Proudly Standing Up

I'm not one to publicly vent my political views but in light of some of the protest against this Nation's flag, I have decided to share some of my thoughts on the matter.

I had seen a picture of the first football player kneeling at a game a week ago and then I saw another athlete a few days later do the same at their game, and then last night I see a person kneeling at the first game of the football season. In my mind I wanted to turn off the television and not even watch the game, but it was the opening game and why would we let this person ruin our evening. 

This flag means something very special to us. It represents, not only the freedom we have here in this country, but also the lives of so many men and women who have fought and died for that freedom. They died so that these athletes can kneel if they want to. They died so that we can have the freedom to say your opinions in an open forum. And yet so many people do not understand that sacrifice that these men and women had to endure.

And it is not just the soldiers themselves who sacrifice. The Preacher and I are Blue Star parents. That means that we have a son in harms way in a war or during a time of hostility. We do not have the luxury of having our son here with us to sit and watch a football game in the comfort of our living room. We do not have the luxury of being able to pick up the phone and hear his voice at any given time during the day. We understand the sacrifice that so many soldiers and their parents have had to endure and still are enduring to this day.

Even before our son went off to join the military, I would tear up a little when listening to our National anthem and see the flag waving over a sporting field. I have a brother who fought in the Gulf War and a nephew who also served our country. So it was very personal to me. Now when I see that flag being waved by men and women of the different branches of the military, I tear up even more because it hits home even closer.

What happened to the solidarity that we all had the days after 9/11? You couldn't walk through a neighborhood without seeing an American flag waving from a front porch. You couldn't drive down the road without seeing the American flag being flown from car windows and truck beds. Where has that pride gone?

I feel that by not standing and placing your hand over your heart while the anthem is being sung and the flag is waving, you are slapping the faces of all of the soldiers that have fought and those who are still fighting to this day. There is something great about this country and that greatness came with a price. We should not forget that nor should we disgrace that. The flag represents something greater than any one person.

If these individuals want to make a difference, then they should start doing something positive and not divisive. I don't know what is going on in their personal lives, maybe they are helping people less fortunate than they are. From what I read they get paid a lot of money to play their sport. I would hope with that fortune they would choose to give back. 

In this time of hatred, of them verses us, of one political party against another, I would hope that people would be a little tired of all of the negativity and would come together, under the flag of the United States, and begin to do and say positive and loving things.

This is not about racism, this is not about religion, this is not about Republican versus Democrat – this is about a symbol that represents all of those things.

The Preacher and I will stand and proudly put our right hand over our hearts the next time we hear the National anthem being played and see that flag waving, where ever it may be. We ask that you join us in being proud of this Nation and what it stands for....freedom.

Love from the Preacher and I

Don't Do It For You...Do It For God

A few weeks ago I had a conversation with someone who was discouraged by a person who was the head of a certain ministry. They had noticed that the character of the ministry leader was not what they expected.

After we talked, I began to think a lot about this subject, and it's funny how God works in my life when He knows I'm contemplating something. I received this advertisement in my email. When I saw it, the caption caught my eye — "Don't go to Seminary for yourself. Go for THEM." I immediately remembered the conversation I had with this person.

https://www.indwes.edu

Then just a few days later I saw this post on a Facebook group that I follow. I think the Lord was trying to tell me something.

"On humility in sharing your work...I just really want to encourage you to really check your heart on this one. If you are truly at a place in your heart where sharing your work would cause you to become prideful, then by all means, be obedient to the Lord in holding off in sharing until you have completely surrendered that pride to the Lord, but if you are not at risk for becoming prideful in sharing your work...both art and words, PLEASE do not let satan trick you into thinking humility means not sharing the things that the Lord has helped you to create or learn!! Jesus set the example of humility and He showed extraordinary grace in giving and sharing so that others could come to the knowledge of the Good News!!!" —Breken Berning, Journaling Bible Community

I think when you are leading or in charge of a ministry, whether that be a small ministry through your church or a large ministry that you yourself are trying to build, you sometimes can walk a fine line between pride - serving yourself, and humility - serving others.

I have been around a few people who work in different ministries, and to tell you the truth, there are some who I really didn't like being around. 
For example, the Preacher used to work as a Youth Pastor and served on a few committees that put together large youth conventions. One year we had the budget to bring in a big name band for our convention. During the concert, several of our youth and I worked the band's merchandise table. I was very excited because they happened to be my favorite band at that time. We were to help sell t-shirts and their cassette tapes (showing my age). During the band's break they came back to the table to sign autographs and meet the kids. I wish they never had come back because in that 15 minutes I saw who they really were. They were very rude to us who were helping them and afterward you could tell that they thought the meet and greet time with the kids was just a huge inconvenience. From that time on I was not a fan. I could tell that their pride had taken over and ministering to their fans was not what they were all about.

I have seen individuals who had led lives that the Lord had saved them from and then became ministry leaders who talked with people to help them from going down the same path. But as their ministry grew so did their ego. Whenever you talked with them about their ministry they didn't talk about how many lives were being saved but how many 'gigs' they had coming up and how many books had been sold.

I too have to watch myself. When I post something to the Journaling Bible Community on Facebook it is exciting to see how many people like my post. I am glad people like what I have done in my Journaling Bible but I have to remember I share because I hope it helps someone not because I'm some great artist (which I'm not by any means) but because it causes them to see some truth in the Word.

So to conclude my ramblings, remember the words that Breken Berning said in her post, "check your heart". If you feel you're becoming a little prideful it may be good to step back and re-look at what you're trying to accomplish.   

"If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever." — I Peter 4:11

Love from the Preacher and I