Light Brings Salt
Volume 3, Issue 22 May 29, 2005
Dedicated to the Systematic Exposition of the Word of God
Memorial
A Time of Remembering
We as believers in Jesus Christ are truly blessed in so
many ways as we're learning in our studies. We have been blessed as new
creations in Christ to be able to live a life not enslaved to the sin nature.
We have a freedom in Christ that is a great gift and with it are many
responsibilities as we grow in the Word and apply it in our lives.
We are also blessed to live in a country that has always
honored freedom and liberty like no other nation in history. Yet today we far
too many in our own country with no understanding of history or the perspective
of divine viewpoint in life attempting to undermine the very freedoms that have
been earned on the battlefields in our
short history.
Not only have we been kept and our freedom maintained but
countless millions around the world have and enjoy a measure of freedom that
they would not have if not for those who have faithfully served in our
military. Many paid the ultimate price to see that freedom was extended to
them. Two recent examples are the 25
million in
General Douglas MacArthur
in his address of
The ideals he set forth in that speech have been a
motivating factor for those American soldiers that have followed him.
Since we are created in God's image we know that life is
precious but we also know that life is short, we are but a vapor as we saw in James
4:14. Therefore everyday is important to us in our lives and we need to be
mindful of what are our motivations and objectives each day.
A
reminder of just how precious life is and having an objective in life greater
than one's sel-centered desires is seen I believe in
several letters written home that express some of what we should keep in mind
as we think about what memorial day is about.
A letter home from Marine Capt. Ryan A. Beaupre:
Mom & Dad,
Well if you are reading this, then things didn't go well for me over in
All my love,
Ryan
Ryan Beaupre, 30, of
And this from Marine Lance Cpl. Michael J.
Williams' last letter home:
...I know I am here to do a job that not everyone
can handle or they just choose not to do. I can't help but wonder what God has
in store for me and for us. God knows I live to love and would die to give just
one person a chance for life in a peaceful world. My weakness in life just
might be my willingness to sacrifice my life for the good of this world we live
in.I am not trying to make you worry about me, but
only to know that I am here because I want to be here and that I believe God
has given me the chance to help the people who have helped me, and also the
people I have not even met yet. I love you Heather, and I want to spend my life
with you, but God has called me to do this first. There is a phrase the Marine
Corps adopted, it is "Semper
Fi." It means "Always Faithful." To
God, my country, my family I will always be faithful. You are now part of my
family. When all of this is over, God will have revealed his plan for me being here ..... For now, I belong to my country, when I come
back, I am yours.
And Marine Sgt. Michael E. Bitz
wrote:
Dear Mom:
This is the largest battle group the
Love, your son,
Michael
Bitz, 31, of
We should remember that
So what
ground did these men hallow? Some sand? Your next tank of gas?
No. Far from it. Freedom
is the sacred ground hallowed by their blood. And it's yours and mine, to enjoy
every day. To laugh, or cry, and hug our children. And
hope that the John Smiths, those miserable creatures, may some day know of men
better then themselves.
Honoring a Marine who Honored Us
On Saturday morning May 21st I flew
to
Earlier in the week
At
All seven Marines removed the
American Flag from the casket. They raised the stars and stripes above the
casket pulling the flag rigid like a drum. Then they tightly folded the flag
step by step in a triangle with the ends tucked firmly in place. One of the Marines
did an about face and presented the flag to the Marine Sergeant standing alone
to the rear of the casket, and saluted the flag.. The
Marine in charge carrying the flag proceeded to the seat of the father John Prazynski. The Marine knelt down and bowed his head and
presented the flag to the grieving father as the final gesture of sympathy and
appreciation by the United States Marine Corps for the brave service of this
young Marine.
Seven Marines standing away from the
proceedings fired their rifles in three volleys representing a 21 gun salute,
and you could hear muffled screams of sorrow from the youth in attendance as a
lone bugler in Marine dress blues played the sad haunting sound of “Taps’ that
echoed across the green rolling plains of Arlington on to the endless stream of
white stones in this section called” Iraqi Freedom”. This was the Marines way
of sending a signal to God to open the gates of Heaven for the arrival of
[Corporal] Prazynski who gave his life for his
country and our fight against terror throughout the world.
Its important to remember! To remember the awesomeness of the grace of
God to each of us who have believed in Christ and have the opportunity to live
free and to worship Him as we study His Word. As we come to the Lord's table it’s a time of remembrance and thanksgiving.