I FORGOT
DEUTERONOMY 8: 1-20
MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND MAY 30, 2004
INTRODUCTION: General Orders No.11, WASHINGTON, D.C., May 5, 1868
The 30th day of May 1868 is designated for the purpose of strewing with flowers or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion, and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village, and hamlet church-yard in the land. What can aid more to assure this result than cherishing tenderly the memory of our heroic dead, who made their breasts a barricade between our country and its foes? We should guard their graves with sacred vigilance. If our eyes grow dull, other hands slack, and other hearts cold in the solemn trust, ours shall keep it well as long as the light and warmth of life remain to us. Let us, then, at the time appointed gather around their sacred remains and garland the passionless mounds above them with the choicest flowers of spring-time. By order of JOHN A. LOGAN, Commander-in-Chief
For more than two centuries, Americans have been called to defend the founding ideals of our democracy. On Memorial Day, a grateful Nation remembers the proud patriots who made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of liberty’s blessings.
From the opening battles of the American Revolution through the turmoil of the Civil War, to World War I, World War II, Korea, and Vietnam, to the Persian Gulf and today’s operations in the war on terror in Afghanistan, Iraq, and around the world, the members of our military have built a tradition of honorable and faithful service. As we observe Memorial Day, we remember the more than one million Americans who have died to preserve our freedom, the more than 140,000 citizens who were prisoners of war, and all those who were declared missing in action. We also honor our veterans for their dedication to America and their sacrifice. This year, we honor many heroes by observing the 60th anniversary of D-Day on the beaches of Normandy, and by dedicating the National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. In a radio address on June 6, 1944, President Franklin Roosevelt described these service members as the "pride of our Nation," who struggled to preserve our civilization. The fallen from that fateful day and that war will always be remembered. They hold a cherished place in the history of the United States and in the memories of the people they liberated. Today, all who wear the uniform of the United States are serving at a crucial hour in history, and each has answered a great call to serve our Nation on the front lines of freedom. As we continue to fight terrorism and promote peace and freedom-, let us pray for the safety and strength of our troops, for God’s blessing on them and their families, and for those who have lost loved ones.
On this Memorial Day, we honor all of our fallen soldiers, their commitment to our country, and their legacy of patriotism and sacrifice. By giving their lives in the cause of freedom, these heroes have protected and inspired all Americans. In respect for their devotion to America, the Congress, by a joint resolution approved on May 11, 1950, as amended (64 Stat. 158), has requested the President to issue a proclamation calling on the people of the United States to observe each Memorial Day as a day of prayer for permanent peace and designating a period on that day when the people of the United States might unite in prayer.
The Congress, by Public Law 106-579, has also designated the minute beginning at 3:00 p.m. local time on that day as a time for all Americans to observe the National Moment of Remembrance.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim Memorial Day, May 31, 2004, as a day of prayer for permanent peace, and I designate the hour beginning in each locality at 11:00 a.m. of that day as a time to unite in prayer. I also ask all Americans to observe the National Moment of Remembrance beginning at 3:00 p.m. local time on Memorial Day. I urge the press, radio, television, and all other media to participate in these observances.
I also request the Governors of the United States and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the appropriate officials of all units of government, to direct that the flag be flown at half-staff until noon on this Memorial Day on all buildings, grounds, and naval vessels throughout the United States, and in all areas under its jurisdiction and control. I also request the people of the United States to display the flag at half-staff from their homes for the customary forenoon period.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-sixth day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand four, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and twenty-eighth.
GEORGE W. BUSH
OUR NATION’S GODLY HERITAGE
On so very many occasions since September 11, 2001, our nation has been called by our president to prayer. We prayed immediately following that day; we have prayed on each anniversary, and now we pray for our troops as they fight a difficult war. Again this week, our president is calling our nation to prayer--in observance of a long national tradition.
Congress passed a law on May 11, 1950 that instituted Memorial Day, and it was intended to be a national day of prayer for peace. These words from the White House Memorial Day Proclamation make clear the intent:
Section 169g. Memorial Day as day of prayer for permanent peace.
