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Sermon of the Week 
Tuesday, May 30 2017

We 

We have come once again to the place of memorializing those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the great exchange for freedom and the concept of liberty. 

    We have come to the place of remembering, as we commemorate those who gave the greatest gift of all, that we might live in a land, renown for its absence of tyranny and despotism. I think it would be well for us to begin today with the pledge to the flag of the United states of  America.... (shall we stand as we give our pledge)

    Pledge to the flag....

Around the country, National patriotism is openly demonstrated in towns and cities with parades and memorial services, as the US flag is proudly waved and displayed. 

    The custom of placing flowers on the graves of those who perished in war, began on May 5, 1866, in Waterloo, NY, and Waterloo has been recognized by Congress as the official birthplace of Memorial Day. A day to decorate with “flowers the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country….

    Because America’s sons and daughters have died for this country, we have the right to preach God’s word freely. We have the right to live at peace in our own homes. We have the right to pursue peace, prosperity and happiness. 

    And in the midst of the picnics, travel, festivities and memorial observances, may we all use this time as well, to appreciate the price of freedom from the judgment and penalty of our iniquities and  transgressions, as we lift high the symbol of Spiritual liberty, the cross of Jesus Christ.  

    We celebrate Memorial Day once a year, as a time to remember those who died for freedom, but for the Christian, every Sunday is a memorial day. As we sing the songs of praise and worship, as we follow the dictates of our hearts in open assembly and prayer, and as we boldly declare and testify to the Word of God, we are standing on the foundation laid by martyrs blood, throughout recorded history.

    How grateful we can be that we are privileged to live in America. We could have been born in Africa, Bosnia, China or Pakistan. If it were not for the grace of God, we could have found ourselves on the streets this morning, wondering where our next meal is coming from, surrounded by squalor and deplorable conditions, fearing for our lives every moment….

    A father was talking with his rather rebellious son one day & said, "Every person who lives in the United States is a privileged person."  The boy answered, "I disagree." And the father replied, "And that’s a privilege you enjoy by living in America."….

    Today, around the globe there are unmarked graves which, in silent tribute, declare the hard fought legacy, which we all now enjoy. All You & I had to do to enjoy the benifits of being citizens of this country, is just be born here. But I am thankful for those who did earn those benifits & passed them on to us, though we never knew them, we celebrate. their great gift of liberty....                                                                                                

    Hebrews 11:13  These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. v25  Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season. v38  (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. v39  And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: v40  God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.

    During the 1800’s, Alexis de Touqeville, a famous French political philosopher, visited our nation seeking to uncover the secret of our greatness. He traveled from town to town, asking questions, examining every facet of our society, & then wrote his conclusions in his famous work, “Democracy in America.” Presidents Eisenhower, Reagan, & Clinton have quoted it. And the message is certainly relevant today.

He wrote...."I sought for America’s greatness. I found it not in her fields & forests. I found it not in her mines & factories. I found it not in her Congress & great tribunals. It was only when I entered her churches & heard her pulpits thundering against sin & preaching righteousness that I discovered her greatness. America is great because of its goodness. If America ever loses its goodness, America will lose its greatness."

    “In God we Trust” is the motto which graces our currency. And this country needs to understand, that if we put our trust in education, we’ll only get what education can give us. If we put our trust in money, we’ll only get what money can give us. If we put our trust in government, we’ll only get what government can give us. But if we put our trust in God, we’ll have everything we truly need, now and for eternity! If we put our trust in anything else, we will be sadly disappointed!                                                        

    I came across the following military rules for Combat….

If it's stupid, but works, it's not stupid. 

When in doubt, empty the magazine. 

Never share a foxhole with anyone braver than you. 

Always remember that your weapon was made by the lowest bidder. 

f your attack is going well, it's an ambush. 

The enemy diversion you're ignoring is actually the main attack. 

The easy way is always filled with land mines. 

When you have secured an area, don't forget to tell the enemy. 

If the enemy is in range, so are you. 

The only terrain that is truly controlled is the terrain upon which you're standing. 

