Mike Fisk & Built with Grace

The “You Are” Statements of Jesus: You are my Friend

June 13, 2013 in Uncategorized | Tags: forgiveness, friendship, grace, John 15:15, loyalty, trust, You are Jesus friend, You Are statements of Jesus | 4 comments

“I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.” John 15:15

We’re looking at the ‘YOU ARE’ statements of Jesus. The ‘YOU ARE’ statements of Jesus remind us of the identity we have through our faith in Christ. Jesus never indicated in his teaching that his followers would be obscure and unprepared for the challenges before them. Quite the opposite. We are the salt that brings out the best in the world; we are the light to guide the world to fulfillment; we are so intertwined with the Son of God that others would be hard-pressed to see the difference between us and Him.

Now, Jesus moves further yet. Salt, light and abiding in him bring us into a friendship like none other. The fourth of our ‘YOU ARE’ statements is one that we tend to forget most often. Jesus tells us in John 15:15 that, “I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.”

Think about what that verse is really saying. Jesus, the Son of God, the one who stood beside the Father and helped him create this beautiful world we live in calls us friends. Too often we get wrapped up in religious tradition and focus on the theology of scripture and, in so doing, lose the significance of the fact that God wants to be friends with you.

What must it have been like in the Garden of Eden when Adam and Eve walked with God in the cool evening air. The human couple, no doubt, had so many questions to ask their friend, and he enjoyed their company immensely.

That friendship was lost when Adam and Eve fell into sin. The whole story of mankind is God’s attempt at regaining the friendship he lost with us as a result of sin. That’s why Jesus came to die on the cross. It wasn’t just to forgive our sins. It wasn’t just so we could live in eternity with Christ in Heaven. It was because he wanted to restore a lost and cherished friendship with us.

When I was about 6 years old, my family spent an entire summer living in a small, borrowed cottage on a lake. A few cottages down from us, another family moved in to spend the summer as well. I was excited because this family had a boy my age. My new found friend and I played from sunrise to sunset exploring the shoreline, walking nearby trails, having all sorts of adventures.

One day we got into a horrible argument. I don’t remember to this day what it was about, but I do remember spending the next two or three days without my friend because we refused to talk with one another. I remember the loneliness. I remember the sadness. When good friends fight it cuts a part of you out.

I also remember reconciling the relationship. We both said we were sorry. There were a few moments of awkwardness, and then, as if nothing had happened, we were off on some new, exciting, great adventure. Our friendship was restored!

When Jesus says, I no longer call you servants, I call you friends, what he’s really doing is calling us back to the relationship he’d always wanted to have with us. A relationship that sin has kept us from having with him.

Sin isn’t a very popular term in our society. We like to call it poor choices, bad decisions or any number of other things. But the fact is, sin is sin and it separates us from a God who wants to befriend us but simply can’t outside of a relationship with Jesus Christ.

So, what does friendship with Jesus look like? I want to leave you with an acronym that reminds us of true friendship in our earthly realm and, especially with God through Jesus Christ. The acronym is the word CRUSH. Now, you might think it’s an odd acronym because usually we associate this word with passing feeling temporary infatuation, but bear with me on that part.

The C in CRUSH stands for Confidant. Jesus says, in John 15:15, “I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.

A good friend is one who is willing to confide in you about their deepest, darkest secrets. They are comfortable telling you their true feelings because they know they can trust you and that you won’t think less of them for how they feel.

Friendship with Jesus means he is willing to listen to our struggles, but not only that, he wants to help us understand life, others, and God himself. The deeper our friendship with Jesus, the easier it is to understand life.

The R in CRUSH stands for Reliable. Proverbs 18:24 says “One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” Reliable friends are friends you can trust. They won’t lead you into things you shouldn’t be in. They won’t drag you into gossip or other activities that tarnish your relationship with family, God or others. You can trust a reliable friend to think of your best interests. You can trust Jesus to think of your best interests too.
The U in CRUSH stands for Understanding. Proverbs 17:17 tells us that “A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need.” Loyal friends understand your feelings. They may not agree with them, but they will stand by you. Who better to understand you than Jesus? He was there when you were formed in your mothers womb. He has watched you grow up, been there through the struggles, sees your pain, your emotional scars, your fears, your worries. He will always be there for you.
The S in CRUSH stands for Sincere. Proverbs 27:5-6 tells us, ‘Better is open rebuke than hidden love. Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.’ This verse reminds us that good friends are sincere. When they see you on a slippery path to destruction they will warn you of the consequences; they may try to show you the error of your ways. But they will always do so in love. They will always stand by you even if you make the wrong choices.
The H in CRUSH stands for Healing. The ultimate sacrifice is the sacrifice of one’s life for another. Jesus said, in John 15:13, ‘Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.’

