Courtesy of Peter Liu Photography

Tomorrow is Memorial Day.

In spite of its seemingly self-explanatory name, this holiday is frequently confused with Veterans Day. While it is completely appropriate to honor all who have served or who are currently serving in our armed forces, Memorial Day is special in that it is set aside to remember the thousands of men and women who have died fighting for our freedom. The history of the holiday dates back to the Civil War, when women and children from both the North and the South decorated the graves of fallen soldiers and commemorated the loss of life.

Though not sanctioned as an official federal holiday until 1967, Memorial Day has evolved into a day that marks the beginning of summer. As such, the purpose of the holiday has unfortunately been overshadowed by backyard barbecues and family get-aways.

President Ronald Reagan once said,

“Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same.”

This Memorial Day I encourage you to set aside some time to truly reflect on the ultimate sacrifice that has been made by more than a million men and women. Here are four ideas to point you in the right direction:

1. Pray for the families of fallen soldiers. These families have also suffered great loss, and such loss merits an acknowledgement. You might even make a phone call or write a note of gratitude to one such family.

2. Watch a YouTube video about Memorial Day. There are a number of well-done videos, slideshows, and short documentaries that are easily searchable on the web.

3. Attend a parade or special commemoration service. There is usually at least one such event planned in almost every community.

4. Fly the American flag. It seems like such a simple thing, but I’m always moved by the many American flags that show up in various places on Memorial Day weekend.

Whatever we do, we must never forget the sacrifice of our brave men and women.

IT’S YOUR TURN!
How will you observe Memorial Day?

I took a few minutes of my time and cast my votes in the 2010 mid-term election. It truly didn’t take more than 10 minutes, and apart from phone calls, letters, and emails to our elected officials, it’s the ONE thing every one of us can do to make our voices heard. My prayer is that by exercising this right, we can say good-bye to many of those ‘representatives’ who for the past several years have shown an increasing antipathy for ‘We the People’ whose votes put them in places of power. I wouldn’t go so far as to speculate that this election is America’s only hope, because we know that with God all things are possible. However, I do believe that our country is on a trajectory that will lead to absolute ruin — socially, morally, and financially — if some major changes don’t begin to happen quickly.

Still, whether you think like I do — or whether you’re one of the ones who thinks everything in the US is just peachy — I urge you to exercise your right to vote. It’s a right that has been secured by the blood, sweat, and tears of generations of Americans. And it’s a right that, if not protected, might someday be taken away.

I know, you’re just one little person in this big ol’ country. And while that is true, I still believe that one person can make a difference. Regardless of the weather, regardless of your energy level, regardless of the fact that in many cases we really do end up choosing the least stinky of the two or three candidates — get out and vote! Make a difference today.

As Edmund Burke so wisely put it, “The only thing necessary to the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.”

IT’S YOUR TURN!
Do you still believe that one person makes a difference? Why do you choose to vote — or not vote?

While I’m tempted to write about my own such story in this space, today I’ll seek to answer a different and perhaps more important question: “Where are you now?” And I don’t mean physically or geographically.

Today I’m more of a lot of things.

I’m a more observant person . . . much more sensitive to issues of safety and security. I’m also far less likely to think, “Oh, that (whatever that may be) couldn’t happen here.” It did once. It can again.

I’m a more grateful person . . . much more aware of the people who help keep me and my family safe on a daily basis. The 9-1-1 dispatchers, the police officers, the firefighters, the paramedics, the troopers, etc. Like the sashing of a quilt, these men and women provide an invaluable and often overlooked framework for our communities. I’m also more grateful for those who boldly serve in our military — defending our freedom and seeking to provide stability to nations abroad.

I’m a more humble person . . . much more understanding that there are very few things in life over which I have control. God has the whole world in His hands, just as the childhood song explains.

I’m a more driven person . . . much more appreciative of the urgency of this life. Every moment counts. Every relationship matters.

