Memorial Day: A Tribute to Military Women

Going to war is never an easy decision to make; especially when we have to put our sons and daughters on the front lines to fight it.  In the history of our nation, war has been a part of it.  From the American Revolutionary War to the War on Terror in Afghanistan and Iraq, our nation has lost 1,321,612 of our sons and daughters.  It is heart wrenching to hear the news that your child, husband, dad, wife, mother, son, daughter, grandchild will no longer eat at the table to enjoy a meal, laughter, and conversation.  War is brutal.  It rips nations a part and it drives families deep into mental chaos wondering if their loved one will return home. 

Within the pages of our history, men and women have braved the elements of war.  They stood bravely on the battlefields and fought for a nation whom they loved, admired, and cherished.  They fought for freedom that they themselves may not have fully understood in its totality, but nevertheless it was important to fight and preserve.   

To answer the call to fight takes courage, trust, and an allegiance to God and country.  To say yes to fight and defend the values of our forefathers, families, and fellow citizens takes a wiliness and determination.  To leave the comforts of home to travel to a land where there are no guarantees of returning home takes love and passion. 

War doesn’t just call men, but women as well.  War is no respecter of persons.  It takes a “United” States to win a war.  So often, men are the headline news of war causalities.  However, women have had their share of causalities, too.  According to the Army Times, sixteen women died in combat in Vietnam and in the Persian Gulf, six female soldiers died.  According to the Korean Wall Educator, eighteen women died in the Korean War.  And, according to the History and Collections:  Women in Military Service for American Memorial Foundation, one hundred forty three women have died in the war on terrorism in Afghanistan and Iraq.  While the numbers are nowhere near that of men, one death is still a tragedy.  The lost of a mother, a wife, a daughter is still devastating to the one losing her. 

Women have played a vital role throughout the history of our nation and throughout the history of the world.  In Judges 4, there was a Judge by the name of Deborah.  She was a mighty warrior.  She led a broken down Israelite Army to victory.  It isn’t the gender that should make the difference; rather it is the resolve and dedication of each person to make a better nation that should matter mostly. 

While I am grateful for every military member, this year I am especially proud of the women who have fought for our nation and have given their lives to help preserve our freedom.  Although some women may not be directly in the line of fire on the battlefield, her service to our nation doesn’t go unnoticed.  Her persistence in praying and taking care of the home and supporting in ways many will never know is greatly appreciated.  Thank you ladies for having courage to be protectors of our great nation we call the United States of America!  You will never be forgotten.

Remember, Be God Controlled!

Brian

Is War Ever Right?

Our nation celebrates, morns, and remembers the fallen of our military on May 26, 2014. As a Veteran of the U.S. Army, I have a profound respect for every person who has put on the uniform of the United States of America military. So often, people question whether or not if it is right to go to war. Protesters line the streets of our cities to protest war.  The question is: Is war ever right?

What is war?:  According to the Webster’s Dictionary, war is:  “a state or period of fighting between countries or groups.  A situation in which people or groups compete with or fight against each other.  An organized effort by a government or other large organization to stop or defeat something that is viewed as dangerous or bad.”

There are many different types of wars:  War on drugs.  War on drinking and driving.  War on smoking.  Military wars. And on the list goes.  Each war is supposed to bring about a solution for the betterment or the protection of society as a whole. 

Ecclesiastes 3:8 Solomon said, "There is a time for war and a time for peace." According to Solomon, war is the right thing at times. The Bible tells of the times where God has commanded a war. When you look at the great heroes of the faith in Hebrews 11 there are a number of great leaders who stood out during a time of war: Joshua, David, Gideon, and Samson. Throughout the Old Testament, there were times in which war was the only option or a God directive.

Our nation has fought in many wars: From the Revolutionary War to the Civil War to World War 1 to World War 2 to the Korean War to Vietnam War to Iraq War to Afghanistan War. The call to war isn’t an easy decision to make, nor is it easy for families to let go of their sons and daughters to go fight them.

The United States is not the only nation who goes to war or is in a war.  As I write this article, Ukraine is in a bitter battle to keep their sovereignty.  Central African Republic is in a civil war. Egypt is dealing unrest. Nigeria is in war against Islamist militants. Sudan is in war against rebel groups and south Sudan is in a civil war.

Where you have people who want to control, manipulate or has a deep-seated hatred for others, you will have wars where blood is shed, people die, and nations go at it against each other.  I have seen firsthand protesters declaring their own war with those who have gone to war against another nation.  The protestor’s war may not shed blood or claim a life, but the desire to protest against someone else is still defined as a war. 

