Veteran’s Day Thank You!

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English writer, Christian Philosopher, and Apologist, G.K. Chesteron wrote: “Courage is almost a contradiction in terms. It means a strong desire to live, taking the form of a readiness to die.”

“No holiday says “America” the way Veterans Day does. On this day we celebrate not just our freedom, our independence, our democracy, but the sacrifices made to achieve them. We honor those who fought on our behalf, in our defense, for our freedom. We thank those who sacrificed their time, their health, their lives. We pray for those who now serve at home, overseas, and in harm’s way. Freedom isn’t free, independence isn’t forever, and democracy isn’t for the faint of heart.”

God has blessed us with many a great warrior who has served our country with a willingness to sacrifice there all so that we could live free. Never, ever forget that freedom has never been free, and that our veterans – past and present – remind us of the sacrifice that Jesus gave so that we could all be free. Take time today, and this week to thank God for all those who have served, and are serving our country. Say a prayer for our service men and women everywhere who place themselves in harms way to serve and protect our freedoms.

Recall, and remember the oath they took: I, _, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God.”

The following story of a former Vietnam Vet reminds us of the courage it requires to put on that uniform taking that oath of service.

In January 1993, Bill Clinton was inaugurated as our 42nd president. On that very day, he welcomed countless numbers of people into the White House. Many of them were active duty military. His first words to each member in uniform were: “Thank you for your service.” He shook hands and looked them in the eye as he uttered those words. I watched very closely with great interest. There was no doubt in my mind that this was an act of sincerity being played over and over as I could see the welling in the eyes of the president and felt the same in my own. Those words seem to have become some kind of a cliché and will be repeated many times with the coming of another Veterans Day.

It wasn’t like that at all when I returned home from Vietnam in 1971. I wasn’t expecting any kind of welcome home, especially since we had been briefed about possibly encountering war protesters which we were told to ignore. What I looked forward to as we deplaned at the SEA-TAC Airport in Washington was simply stepping on American soil after surviving the most challenging year of my life in the war-torn country of Vietnam. Many of our troops got down on their hands and knees and kissed the ground as they were so happy to be home. After putting my foot down, I looked for some smiling American faces I could talk to. All of our initial happiness was quickly put on hold as we did encounter a group of so called “peace marchers.” We did all we could to ignore their remarks. I even heard the words “baby killers” and “get back on that plane” directed to us. I was told by a security officer that they had a right to say whatever they wanted as long as they didn’t cross a certain line.How could these people be so naïve? I soon learned this was not an isolated incident. There were people throughout the country actually burning the American flag. I began to wonder: What is happening to our country? I can certainly understand their frustrations to our involvement in Vietnam, but we as individuals should not be known the brunt of or for that matter, any part of, their frustration. They probably didn’t know that Americans were dying every day for their freedom. Further they didn’t realize that we as individuals had no choice as to our involvement in Vietnam. Those decisions were made in Washington, D.C. That is where those peace marchers should be and not allowed elsewhere.

Most everyone who served in Vietnam saw, felt and lived the war firsthand and probably became more antiwar than the loudest of any of those peace marchers. Some saw their friends suffer and die. I saw much more than my share of death and destruction, which included the maimed and mutilated bodies of children from villages that were destroyed.

I have come to believe that any act of war is totally insane. There has to be another way. Too many innocent people are killed. Now to put my stamp on that insanity statement: Probably 25 percent of the troops going to and from Vietnam were draftees. A draftee is a person who was forced to play a lottery game. Every 18-year-old American male was required to play this game. If they refused to play, they would either leave the country or they may have been jailed.
When they did sign up, they were issued a card. On this card was a number. This number became their draft status. Every month or so, numbers were drawn and winners and losers were notified. If your number was chosen and you weren’t attending college, it really didn’t matter in some instances if you were married or not, or if you had a well paying job or not, if your health was good, you would soon become a member of the United States Army. You would be sent to basic training for eight weeks and after another eight weeks of advanced training, you would be sent thousands of miles from home to fight in a war in a country you may never even knew existed. Many thousands of you will be killed in that war. How insane is that?

Now for what may be the ultimate of insanity. This is something that does happen during wartime. Any of-age man could very well been one of those draftees. He was on a mission and somehow make a wrong turn and was separated from his unit. It wasn’t even six months ago that his number came up. He had just turned 20 years. He said goodbye to his girlfriend and left the well paying job he had worked so hard to secure.
In those days, a college education was not always a requirement to land a decent job. Now here he is, lost in Vietnam, thousands of miles from home. He soon comes face to face with a North Vietnamese soldier who himself is barely 20 years old and was forced into this war. Neither of them knew why they were where they were. The only knowing they both had was they must take the other’s life or their own would be taken. It was kill or be killed. The height of insanity.

