Today was once remembered as Armistice Day, after the War to End All Wars. Unfortunately, it didn’t, so less than a generation later came the greatest mobilization of armed forces the world had ever seen. War had not – nor has it since – ended.
The word Armistice was stricken from the records and this day became Veterans Day.
In May we’ll honor and remember those who died in service of their country, but today is for all veterans, all wars, and we’ve had plenty of them just in my lifetime.
I would like to thank my husband and one of his brothers for their service in the Army; My son-in-law and a step-grandson for their service in the Navy; my grandson, brother-in-law, two nephews, and niece-in-law for their service in the Air Force.
I would like to thank all living service men and women who gave a portion of their lives to protect our country from those who would do it harm. I want to thank all of those in our armed forces today who signed up to better their lives and the lives they touch. Today is your day, given by a grateful nation and recognized by its citizens.
Not much has changed since it was written at the time when kings go forth to battle (2 Samuel 11:1 KJV)
Not so many kings, but we still go forth to battle. Most of us do it vicariously, sending young people much better suited to handle the loneliness, camaraderie, stress, danger, adventure and the tragedies they must endure.
General Douglas MacArthur said it best in his 1962 speech at West Point when he said:
“Let civilian voices argue the merits or demerits of our processes of government. Whether our strength is being sapped by deficit financing indulged in too long, by federal paternalism grown too mighty, by power groups grown too arrogant, by politics grown too corrupt, by crime grown too rampant, by morals grown too low, by taxes grown too high, by extremists grown too violent; whether our personal liberties are as firm and complete as they should be.
“These great national problems are not for your professional participation or military solution. Your guidepost stands out like a tenfold beacon in the night: Duty, Honor, Country.”
Note that country is third. Duty, that is seen as a moral obligation, not one of legal obligation. Honor, that which garners respect and praise. Country, on the other hand, is subject to political whims and personal discord. But our county is ours and as citizens we are supportive of her continued existence. Our armed forces complete their duties with honor defending our country. Without the first two, the county might not be worth defending.
Each recruit has a reason for signing up. Some do it for gain – monetary, educational or just personal. Some do not realize how much they are giving up, but they all show love.
Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. (John 15:13 KJV)
Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I. (John 14:28 KJV)
Along with:
In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. (John 14:2-3 KJV)
These were some of my father’s favorite verses.
They mean a great deal to Christians, especially during the loss of a loved one. A good friend of mine lost her father – and I know how she feels. More than ever, she wants to talk with her father. She has been able to for the past few years, even though he could not respond. Alzheimer’s had taken that ability away, pieces at a time. No matter when we lose our parents, we always want to tell them something.
I want my Dad to know that he has a great-great-grandson that has his smile. There’s no importance in that, but I must let that child know about the source of his smile. Maybe that child will have his sense of humor, too. I pray that child comes to know Jesus, God’s Messiah, as his own Lord and savior.
I want my Mom to know how many of her descendants are in their Lord’s service. I know she would have smiled to see grandsons-in-law standing together as church ushers. To see her son-in-law, granddaughter and great-granddaughter in choir. But Lou Gehrig’s disease removed her ability to attend services long before our Lord took her to her own mansion.
Our treasures are not here. Oh, our “things” are, and we enjoy having them about us – but our treasures are where our hearts are. My heart, my soul, my mind and my might belong to God, as He commands.
Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. (Matthew 22:37-38 KJV)
Because of this, I also believe:
And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. (Revelation 21:4-5 KJV)
I believe these words are true and faithful. My friend does, too. Some day, when time is no more, we shall meet beside that river, under that tree. Join us.
I am praying today, as I have for the past few and will do for a while longer, for a man who served his Lord. This man is said to have beautiful feet.
And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! (Romans 10:15 KJV)
Indeed, he preached the gospel of peach and brought glad tidings of good things to those who heard him. Such service has been over for years, as his mind ceased functioning before his body has. Now his family gathers, spending final hours holding the hand of one they love. Not wanting him to go, yet knowing he is going home to his father. We are of such split desires at these times and the prayers of extended family and friends is that the Comforter will bring them peace in His promises for the future. They have faith.
Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. (Hebrews 11:3 KJV)
Peter had specific instructions for these men, called of God to speak His message. Peter spoke from his own experiences.
