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This week, we celebrated Veteran's Day and I just wanted to use this message as a time to say thanks to all those who have served, those who are serving and those families whose loved ones gave the ultimate sacrifice.
When I think of Veterans--1 Tim: 1 vs 18
The great Apostle Paul was telling Timothy to "War a good Warfare". In his other writings, he spoke as being a good soldier for the Lord. Today, I wish to share about when I think of those who have served in our Military.
Veterans are to be honored, for their service and sacrifices for our country. Whether they served in war time or in peace time, they still served and sacrificed. They sacrificed time and family to serve. They served, they sacrificed and they stood.
When I think of veterans, I think of my grandfather, who fought in the Civil War with U. S, Grant. I think of my brother her served in the Army in WW2 and my nephew who was a Marine in Vietnam.
As a boy growing up, there are 2 wars that have stood out in my memory. WW2 and Vietnam. I would like to comment on each, if I may.
A. When I think of WW2, I think of Dec. 7th 1941, Pearl Harbor Day. I wasn't even born when this happened. This was was started before I was born and ended just before I turned 1 year old yet, I remember the stories that my mom and dad told me about this war.
1. Gas rationing, women having to go to work in factories to help with the war effort. Metal was hard to come by as were many of the things we seem to have plentious today, were rationed or hard to get back then.
2. I think of the death of my cousin who was killed in Okinawa. I grew up with his son.
3/ I think of the Conscious Objector camps where those who felt it wrong to kill, went to work and live.
4.I think of all the families that I knew who lost a loved one in this great war.
5. I think of my brother who lost buddies by our own bombs when they were trapped behind enemy lines and lost 80% of their platoon due to our own bombs.
6. I think of all those who fought against Hitler, who controlled most of Europe and today we have politicians who pass laws and policies who allow modern day Hitlers to rise once again.
7. i think of the people who complain about our military but, think nothing of the protection they provide for these same people.
8. I think of all the dog tags that lie at the bottom of the seas and oceans of this world as well as in graves and areas where they are not marked. these dog tags have names of real people.
B. When I think of Vietnam:
1 I think of friends of mine who fought in this war and died there. Ron Ireland and Laverne Hissong. I grew up with these young men.
2. I think of Rpbt. Brown who I grew up with, who died of cancer due to Agent Orange and I preached his funeral.
Many of these men, were just boys and they went and served and saw attrocities that you or I can never imagine. They came home and were called "baby killers" and were spit on and mocked.
3. I think of a friend of mine who was a chopper pilot for 3 tours in Vietnam, who hauled in supplies, evacuated the wounded and, others who were being overran by the enemy and did this under fire many, many times, sometimes 12 hours a day. He told me his Chopper had so many holes in it that you could look any direction and see daylight through it.
Being a veteran is defending freedoms and the rights we have as American citizens.
I . We have enemies of our country :
These are listed in our history books from 1776 to today.
We have wars against crime, drugs, that permeate or society.
II. We have enemies of our Beliefs in Christianity:
No bibles in Schools, no prayer in schools, no pledge of allegiance in schools, no 10 commandments on court house walls and no nativity scenes on public places. Then we wonder what is wrong with America?
III. We have enemies of our souls:
Blinded eyes, deaf ears, hardened hearts, false prophets and false teachers, all kinds of isms and schisms being taught today.
Wars and Nations come and go but the wars of the Christian are lifelong.
For all you servicemen and women, active or inactive, I hope that someone shook your hand and showed you the respect and honor that you deserve and conveyed that too you by showing their gratitude and appreciation. I say thank you and may God Bless you.
Oldbiker
When I think of Veterans--1 Tim: 1 vs 18
The great Apostle Paul was telling Timothy to "War a good Warfare". In his other writings, he spoke as being a good soldier for the Lord. Today, I wish to share about when I think of those who have served in our Military.
Veterans are to be honored, for their service and sacrifices for our country. Whether they served in war time or in peace time, they still served and sacrificed. They sacrificed time and family to serve. They served, they sacrificed and they stood.
When I think of veterans, I think of my grandfather, who fought in the Civil War with U. S, Grant. I think of my brother her served in the Army in WW2 and my nephew who was a Marine in Vietnam.
As a boy growing up, there are 2 wars that have stood out in my memory. WW2 and Vietnam. I would like to comment on each, if I may.
