Memorial Day 2010

To most Americans, Memorial Day is nothing more than the beginning of summer.
* Picnics are planned
* Families gather together
* And some people get off work.

But our focus this Memorial Day must be turned back to those who sacrificed their lives so that we may have freedom.

Wars were fought to give us freedom and wars are still being fought to keep our freedom.

Fighting for our nation is a great and necessary thing

Men and women have sacrificed much to obtain our freedom.
* There are many casualties of war,
* but the greatest casualty of all is to forget what they did for us.

We must understand that Freedom does not come without a price.

And for us to act arrogantly or for us to take our freedom for granted would be a slap in the face to those who gave their lives and to the families that lost loved ones for the cause of freedom.

We owe such a great debt to those who died so that you and I can be here this morning.

If those who gave so that we could live in a free world, could see how we handle our freedom how would they feel?

When a society forgets the cost of freedom, it tends to ruin it.

Galatians 5: 13-14 The Apostle Paul says You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. The entire law is summed up in a single command; Love your neighbor as yourself.

Well I think we have misused our freedom to the point of weakening ourselves.

1 Cor. 8: 9 Be careful, however, that the exercise of your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak.

I always said that our greatest strength as a nation, our freedom, has become our greatest weakness.
* Freedom of speech creates slander
* Freedom of expression creates pornography, art, dressing,
* Freedom of press creates propaganda
* Freedom of choice creates lifestyle, abortion
* Freedom of religion creates anything goes,especially Jesus.

As we Remember and Honor our service men and women, let us remember why they fought.

Many fought in the name of God and Country, they fought for honor, for righteousness sake, dignity, and for YOU.

But just like the video showed us.
* some people have short memories and
* those too young to know need to be taught

This weekend we honor those who have given their lives in defense of the freedoms that we all enjoy. When we look upon their sacrifice and their willingness to give their all so that our nation, and the world, could experience the ability to be free, we must be grateful for each one who served in any of our armed forces.

The Greatest Casualty is forgetting what sacrifice was made for us.

* To forget what our military men and women have sacrificed for us is truly unacceptable.
* To trample the freedom they fought for through our unappreciation and expectivness is heart-wrentching.

This morning let us pause to remember the sacrifices our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen have made in serving our Nation where and when they were needed.