Veterans day

Veterans of foreign wars

In just a few days we will take time to thank those who served in the service of this country during various wars and battles. We have set aside a special day to honor our vets. Over time the memories of what these folks have done fades, yet their efforts or no less important to us and the future of this nation. As a result, we should never forget the efforts these men and women made on our behalf. We should never forget the sacrifices they made for freedom. But they are not the only ones who need to be in the fight for our country, our freedom. During WWII the folks back home helped as they could to back those who were "over there". Rationing, victory gardens, and patriot movies were just some of the ways that men, women and children all rolled up their sleeves and took on the effort to do the enemy in.
In many ways Rosy the Riveter had just as much importance in the effort to win the war as the men driving the tanks that people like her helped put together. People were on their knees for the sake of the young men who faced death each and everyday around each corner, and these men were welcomed as heroes when the work was over - over there.

Today it would seem that much of that combined effort to fight the war is over and doen with. Today we tend to put all the battles in the hands of the professionals who go through the training, put on the uniforms and get sent "over there." An occasional card or care package may go hand in hand with a few prayers from back home, but they are more often then not on their own. And history tells us that battles are lost when those back home are not supporting the troops.

We are going through some wars today here in our own native land. There are real wars going on for the homes and hearts of people of America. The enemy, much like those overseas today is hard to distinguish from the friendlies, they seem to come out of nowhere, with an often fatal blow. They were once one of us, they serve in Congress, in courtrooms, in school houses, on college campuses. They shop at the same stores we do, eat at the same resturants. But they don't have the same guiding light or direction we are to have. The wars we are fighting here is for the morals and values we once held dear. The Judeo-Christian ethic is a target today for those who wish to replace it with a new Age World view. We as Christians are the ones who are called to fight the battle, to insure that these values will continue beyond us and this generation. We find ourselves losing one battle after another because we so often leave the fighting up to someone else. We fall for the lie to let only those who are "Christian professionals" can do the battle, we feel like we have to leave it up to those who are trained. Let me tell you, we probably don't want to hold our breath for the leaders of today's church to fight for what is right. Far too often, they have fallen for the lie that they and we as the Church need to be politically correct to insure that we don't upset anyone. If we were face to face with a uniformed enemy who had us in their gun sights, would we really be concerned if we were saying or doing something that just might upset them?

Even though we may not be a professional or that we do not put on a uniform, we are all veterans of a war with things that are foreign to
God and His purpose for us as His Children. Each and everyday we face all kinds of threats to our life as a Christian, and threats to this nation to remain a Christian nation, yet we tend to sit back and hope someone else will fight the battle for us. God has gifted each of us. We all have a special task and purpose in the Body of Christ, and we all need to be at work extending the Kingdom, not sitting back watching it get smaller and smaller. The war we are waging is with the army of the World View. It is a war that can be won, but only if we all are willing to roll up our sleeves, get down on our knees and do what it takes. When Jesus left this world he gave us a Great Commission, a purpose, a plan for His Church. He didn't say sit back, soak up all you can. Rather what He tasked us with was all about action. He has tasked us with 4 verbs: Go, Make Disciples, Teach and Baptize. It is a war cry to all who are willing to fight for what is right, so that others may come to know Jesus, so that others may be saved, so that we can once again stand up for Jesus, so that it is truly in God we trust as a nation.

May God bless America, more importantly may we as America bless God.

Rich

HOMECOMING PREPARATION

October 19th is coming soon and we are getting prepared for the 180th gathering of the church called Lee UMC. We look back to the Florida Settlers who started the church when this part of the country was still not a tame place to be. We look forward to the times when the dangers are just as prevalent as they were back in the early 19th century, and we look to the pitfalls and problems of our current day. In it all there is two things that remained consistant: (1)there were problems to deal with, (2) God was with us always. Looking forward, looking back, looking within we need to always be constantly be looking up to Him.

God bless

rich