Cluster bombing from B-52s and C-130s is very, very accurate. They always hit the ground. 

If you are short of everything except enemy, you're probably in combat.

    Let me call our attention this morning to three temptations that I think Americans need to be aware that they are facing  every day 

First is, THE TEMPTATION TO ENJOY THE FRUITS OF CITIZENSHIP WITHOUT HONORING THE SOURCE OF IT'S LIBERTY                                                                       

    Have you ever parked on someone else’s meter? When I was a kid, I remember my mom would drive around, until she found a parking meter with time left on it. She would waste a gallon of gas, to save a dime. And then get real excited that she didn’t have to feed the meter. She enjoyed parking on someone else’s dime. 

    Most of us haven’t shed our blood & sweat & tears for the freedoms we enjoy every day. That dime was paid by someone else. We are parking on someone else’s dime. We're coasting on their sacrifice....

    The poet expressed it well. "We eat from orchards we did not plant. We drink from wells we did not dig. We reap from fields we did not sow. We are warmed by fires we did not kindle. We are sheltered by roofs we did not build. We are blessed by the harvest of moneys we did not give."

The danger is, that we can take for granted the price others have paid as we enjoy the fruits of their labors. We are standing on the shoulders of others, who we don't even know. 

    I must ask myself,  “Is the church stronger because of my involvement, or am I parking at someone else’s meter. Is my family and home better and stronger because of the efforts I have put into it, or am I parking at someone else’s meter. Are the lives of my friends and neighbors enriched because of the time and energy I have poured into their lives, or is it, “ Gimme, Gimme, my name is Jimmy”?

    While every dollar bill in our pocket has the words, "In God We Trust." For every purchase that we make, for every transaction, we pass these words on to another person. But, do we really live by them? Every exchange that we make, every step that we take, every commitment, requires trust. God wants us to trust, even when we are afraid. God wants us to trust, in spite of those negative experiences or "negative" voices of others around us.                                                                                                                                                                                     

     The more we invest ourselves in others and commit ourselves to a greater cause, the greater will be the possibilities. The more we try, the greater the reward. The more hope we instill in the lives of others, the more we usher in the Kingdom of God. When you make your commitments, don’t think to yourself, "Here is my fair share." Rather, make your commitment with these words in your heart, "For this day, and this time, in God I Trust."

    Psalm 20:6 " Now I know that the LORD saves his anointed. He will hear him from His holy heaven with the saving strength of His right hand. v7 Some trust in horses, some in chariots, but we will remember our God”.

    The Second Temptation, is TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE BENEFITS OF THE INTIGRETY OF OTHERS, WHILE IGNORING OUR OWN CONSCIENCE

    When our forefathers came to this country & founded our system of government, they were convinced that the God of the Judeo, Christian belief system, was  very much involved in the destinies of men & nations. They believed that men were endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights - and that among these were life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. This was evident in the way they wrote, the way they lived,  and  the way our nation developed and increased. There was a moral fiber, a moral strength and a moral accountability in our nation. Integrity was our watch word.

    Capitalism and free enterprise without conscience becomes a cruel & ruthless form of life where competition, success, greed and materialism corrupt everything and we lose our concern and compassion for others. It becomes, every man for himself, and truth becomes relative and it's all about the bottom line of profit. 

    While talking to a potential recruit, the military recruiter said, "Exactly what kind of job are you looking for in the military?" The high school kid said, "I'm looking for something with an enlistment bonus of about $20,000, where I won't have to work too hard, and won't have to deploy overseas. The recruiter said, "OK, what if I could hook you up with a skill that allowed you to come straight in as an E-7, where you'll only work weekdays, and you can have the base of your choice and stay there as long as you want?"                                                                                                             

    The young recruit sat up straight and said, "Wow! Are you kidding?"         The recruiter replied, "Yeah, but you’re the one that started it."                       

