Memorial Day - Rejoice with those who Rejoice, Mourn with those who Mourn - Purity 1054
Purity 1054 05/27/2023 Purity 1054 Podcast
Purity 1054 on YouTube: Coming Soon!
Good morning,
Today’s photo
of flowers and a trio of American flags at the base of a tree at Hudson Riverview
Park with the “river that flows two ways” – The Mighty Hudson– or as the people
who were native to the land called it “Mahicantuk”, in the background under a rather gray and
somber sky comes to us from Tara Becker who shared this picture of the tree
dedicated to her father, H. Foster Hetteshimer Jr. on social media a few days
ago , “Remembering all who served and sacrificed for our great country this
Memorial Day”.
Tara’s father’s
memorial stone at the base of the tree reveals that one her Dad’s encouragements in
life was “One Day at a Time”, advice those of us in recovery know as true
wisdom and words that stuck with Tara as she has decide to honor her father
faithfully through the years since his passing as the stone also declares that it
will be the tenth anniversary of his death this October, proving that love
endures beyond death and although our
departed loved ones may be gone, they are not forgotten.
Well, It is Saturday
and before my wife and I take our heavy backpacks and slowly walk off the grid
into the woods on our way to the Nenorod Cabin somewhere in the wilderness of
the Merck Forest and Farmland Center in Rupert Vermont for two nights, we will
have the privilege of playing a small part in honoring and remembering those
who died while serving our country in the armed forces by decorating servicemen’s
graves at a local cemetery with other volunteers from Operation Adopt a Soldier.
In honor of
Memorial Day, I am sharing link’s to History.com’s article on Memorial Day (https://www.history.com/topics/holidays/memorial-day-history)
and an article from Jessica Manfre’s called“Memorial Day: It’s not just for
service members lost in combat” (https://www.wearethemighty.com/articles/memorial-day-its-not-just-for-service-members-lost-in-combat/)
that makes the appeal for Memorial Day to be a day that we also acknowledge the
loss of those who have died while serving in training exercises, accidents, or
suicides.
There is
always some confusion over Memorial Day, Veteran’s Day, and July 4th
as each one these holidays often come with sentiments to remember the dead who
served, either in combat, while on active duty, or afterwards in peace time.
Technically,
from what I could gather researching it this morning – Monday’s holiday –
Memorial Day - is to “commemorate
American military personnel who died in all wars”. Based on that quote from the
history.com article, it sounds like Memorial Day is specifically for those who
died in combat – or while serving at any time as our military is always at “war”
in some sense as in “the Cold War” or the “war on Terror” or philosophically as
the “war to protect our freedom”.
According to
an article from CNN, Veteran’s Day is the day “to honor all who have served in
the military” (https://www.cnn.com/2021/05/30/us/memorial-day-vs-veterans-day-trnd/index.html)
- presumably living or dead, and I would
imagine we would include those we honor on Memorial Day to the mix (so they get
two days for their one ultimate sacrifice – and rightfully so).
Independence
Day, July 4th, although “commonly associated with the military due to the military guns and cannons
often fired to celebrate” it, “is not military affiliated.” Independence Day is
the day we celebrate our nation’s independence and freedom – as July 4th
1776 was “the day the thirteen colonies (the United States) declared
independence from Great Britain by signing the Declaration of Independence”. (https://www.veteranaid.org/blog/2016/06/30/the-difference-between-memorial-day-independence-day-and-veterans-day/)
However, when we come to celebrate
our nation’s independence it’s not surprising when we pass along our thanks to
those serving or who have served our country in the military or when we pause
to remember those who have died in combat or later in peace time who served.
Although I present all the
specific differences here, I do so for the sake of clarity and my own curiosity
and reeducation, I will definitely NOT be the guy to “correct those” who either
want to give thanks or honor to living, active, retired, or dead service men on
Memorial Day, these other holidays, or any other day of the year for that
matter.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NLT2) tells us to:
18 Be thankful in all
circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.
So if you want to give thanks to service men or anyone else for that matter, don’t let “Proper protocol” stop you from doing that. We are to be thankful in all circumstances and I think it’s expected to express our thankfulness to give credit to those for the things they do and to give God glory for putting the desire to do good things in the hearts of those who do them.
And as for whether Memorial Day should be a grave or happy affair, we look to:
Romans 12:15 (NIV2011) that tells us to:
15 Rejoice with those who
rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.
As people will be gathering for parades, parties, and memorial services this holiday weekend, let’s follow the word of God and be aware of our surroundings and act accordingly to show our love for others. If we encounter people who are mourning a loss (any loss) or grieving the death of a loved one (military service person or otherwise), let’s be compassionate and offer our silent presence, our help, our guidance, or our hope as the Lord leads you. There are no pat answers on how to help people in their grief, every situation is different, but we do well when we show our care and concern for the other person by listening to them and by asking them and the Lord in prayer, how to best serve them in their grief.
And as for people rejoicing, join in the frivolity of the moment by being spontaneous but be careful not to get to carried away by entering into sin or overindulging in things that will make cause you to regret it later. Also use the times of happiness with others to give thanks to the Lord and to guide those around you to see just how good God is, all the time.
The ultimate sacrifice that people have made for our
country naturally can lead us to remember the sacrifice Jesus made on the cross
to save us all, American or otherwise.
So as you are called to mourn or rejoice this weekend, be sure to be
discern the situation but if you get the chance and the Lord leads you, tell people
of the One who overcame death and the grave and of the great hope or
everlasting life that comes to all who put their faith in Jesus.
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For those who want more evidence for Christianity
than my simple apologetic will provide, I offer apologist, Frank Turek’s
website, https://crossexamined.org/ .
