Honoring Heroes

Honoring the Heroes

Veterans Day--2018

I was able to visit the traveling Vietnam War Memorial wall recently as it passed through The Villages, FL. As I walked on the hallowed ground adjacent to the wall, I could not explain the feeling that I had as I looked and saw veterans saluting and some with tears running down their faces and a quietness that was almost sacred. I had so many mixed feelings as I searched for the name of a special friend with whom I was honored to serve beside in the Army prior to the War. As I stood there looking at the name of “Johnnie P. Sawyer,” my heart began to feel the same ache that I felt when I received a phone call 1966 to tell me about Johnnie giving his life for our country. Also, I glanced over the long wall of names and could not even imagine the heartache the loved ones of the fifty-eight thousand men and women that sacrificed their lives for our great nation. Let me share some interesting facts about a real hero.

Johnnie and I served together as privates and were promoted up to Sargent in approximately two years. He had a leader’s heart and everyone respected him. He was more than a leader; he was a friend. We shared the good times and the bad. We worked hard together, competed together, vacationed together and the times that I appreciated so much was when he and other fellow soldiers were about to attend the Men of the chapel retreats where we studied and prayed together. To those that served with him and knew him best, he was respected and was admired greatly for who he was.

Each year on November 11, we officially honor all veterans that have served in our armed services. There will be parades and celebrations of all kinds and a time for so many of us who have served to once again stand at attention and feel the pride of being privileged to serve. This Veterans Day will be a great time for us to also pause to remember those especially, who were wounded and those that paid the ultimate price for freedom. We are witnessing perhaps the greatest threat for freedom now that we ever have ever known. We too, need to look inside and analyze our own commitment to the principles for which so many paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. We know that freedom is never free, so let us never take for granted the sacrifices that were made for us to live free.

I proudly stand at attention today to salute all those who served and are still serving today. I’m proud to say that I was privileged to serve! I also salute Captain Johnnie P. Sawyer’s memory and look forward to the day that we stand side by side once again.

Veterans Day

On Veterans Day we honor all,

Who answered to a service call.

Soldiers young, and soldiers old’

Fought for freedom, brave and bold.

Some have lived, while others died,

And all of them deserve our pride.

We’re proud of all the soldiers who,

Kept thinking of red, white and blue.

They fought for us and all our rights,

They fought through many days and nights.

And though we may not  know each name,

We thank ALL veterans just the same.[1]

   

My prayer today is: “Father, thank you for the freedom that you gave us when you gave your Only Begotten Son to shed His blood for us to be free from the powers of evil. We thank you for those who served and for those who paid a tremendous price for our country to live in freedom.  Comfort the families of the veterans while they remember the sacrifices they made for us. Amen!”

 “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”[2]

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[1] Cheryl Dyson

[2] John 15:12 KJV

Victory at Calvary

V for Victory-The Center of Calvary

Each year at this time we begin to look once again about the sacrifice that was made for us on Calvary. I often look at the suffering of Jesus and wonder if I had been there, what side would I have taken. We must recognize that those taking part in the killing of Jesus could not see the big picture and therefore, they had only the present circumstances for which to make a decision.

One of the things they did not realize was that the greatest victory for us in all of history was won at Calvary. Victory for all mankind was won at Calvary. Our sins were taken to the cross and Jesus provided a way for us to be free from the chains of sin and death. “Mercy there was great, and grace was free; Pardon there was multiplied to me; There my burdened soul found liberty; At Calvary.” [1]

To the followers of Jesus, this was a dark day! They had no hope; they had nothing to look forward to; it was the darkest day possible for them. But to us, we look at the sacrifice on Calvary through the eyes of Easter! Because of this, we have new life and new hope in Christ.

This new hope is available to all who believe on His Name.

Here’s a poem written by my wife Betty Lewis and it really says it all!

IT IS FINISHED!

Veil torn asunder
Earth groaned thunder
IT is finished!
Covenant superseded
Grace interceded
IT is finished!
Perfect sacrifice
Final blood price
IT is finished!
Sin debt paid
God's love displayed
IT is finished!
Grave defeated
Resurrection completed
IT is finished!
Manger to Grave
Sinless life gave
IT is finished!
Prophesies complete
Returned to His Seat
IT is finished!
Faith abounding
Grace astounding
IT is finished![2]

     

 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,f that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” [3]

Happy Easter!