We celebrate the heroes of our lives, but the greatest hero of all is Jesus Christ. He gave his life so we can live, not only here on earth, but in eternity with him. By giving his life for us we can be healed or forgiven of our sins. He is a friend we can count on, and he earnestly wants to have a deepening friendship with us.

My prayer for us today is that we will remember that Jesus wants to grow deeper in friendship with us. There is nothing you have done, or will do that will cause him to longer be your friend. He offers you forgiveness and strength to face the battles ahead.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, I’m amazed that you would choose to be my friend. Thank you for giving your life for me and that you base your love for me on who you are and not on what I can do for you. In your name I pray, Amen.

The YOU ARE statements of Jesus: You are a Branch

June 12, 2013 in Uncategorized | Tags: chosen by Jesus, grace, John 15:5, vines and branches, You Are statements of Jesus, you are the branch | 2 comments

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5

The ‘YOU ARE’ statements Jesus makes about us are messages of hope which carry with them the responsibility for us to live in a Christ-like manner. So far we’ve looked at the fact that we are Salt and Light, that we not only add delightful flavor to the lives of those around us (which is salt), but we also are called to be a light to guide others to a deep love relationship with Jesus Christ. The third ‘YOU ARE’ statement Jesus makes involves what we might call community.

Jesus says, in John 15:5, that “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”

In order to fully understand the meaning to this passage as the disciples would have seen it, we need to remember that the vine and branches of a grapevine are different than many the branches of the trees we see in our yards and forests. The branches of the grapevine are so closely intertwined with each other and the main vine that it can be difficult to tell where the vine ends and the branches begin, or where one branch ends and another begins.

When Jesus tells us we are Salt and Light he is characterizing our relationship with others, but here his emphasis is more on our relationship with God the Father and Jesus Christ himself. The lesson is simple and two-fold – We aren’t in this alone and we have the power of Jesus Christ behind us.

While the strength of a light was dependent on its source, the same is true for the branch. The strength of a branch is only as strong as the vine it is a part of. There are many ways in which our lives are like branches.

A Branch can only give what it gets from the source. If we aren’t receiving nourishment from the main vine there is no way we can grow. For the believer that means a consistently as possible we need to be reading God’s Word and praying. Like a tree branch that breaks in a storm, when separated from God our spirit withers and we grow weak.
A Branch is flexible during times of storm. Have you ever noticed how trees can bend in a storm? Especially small trees? At times they seem to be able to bend all the way over to the ground. They are also flexible when bearing the weight of fruit. I’ve seen apple trees with branches so heavily weighted that they touch the ground. Yet once the fruit is harvested they spring back.
That brings up another point about branches. They bend when needed to meet a certain situation. In life that may mean that from time to time we need to change our way of thinking for the good of others. Brittle lives, like brittle branches break under pressure. The older the branch the easier it is to break because it becomes resistant to change.
Branches, especially grapevine branches are completely interdependent. They need each other. In the same way we need to remember that we need each other. The Christian life is a life of fellowship, unity and togetherness. Believers in Jesus Christ are not islands to themselves but communities with different gifts, different backgrounds, different likes and dislikes, but a common bond of love and unity based on Jesus Christ. In the same way, when one part of the branch is wounded, the vine and other branches are injured.
Branches are made to bear fruit. Jesus gives a beautiful word picture of God’s tender care for us. The grapevine will produce, from time to time, small, unhealthy branches that will sap the strength from the main branch and decrease the quality and quantity of the fruit. The vine dresser (God) will work to remove those small branches (pruning) and lift the main branch up higher to get more sunshine and get healthier fruit.

I grew up in the church. In fact, my father was a preacher for over 68 years. Having grown up in the church, I have heard many sermons on this particular passage. It seems like most of them have focused on the pruning and the casting off of the bad parts of the vine. The message was almost always negative and issued as a warning to us that we better behave or the gardener was going to come and cut us off. But now, as I look at it, I see this passage differently. I see this passage of the vine and branches as a deeply passionate love story. The phrase ‘if you remain in me’ uses the word ‘abide’ in some translations.