"The President is authorized and requested to issue a proclamation calling upon the people of the United States to observe each May 30, Memorial Day, by praying, each in accordance with his religious faith, for permanent peace; designating a period during such day in which all the people of the United States may unite in prayer for a permanent peace; calling upon all the people of the United States to unite in prayer at such time; and calling upon the newspapers, radio stations, and all other mediums of information to join in observing such day and period of prayer."
Though the observance of the holiday has now been changed to accommodate a longer holiday weekend, the call for Americans to pray is just as urgent.
A FEW IMPORTANT QUOTES:
That from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion, that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain, that this nation under God, and that government of the people by the people and for the people shall not perish from the earth.
--Abraham Lincoln at the commemoration of the Battlefield at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
(The Civil War) created in this country what had never existed before a national consciousness. It was not the salvation of the Union; it was the rebirth of the Union.
Woodrow Wilson (1856-1924) Memorial Day Address, 1915
"Quite simply, it is about remembering, and honoring. Our freedom and prosperity, our nation’s deserved status as the beacon of hope throughout the world, our security as a nation and our comfort and confidence as a society are the result of the sacrifice of those who served our nation in the military. That is what we are supposed to remember and honor today."
--Eliot Spitzer, Attorney General of New York State
What will you do to observe Memorial Day this year?
Make a special effort to pray for peace.
35.5%
Celebrate with family or friends.
33.9%
Attend a Memorial Day observance.
14.1%
Visit a cemetery to decorate a gravesite.
12.2%
Work as usual.
4.4%
**** all the above information was taken directly from the Presidential Prayer Team Web site.
TRANSITION THOUGHT: Today, the question is, “What will we do to observe Memorial Day”? The Text Tony read to us has a caption above it in my Bible that reads, “Do Not Forget the Lord.” It is a call to remember what He has done and as we gather here this day, to honor those that have died that we might live and enjoy the prosperity of our Great Land, and as we gather to honor those that have served us so faithfully, placing the needs of the many above their very lives, and honor those that now serve us, WE GATHER TO REMEMBER AND TO NOT FORGET!
AS THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE ALL OF OUR MEN AND WOMEN THAT HAVE SERVED OUR GREAT NATION THROUGH OUR MILITARY, OR ARE CURRENTLY SERVING TO PLEASE STAND THAT WE MIGHT SHOW YOU THE RESPECT AND HONOR YOU DESERVE!
WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO SAY SOMETHING ON BEHALF OF YOUR TIME OF SERVICE?
THESIS SENTENCE: MEMORIAL DAY IS A CALL TO REMEMBER AND NOT FORGET, NOT ONLY THOSE THAT GAVE THEIR LIVES THAT WE MAY LIVE, BUT TO REMEMBER OUR GOD AND WHAT HE HAS DONE THAT WE MAY LIVE ETERNALLY IN HIS PRESENCE!
I. I FORGOT IS: LIVING CARELESSLY V. 1
A. CARELESS LIVING IS NOT FOLLOWING EVERY COMMAND
B. CARELESS LIVING IS NOT LIVING
C. C L IS NOT INCREASING
D. C L IS NOT POSSESING THE LAND
TRUTH: WE ARE TO LIVE CAREFUL LIVES/ OBEDIENT LIVES
QUESTION: HOW ARE WE LIVING?
II. I FORGOT IS: LIVING WITHOUT HISTORY VV. 2-5/15-16
A. WITHOUT HISTORY IS FORGETTING GOD’S SALVATION V. 2
B. WITHOUT HISTORY IS FORGETTING GOD’S DISCIPLINE/ HUMBLING/ V. 5 C. WITHOUT HISTORY IS FORGETTING GOD’S PROVISION/ MANNA/ CLOTHES/ FEET NOT SWELLING V. 3 &16
D. WITHOUT HISTORY IS FORGETTING GOD’S TEACHING/ NOT BREAD ALONE
E. WITHOUT HISTORY IS FORGETTING GOD’S PROTECTION V. 15
TRUTH: WE ARE TO REMEMBER THE PAST SO THAT WE CAN MINDFUL OF THE GOODNESS OF OUR GOD!
QUESTION: ARE WE REWRITTING HISTORY TO FIT OUR LIVES?
