Sheepfold Ministries - 2008-05-25 God's breath and the Spiritual War

MEMORIAL DAY - 2008

Introduction:

In April 1863, in Columbus, Mississippi, after decorating graves of her two sons who died representing their beloved south-land, an elderly woman walked to two mounds of dirt at the corner of the cemetery to place memorial flowers there also. "What are you doing?" friends shouted, "Those are the graves of two union soldiers." Softly that compassionate mother said, "I know. I also know that somewhere in the North, a mother or a young wife mourns for them as we do for ours."

That loving deed set in motion our celebration which has become known as Memorial Day. We honor the war dead once a year, but their sacrifice is evident every single day of the year! Today, we want to honor the memory of all those who have sacrificed their lives on the altar of freedom. Those thousands of sacrificed lives were not given in vain! Because of their sacrifice, we are free today and have the right to assemble ourselves together and worship our God. Think of the numbers of those who died to preserve the freedoms we enjoy today:

Revolutionary War 25,324

Civil War 488,322

World War I 116,710

World War II 407,316

Korean War 54,646

Vietnam War 58,098

First Gulf War 298

Iraq War 4,000 plus

These are those in whom we memorialize. May they and their sacrifice never be forgotten. It is also important for us to remember the sweethearts and wives, fathers and mothers, sons and daughters who have also been involved in the paying of this awesome price for our freedom.

Memorial Day Communion

“This do in remembrance of Me” 1 Corinthians 11:24

Tomorrow is Memorial Day. Memorial Day is a day when we remember what brave men and women have done to protect our nation in times of war.

Dennis McCarthy wrote an editorial for the Daily News, which appeared last Friday. McCarthy told about a man named Brian Rooney, a science teacher at Chatsworth High School, who has spent thousands of dollars of his own money, and hundreds of hours of time memorializing our war dead. Brian Rooney has catalogued 8,600 memorials so far in 50 states, remembering the men and women who died protecting America.

Mr. Rooney's mission began in the jungle of Vietnam 33 years ago with a promise he made to a dying soldier. Two simple words were whispered to the young Army medic Brian Rooney, as he leaned over the mortally wounded soldier, trying to read the name on his dog tags. "Remember me," the kid whispered into Rooney's ear as he died. Rooney promised that he would remember him.

That promise grew into an obsession. He now spends much of his time cataloguing memorials for the war dead, making sure they are cared for, and that they are remembered (Los Angeles Daily News, May 23, 2003, p. 3).

What Brian Rooney has done is commendable. From the Revolutionary War to the present, he remembers those who gave their lives defending freedom for the rest of us. "My mission is to bring humanity to every one of them," Rooney said.

Let us take a moment to do the same thing this morning. Please stand silently and remember those who gave their lives to protect and defend our freedom.

(moment of silence)

God’s Breath and the Spiritual war