June 28, 2004
To my brothers and sisters of the Armed Forces of the United States:
The people of Iraq received their independence today (just a few days before millions of Americans will celebrate the holiday that we call Independence Day).
On July 4th, we will have family get-togethers, bar-b-ques and trips to the beach. Yet most of us have absolutely no appreciation for what it means for a country to be independent. Most have forgotten that many, many lives were lost in our fight for independence so many years ago. A precious few of us have not.
I do not know if Iraq will be able to sustain her independence after you are gone. The one thing that I do know is that Jesus Christ said: “Greater love has no man than this, that he lay down His life for his friends.” John 15:13
You risk your lives each and every day for:
---a people that you did not know, so that this day they might have the freedom that we
have known our entire lives (and now take for granted and seemingly despise).
---so that we might be a little safer from the terrorists that you are fighting.
---so that we might enjoy our freedom of religion (that they hate so much).
---so that we might enjoy our freedom of speech (even as some use that freedom to protest
your courage).
Thank you for that love that Jesus spoke of 2,000 years ago.
My brothers and sisters – please know that not only do I appreciate you, respect you and love you, but I also salute you and pray for you.
Keep up the great work!
In Christ Jesus,
Pastor David Macer
Sunday, September 19, 2004
Thursday, September 16, 2004
Vision of a Blog
As I mentioned in my previous post, I am still not completely convinced about what the ultimate purpose of this blog is going to be {although I do feel prompted to write it. Yes - sometimes it bugs me that God leads me a mere one step at a time (Psalm 119). Then I remember that I would quickly go off course if He were to instruct me a whole two steps at a time!!!}.
As a ten year Air Force veteran, I have fairly strong views about world events, politics etc. (Especially after teaching in an NCO Academy.) However, as a Christian...I find it appalling to hear how hateful people have become in expressing political viewpoints. I find it extraordinary to see how people seem to think that the whole world revolves around their opinion.
Consider the letters to the editor in the sports section of any major newspaper. The outrage that fans express over every decision that a manager, team owner or general manager makes is stunning. Let's think this through...the owner of the team (that is worth several hundred million dollars), hires a manager (and pays him a few million dollars) to manage players (that make tens of millions of dollars) and evidently NONE of these people know a single thing about winning...while all of the fans in the local newspaper know exactly what to do, and they would win the World Series every single year. Wow!
Not only that, but let's consider the fact that these baseball decisions are frequently responded to with outrage...? I mean a player trade is worthy of outrage? While murders are portrayed in the same newspaper and no one give them a second thought? That realization makes me sad.
Granted, part of the fun in following your favorite team is having those strong opinions and I can certainly understand that. Baseball is a great game. The level of hatred of some fans though...I cannot understand. I have attended games these last few years and been disgusted with the language and hatred of some fans (especially when I went to a game in Anaheim against the New York Yankees).
It's a baseball game. That is all that it is. (Ironically, the players are traded so often today, that many of the players these fans hate so much will be on their own team sooner or later). The players have a better perspective about it and it is their profession. Some of these fans act like it is life or death. It is not.
Sports is just a light example of my point. In politics, it is even worse. The stakes are very high and who is to be trusted? Yes, I am very strong in my opinions about who I am going to vote for. But even in this area of life...is it eternal? No, it is not.
As a Christian, I believe that Jesus Christ died for my sins and that I could never make it to heaven any other way. Christ commanded us in Matthew 28 to go out to all the nations (people groups) and preach the good news of salvation. He did not say to go and call the president names or to slander them (whether it is Bill Clinton or George Bush). The sad part is that what good are people doing with hateful attacks? Do you think that you will change my way of thinking with hate speach? (This goes for both political parties - I think both sides are appalling.)
With all of that said ... at this point, I think that the purpose of this blog is going to be to give a Christ centered viewpoint on a variety of issues. The thoughts and opinions that I express here, will simply be my thoughts and opinions (not representing my professional ministry or my church in any way).
Note: While I welcome comments and posts...please understand (with all that I said above), that any hateful speach will be deleted. Sincere questions can be directed to me in e-mail (I will do my best to respond in a timely manner).
As a ten year Air Force veteran, I have fairly strong views about world events, politics etc. (Especially after teaching in an NCO Academy.) However, as a Christian...I find it appalling to hear how hateful people have become in expressing political viewpoints. I find it extraordinary to see how people seem to think that the whole world revolves around their opinion.
Consider the letters to the editor in the sports section of any major newspaper. The outrage that fans express over every decision that a manager, team owner or general manager makes is stunning. Let's think this through...the owner of the team (that is worth several hundred million dollars), hires a manager (and pays him a few million dollars) to manage players (that make tens of millions of dollars) and evidently NONE of these people know a single thing about winning...while all of the fans in the local newspaper know exactly what to do, and they would win the World Series every single year. Wow!
Not only that, but let's consider the fact that these baseball decisions are frequently responded to with outrage...? I mean a player trade is worthy of outrage? While murders are portrayed in the same newspaper and no one give them a second thought? That realization makes me sad.
Granted, part of the fun in following your favorite team is having those strong opinions and I can certainly understand that. Baseball is a great game. The level of hatred of some fans though...I cannot understand. I have attended games these last few years and been disgusted with the language and hatred of some fans (especially when I went to a game in Anaheim against the New York Yankees).
It's a baseball game. That is all that it is. (Ironically, the players are traded so often today, that many of the players these fans hate so much will be on their own team sooner or later). The players have a better perspective about it and it is their profession. Some of these fans act like it is life or death. It is not.
Sports is just a light example of my point. In politics, it is even worse. The stakes are very high and who is to be trusted? Yes, I am very strong in my opinions about who I am going to vote for. But even in this area of life...is it eternal? No, it is not.
As a Christian, I believe that Jesus Christ died for my sins and that I could never make it to heaven any other way. Christ commanded us in Matthew 28 to go out to all the nations (people groups) and preach the good news of salvation. He did not say to go and call the president names or to slander them (whether it is Bill Clinton or George Bush). The sad part is that what good are people doing with hateful attacks? Do you think that you will change my way of thinking with hate speach? (This goes for both political parties - I think both sides are appalling.)
With all of that said ... at this point, I think that the purpose of this blog is going to be to give a Christ centered viewpoint on a variety of issues. The thoughts and opinions that I express here, will simply be my thoughts and opinions (not representing my professional ministry or my church in any way).
Note: While I welcome comments and posts...please understand (with all that I said above), that any hateful speach will be deleted. Sincere questions can be directed to me in e-mail (I will do my best to respond in a timely manner).
Tuesday, September 14, 2004
Birth of a Blog
This is my first-ever blog...I pray that this blog will be used to show people the love of Christ. I'm not completely sure of the point of this blog yet...I have a few specific ideas, but will have to wait to see what words come out of my fingers as they type!
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