A. When I think of WW2, I think of Dec. 7th 1941, Pearl Harbor Day. I wasn't even born when this happened. This was was started before I was born and ended just before I turned 1 year old yet, I remember the stories that my mom and dad told me about this war.
1. Gas rationing, women having to go to work in factories to help with the war effort. Metal was hard to come by as were many of the things we seem to have plentious today, were rationed or hard to get back then.
2. I think of the death of my cousin who was killed in Okinawa. I grew up with his son.
3/ I think of the Conscious Objector camps where those who felt it wrong to kill, went to work and live.
4.I think of all the families that I knew who lost a loved one in this great war.
5. I think of my brother who lost buddies by our own bombs when they were trapped behind enemy lines and lost 80% of their platoon due to our own bombs.
6. I think of all those who fought against Hitler, who controlled most of Europe and today we have politicians who pass laws and policies who allow modern day Hitlers to rise once again.
7. i think of the people who complain about our military but, think nothing of the protection they provide for these same people.
8. I think of all the dog tags that lie at the bottom of the seas and oceans of this world as well as in graves and areas where they are not marked. these dog tags have names of real people.
B. When I think of Vietnam:
1 I think of friends of mine who fought in this war and died there. Ron Ireland and Laverne Hissong. I grew up with these young men.
2. I think of Rpbt. Brown who I grew up with, who died of cancer due to Agent Orange and I preached his funeral.
Many of these men, were just boys and they went and served and saw attrocities that you or I can never imagine. They came home and were called "baby killers" and were spit on and mocked.
3. I think of a friend of mine who was a chopper pilot for 3 tours in Vietnam, who hauled in supplies, evacuated the wounded and, others who were being overran by the enemy and did this under fire many, many times, sometimes 12 hours a day. He told me his Chopper had so many holes in it that you could look any direction and see daylight through it.
Being a veteran is defending freedoms and the rights we have as American citizens.
I . We have enemies of our country :
These are listed in our history books from 1776 to today.
We have wars against crime, drugs, that permeate or society.
II. We have enemies of our Beliefs in Christianity:
No bibles in Schools, no prayer in schools, no pledge of allegiance in schools, no 10 commandments on court house walls and no nativity scenes on public places. Then we wonder what is wrong with America?
III. We have enemies of our souls:
Blinded eyes, deaf ears, hardened hearts, false prophets and false teachers, all kinds of isms and schisms being taught today.
Wars and Nations come and go but the wars of the Christian are lifelong.
For all you servicemen and women, active or inactive, I hope that someone shook your hand and showed you the respect and honor that you deserve and conveyed that too you by showing their gratitude and appreciation. I say thank you and may God Bless you.
Oldbiker
i wish to challenge each and every person to go up to these young and old and say, 'excuse me sir/ma'am, i just wanted to tell you thank you for serving and for your sacrifice. thank you for making the world a safer place for me and mine.'
one older man all hunched over with his ball cap on said to me in response, 'it was a long time ago' clearly discounting his contribution to our country. i told it that it didn't matter if it was a long time ago, that he still served and i am still grateful that he did. the younger ones will sometimes look shocked and/or surprised, and they almost always say thank you back instead of you are welcome.
why would people give these reactions? because they aren't appreciated enough as they should be! let us not do this just one time a year for veteran's day but let us all do this everyday! and lest we forget let us thank the police officers who fight the foe from within! they are even less thanked for serving and keeping us safe!
everyday, everyone in uniform, thank them, please!!!
i wish to challenge each and every person to go up to these young and old and say, 'excuse me sir/ma'am, i just wanted to tell you thank you for serving and for your sacrifice. thank you for making the world a safer place for me and mine.'
one older man all hunched over with his ball cap on said to me in response, 'it was a long time ago' clearly discounting his contribution to our country. i told him that it didn't matter if it was a long time ago, that he still served and i am still grateful that he did. the younger ones will sometimes look shocked and/or surprised, and they almost always say thank you back instead of you are welcome.
why would people give these reactions? because they aren't appreciated enough as they should be! let us not do this just one time a year for veteran's day but let us all do this everyday! and lest we forget let us thank the police officers who fight the foe from within our boarders! they are even less thanked for serving and keeping us safe!
everyday, everyone in uniform, thank them, please!!!