The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: (1 Peter 5:1 KJV)
Just as Peter followed Jesus commandment in John 21, he requires those called do the same.
Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. (1 Peter 5:2-3 KJV)
What is promised to those who do feed God’s flock by example is a crown of glory.
And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away. (1 Peter 5:4 KJV)
Take time to thank your pastor now for being the example to God’s flock. Consider his calling, the responsibilities he has accepted. How else could he come close to meeting the job description?
A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. (1 Timothy 3:2-7 KJV)
Give thanks today for our pastors – and pray for this one and his family as he goes home to be with our Lord.
(This isn't just like our unit - couldn't find a photo of it - but works the same way)
Of course, that reminds me of how much we need to be active in church services.
Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. (Hebrews 10:25 KJV)
Even though as Christians we’ve been taught the difference between right and wrong; even though we’ve made the decision to follow in His footsteps and have the Bible as our guide; even though we know all of this:
Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen. (2 Peter 3:17-18 KJV)
We need that renewal of spirit David wrote of:
Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. (Psalms 51:10 KJV)
Paul wrote of that spiritual renewal, too, in his letter to the church at Ephesus.
If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; (Ephesians 4:21-23 KJV)
That teaching is ongoing. There is so much to learn and our capabilities of learning change as we grow older and wiser. It is so true that when we are children, we understand as children. Our understanding grows as we grow. Unfortunately, some growth is stunted, it goes unused and is not fed.
Instead, we come to Him as two of his disciples did:
And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, come unto him, saying, Master, we would that thou shouldest do for us whatsoever we shall desire. (Mark 10:35 KJV)
They did not request the wisdom of Solomon. They did not request the consistency of Job. They did not request the strength of Samson, nor the ability to judge Israel. They did not ask how to better serve God.
What are we asking? It could be anything from “Leave me alone!!” to:
Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me. (Isaiah 6:8 KJV)
Circulate that renewal, heal and respond.
Does the time change bother you? Try explaining it to dogs and cats. Or cows on a diary farm. I do understand the concept of fuel savings, but really – is it effective?
The National Institute of Standards and Technology has a page showing just how unstandard the question of Daylight Saving Time changes are: http://www.nist.gov/pml/div688/localtime.cfm#who
Out of the nine time zones for the United States and its territories (see, you only thought about four!) six follow DST – with the exception of most of Arizona. Several summers ago we made a driving trip headed west from Oklahoma, two couples, five kids. The children were pretty good about being on time, except our first night in Arizona. After almost an hour had past since they were supposed to be back at our campsite, we went to the game room to chastise them a bit for non-compliance. Ooops – local time was an hour earlier.
The NIST site refers us to the California Energy Commission http://www.energy.ca.gov/daylightsaving.html which has several links to discussions of the effectiveness of DST.
Americans usually blame Benjamin Franklin who wrote about saving light in Paris, April of 1784 http://www.webexhibits.org/daylightsaving/franklin.html but it was an Englishman in 1907 who wrote “The Waste of Daylight.” William Willett suggested moving the clock ahead by 80 minutes by a series of four moves, twenty minutes each. We can be grateful his suggestion was adjusted!!
It did, however, make England aware of energy savings and in 1916 British Summer Time was instituted, helping to save energy during WWI.
Our atomic clock updated this morning, as did my cell phone. The remainder of Beloved Husband’s clock collection will be changed as needed. The two chiming clocks here in the den (yes, we get used to them and the chiming doesn’t wake us during the night) will be changed this morning. Stuck at home for these few days, we really aren’t as concerned about time as we are about hours between medication.
So, where’s the verse? Where’s the application? Two come to mind.
And Jesus answering said unto them, Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's. And they marvelled at him. (Mark 12:17 KJV)
Our government has set specific time zones and time changes. There is no harm to us by doing so, just a bit of inconvenience. Change the clocks.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 tells us every thing has a season – not an hour, but a season. And, one other scripture that mentions time seems timely:
And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: (Hebrews 9:27 KJV)
We appear to be more concerned about an hour’s change twice a year than this one lifetime event.
Are you willing to ask God if He really means what He says? Gideon did.
When called by God, his first response was that God had forsaken Israel. How could God be looking out for these people?
