Good Morning Everyone,
Our theme for this month: “A life that matters”
Our Bible verse for today: “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13 (NIV)
Our thought for today: “Thank a veteran.”
For most of our history the people of the USA have always demonstrated deep gratitude for those who have served in our Armed Forces. There was one sad and dark period in our nation’s history when a segment of the population did not appreciate the active duty military or veterans. That was in the late sixties and early seventies during the Vietnam era. During those days members of our Armed Forces were often ridiculed, criticized, sometimes spat upon, and even discriminated against.
But aside from that ugly time, there has always been a sense of recognition by the citizens of our country that our nation’s security depends in large part on the sacrificial service of the members of our Armed Forces, and that in many ways, both big and small, their service does involve great sacrifice.
Beyond the fact that they could find themselves in battle and called upon to make the ultimate sacrifice of giving their lives in defense of our nation, members of the Armed Forces serve for relatively low pay; they’re on-call 24/7; they often put in work weeks of 60 or 70 hours or more; and they’re frequently away from home for long periods. There were a number of times during my own career in the Navy when I had to leave my wife and children on a Monday morning in January and I wouldn’t come back home until a Friday afternoon in July. Six and seven month deployments are still part of life for those who serve in the Navy. Our men and women serving in Iraq and Afghanistan are routinely away from home for a year or more.
Today is Veteran’s Day. I want to encourage all of us to make it a point to say a special word of thanks to those who have served our country in the Armed Forces. Maybe you could even go a little further and buy them a cup of coffee, or lunch.
I also want to say a word about those who serve in our law enforcement community. Sadly, there are people in our society today who are treating our law enforcement officers much the same way our military and veterans were treated by some back in the Vietnam era. Actually, it’s worse. Today police officers are being ambushed and killed, right here in the streets of our own communities.
Just as the active duty military and the veterans during the Vietnam era needed words of encouragement and support, so do our law enforcement officers today. Please reach out and let them know how much you appreciate what they do for us. While you’re thanking a veteran, thank a police officer too.
God Bless,
Pastor Jim
Oak Hill Baptist Church 