I’m a more compassionate person . . . much more able to experience the thoughts, stories, and situations of others — even those with whom I strongly disagree.

I’m a more expressive person . . . much more willing to say, ‘I love you,’ ‘I’m sorry,’ ‘Will you forgive me?’ Perhaps this dovetails with that sense of urgency I mentioned earlier.

I’m a more informed person . . . much more able to identify particularly with those who were in New York City at the time of the attacks on the World Trade Center. There’s nothing like seeing the vast barrenness of Ground Zero with your own eyes, as I did early last year. And to think that two huge towers once stood there, tall and proud, each an integral party of the city’s skyline.

Today I’m also less of a lot of things.

I’m less bothered by those airport security procedures. They’re far from perfect, but hopefully they are helping keep us safe.

I’m less tolerant of those who are bothered by my own patriotism. If you don’t like our country, then feel free to find a new one. And by all means, don’t waste your time trying to ‘radically transform’ mine.

I’m less concerned with people’s reactions to my emotions. Sometimes I’m sad. Sometimes I cry. It’s all a normal part of the human experience.

I’m less trusting of our news media and our government. There seems to me an amazing disconnect between those covering the news and those experiencing it . . . between those making laws and those who are stuck living with them.

I’m less committed to a particular political party and more devoted to the specific values I hold dear.

I’m less convinced that my children’s lifestyle will be better than my own — and more accepting of the notion that perhaps it doesn’t need to be.

I’m less passionate about advancing my individual goals and more mindful of my role in advancing God’s Kingdom. I’m also even more confident of His loving care, sovereign hand, and constant companionship in these uncertain days.

Yes, things are definitely different than they were nine years ago. Some of these differences are probably due to the natural process of aging and maturity; some of them are no doubt due to the previously unimaginable events of September 11, 2001.

Each of us processes things uniquely. We all draw our own conclusions, nurture our own beliefs, and devise our own coping strategies.

One thing though is true for all of us: We will never be the same.

IT’S YOUR TURN!
What’s different for you nine years later? How have you changed?

Despite any imperfections, my family did manage to teach me strong Judeo-Christian values, including strength of character, the importance of personal responsibility, and self-respect. Our American culture is spiraling out of control because we have been coaxed and cajoled by the media elite (who clearly didn’t have perfect families either) to believe that in order to be respected, our country must roll out the ‘welcome’ mat and be stomped on by those who simply do not share traditional American values.

Christians are increasingly under attack even in America. Atheists partner with liberal lawyers to challenge Christians’ right to pray to a God that the atheist doesn’t even believe exists. Churches are increasingly, though for the most part subtly(for the time being), pressured to not speak out on issues of moral right and wrong. In fact, the notion of ‘absolute truth’ has become nearly as offensive as a swear word, even among many believers.

Now New York City is moving ahead with plans to allow for a new Islamic mosque to be erected at Ground Zero — the very place where radical Islamic jihadists would snuff out the lives of nearly 3000 people not even ten years ago. The mayor of NYC doesn’t seem to understand what’s wrong with this picture because, after all, NYC is a place that prides itself on its colorful mosaic of diversity and multiculturalism.

Rodney King is perhaps best known for that whiny phrase, “Can’t we all get along here?”

Well, in a nutshell the answer is no — at least not if we intend to live with some measure of dignity and self-respect.

Muslims and Christians are diametrically opposed people groups. Christians pride themselves on loving God and loving each other. However, love does not equate with giving others carte blanche to do whatever makes them feel most comfortable. Several weeks ago I wrote a piece about America’s only hope — which essentially is prayer and humble repentance to a God that I feel we have forsaken as a nation. A second leg of that hope is based on the willingness of Christians in America to rise to the occasion and be a force for good — which includes fighting for our First Amendment rights.