What Jesus is telling us is that the relationship he wants with us is so intimate, so close that we are intertwined; wrapped up in each other; so much in love with each other that it’s hard to tell we are two separate people! All this even though I am a weak and rebellious child. All this inspite of my failures.

Later on in John’s gospel Jesus says ‘You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit–fruit that will last–and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.’ (John 15:16)

Imagine that. We are chosen by Jesus. Remember Junior High? Remember lining up to choose teams? Some of us hoped we’d be chosen first. Others of us, like me, just hoped we’d be chosen. With Jesus we are his first pick. And He chose you because he wants you to succeed, he wants you to bear fruit.

Some may think bearing fruit relates to great spiritual victories. I think that when Jesus talks about bearing fruit he’s talking about being the best that you can be; of living in the power of His Holy Spirit and showing the fruit of the Spirit. The Apostle Paul writes: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23.

Now, you might say, “That sounds good preacher but you don’t know my past. You don’t know the people I work with. You don’t know the difficult family situation I’m in. You don’t know about this huge load of debt, fear, guilt, worry (fill in the blank) I carry.

Ah, but that is the second beautiful part of the love story. Jesus says the vine dresser, a picture of God himself, comes in to lift us up when we struggle. He takes away the things that weigh us down (prunes us) and lifts us up. What a marvelous story of God’s grace and compassion for us.

My prayer for you today is that if you are struggling with the weight of the world on your shoulders you will open your heart to the work of Jesus in your life through the power of the Holy Spirit. He wants you to succeed. He doesn’t say you CAN be a branch. He says you ARE a branch.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, I thank you for this picture of love and grace. I thank you that as your branch you have chosen me to be fruitful. Lift those of us up who struggle with life. Empower us with your Spirit to live fruitful lives. In your name I pray, Amen.

The YOU ARE statements of Jesus: You are Light

June 11, 2013 in Uncategorized | Tags: conquering darkness, grace, Jesus is the Light, light, light of the world, Matthew 5:14-16, You Are statements of Jesus | 2 comments

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:14-16

The YOU ARE statements of Jesus are foundational for Christian living. They remind us of our position in Christ and how important we are to him. Yesterday we were reminded that we are ‘The Salt of the Earth’. As salt we have the power and opportunity to make a pleasing and satisfying difference in the lives of others.

Today we look at another “You Are” statement from Jesus. This statement is found immediately after Jesus teaching about our position as salt.

Jesus says, in Matthew 5:14-16, “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

Jesus’ proclamation that we are ‘The Light of the World’ is full of meaning. Think of a world without light. Several years ago now I cooked maple syrup with a friend. We cooked down the sap in a small cook shack about a quarter of a mile into the woods. We had no electricity so we used gas lanterns, flashlights and other battery operated lights for cooking on those nights when we had to cook late.

One night I was cooking alone and finished about 1:00 AM. I shut everything down and turned on my flashlight for the trek to the road. To my dismay, the batteries were dead! Although there was no moon, I knew the way and there was enough light to see to get to my car, so I set out. I slowly began my journey into the dark. About half-way into the journey an owl screeched loudly. It seemed as though it could have been in the trees directly above me. Now, mind you, I was a grown adult. I knew what the sound was. I knew I was in no danger from an owl. I could see the yard light marking my destination in the distance. Those were the facts. But fear doesn’t always look at the facts, and to be honest, I panicked. I began to run towards my car.

Now those obstacles in the dark became weapons. I caught small saplings across the face and almost stumbled several times in the darkness. I only ran a short distance before logic took over and I regained my composure.

That story reminds me of how darkness can affect our lives. It causes fear. It causes confusion. It can make you do things that are out of character for you. What’s true for physical darkness is true for emotional and spiritual darkness as well. Darkness has an adverse affect on every aspect of our lives.

Light, on the other hand, is different. Light gives us warmth. Light gives us protection. Light gives us guidance. Light is powerful! How much darkness does it take to destroy light? The answer of course is NO amount of darkness can overpower light. The smallest amount of light can penetrate darkness. The darker the darkness, the brighter the light seems to shine!

The key to lights effectiveness is its power source. Take, for example, a laser beam. The beam from a laser pointer is relatively harmless. However, lasers can be used for a variety of purposes, including cutting some of the hardest materials on earth. It is the power source, not the light itself that gives the laser its strength.

