Memorial Day

Starting in 1970 Thomas Monaghan had a vision

• And that was to grow his small pizza chain in MI into one of largest

• And in 1985, that pizza company “Domino’s” was the 2nd largest pizza company in America.

• When he was asked how he accomplished this

• Monaghan explained, “I programmed everything for growth.”

• Every day we develop people

• Because The key to growth is people.”

• It’s Not special cheese, / tasty crust, / fast delivery- It’s People!

Where do you think he came up with this idea that people were so important?

• I don’t know where he got his idea

• But I know where the importance of people first started.

• IT STARTED WITH OUR CREATOR

Ge 1:26 Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” Ge 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

God said, “Let us make man in our image.”

• God didn’t say, “Let us make the dog in our image,“

• “Let us make trees in our image.”

• God made mankind the most important thing in all of His creation!

God’s emphasis in scripture has always been on people!

• God wants all people to be saved !

• If He didn’t love people

• Then why did Christ die on the cross for the sins of people?

Tomorrow is Memorial Day

• So today I want to ask What does Memorial Day weekend mean to you?

• Extra time off from work? A three-day weekend? Eating? Grilling out? Fun time? The Indy 500?

• Or perhaps remembering others?

ILL.- At a commuter train station a policeman noticed a woman driver with her head bowed over the steering wheel in obvious discomfort. The police officer asked her, "Is there anything wrong?"

• Half crying and half laughing, she said, "For ten years I have been driving my husband to this station every morning to catch this train.

• THIS MORNING I FORGOT HIM!"

The worst forgetfulness of all is to forget people!

• One of the biggest lessons that we need to learn is that God didn’t put us here for us!

• God put us here for others!

• This Memorial Day weekend we need to be concerned about others for their good!

• IT’S ALWAYS GOOD TO THINK OF OTHERS, TO LOVE OTHERS, AND TO REMEMBER OTHERS!

In II Timothy 1:3-5 we see that Paul remembered his friend Timothy.

2Ti 1:3 I thank God, whom I serve, as my forefathers did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers.

2Ti 1:4 Recalling your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy.

2Ti 1:5 I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.

V. 3 - “I constantly remember you...in my prayers.”

V. 4 - “Recalling your tears....”

V. 5 - “I have been reminded of your sincere faith...”

Paul remembered Timothy in several ways.

• He remembered him enough to pray for him.

• He remembered the pain in Timothy’s life.

• He remembers his tears.

• And remembered that he was a man of faith in the Lord.

• Timothy was important to Paul.

PROP.- This Memorial Day weekend we need to think about people.

God put us here to remember people!

1- Remember the deceased

2- remember the living

REMEMBER THE DECEASED

Rom. 1:8-9 “First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being reported all over the world. 9God, whom I serve with my whole heart in preaching the gospel of his Son, is my witness how constantly I remember you.”

This Memorial Day weekend we should look back and remember people.

• We should remember the deceased:

• Deceased veterans, deceased family members and deceased friends.

• Originally, Memorial Day was created to remember the Civil War dead,

But over the years it has become a time to remember all deceased veterans and all our deceased loved ones.

• This is one reason why it has long been called “Decoration Day.”

• Many people still go to the graves of their loved ones and decorate them as a sign they haven’t forgotten them.

• HOW COMMENDABLE THAT IS!

ILL.- I have read that on an average day about 750 people will visit the USS Arizona in Hawaii