Only in America would a religious group expect to throw up a place of worship in a location that is clearly enshrined in the hearts of millions. Especially when you consider that most Muslim people would never endorse a Christian place of worship being built in their homeland. I happen to have a number of liberal friends, with whom I frequently but respectfully disagree. However, what my liberal friends seem to not know is that jihadists are encouraged, if not expected, to erect places of worship at geographic points of conquest. And even if the peace-loving Muslims in America wouldn’t see a Ground Zero mosque as such a trophy, their hateful counterparts certainly would. Why in the world would we ever want to allow them such an in-your-face-arrogant prize?

I’m all for Christians being loving and as peaceful as possible. However, when our stalwart defense of others’ right to free speech and expression begins to result in the squelching of the same rights for us, then it’s time to change the strategy. When such rights become diminished for us as Christians, then our window of opportunity to reach the world becomes much more narrow.

The saddest thing perhaps is that most people who call themselves Christians are not really doing much even now to make an eternal difference with the message we supposedly cherish. The quest to be ‘politically correct’ in a world that clearly isn’t will ultimately reveal that Christians in America are among the stingiest of all people, effectively hoarding the Good News rather than generously proclaiming it while there is still time.

That would be not only inane; it would be utterly unconscionable — and blatantly indefensible before a holy God who gave us the most lavish gift of all, His only Son.

Father God, make us bold witnesses for You wherever we may be. May our words be supported by our actions this day. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

INTERACT WITH US
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INTERACT WITH US
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These are soldiers on a mission, just another wave of military combatants building on the legacy of those who have proudly served their country for generations before.

Today I salute those men and women who have served our country so well — our veterans. It has been said many times that freedom isn’t free. And these folks know that all too well, having experienced first-hand the horror and grief of watching comrades die in battle.

Ask most children today who their heroes are, and you’ll likely hear a barage of names from professional athletes to Hollywood celebrities to cartoon characters.

I love my country. That’s why my heroes are America’s veterans. They represent the best our country has to offer. They have served us well and faithfully. And although they have given so much of themselves for us, I often wonder exactly what we have given them in return.

On this Veterans Day, if you value your freedom, take time out to offer your gratitude to those who have served our country — and your steadfast prayers for those who currently serve.

On this Memorial Day, I offer this original poem, which I wrote from my heart. If it blesses you, please feel free to share this post with friends and family. I dedicate it, with sincere thanks, to the memory of those who died while serving in our armed forces. May we never forget their sacrifice.

Today is not a day that’s set aside for grillin’.
It’s a day for us to focus on those brave men and women
Who gave their lives that we might be the Land of the Free.
They paid the price, a sacrifice, for you and for me.

Each freedom we enjoy came with a great cost,
A cost we may not fully know until that freedom’s lost.
Like a virus, chaos spreads with terror and with fear,
And hateful things are spoken of the country we hold dear.

I’m grieved today not just for those whose lives were lost in war;
I’m grieved that many fail to grasp what all the fighting’s for.
The values which have been our strength through many times of trouble
Now seem so far removed from most, leaving only moral rubble.

I pray today not just for those whose loved ones died while serving;
I pray for our return to God, whose grace is so undeserving.
I pray that He might light our way and help us through this darkness;
I pray His Word would be our guide, our shelter, and our solace.

To Him whose power knows no end, may He alone find glory
In the way our nation loves and leads and partners in His story.
The God of Israel will provide a measure of protection
For those who stand beside that nation, a people of His affection.

But for today I focus on the brave ones gone before,
The ones to whom we owe respect and love and so much more.
To them I offer gratitude for a debt I can’t repay.
How will you remember them on this Memorial Day?

My son was less than eight months old on that tragic day. His age serves as a steady benchmark for the anniversary year. Today I had the privilege of participating in a prayer group at my church. It seems that everyone’s hearts were very sensitive to the memory of that fateful day. We prayed for the families of the victims as well as for our nation’s leaders, a task I feel more compelled to do every day.

