Veterans Day 11/11/2013

Dear Father in Heaven, Thank You for Jesus who died on the cross for our personal freedom.  Thank You, Jesus, for doing that for us.  Father, Thank You for all those who have served this great nation that You have permitted us to use.  Thank You for our veterans, regardless of when they served or how they served.  Bless them, Lord, and our current military, and please, Lord, bring our troops home safe and soon.  In Jesus' Name, I pray.  Amen.

John 15:7 - Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.  (NIV)

2 Chronicles 7:14 - If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.  (NIV)

Dear brothers and sisters, to all of you who have served our country over the years, I want to say thank you very, very much.  I thank Jesus for my personal salvation, and I give all glory and honor to Him for all of you who have served our nation over the years.  From my wife, Dolores, who served in the Air Force, and then the 193rd to all the others on this line who served.  If it were not for all of you and others who served over the years to keep our country free, we who preach, teach, sing or otherwise spread the Good News, the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to all in this country, we would be in hiding to get it done.

Please, on Monday, November 11, 2013, take a few minute to think about what this country might be like if those who served "did not."  I am not a veteran, but I sure do appreciate all those who have served.  Lots of times we think of just the men who have served.  The truth is women serve now and have since I have been on this earth.  I have heard this said many times about those who served in the war zones:  "Some gave all and all gave some."

In John 5:7 it tells us Greater LOVE has no one than this, that he LAY DOWN HIS life for his friends.  (NIV)

To me, I think if one was willing to lay down his life but was spared that, he has showed that same love, and I surely appreciate all those who were willing to give their life for this nation, and if you were in the military you surely were willing, for no one knows when they would be sent into battle.  Most often when we think of veterans we think of those who served in WWII, but we must also remember those who have served since then.  From Korea, Vietnam, to small battles around the world, to Desert Shield and Desert Storm and Iraq and Afghanistan, our military is number one, second to none.  We need to remember not just one day a year, but each day of our lives the veterans who some at just 18 years of age have left their body parts on the fields of far-off lands.  And so many today still losing their lives for this nation.

I personally feel that we need to do just as the Bible tells us to do in 2 Chronicles 7:14.  Let's look at that again.

2 Chronicles 7:14 - If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

Brothers and sisters, our country has drifted away from God.  God has been removed from our schools, from our town squares, from meetings, and folks, even the prayer that I would give before the meetings of the Museum of Bus Transportation were stopped.  WE NEED TO TURN BACK TO GOD!!

I also believe that to be President or Vice President of this great nation you should have military service, you should have served the country in the military to become Commander in Chief of the United States Military.  (Anyone else feel this way?)

So today I say thank You, Jesus, for saving my soul, and thank you, veterans.  Thanks to those who served in our Navy, Marines, Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Merchant Marines, and all the State Guard Units and all the reserve units.  And I give thanks also to all those who are serving now,for indeed you are the veterans of tomorrow and the tomorrows after that.

I believe if we do not turn back to Christ, we will lose this nation.  Take a look around you.  If you cannot see it, you have your eyes and ears closed.  Let's get back to Christ!

Thanks again, those who served, I love you, and for all others, I love you also, and for all of us, we need to go forth and share our blessings.  Love ya.  Pass it on.  Pastor Dan.  And God, please Bless America.  Sing it, please.

God, (please) Bless America, land that I love.
Stand beside her and guide her
Through the night with a light from above.
From mountains to the prairies
to the oceans white with foam
God, (please) Bless America, my home, sweet, home.
God, (please) Bless America, my home, sweet, home.

And the song is a prayer, so I close with ...
In Jesus' Name, Amen.

P.S. Happy Birthday, R.J. Harris (WHP Morning Mayor)