And Gideon said unto him, Oh my Lord, if the LORD be with us, why then is all this befallen us? and where be all his miracles which our fathers told us of, saying, Did not the LORD bring us up from Egypt? but now the LORD hath forsaken us, and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites. (Judges 6:13 KJV)
The first step of the renewal was so fearful to Gideon that he could not accomplish it in the day time.
Then Gideon took ten men of his servants, and did as the LORD had said unto him: and so it was, because he feared his father's household, and the men of the city, that he could not do it by day, that he did it by night. (Judges 6:27 KJV)
The next steps were even greater. Gideon needed assurance.
And Gideon said unto God, If thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said, Behold, I will put a fleece of wool in the floor; and if the dew be on the fleece only, and it be dry upon all the earth beside, then shall I know that thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said. And it was so: for he rose up early on the morrow, and thrust the fleece together, and wringed the dew out of the fleece, a bowl full of water. (Judges 6:36-38 KJV)
Insufficient. That might have been an accident.
And Gideon said unto God, Let not thine anger be hot against me, and I will speak but this once: let me prove, I pray thee, but this once with the fleece; let it now be dry only upon the fleece, and upon all the ground let there be dew. And God did so that night: for it was dry upon the fleece only, and there was dew on all the ground. (Judges 6:39-40 KJV)
Are we willing to be as certain we are following God’s will? So many say they are – yet their paths appear divisive. Are we willing to put the equivalence of fleece before God and ask, or do we look upon that as rebellion? Or, as Christ described a generation?
But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas: (Matthew 12:39 KJV)
I think that is tempered with:
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. (Philippians 4:6 KJV)
To know the peace that following God’s path can bring, it may be necessary to ask directions. Is this really the right road? When those questions arise, for ourselves or for others, He is able to provide. And we can provide our answer to those who ask the reason for our path.
But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: (1 Peter 3:15 KJV)
I despise the effect psychoactive drugs have on individual’s personalities. Last night was an excellent example.
Beloved Husband is taking a very strong pain pill, designed to at least allow him to forget how much pain is throbbing in his damaged shoulder. After leaving the hospital, he slept a good deal of the afternoon going about five hours between pain pills.
The doctor also prescribed a sleep aid – well advertised, a familiar name – to be taken at bedtime.
For him, it was hallucinogenic. It also caused him to talk in his sleep. Except it didn’t appear to be “sleep”, but the drug created constant activity in his mind that was reflected in action. He removed covers, tried to stand up, pulled at the protective sling in an attempt to remove it. This is not the action of a rational person.
A dear friend of ours abused alcohol. When he drank, he became so belligerent that he once struck out at his wife when we were together. This was not the action of a man I know loves his wife and whose family was extremely important to him.
Even the appearance of drunkenness is attention catching. Remember Eli and Hanna?
And Eli said unto her, How long wilt thou be drunken? put away thy wine from thee. (1 Samuel 1:14 KJV)
Our society has found a multitude of mind-altering collection of drugs. Some, such as alcohol and prescribed medications are legal. Others are not. For a Christian, there should be no question of their use except under a qualified doctor’s care, for a specific reason. They make us what we are not.
The Bible has much to say about this: Proverbs 23:31-35, Hosea 7:5, Isaiah 28:7-8, Ecclesiastes 2:3, Proverbs 20:1, 1 Corinthians 5:11 – you can find more yourself.
Why? Why does the Bible take such a dim view?
Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink; that continue until night, till wine inflame them! (Isaiah 5:11 KJV)
Not rising up to worship the one, true, living God, but seeking to alter their minds, wiping out the memory of the Lord who requires that there be none before Him.
Thou shalt have no other gods before me. (Exodus 20:3 KJV)
Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. (Matthew 22:37-38 KJV)
Drugs replace the mind’s ability to worship the Lord. Right now, under the influence of these medical marvels that ease his physical pain, Beloved Husband is not able to focus on serving the Lord. God willing, this will not last long (for either one of us!)
I have seen His work in the lives of new Christians who have traded their mind-altering addictions for the soul-cleansing work of the Lord. We pray others will do so, too.
Today was once remembered as Armistice Day, after the War to End All Wars. Unfortunately, it didn’t, so less than a generation later came the greatest mobilization of armed forces the world had ever seen. War had not – nor has it since – ended.