I retired from the Army in 1982 after 21 years of service — two of which were in Vietnam. Since then, I kept my Army care to myself and rarely talked about it because of the unpleasant memories of Vietnam. I am sure many of you have heard the term PTSD — Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, otherwise known as a delayed reaction to severe stress. This is something that affects many veterans of foreign wars.

In my case, we had to suppress our feelings. There was no time for mourning. This was especially so during mass casualties. The problem is the suppression will not last forever. Someday and quite possibly many years later, they would come out in a variety of physical and or emotional ways. Here is an example: My wife and I attended a Michigan State football game. Prior to the kickoff, the marching band performed one of the most beautiful rendition of “The Star Spangled Banner” I had ever heard. I stood at attention and saluted the flag. During this performance, they paused for a few seconds. It didn’t take more than those few seconds to take my thoughts back in time. Tears were streaming down my face. I cringed as I approached this 22-year-old soldier who didn’t appear to be a day past 17. What could possibly be pleasant about placing death tags on his left toe and right thumb?

Veterans Day is a special day in honor of all those who have served in our nation’s military, past or present. This very year, the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month will mark the signing of the armistice that ended World War I and became the seed to what today is known as Armistice Day.

If you should spot someone in uniform, regardless if you know the person or not, the uniform they are wearing represents your freedom. Reach out to them and thank them for their service. Finally never forget: “Freedom isn’t free.”
— David Dyer, Vietnam Veteran.

2019 Trunk or Treat

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Prime the Pump

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One day, a man was lost in a desert without water, but he saw an old makeshift structure. He knew he couldn’t make it much longer, so he got to the covering as fast as his worn-out legs could carry him. To his surprise, inside he found a jar of pure looking water. This jar was on the floor next to a pump.

As he reached down to pick up the jar of water, though, he noticed a sign.

Filled with relief, he walked over to the jar to quench his overbearing thirst. As he reached down to pick up the jar of water, though, he noticed a sign. The sign read, “Use this water to prime the pump. When you have gotten as much water as you need, refill the jar, and leave it for the next person who will pass this way.” 

This man suddenly found himself on the horns of a dilemma because he was so thirsty that he was close to dehydration. What if he followed the directions on the sign and there was no water in the well? What if he poured out all of the water he now held in his hand and got nothing in return? Was that worth the risk to even try? The man had to make a decision to either fill himself now, or pour out what he had and take the chance that deep down there was so much more. The man made the choice to prime the pump. It was a good choice because the water flowed freely. He drank to his delight and collected enough water to take him on his journey. Before he left, he filled the jar and placed it next to the note. Under the words of the note, he wrote, “Trust me. It works!”

Thanksgiving and Christmas are soon approaching. As a result people are becoming mindful of what they are thankful for and who they want to share their love with. As you are being distracted by all of these different things let me gently remind you of what the Apostle Paul stated was true of all those born-again of the Spirit: As you have therefore received Christ, [even] Jesus the Lord, [so] walk (regulate your lives and conduct yourselves) in union with and conformity to Him. 7 Have the roots [of your being] firmly and deeply planted [in Him, fixed and founded in Him], being continually built up in Him, becoming increasingly more confirmed and established in the faith, just as you were taught, and abounding and overflowing in it with thanksgiving. (Colossians 2:6-7)

One of the fundamentals of being a Christian is thanksgiving. In a culture that has become vehemently self-centered, and obsessed it is imperative that we focus our attention on thanksgiving. In fact I learned many years ago that I have to incorporate it in my life as a daily discipline. I’ve also discovered that thanksgiving actually aids in priming my spiritual pump. Each day many of us will begin feeding on God’s Word and having our quiet time with Him. Others will focus on their priestly responsibilities of praying for the needs of others. But it has been my experience that when I simply focus on me and others that often miss the very ONE I live for. He is the Reason for my existence.The very first thing, I and others, need is to “re-center” ourselves in Him. Consider ministering to Him through thanksgiving. Note that the word thanksgiving is made up of two words: “thanks” and “give.” Psalm 100:4 reminds us that we are to “Enter His Gates With Thanks- Giving.“ We enter into His Presence with the giving of thanks. This is an aspect of our sacrifice of praise. So I challenge you to create a thanksgiving journal and come up with 10 things a day that you are thankful for.

Lastly, note that Colossians 2:6-7 assumes that if someone has received Jesus as Savior, Lord, and Baptizer (Christ) they will be rooted, built up, and established in the faith as they overflow with thanksgiving. Build up your spirit man through overflowing with thanks. Prime that inward pump by exercising the will of your soul engaging in what’s already occurring in Heaven and in all creation – the giving of thanks.

