We had a wonderful Memorial Day Service at Amana on Sunday, including a segment in which all veterans were asked to stand. We were thanked and honored. It wasn’t like that when I came back from war. It wasn’t an honored war; it was Vietnam. I remember our ship coming under the Golden Gate Bridge with all hands on deck with garbage being thrown at us from the bridge. I remember shipmates wearing wigs to go into town to try to avoid being identified as military.
I remember many years later at a Promise Keeper event, being thanked for the first time for my service. My experience is years old and I’m well over it. But I am concerned about those serving now as the country wearies of the War on Terror. These men and women are serving in an undermanned armed forces. They are having to spend way too much time deployed in dangerous war zones. The fervor of 9/11 is a distant memory. I pray that we not forget to spend some time tomorrow amongst the cookouts and general relaxing to spend some time considering their sacrifice and praying for those who serve and their families.
But tomorrow I will be remembering others who are sacrificing, under attack and being murdered not in defense of our country, but in defense of our faith. Christian persecution is as pervasive, if not more so, than at any time in history. You can learn more about what’s happening here.
For 2000 years, men and women have died for their beliefs while those of us who have freedom to worship find it just too much trouble to get up on Sunday mornings and exercise that right. Those of us who have lived a while remember times when it was a lot more comfortable to talk about Our Lord and share our faith. Can full persecution be far away? We should pray for those under attack, and pray that when they come for us, that there is someone there to pray for us or our children.
Remember and
Be blessed.
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