Honor Our Veterans

This morning we gather, once again, to give thanks for all that God has provided us. We thank Him for all that we have and all we are yet to be given. We thank Him for our family; our friends; our livelihood and all our possessions.

Today, along with our thanks to God, we give our gratitude to all of those that have served to protect our rights to worship the word of God and live as the Gospel of Christ has instructed us to live.

Our Country

This great nation of ours, despite what some may tell you, was built on God’s word and the lessons of Jesus Christ during His ministry here on Earth.

The United States of America had five main Biblical principles that were used in the creation of the Declaration of Independence. These helped form our Biblical foundation:

1) God created all people equal – Genesis 1 and 2

2) God gave every person certain rights that are essential to God’s purpose for them – Genesis 1 and 2

3) God instituted government to secure and protect these rights – Genesis 9 and Romans 13

4) God established moral laws in His word. “We the people” holds the government accountable to God’s moral laws – Exodus 20, Acts 4:18-20 and Romans 2:12-16

5) Government must rule at the consent of the people – Deuteronomy 1:16-17

From Our Founding Fathers

George Washington: “It is impossible to govern the world without God and the Bible.”

This is self-explanatory. You cannot run this country or the whole world without God and the Bible.

Patrick Henry (“Give me Liberty or give me Death”): “If we cannot be emphasized too clearly and too often that this nation was founded, not by religionists, but by Christians; not on religion, but on God’s word, the Gospel of Jesus.”

What Patrick Henry was clearly stating is this nation was founded by Christians not on just any religion but on God’s word, the Gospel of Jesus.

The Birth of Our Soldiers

On September 29, 1789, the final day of its first session, the United States Congress passed “An act to recognize and adapt to the Constitution of the United States, the establishment of the troops raised under the resolves of the United States in Congress assembled.” The act legalized the existing U.S. Army, a small force inherited from the Continental Congress that had been created under the Articles of Confederation.

This was an act in which our military forces were officially created to protect our nation. These forces were to protect, not only the people, but the rights of our country with one such right being our right to worship our God freely. This was, the birth of the American Soldier.

We Volunteered

The nation's first military draft began in 1940, when President Roosevelt signed the Selective Training and Service Act. The draft continued through war and peacetime until 1973, just two short years before the ending of the Vietnam War. More than 10 million men entered military service through the Selective Service System during World War II alone.

Today, enlistment in our Military is voluntary, yet this country has never known a shortage of Soldiers throughout our conflicts. This fact alone, clearly demonstrates the dedication of this Nation’s people, both men and women, to the protection and survival of our great Nation.

Bible Encouragement for Our Soldiers

In 2 Samuel 22, during the reign of David, you will find many references where a Soldier may find their strength. David, himself being a Soldier, drew heavily on God for his victories.

Advancement and Confidence 30 – “With your help I can advance against a troop; with my God I can scale a wall.”

Strength and Safety 33-35 – “It is God who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure. He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he causes me to stand on the heights. He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze.

Victory 38-39 – “I pursued my enemies and crushed them; I did not turn back till they were destroyed. I crushed them completely, and they could not rise; they fell beneath my feet.”

Our Enemies Fear

Why are our soldiers so fear throughout the world? Let's listen to some of the comments about them from our former enemies...

WW II – Quotes from the Germans

“Americans are good fighters with nerve and recklessness.”

—Arunlf Oster, Lieut. of Reserve

“There were only a handful of Americans there, but they fought like wildmen."

—Antone Fuhrmann of Mayschoss

“I had been told by other soldiers that the American infantryman was reckless to the point of foolishness."

—Peter Bertram, shopkeeper of Dernau

These statements clearly show the tenacity of the American Soldier. We fight for all we care about with bravery, honor and a drive that simply cannot be stopped!