     A man sent a letter to Ann Landers. He wrote, "This is for the woman who was distressed about her son. I would like to ask her some questions about the boy. Is he disrespectful? Has he been arrested for drunk driving? Has he been kicked out of college for cheating? Has he made his girl friend pregnant? Does he get failing grades? Does he steal money from your purse? If you can answer `No’ to all these questions, stop complaining. You have a great kid." It was signed, "Ralph N., 

     I don’t always agree with Ann Landers, but I do appreciate how she answered him. She replied….."Your letter showed just how much times have changed. You said that if a kid today isn’t on drugs, doesn’t get failing grades, hasn’t been arrested  or drunk driving, or kicked out of college for cheating, hasn’t made his girlfriend pregnant, or stolen from your purse, that he’s great. But you make no mention of achievement. There’s not a word about integrity, a sense of responsibility, decency, morality or service to others." Then she went on to add, "What a sad commentary on our times. Good Lord, where is our nation headed, & who is going to lead us to greatness?"

    1Corinthians 6:12  All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient (sumphero… advantageous, for the best outcome, of spiritual profit) all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any. v19  Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which you have of God, and you are not your own? v20  For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

    Jesus saw the possibilities that lay within people. He saw in Zacchaeus much more than a dishonest tax collector.  He saw in Peter much more than just an outspoken fisherman.  He saw potential in the woman at the well who would bring many in her city to Christ. He saw in Paul, much more than a religious zealot and knew that his passion would touch the world. 

    But Christ knew very well of the tug of war raging within us, between the forces of good and the forces of evil. That Our adversary, the devil has plans to defeat the work of Christ, and destroy all that is good and Holy. And only by continual relying upon and trusting in Him, would we find our destiny....And then He shows us that we have a huge advantage                                                                                                                                                                                

       Matthew 16:18  And I say also unto you, That upon this rock (Jesus) I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. v19  And I will give unto you the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever you shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven and whatsoever you shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 

    The third TEMPTATION IS TO WANT A BRAND OF CHRISTIANITY  WITHOUT COMMITMENT OR ACCOUNTABILITY... That means we're for sale to the person that makes us feel good, or makes us feel important or who always agrees with us....

    Someone has said, in order to have a great breakfast, the chicken only has to be involved, but the pig makes a lifetime commitment!  

We want someone to Tell us how nice we are, how pretty we are, how righteous we are and how wonderful we are. This is a brand of Christianity, that lets us remain exactly the way we are, and not the best that we can be!  Today, I’m talking about a commitment & surrender to God that results in a changed heart and life.                                                                                                                               

    A church treasurer was counting the offering after the service. And in the offering bag, was a teen-aged girl's picture... Was this practical joke? That's the kind of thing teenagers might do. But when he turned the picture over. 

    On the back of her picture, the girl had written, "I have nothing to give but myself." Whether we have little to give or much to give, the gift God wants us to give is ourselves!

    Mark 8:35  For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it. v36  For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?

The faith which Jesus talked about, was always a faith in action. Perhaps the action of one person, will not seem to make a big difference, but together we can cause a radical transformation.

    There is an ancient Chinese parable about Tan Chang. He had a small farm that was located in the shadow of a towering mountain, and seldom got the light of the sun. One day he decided to get rid of the mountain. With the help of his wife and sons, he began to hack at the rock around its base. A neighbor walked by and scoffed, "You''ll never make a difference in that mountain, old man! There are not enough days in all the years of your life for you to do this."

    But Tan replied confidently, "I am not as foolish as you think, my friend. I may be old and feeble, and my days may be numbered, but after I am gone, my sons will continue to carve away at this mountain. Then their sons and their sons'' sons will do the same. Since the mountain cannot grow, someday it will be level with the ground, and the sun will shine upon our land." That’s the power of generational blessings!

In our own lives, many of the problems cannot be eliminated instantly

But they can be moved one piece at a time, one day at a time, one choice and one decision at a time.

    Jesus told the first church of Jerusalem….Matthew 6:33  But seek first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.      