As I was getting ready to tuck my son into bed tonight, he asked me about 9/11. His school wore red, white, and blue today and marked the occasion with a fighter jets fly-over. For the third or fourth time today, I found my eyes welling with tears as I recounted the story of where I was when the news came. It’s so hard to believe that someone could have so many questions. After all, it just happened. . . or so it seems. Of course, he was just a baby, so it is my memories and stories that help color the significance of that day for his generation. It is a story we are charged with remembering well — and never forgetting the way it changed life.

However, that life-changing day was perhaps not life-changing so much as mind-altering. I think that, like it or not, so many times we take our freedoms for granted. We think to ourselves, “It couldn’t happen to me.” We live in a fairy-tale world where villains always receive justice and where good always wins.

I think that for me, those thoughts were deeply challenged on 9/11. Don’t get me wrong. I’m sure I still fail to fully grasp how awesome it is to be an American, even though I’m quite patriotic. And I still fall into the trap of believing it — whatever it is — couldn’t happen to me. And I really do believe that good ultimately prevails. But on 9/11, I saw just how fragile those beliefs can seem in light of such a mind-blowing calamity.

I am a proud American. I am a proud father. And I am proud that in the seven years since the terror attacks, I am still sensitive enough to cry for the losses. Such a day must never just become a part of the history books. Its lessons must help shape our thoughts and guide our actions for generations to come.

When I tell the story of 9/11, I’m committed to tell it like it was. That is perhaps one of the greatest contributions of gratitude I can make for those whose lives were lost.

Love always. . . laugh often. . . live well.

And never ever ever forget.

Fireworks in McKinney, Texas - 7/4/2008

The Fourth of July is one of my favorite holidays. My family and I, being quite patriotic, always manage to find fun ways to celebrate our nation’s birthday. This year we marked the occasion by grilling burgers in the backyard, making homemade ice cream, and enjoying a community fireworks show. And I’m so glad to have the freedom to do all those things.

As frustrated as I get with some of the leaders in our country, and as concerned as I am about some of the situations we are facing, I still believe that I am indeed privileged to live in a place where I enjoy so many freedoms. In fact, to be honest, in spite of my best efforts, I admit to regularly taking those freedoms for granted.

This year my heart has been heavy for those families who have lost loved ones in military service. I am incredibly grateful to all those protecting and defending our country — particularly to those who have paid the ultimate price for my freedom.

As much as I enjoy the Fourth of July with its stars and stripes, parades, patriotic music, military fly-overs, and fireworks, I realize that there are many people who cannot fully embrace freedom because they feel hostage to someone or something.

Just this week I met with a woman who was deeply steeped in guilt because of a prayer she had prayed that she believes nearly costs a family member his life. I believe that she has begun finding freedom from wrong beliefs and false guilt. That is worth celebrating.

Just this week I met with a couple who have been so paralyzed by “what ifs” and “if only”s in their marriage that there relationship had begun to wither and fade away. I believe that they are starting to practice grace toward one another and believe the best in each other. They are purposing to find a new sense of freedom in their marriage. That is worth celebrating.

Just this week I talked with a friend who was incredibly distressed over the manipulation and dishonesty of his boss — in this case, a pastor. As hurtful as the experience is for the whole family, they are doing what they need to do in order to find freedom from a toxic relationship. That is worth celebrating.

Almost every day I encounter someone who needs freedom from something. Sometimes it’s a woman trapped in a codependent relationship with a battering husband. Sometimes it’s a man living in bondage to sexual sin. Sometimes it’s a couple mired in unbelievable financial debt.

There are so many things that can rob a person of freedom: grief, fear, anxiety, depression, substance abuse, unforgiveness, sexual abuse, eating disorders, religious abuse. . . .the list could go on and on.

My prayer today is that freedom will be not something celebrated just one time every year — but something enjoyed in the deepest places of life all year long. If you find yourself struggling to break free from whatever is holding you back, don’t wait another minute to reach out for help and healing. That kind of decision will provide lasting effects long after the fireworks have faded, the music has stopped, and the crowd has gone home.