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[1] William R. Newell pub. 1895

[2] Betty L. Lewis 3/29/2015

[3] John 3:16-17 NIV

The New Year

“Brothers, I do not count myself to have attained, but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press towards the goal to the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”[1]

It’s hard to believe that 2018 has just arrived. For some it will be a time of great anticipation and for others it may be a sad time because the circumstances that one may be going through.

The New Year is one of the most significant times of the year to assess where one has come from, where they are now and where they want to go. New Year’s resolutions are great; however, studies show that more than 60 percent are forgotten the first month. Perhaps the reason is defining the difference between wishes and goals. A wish is a dream and a goal is something that is measurable. If a goal is measurable, it is achievable.

It is important to keep our eyes on where we are going and enjoy the moment. That’s why the windshield is so much larger than the rear-view mirror in our vehicles. To spend too much time looking at the past will automatically change one’s direction. I remember as a young boy watching my dad plow with an old mule. It looked so easy and so I convinced him to allow me to take over. His last instruction was, “Keep your eyes on where you’re going.” Of course, I didn’t listen and decided to look back where I’d been and the old mule sensed the change of my focus and took off across the field. Needless to say, it was the last time for me to be allowed to plow. Morale of the story—Never allow the past to cause you to lose your focus on the goal.

We cannot do much about the past, but we can use it’s a launching pad to things of which you’ve never experienced. Today is the first day of the rest of your life! “We are products of our past, but we don’t have to be prisoners of it.”[2]

One’s life consists of periods of time of which we tend to break down into three segments-past, present and future. The past is always getting larger; the present is only a transitional word for the moment and the future is getting smaller. Therefore, one should live the future with no regrets as we add to the size of our past.

Happy New Year!

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[1] Philippians 3:13-14 KJV

[2] Rick Warren

The Bucket List

      We have heard much in recent years about individuals having a “bucket list.” This has been more prevalent since the production of movie in 2007, by the same title. It was a very popular movie and inspired many people to use the term about doing things or going places they had only imagined in their dreams.

      It is only natural, as one gets older to look at the number of years one might have left and start to plan how to spend those years. Looking at the “bucket list” of many individuals, it contains items, for the most part, for number one. May I suggest that life’s greatest satisfaction comes when one realizes and changes the “It’s all about me,” to “It is not all about me.”

      I often wonder why most “bucket lists” concentrate on traveling, jumping out of airplanes, accomplishing physical tasks, etc. Very few lists that I have seen have little or no great impact on the legacy that one wants to leave. Unfortunately for many, one may have just waited too long to do those things. Major changes in our life cause us to alter our plans before we are able to accomplish these tasks.

      When considering the idea of “It’s not about me,” what would your bucket list look like today? Many stop pursuing goals and are waiting for the time of retirement or afraid to make the commitment. They will say; “where do I start?” What if? What if? What if? These two words are unbelievably powerful in preventing us from doing what would be so important.

      Perhaps you regretted not getting the degree that you wanted. It is never too late; go back to school and take the classes and obtain the degree. A friend of mine just had his eighty-ninth birthday and is now pursuing his Master’s degree in Biblical education. It’s a well-known fact that as long as one is learning, the mind will stay stronger.      There is an old saying, “A mind is a terrible thing to waste.” This is true. After spending lifetime learning, it’s terrible to put all that knowledge on the shelf and take it to the grave with us. Just like our body needs exercise, our mind needs it also.

      So what kind of wishes that you have had and not been able to accomplish?  It may include things for personal growth, one’s closeness to God, or special things with the family, or something special with or for others. Doing special things to improve our body, soul and mind is so important. There are so many opportunities to grow even in our golden years to keep them from becoming “rusty years.”

      Notice what the Apostle Paul stated as he neared the later years of his life, “No, dear brothers, I am still not all I should be, but I am bringing all my energies to bear on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which God is calling us up to heaven because of what Christ Jesus did for us.” [1] One has stated, “Looking backward, we see the blessings of God. Looking forward we are able to see His great plans for us.”[2]

      The bottom line should be about setting priorities in our life and accomplishing those things that matter most. Remember—the best time to start is now! This could be the most rewarding time of your life. What will you do and when will you start? When life is just about me, little is accomplished of eternal value. When it’s about others, life takes on a completely new meaning.

      What’s on your Bucket List? Is it something that will live on after you’re gone or will it go with you when you’re gone?

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[1] Philippians 3:13-14

[2] Unknown