    Everyone deserves to know....In our celebration of liberty & freedom, we each must commit ourselves to making sure that the price which Jesus paid when He went to the cross & laid down His life, is not in vain. We must personally fight for the right of every person to know and experience that freedom, in Christ.                                                                                So let’s salute the flag. Let’s allow our patriotic juices to flow freely, & get goose pimples up & down our spine. But remember this, we don’t deserve freedom that costs nothing, and to which we are unwilling to make any commitment whatsoever!  

    When the books are opened….

1. God won't care what kind of car you drove; He'll care about how many 

people you helped with your car. 

2. God won't care what the price or size of your house, He'll care how 

many people you welcomed into your home. 

3. God won't care about the clothes you had in your closet, He'll 

care about how many you helped to clothe. 

4. God won't care what your annual salary was; He'll care if you 

compromised your faith to obtain it, performed your job to the 

best of your ability and gave Him His portion. 

5. God won't care how many friends you had; He'll care how many 

people you were a friend to by introducing them to the greatest friend.      6. God won't care what neighborhood you lived in, He'll care how 

you treated your neighbors. 

7. God won't care about the color of your skin, He'll care about 

the content of your character. 

8. God won't care how sinful you were, He’ll care if you accepted His sacrifice for your sins. 

    Someone has written...."If I had my life to live over again…"I’d spend more time counting my blessings rather than my blemishes…spend more time playing with my children and grandchildren and less time watching performers in a virtual arena. More time enjoying what I have, less time thinking about the things I don’t have. If I could live my life again, I’d walk in the rain more without an umbrella and listen less to weather reports that tell me to stay inside. I’d spend more time enjoying the flowers and trees and the beauty of the outdoors, less time flipping through magazines made from dead trees. I’d spend more time fully involved in the present moment, less time worrying and anticipating. I’d smile more, frown less. And most of all I’d be more spontaneous and active, less hesitant and subdued. When some spontaneous idea, came up to go hiking, playing Frisbee, coloring Easter eggs, singing in a chorus, going kayaking, or watching an eclipse, I’d be less likely to sit in my chair objecting, that "I don’t feel like it." I’d be inclined to jump up and run out the door, and say, "Yes, I can!" Although I can’t live my life over, I’m still going to live this new way every day anyway. I’ll never have all the moments I’ve missed, but I do have all the time remaining, and it’s all just ahead, waiting for me to arrive." 

    On Memorial Day we celebrate those who gave their life in the fight for justice and freedom, as well as being thankful to those who are even now placing themselves in Harm’s way. God often accomplishes his purposes through us, his human instruments. And we bring hope as we work, as we care, as we give of ourselves. Today, I want to close our service a little differently… 

    We can make a difference as we continue to act out our faith and remember to honor those who've made a difference in our lives.....    

    Prayer.....Lord God, You are the Author of Liberty and the Champion of the oppressed. On this special day of tribute, we acknowledge our dependence upon You for the preservation of human freedoms. 

We are deeply grateful for the sacrifice of so many and those men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice. Today I pray for the God of heaven to bless the families of those who have lost loved ones while they were serving our great nation. I pray Lord, that you would bless and comfort the walking wounded who are still with us, and bless their families as well. 

    Be the constant guiding force with our troops, as they seek to defend the defenseless and to free the oppressed. Help our inlisted men to conduct themselves with honor, with faith, with wisdom and with courage, and may they know Your divine protection. Watch over and keep those exposed to the horror of war, and the spiritual dangers as well. By Your grace, O God, fortify them and make them aware of Your presence and let them be obedient to Your will. Protect, preserve and keep their families in Your loving care, for they also serve as they pray, encourage and support their soldier dads and fathers.                                                                                       

    Father God, let peace prevail among all the nations. Especially let your mercy rest upon our land, even as we acknowledge with deep gratitude your past goodness upon  our country. Move us all together to know, to take hold and to treasure your saving grace. In the name of Jesus, our Savior and Your beloved Son, who alone gives peace and hope for eternity. For Thine is the kingdom, and the power and glory forever and forever. Amen!

 

 

 

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