Is there any biblical precedence for declaring a war that sheds blood and takes lives?  Is there any justification for declaring war to stop dictators or to defend the innocent from oppression?  Is there any logic to the desire to stop the spread of evil by using force?  What would be some biblical reasons to go to war?:

To liberate a nation from dictatorship: God told Joshua to wipe out the Midianites, because they were very oppressive and evil. One of the evil practices they did was to throw babies into the fire.

In Numbers 32, God got very upset the Gadites and Reubenites tribes in Israel because they would not go to war. Moses says to these two tribes, "What are you going to do? Just sit here while the rest of your brothers go to war? Aren't you going to participate?" God became very anger and swore an oath: “Because they have not followed me wholeheartedly, not one of the men twenty years old or more who came up out of Egypt will see the land I promised Abraham.” Numbers 32:10b-11

 To defend innocent people: John Stewart Mills said, “A man who has nothing which he is willing to fight for, nothing which he cares about more than his personal safety, is a miserable creature who has no chance of being free.” Proverbs 21:15 “When justice is done it brings joy to the righteous but terror to evildoers.”

To stop the spread of evil: The Bible is very clear that God has authorized the government to enforce the law and punish offenders. Romans 13:4 “...He is God's servant, an agent of justice to bring punishment on the wrongdoers."

Remember, Be God Controlled,

Brian

Not to be Served!

Jesus lived his life in the same matter by which he was born.  Humble.  Simple.  And, servant-like.  Jesus’ motive was pure and transparent.  He loved people so much that he went out of his way to help others have a better day, better health, and better life.  Washing the disciples feet, healing the sick, opening the eyes of the blind, opening the ears of the deaf, helping a scarred disciple from sinking into the deep waters, feeding thousands, and using his body as a sacrifice for our sins is a true testimony of the Jesus way of life

Albert Einstein said is well, "Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile."  This is Jesus!  Ralph Waldo Emerson must have gotten a glimpse of Jesus, too when he said, "Religion is to do right. It is to love, it is to serve, it is to think, it is to be humble."

Mahatma Gandhi was a walking Jesus in service to others.  He said, "The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others."

Service is not an attention getter to self, but rather, to place the attention on the needs of others and to model the service attitude of Jesus.  The best way to be a Jesus server to others is to model the following traits:

Be a servant:  Greatness in the kingdom is not achieved by who is first, but rather by being a willing servant to one another.  Jesus said to his disciples in Mark 10:43-45,  “...Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave of everyone else. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Richard Foster wrote, "When we choose to be a servant, we give up the right to be in charge."  The essence of life is not about being in charge or the leader or the top dog.  The essence of life is about modeling the servant life so that the needs of others are met and the attention and glory is given to Jesus Christ!

Be a humble and loving servant:  The world's view of service is:  Since I helped you, you help me.  I scratched your back, now you scratch mine.

Jesus modeled a service lifestyle much differently than even his disciples had known.  Jesus regarded service as a primary way of demonstrating love for those whom He served and a way to put importance of one person over another in perspective.  Jesus told his disciples to follow His example of showing true servanthood by washing each others feet in John 13:12-16, "After washing their feet, he put on his robe again and sat down and asked, “Do you understand what I was doing? You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you are right, because that’s what I am. And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. I have given you an example to follow.

Do as I have done to you. I tell you the truth; slaves are not greater than their master. Nor is the messenger more important than the one who sends the message."

In Jesus' day, feet washing were reserved for the household servant.  Since Jesus and His disciples were meeting in a place of secrecy, there would not have been any servants.  Remember, Jesus is getting ready to suffer and die for humanity.  The fact that Jesus donned on a servants garb and began to wash the feet of His disciples is truly a testimony of His character as the Son of Man and a demonstration of His unconditional love for His disciples.   The feet washing was a way for Jesus to teach these guys that the ministry will not be about who is more important, who will be first, who will sit at His right or left side, but rather, it was a way of tearing down the pride and ego of the disciples so that the servant heart towards one another would be seen as kingdom priority. 

We as a community of Christians must do the same.  Serving each other is vitally important for our community and for each other.  The Christian community in Acts 2 at the tail end of the chapter was all about serving one another.  When we do this as a community of believers will make huge a huge impact on our towns, cities, States, and Country.  Model Jesus by serving rather than be served!

Remember, Be God Controlled!

Brian