Thank God and Thank a Veteran

By: American Decency Staff

 

An Epoch Times headline reads: ‘Truly an Honor’: Trump Becomes First Sitting President to Attend NYC Veterans Day Parade. One may wonder why this president chose to attend this event when other sitting presidents haven’t; this president has had some personal history with this Veterans Day Parade. This same article also reports that ‘“Over 25 years ago, [President] Trump did his part to support the parade, which was in financial trouble,’ one of the parade organizers said, noting that when Trump was sworn into office, he made a priority to clean up the Veterans Affairs agency.”

I wonder how many of our readers know why Veterans Day is on November 11th. This day on which we rightfully honor all our veterans used to be called Armistice Day; November 11 was chosen because it was the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918 that World War I ended. On a sad note, although the Armistice was signed at 5:00 AM on NOVEMBER 11, the fighting continued till 11:00 AM. In those final, and fatal, six hours nearly 11,000 more men were unnecessarily killed.

Throughout our rich and liberty-loving history, millions of Americans have chosen to enter the United States military, to be willing to live out the words of Jesus in John 15:13. “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends,” and let me add for our veterans, and countrymen.

When I think of the millions of men, women, and sometimes children, who have risked their lives, families, honor, and fortune for the sake of liberty, it saddens me that there are many in our nation who are embracing the same destructive principles of communism/socialism that these “brothers-in-arms” put everything on the line for. As we embrace the evils that those we honor today fought against, we spit on their sacrifice, are ungrateful for their service, and shame ourselves in the process.

I know that the sentence above won’t describe most of our readers; but look around our nation and see the precarious situations we are putting ourselves in.

Daily Wire headline from today (Veterans Day; November 11, 2019) “SHOCKER: San Francisco Elects Radical D.A. Whose Parents Were American Terrorists.” Any number of headlines would be appropriate as the US shakes hands with China and its ruling Communist Party (Huawei, NBA, Human Rights atrocities, investing in Chinese businesses—even with military pension funds). Headlines that reveal Sen. Warren (D-Mass), Sen. Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), and any number of others in our legislative body that would push socialist programs, conspire to take our guns, and limit our free speech or squelch our religious liberties. All these things and many, many more show a blatant disregard for the numerous sacrifices that have been and are being made by soldiers on our behalf. As these men and women willingly give of their time and talents to protect our freedoms, we should have hearts of gratitude that spill over into action by fighting at home against these socialist ills that would bring our nation to destruction, disregarding their precious gifts and sacrifice.

I have neither forgotten why we have set this day aside for honoring these men and women nor have I taken advantage of this day to strike at ideological opponents. Part of honoring these soldiers is remembering what they fought/are fighting for and doing what we can to preserve what they sacrificed to protect.

I encourage my children to be grateful for the sacrifice of these men and women, and not only on Veterans Day. I urge you to do likewise. Make Veterans Day special by thanking a veteran for their service, buy their meal and/or sit and listen to what they have to say. Visit veterans at a local nursing home, sometimes their families are too far to visit or sometimes they are just left there lonely and forgotten. Finally I would remind you to pray for our military members and their families. Many suffer from PTSD, suicidal thoughts, or may struggle with physical/mental/spiritual health.

Finally, I would be remiss if I didn’t point you to Jesus. He did battle with our greatest enemies (Satan, sin, and death) and emerged victorious. He did an atoning work on the cross so that we wouldn’t have to experience the deserved wrath of God for our sin. In Christ we have true liberty that can never be taken away regardless of what one’s government does. If you have experienced the transforming power of Christ in your own life, you are meant to be a soldier—a soldier of the cross! I urge you to live in holiness and fight the good fight of faith. Spiritual warfare abounds all around us—socialism is only a small part of this spiritual warfare. Train your children; encourage the Church; and stand having done all to stand in this evil day.

Let me close with the words of a hymn that is dear to me and fitting at this hour:

    Am I a soldier of the cross,
   A follow’r of the Lamb?
   And shall I fear to own His cause,
   Or blush to speak His name?

    Must I be carried to the skies
   On flow’ry beds of ease,
   While others fought to win the prize,
   And sailed through bloody seas?

    Are there no foes for me to face?
   Must I not stem the flood?
   Is this vile world a friend to grace,
   To help me on to God?

    Sure I must fight if I would reign;
   Increase my courage, Lord;
   I’ll bear the toil, endure the pain,
   Supported by Thy Word.

    Thy saints in all this glorious war
   Shall conquer, though they die;
   They see the triumph from afar,
   By faith’s discerning eye.

    When that illustrious day shall rise,
   And all Thy armies shine
   In robes of vict’ry through the skies,
   The glory shall be Thine.

We at the American Decency Association are in this spiritual warfare. We, as faithful soldiers of the cross, bring salt and light to the issues of today. As with any military endeavor (and a ministry is a spiritual military endeavor), it takes financial support to fight. If you appreciate our efforts and would like to support us in this branch of spiritual warfare, prayerfully consider helping us as best you can. This is a time of year when support wanes and your gift of appreciation and obedient support would mean a lot. Thank you for reading, giving, and praying.

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