So, if you are the light of the world, what is your power source? Jesus tells us in John 8:12, which says, “When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

When we choose to follow Christ, we become agents of his light. Our light is a reflection of his glory, power and grace. It exposes the compassion, forgiveness and love that made others seek Jesus out. It shines for others to see so that when they are in darkness they can find the way to his light.

How should this light be used? Jesus says, (my paraphrase) ‘If it’s getting dark do you light a candle and then put it under a bowl? Of course not! You put it on a stand or someplace in the open where others can benefit from the light. Hidden light is of no value whatsoever.

Imagine you are walking on a dark path with a friend and you have one flashlight between you. Your friend is completely dependent on your light to guide him through the darkness. Does it do any good to shine it into the trees? Does it do any good to shine the light from side to side, or worse yet to shine the light behind you or into your friends eyes? The answer again, is no! You shine it on the path in front of you so you both can benefit from its light. We become a guide for those around us.

For the believer in Jesus Christ, our flashlight, so to speak is the Holy Bible. It gives us the guidance we need for our relationships, our behavior and our spiritual growth. Psalm 119:105 says “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” We must never lose sight of the importance of letting the Scriptures guide us, and others through the darkness.

The purpose of this light is to draw people towards the Father. Jesus says let your light shine in such a way that others notice your attitude, your actions, the way you treat others. They will be so impressed by what they see in you they will praise God because you are in their presence.

I close with one final story. Several years ago a co-worker came to me with a request. Her father had been rushed to the hospital the night before and was in surgery. She said, “I know you are a religious guy, could you pray for him?”

I didn’t flaunt my religion for everyone to see. I’m not the type of person who preaches to people every chance I get. It wasn’t my words that drew this co-worker to me. It was my attitude of approachability. As a result of this event in her life, my co-worker eventually said yes to Jesus! People seek light when they are in darkness.

So my question for us today is this. Do others see the light of Jesus in our lives? Do they seek us out because we are a source of comfort, protection and guidance? Jesus doesn’t say “you could be a light to the world”. He says ‘You ARE a light to the world.”

My prayer for each of us today is that we will spread Christ’s light of forgiveness, understanding and grace to all those who cross our paths today. We have no idea how the light we live by could benefit others.

PRAYER: Father God, you have given me the awesome opportunity to be a light to those who are struggling. Help me shine for you today in my actions, my words and my attitudes. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

The ‘YOU ARE’ Statements of Jesus: You are Salt

June 10, 2013 in Uncategorized | Tags: forgiveness, grace, Jesus, Matthew 5:13, salt of the earth, Wisdom in relationships, You ARE | 8 comments

“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.’ Matthew 5:13

How we feel about ourselves is extremely important in our family relationships, work relationships and virtually every other aspect of our daily lives. Psychologists refer to our view of ourselves as our ‘self-image’ and it includes our feelings, emotions, intellect and experiences growing up. It encompasses a person’s entire being.

Jesus often taught us about who we were when we lived in relationship with the Father. This week let’s take just five of these statements. I call them the five ‘You Are’ Statements of Jesus.

The first ‘You Are’ statement comes from Matthew 5:13. This passage is one of the beginning sections of the great ‘Sermon on the Mount’. Jesus says to his listeners, “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.’

The first thing we need to do is to realize what salt meant to the people of Jesus’ day. Salt was extremely valuable, especially in the ancient world. In fact, its value cannot be under estimated. Roman soldiers received their wages in salt. The Greeks considered salt to be divine. The Mosaic Law required that all offerings presented by the Israelites contain salt. (Lev. 2:13)

When Jesus told his disciples that they were “the salt of the earth”, they understood the meaning of that statement. They were a valuable commodity! The same is true for us today. You need to realize that no matter where you are in life, Jesus Christ sees you as a thing of great value.

In our day, salt may not hold the same value as in Jesus’ day, but it still has many useful analogies for our lives. Salt enhances the flavor of our food. In the same way, we as believers in Jesus Christ are called on to add flavor to the lives of those around us. When I was in college a friend of mine came to my apartment to babysit my two small children while I went out. When I returned, she had taken it upon herself to make Peanut Butter cookies for the new boyfriend she wanted to impress. She offered me a cookie and it was a good thing she did! She had mistaken the container of salt for sugar. The cookies were inedible because they were all salt.

