosen as having the least amount of baggage gets to go out on a date with another person who also has revealed some of their deepest and darkest secrets.

And you wonder why so many nations see the USA as being a bad influence on their country.

All that to say this; I love hanging around with my family and my friends because they accept me in spite of my baggage. They seem to either not know my faults or they seen past them. Either way, I win.

Do you have people in your life who will accept you “warts and all”; people who can love and accept you and see beyond your faults and weaknesses? We all need friends like that in order to get through this life.

If you don’t, then let me tell you some good news. God not only accepts you with all of your baggage, He did something to help you deal with it. Some of your baggage may be sin and yet “while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8). He paid the price so that we can receive His forgiveness!

Some of your baggage may be burdens from trying too hard and for that He calls out to “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28). We don’t need to be weighed down by our burdens!

Some of your baggage may be that you have areas to be healed and to that He says; “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.” (Luke 5:31-32). He is available for healing!

Some of your baggage may be areas from your past that you just need to let go of and the good news is that today you can receive the grace to do it. He really wants you to be free, no longer held back! Start today and you will begin to feel so much lighter, no longer held back by old baggage.

Have you had enough of what this world has to offer and want true freedom?

Call 1-888-NEED HIM. Someone is waiting to talk with you