I posted this Thursday but then needed to post my sermon for Sunday so I decided to repost it for the weekend.
HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY TO ALL OF YOU!!
Every week since the pandemic started thousands of years ago, I have put out a weekly Midweek Message that is emailed to everyone on our list. The link is posted on the church’s website as well as our FB page. It is also picked up by our local Chamber of Commerce and posted on their page. It is-generally-an informative letter to the folks of OVCF about happenings at the church and in the community, and it was (and still is) my effort to stay in touch (since for so long physical touch and presence were impossible). I wrote the following in this week’s Midweek Message. I share it with you.
As many of you know, I try really hard to avoid politics in person, and especially from the pulpit. In fact, I can promise you that nothing political will come from the pulpit. But with July 4th coming up this Sunday I would like to add some thoughts to this MM. The most recent display of disrespect given by an “athlete” sort of raises my ire a bit. A female hammer thrower, who may have been ticked off more because she placed 3rd (who really knows?), turned her back on the flag during the playing of the National Anthem and then placed a t-shirt over her head. That kind of disrespect does not sit well with me when several things are considered. One, we still live in the greatest country on the planet. This country isn’t perfect but it is still the best place to live. I sometimes wish those who threaten to leave if they don’t get their way, would. Let them go where they don’t even have the freedom to say what they are saying about the U.S. Second, their actions disrespect all those who served, gave up their families and even their lives, to give us the freedom we enjoy. Third, it says that all those who fought for our initial freedom in 1776 were misguided. It spits in the eye of great men like George Washington, Abraham Lincoln and others who saw a new horizon for us. It puts down all the men and women who served. It says to all the great African Americans like Martin Luther King, Jr, Harriet Tubman, Frederick Douglas and others that they wasted their time and efforts to make a difference. Fourth, if they are so disgusted by the USA why are they competing for a place in Olympic history? As I post this, the protestor is trying to back pedal and rationalize. Hmmmm. This July 4th I hope you will take the time to celebrate living in a land of freedom. Are we perfect? No, of course not. Neither is the church, but I celebrate it anyway. Be proud of living in a free nation, made free by the blood of all races, colors and nationalities willing to serve and sacrifice. Okay…off my soapbox. 🙂
The view expressed is mine and is not to be taken as speaking for OVCF, its leaders, or the staff.
I am with you 100 percent brother. I have no patience for those who disrespect the freedom we live under. Oh, I know they need the Lord to see things different but I think they would turn their backs on Him too. We are seeing the fruits of evilness in our world more and more. God’s hand is almost off the US just as the bible declares. I fear for my grandchildren and am taking every opportunity to teach them right from wrong according to the Bible. I hated to come apart from our ladies bible study in Hebrews for the summer. I feel we must challenged each other daily with all that is lacking in the world. Prayed for you as I wrote this. I pray God fill your soul with a fire that will not be lacking as you teach and preach. Then I pray for at least one person hearing you will take heart to your messages and let the fire consume them too. How we need some fiery believers out in this old wicked world. I had a lady say to me on Sunday, where are the Billy Graham’s. I said right here, you and me. We are the Billy’s, in my case the Betty’s, we are ones who need that fire of God stoked in us. Ok, I will stop preaching and say, blessings Bill.
WOW! Thank you Betty for your comment. And thank you for the prayer. And yes, we do need more Billy’s.
I couldn’t have said it better myself, Bill. Happy Independence Day!
I figured you would agree Martha. We think a whole lot alike.
I loved that we sang one of those patriotic hymns this morning, followed by a true focus of praise to the Lord.
Only HE shall reign forever and ever. Come Lord Jesus, come …
You are absolutely right Linda. Only He will reign forever.
I have no idea what is going on in the minds of these athletes.. first a football player, and now an olympic?
The way I see it.. we are better off here than in most other countries. If you did something like that in Cuba I guarantee you’d never see the light of day again!
Then again.. maybe that’s why they did it.. because they can.
Still, there are other ways of doing something.. a lot of ways actually, that doesn’t show a lack of disrespect for our country!
That is my point exactly Ed.