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Today’s
Bible verse comes to us from “The NLT Bible Promise Book for Men”.
This
morning’s meditation verses are:
Philippians 2:9-11 (NLT2)
9 Therefore, God elevated him
to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names,
10 that at the name of Jesus
every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Today’s verses remind us that Jesus Christ is Lord and that He has been given the highest place of honor and the name that is above all other names.
As much as I love my country and appreciate the sacrifices of those who live and die to uphold it’s freedom, I know who is supreme. The Bible tells us that Jesus is the king of Kings and Lord of Lords and that He has been given the highest honor and authority above all others.
Worldly empires rise and fall, and I shudder to think what that might mean for America and its future but whether I live to see a day where the United States of America would pass away or not, I know that being a member of God’s kingdom through faith in Jesus Christ trumps all earthly allegiances as one day every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.
So no matter where you stand politically, let’s recognize that Jesus is above every other name, kingdom or principality and let’s always seek to serve His kingdom first.
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As always, I invite all to go to mt4christ.org where I
always share insights from prominent Christian theologians and counselors to
assist my brothers and sisters in Christ with their walk.
Today we continue sharing from The Holy Spirit By A.W. Pink.
As always, I share this information for educational
purposes and encourage you all to purchase A.W. Pink’s books for your own
private study and to support his work. This resource is available online
for $0.99 (https://www.amazon.com/Holy-Spirit-Arthur-Pink-Collection-ebook/dp/B008CM5292/ref=sr_1_3?crid=AHKAQOM39CTN&keywords=a.w.+pink+the+holy+spirit&qid=1684376225&sprefix=a.w.+pink+the+holy+spirit+%2Caps%2C96&sr=8-3)
A.W. Pink’s The Holy Spirit
5 - The
Covenant-Offices of the Holy Spirit
The ground which we are now to tread, will, we fear, be new
and strange to most of our readers. In the January and February 1930 issues of Studies in the Scriptures, we wrote two
rather lengthy articles upon “The Everlasting Covenant.” There we dwelt
principally upon it in connection with the Father and the Son; here we shall
contemplate the relation of the Holy Spirit unto the same. His covenant-offices
are intimately connected with and indeed flow from His Deity and Personality,
for if He had not been a Divine Person in the Godhead, He would not and could
not have taken a part in the Covenant of Grace. Before proceeding further, let
us define our terms.
Definitions
By the “Covenant of Grace,” we refer to that
holy and solemn compact entered into between the august Persons of the Trinity
on behalf of the elect, before the foundation of the world. By the word
“offices” we understand the whole of that part of this sacred compact which the
Holy Spirit undertook to perform. Lest some should suppose that the application
of such a term to the Third Person of the Godhead be derogatory to His
ineffable majesty, let us point out that it by no means implies subordination
or inferiority. It signifies literally a particular charge, trust, duty, or
employment, conferred for some public or beneficial end. Hence we read of “the
priest’s office” (Ex. 28:1; Luke 1:8), the apostolic “office” (Rom. 11:13),
etc.
There is then no
impropriety in using the word “office” to express the several parts which the
Son and the blessed Spirit undertook in the Covenant of Grace. As Persons in
the Trinity they were equal; as covenanting Parties they were equal; and as
They in infinite condescension, undertook to communicate to the church
unutterable favors and blessings, Their kind offices, so graciously and voluntarily
entered into, neither destroy nor diminish that original equality in which They
from all eternity subsisted in the perfection and glory of the Divine Essence.
As Christ’s assumption of the “office” of “Servant” in no way tarnished or
canceled His equality as the Son, so the Spirit’s free undertaking the office
of applying the benefits of the
Everlasting Covenant (Covenant of Grace) to its beneficiaries in no way
detracts from His essential and personal honor and glory.
The word “office,”
then, as applied to the covenant-work of the Holy Spirit, denotes that which He
graciously undertook to perform by way of stipulated engagement and sets forth,
under one comprehensive term, the whole of His blessed pledging and
performances on behalf of the election of grace. To an enlightened
understanding and a believing heart, there is in the Covenant itself—in the
fact of it, and the provisions of it—something singularly marvelous and
precious. That there should have been a Covenant at all—that the three Persons
in the Godhead should have deigned to enter into a solemn compact on behalf of
a section of the fallen, ruined, and guilty race of mankind should fill our
minds with holy wonderment and adoration. How firm a foundation was thus laid
for the salvation of the church. No room was allowed for contingencies, no
place left for uncertainties; her being and well-being was forever secured by
unalterable compact and eternal decree.[1]
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tomorrow------------------------
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Email me at mt4christ247@gmail.com to receive the class materials, share your progress, and
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My wife, TammyLyn, also offers Christian
encouragement via her Ask Seek Knock blog (https://tammylynask.blogspot.com/ ), her
Facebook Group: Ask, Seek, Knock (https://www.facebook.com/groups/529047851449098 ) and her podcast Ask, Seek, and Knock on
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For those who require the assistance of a Deeper
Walk International Prayer Minister to experience healing or your freedom in
Christ, I highly recommend Christy Edge’s Life on the Edge Freedom Prayer
Ministry. You can schedule a session by going to : https://cedge216.wixsite.com/life-on-the-edge
“The views, opinions, and commentary of this
publication are those of the author, M.T. Clark, only, and do not purport to
reflect the opinions or views of any of the photographers, artists, ministries,
or other authors of the other works that may be included in this publication,
and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of any entities the
author may represent.”
Encouragement for the Path of Christian Discipleship
[1]
Arthur Walkington Pink, The Holy Spirit
(Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, n.d.).
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