Great Turkey Countdown

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I’ve just gotten signed up for delivering four thanksgiving meals on Saturday, November 23. I’ve noticed that only four of us are on the list. They still have plenty of time slots available but they are filling up fast. Would you please consider going online and signing up to deliver a Thanksgiving meal?

Consider that this year our church sent out missionaries to four different countries, but we have yet to make a considerable impact here in Union County. Would you please pray about signing up and participating in being Jesus’ hands and feet? And just a side note: I’ve passed the word along to Bethany Academy. They already have 2 of their workers signed up. So get online and give to those who aren’t able to give. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!

Suddenly?!

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Yesterday’s service was a reminder of all the many blessings that God gives us usually when we least expect them. They come upon us suddenly. In Psalm 40:1 David writes, “I waited patiently and expectantly for the Lord; and He inclined to me and heard my cry.” Psalm 23 has David walking through the Valley of the Shadow of Death. Yet repeatedly circumstances will be turned for the better as the one who placed their trust in God is delivered. Psalm 23: 4-6 continues with: Yes, though I walk through the [deep, sunless] valley of the shadow of death, I will fear or dread no evil, for You are with me; Your rod [to protect] and Your staff [to guide], they comfort me.5You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with [a]oil; my [brimming] cup runs over.6 Surely or only goodness, mercy, and unfailing love shall follow me all the days of my life, and through the length of my days the house of the Lord [and His presence] shall be my dwelling place.

In spite of the threat of the SHADOWS of death Jesus, His Shepherd, is with him. You may be tempted to say, Now hold on a second Robert. David didn’t know about Jesus. I beg to differ. For in Psalm 22 he saw His crucifixion and in Psalm 110:1 he wrote: The LORD said to my Lord sit at My right hand, until I make Your adversaries Your footstool. David, the “sheep,” knows to look for the Table the Lord had prepared for him in the midst of his enemies. (Just a thought but in the Chronicles of Narnia, Aslan is slain by the witch on a stone table) David realizes goodness, mercy, and unfailing love are following him and have his back. For Jesus, His Shepherd is Goodness, Mercy, and Unfailing Love. Psalm 40 goes on to say: I waited patiently and expectantly for the Lord; and He inclined to me and heard my cry.2 He drew me up out of a horrible pit [a pit of tumult and of destruction], out of the miry clay (froth and slime), and set my feet upon a rock, steadying my steps and establishing my goings.3 And He has put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many shall see and fear (revere and worship) and put their trust and confident reliance in the Lord.

The surprise of Psalm 40? Psalm 40:7-10 Then said I, Behold, I come; in the volume of the book it is written of me8 I delight to do Your will, O my God; yes, Your law is within my heart.9 I have proclaimed glad tidings of righteousness in the great assembly [tidings of uprightness and right standing with God]. Behold, I have not restrained my lips, as You know, O Lord.10 I have not concealed Your righteousness within my heart; I have proclaimed Your faithfulness and Your salvation. I have not hid away Your steadfast love and Your truth from the great assembly.

The Surprise is Jesus. The One Who came in the Volume of the Book. How “loud” was that Volume? Isaiah 48:3 I have declared from the beginning the former things [which happened in times past to Israel]; they went forth from My mouth and I made them known; then suddenly I did them, and they came to pass [says the Lord].

Malachi 3:1 “Behold, I send My messenger, And he will prepare the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple, even the Messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight. Behold, He is coming,” says the Lord of hosts.

Luke 2:13 Then suddenly there appeared with the angel an army of the troops of heaven (a heavenly knighthood), praising God and saying,..

Even Paul’s conversion on the road to Damascus was described as a suddenly: Acts 9:3 Now as he traveled on, he came near to Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him,…

The Volume from that Book came loudly and suddenly. The month of November should be a month of Thanksgiving for all of the “suddenly-s” the Lord has brought our way and all the “suddenly-s” that are yet to come. Our church has been so blessed by the Lord with “suddenly-s” in growth, in financial provision, healings, miracles, salvations and answered prayers. Take special time this month to remember the blessings and provision of God. There are so many that they far outweigh the bad. And remember the warning in Mark 13:35-37 Therefore watch (give strict attention, be cautious and alert), for you do not know when the Master of the house is coming—in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrowing, or in the morning—36 [Watch, I say] lest He come suddenly and unexpectedly and find you asleep.37 And what I say to you I say to everybody: Watch (give strict attention, be cautious, active, and alert)!

Be alert, watching for the suddenly-s.” May He find us watching and thankful – always.