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Uniquely American - A Memorial Day Tribute to Veterans

Memorial Day is unique to Americans of all ages. We pause and think about the sacrifices of men and women through the years to preserve our freedoms.

Soldiers young and old fought on a battlefield paying the ultimate price- laying down their lives.

In New York there is the Statue of Liberty which stands as a symbol for all who enter our nation, America, the land of the free and home of the brave. Freedom and liberty is why our military forces fought and died in many wars. 

There is another statue on a hillside in Israel, where Jesus laid down his life for the souls of men and women - the cross - the symbol of our spiritual freedom.

On this Memorial Day, 2011 let us be thankful for the American soldier, brave, strong and true - protecting our country and guarding our freedoms.

Let us also be thankful for a Savior who likewise protects us and guarantees our freedom from sin. 

Living Free, Living Full

Rousseau said,

“Man is born free and everywhere he is in chains.”

Genesis paints a picture of the absolute right of every human being to live in freedom everyday.

Until each of us experience the liberation which only comes in an intimate, personal relationship with Jesus, we have not lived free and lived full.

2 Corinthians 3:18 MSG - And so we are transfigured much like [Jesus], our lives gradually becoming brighter and more beautiful as God enters our lives and we become like Him.

Liberty is produced within us by the power of His Spirit.

Liberty in mind - Freedom from fear, ignorance, error, prejudice and jealously.

Liberty from sin - He helps us to conquer everything that is alien to His will.

Liberty in prayer - Unrestrained, prevailing intercession is ours to enjoy.

Liberty of worship - He frees us from all formality, superficiality, and restraint as we endeavor to approach God.

Liberty in service - Instead of forcing ourselves to labor for Him, we delight to do His will with the gifts He deposits into us.

Liberty in giving - First we surrender up our hearts and then He owns us - all of us.

Are you living in His glorious liberty?

Choosing the Narrow Way

Matthew 7:13-14

¹³Enter through the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and spacious and broad is the way that leads away to destruction, and many are those who are entering through it. ¹⁴But the gate is narrow (contracted by pressure) and the way is straitened and compressed that leads away to life, and few are those who find it.

When the history of our nation in this and the preceding century is read in the centuries to come, it may well say it was one in which –

·        There was great creativity;

·        There was great individualism;

·        There was great freedom;

·        There was great license;

·        It was a time of no limits;

·        It was a time of little discipline;

·        It was a time of great immorality;

·        It was a time of little restraint;

·        It was a time of comfort and ease;

·        It was a time of spend now and let others pay later;

·        It was a time of greed and lust;

·        It was a time of squandered opportunity.

Before us today is an open door to bring a message of hope, healing, and deliverance to a world afflicted by oppression, disease, and addiction.

Today we must have a moral compass to guide us back to the government of God.

That moral compass is red – The Red Letter teachings of Jesus in the New Testament.

·        Be Reconciled;

·        Love Your Enemies;

·        Go The Extra Mile;

·        Be Perfect (Mature);

·        Do Unto Others;

·        Judge Not;

·        Keep Your Word;

·        Deny Yourself;

·        Let Your Light Shine;

·        Feed My Sheep;

·        Ask, Seek, Knock;

·        Be A Servant;

·        Lay Up Treasures.

These commands are the central truths which make up God’s kingdom.

In that kingdom, called the kingdom of Heaven, there is a new way to live in relationship with God.

The “easy way” is broad, spacious, and roomy.  There is plenty of room for diversity of opinions and laxity of morals.

The “broad way” is the way of the unthoughtful, undisciplined, ungodly, carnal, self-indulgent, way of least resistance.  Whatever feels good, do it.

While the broad way and easy way are shallow ways to live, this narrow, straight way is life-changing at the core or essence of your being.

It is not the life that is narrow, but the way that leads to it.

Jesus walked this “way,” but He gained for us “an abundant life.”

The broad, easy way eventually narrows until we are hard-pressed on every side as sin exacts its payment.

The narrow, hard way broadens as we live in the marvelous liberty of the son of God.

The Marriage Covenant

Matthew 19:4-6

⁴He replied, Have you never read that He Who made them from the beginning made them male and female,  ⁵And said, For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and shall be united firmly (joined inseparably) to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh? ⁶So they are no longer two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man put asunder (separate).

Around the world in every culture, there is no more beautiful picture of life than to see a bride adorned for her husband-to-be.

The scene is one of merriment, joy, excitement, and celebration.

Human life began in a garden with the beauty of nature looking on as Adam and Eve were joined together by God.

Paul calls this union a mystery and compares it to the relationship of Christ with His Church in Ephesians 5.

God’s Word teaches us that marriage is honorable and it is to be honored.

Unfortunately, because of sin and the hardness of human hearts (and selfishness as well) divorce has often caused the marriage covenant to be dishonored.

In America in 2005, there were 2.23 million marriages and 1.17 million divorces.

Only 63% of American children grow up with both biological parents – the lowest figure in the western world.

It is the business of the church and of all Christians to uphold by word and life the God-ideal of marriage – one man for one woman.

Family life must be safeguarded as the foundation stone of social stability.

The very purpose of making a male and a female was so they could become one.

The unique plumbing of each – different in body and in soul but the same in spirit – gives opportunity for intimacy and procreation.

Biologically and psychologically men and women are different but spiritually they are identical.

The marriage covenant is instituted by a commemorative service.

Each specific part has Biblical covenant significance.

• A marriage covenant is based on trust in God.
• A marriage contract is based on the distrust of each other.
• A marriage covenant embraces unlimited responsibility.
• A marriage contract accepts limited responsibility.
• A marriage covenant cannot be disannulled by man.
• A marriage contract can be voided by mutual consent.

You become intimate with the one to whom you pray, the one for whom you pray and the one with whom you pray.

We must pray for the sanctity and sustainability of the marriage covenant.