A good lesson for us to learn is that salt, when used properly, is not overpowering. Some foods require more salt than others. Some require less. In our life situations we need to seek Godly wisdom to know how to add just the right amount of salt to each situation; in other words, just the right amount of living our faith is important to show the love of Christ to others.

Not only does salt add flavor to food, and life, it also acts as a preservative. Those listening to Jesus knew the preserving function of salt. Salt was added to fish and other foods in order to keep it from spoiling in the hot, Judean sunshine. We, in turn need to make a stand for what is right in our world. However we should do so in a loving, gentle manner. That means we take a stand for God’s Word without being judgmental and offensive. Jesus exemplified this by the fact that he was a friend of sinners.

Jesus says one more thing about salt. He offers us something of a warning when he says, “But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.”

Jesus warns us that salt can become contaminated, corrosive and even poisonous. When this happens, it’s worthless and must be thrown out. It’s so worthless it can’t even be used on fields as fertilizer. This thing of great value can become a thing of danger or disappointment.

Sometimes we make decisions and choices that destroy our testimony for Christ. We lose, in a sense, our saltiness through disobedience. The good news is that there is always hope. You can never be so ‘un-salty’ that God cannot use you! I John 1:9 reminds us that if we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins. Confession and repentance restores our saltiness so we can be used effectively by God. It may take some time for others to trust us. It may take some time for this new saltiness to make a difference. But we can know, because of God’s promises, that he will restore us completely through his Grace and the sacrifice of Christ on the Cross.

My prayer for you today is that you will be salt to those around you. If you have lost that saltiness I pray you will go to the Father and ask Jesus for forgiveness. Jesus didn’t say ‘some of you’ are salt, he said YOU are the salt of the earth, and if he says it, it must be true.

PRAYER: Father God I pray for those struggling today. I thank you that we are the salt of the earth. Help us to be that flavor in our relationships that brings others to saving faith in you. Amen.

Called to Serve

May 27, 2013 in Uncategorized | Tags: fighting the good fight, freedom, Memorial Day, memorials, veterans | 2 comments

Memorial Day 2013

(Presented at Luck WI Memorial Day Celebration)

Nestled along the beautiful shores of Hawaii, the Waikiki Natatorium stands as a reminder of the 10,000 men who volunteered to protect the US Territory of Hawaii during World War I. The memorial now crumbles after years of neglect, budget cuts and the deteriorating effects of salt water and time.

Tourists and locals alike once flocked to the memorial to enjoy its beauty and to reflect on the sacrifice of these brave men. However, the building now gets but a fleeting glance from passersby before they move on to enjoy the sun, the surf and the beach. Many have no idea what the building is for, others simply don’t care. Plans were unvieled in early May, 2013 to tear down the memorial and develop the prime, beach front property for recreational and commercial purposes.

The story of the Waikiki Natatorium is being repeated across the country. Memorials once built to remind us of the over 1.1 million men and women who have given their lives to win and protect the freedom enjoyed by our nation, as well as many other nations around the world, are neglected at best and usually deteriorating with little regard for their significance. The memory of the sacrifice of human lives has become lost in the cares and concerns of the modern world.

The real tragedy, however, is not the deterioration of these structures of mortar and wood. The real tragedy lies in the fact that Memorial Day, which began in 1868 as a day to remember those who have given the ultimate gift of life for freedom, has become a holiday of picnics and leisure. A defining characteristic of our American culture is celebration and BBQ’s. However, while this in itself is not wrong, we must never allow ourselves forget the sacrifice the men and women of our armed forces have given for us.

Former President Ronald Reagan once said, “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children’s children what it was once like in the United States where men were free.”

Now more than ever, we realize the fragile state of peace in our nation and our world. Now, more than ever we need to not only remember what these men and women did for our country, we need to learn from them the importance of standing for the principles of freedom and justice that have always been a hallmark of the United States of America.

Normally, we measure legacy by the passing of time and the number of accomplishments one has in their lifetime. But these men and women left us a legacy of another kind. If you look at the dates on many of the stones of remembrance, for our veteran’s in cemeteries across our nation, you will soon realize that far too many of them were taken from us at too young of an age. They weren’t given the opportunity to live long years and develop to their full potential. We often say these men and women paid the ultimate sacrifice but we too paid a huge price. We are the ones who didn’t get to see our little boys and girls grow to their full potential; we are the ones who never got to meet the fathers and mothers and grandchildren they would bring into this world. We are the ones who lost friends and neighbors and classmates to the cruel realities of conflict.