III. I FORGOT IS: LIVING WITHOUT RESPECT VV. 6-9
A. WITHOUT RESPECT IS WITHOUT REVERENCE
B. WITHOUT RESPECT IS WITHOUT THANKSGIVING/ REALIZATION
C. WITHOUT RESPECT IS WITHOUT BLESSING/UNDERSTANDING
TRUTH: OUR GOD DEMANDS OUR RESPECT AS DO THOSE WHO HAVE FAITHFULLY SERVED US!
QUESTION: DO WE SHOW PROPER RESPECT TO GOD AND OTHERS?
IV. I FORGOT IS: PRIDEFUL LIVING VV. 10-14/ 17-18
A. P L IS SELF SATISFACTION VV. 10FF
B. P L IS HAVING ALL YOU WANT VV. 12-13
C. P L IS FALSE PRIDE V. 14
D. P L IS FORGETTING GOD VV. 14-15
E. P L IS TALKING TO YOURSELF V. 17
F. P L IS I DID IT V. 18
TRUTH: ALL WE HAVE COMES FROM GOD AND NOT OUR POWER OR STRENGTH!
QUESTION: FROM WHERE DO YOU BELIEVE YOUR BLESSING HAVE COME ?
V. I FORGOT IS: DISTRUCTION VV. 19-20
A. DISTRUCTION IS FOLLOWING OTHER gods
B. DISTRUCTION IS WORSHIPING AND BOWING TO A LIE
C. DISTRUCTION IS GOD’S ABILITY
D. DISTRUCTION IS DISOBEDIENCE
TRUTH: LIFE WITHOUT REMEMBER GOD IS DESTRUCTION!
QUESTION: HAVE WE FORGOTTEN GOD? PERSONALLY? NATIONALLY?
By Paul Harvey
I would gain control of the most powerful nation in the world;
I would delude their minds into thinking that they had come from man’s
effort, instead of God’s blessings;
I would promote an attitude of loving things and using people, instead of
the other way around;
I would dupe entire states into relying on gambling for their state revenue;
I would convince people that character is not an issue when it comes to
leadership;
I would make it legal to take the life of unborn babies;
I would make it socially acceptable to take one’s own life, and invent
machines to make it convenient;
I would cheapen human life as much as possible so that life of animals are
valued more than human beings;
I would take God out of the schools, where even the mention of His name was
grounds for a lawsuit;
I would come up with drugs that sedate the mind and target the young, and I
would get sports heroes to advertise them;
I would get control of the media, so that every night I could pollute the
minds of every family member for my agenda;
I would attack then family, the backbone of any nation. I would make
divorce acceptable and easy, even fashionable. If the family crumbles, so
does the nation;
I would compel people to express their most depraved fantasies on canvas and
movies screens, and I would call it art;
I would convince the world that people are born homosexuals, and that their
lifestyles should be accepted and marveled;
I would convince the people that right and wrong are determined by a few who
call themselves authorities and refer to their agendas as politically
correct;
I would persuade people that the church is irrelevant and out of date, the
Bible is for the naive:
I would dull the minds of Christians, and make them believe that prayer is
not important, and that faithfulness and obedience are optional;
I GUESS I WOULD LEAVE THINGS PRETTY MUCH THE WAY THEY ARE!
The Truth
According to WorldNetDaily, this was written by Paul Harvey and copyrighted by WorldNetDaily in 1999.
CONCLUSION: TODAY WE ARE CALLED TO REMEMBER THOSE WHO HAVE FAITHFULLY SERVED US, EVEN GIVING THEIR LIVES THAT WE MAY LIVE. TODAY I CALL US TO PRAYER. WE MUST PRAY FOR PEACE AND REMEMBER OUR GOD. LET US JOIN AS THE PEOPLE OF GOD AROUND THE ALTAR THAT WE MIGHT PRAY FOR PEACE, FOR OUR MILITARY SERVING AROUND THE WORLD AND FOR OUR NATION.
BENEDICTION: NUMBERS 6:24-27/ PSALM 33:12 “BLESSED IS THE NATION WHOSE GOD IS THE LORD.”
