As you are in service today recognizing our wonderful veterans..

... I am with Tricia, Stephanie, and my daughter-in-law Sommer spending a family weekend with my son Joshua. Joshua joined the Army a couple of months ago and we could not be more proud of him. As a surprise, our other son Jeremy flew from Arizona to also be with Joshua to be an encouragement to him. He is a Marine. Yes, he is out of the military right now but once a Marine, always a Marine. Veteran’s Day is very special to us because of our sons but also for all the wonderful veterans we have at Life Church. I am convinced that one of the reasons Life Church is such a great church is because of all these veterans. We honor you today. 

One of my heroes President Ronald Reagan said, “Freedom is a fragile thing and is never more than one generation away from extinction. It is not ours by inheritance; it must be fought for and defended constantly by each generation, for it only comes once to a people. Those who have known freedom, and then lost it, have never known it again.” As Christians we understand that freedom is not free. Jesus purchasing our freedom cost Him His life...He was willing to lay His life down for us. 

John 10:18 (NKJV) "No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father." Like our veterans...we must be willing to lay our lives down so that we can take them up again. Matt 16:24‑25 (NKJV) “Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. "For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.”  We have to stand and fight to keep our freedom here in the United States and we have to stand and fight for our liberty in Christ. Gal 5:1 (NKJV) “Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.” Thank you, Jesus, for laying down your life and thank you, Veterans, for your willingness to fight for all of us! God bless you today!