Thankfully, there were many others that were fortunate enough to return to us. They have raised their families and lived productive lives in our communities. Some have suffered, and continue to suffer physical and emotional scars as a result of their sacrifice. Let us use today to remember, not only those who have gone before us, but those who are still in our midst and those who are currently putting their lives on the line for us every day so that our freedom will continue to be a reality and not just a memory.

There five lessons we can learn from those who have gone before us. Lessons they lived every day of their lives; lessons that continue to make this nation the greatest nation on earth. The lessons we can learn from our veterans spell the word SERVE because the one thing that makes us great as an American people is our willingness and desire to serve each other. Each of these qualities are qualities all of us should endeavor to practice in our homes, our schools and our communities.

Selflessness: They believed in themselves.

The “S” in serve stands for SELFLESS. People who think of others do so because they believe in themselves strongly enough to realize their worth comes not from what they can get, but what they can give. They live out in reality the old adage that ‘it is more blessed to give than to receive.” All of us have been touched from time to time by pictures of soldiers carrying young children, caring for the elderly and helping their comrades.

Selfless people gain from realizing the best gift they can give themselves and each other is the gift of service. Service based on our desire to give and not to receive monetary gain.

Embrace: They believed in their cause

The ‘E’ in serve stands for EMBRACE. Embracing reminds us that the men and women of our military believed in their cause. This cause they believed in was not the battlefield for no one wants to go to war. The cause that drove these brave souls was a belief in freedom, the sanctity of life, and the right for all mankind to be treated as equals.

Each of us needs to embrace the freedoms they fought for by working to make our communities places of safety, respect and acceptance.

Resolved: They believed they could make a difference

The “R” in serve stands for RESOLVED. The men and women who gave their lives in our military did so because they believed they could make a difference, not only at the local level, but globally. That same resolve continues today. In many of the nations where the US has served, schools have been built, roads improved and social institutions developed. They went, and still go, firmly believing they can achieve something great.

We too need to truly believe that our God-given gifts were given to us so that we can make a difference in our corner of the world.

Value: They believed in the value of others more than themselves

The ‘V’ in serve stands for VALUE. The American soldier has proven throughout history that they value life and freedom for others more than for themselves. To value others doesn’t mean you necessarily agree with them socially, culturally or in areas of faith, but it does mean that each of us has God-given qualities that must be preserved. Freedom can not happen without a commitment to valuing the sanctity of life.

Encouragement: They made a difference

The ‘E’ in serve stands for ENCOURAGEMENT. Encouragement is a double-sided coin. For the American soldier encouragement comes from a realization that they have made the world a better place to live. Freedom never comes without hard work, tenacity and risk. Our veterans lived that every day of their lives. Those who returned have continued to serve this nation well.

The other side of the coin of encouragement is our part. We have the opportunity today to honor those who have gone before us with a moment of silence this afternoon at 3:00. To spend just 60 seconds thanking Almighty God for the freedom we have as a result of their sacrifice. We have an opportunity today to thank those in our midst who have served this nation in the past, some who still bear the scars of their service. We have an opportunity today and into the future to thank those who are currently serving at home and abroad with our prayers and our support, and to remember their families who wait at home, praying for their safe return.

As he neared the end of his life and looked towards his own death, the Apostle Paul wrote to his young protégé, Timothy and he wrote these words. “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” (2 Timothy 4:7)

These words could well be the inscription on every tomb of the American Soldier. They have fought the good fight. You have finished the course set before you and our continued freedom proves that. You have kept the faith and the freedom to express that faith. Not every battle was won. As long as mankind exists there will be conflict. But you fought the good fight. You ran the race well, and for that we express our deepest gratitude.

I found this poem on the internet and was unable to give credit where credit is due, but I share this with you in closing:

I do not know your name – Nor for which battle you died.

I do not know your home, nor the tears that were cried.

I do not know where you rest – Nor the promise broken.

I do not know your uniform, and your fears lay unspoken.

But, I know your spirit exists – That your courage is admired,

and your sacrifice is honored by each soul that’s inspired.

And I offer you from my heart, Thank you, to guardians unknown,

for offering yourselves for all of us, that we may keep freedom… Our home.
Bless you!!!

Thank you once again for allowing me the honor of joining you in this time of remembrance. Thank you to all those veterans in our midst and to their families for your sacrifice. And lastly, may God Bless America.