Some veterans bear visible signs of their service: a missing limb, a jagged scar, a certain look in the eye. Others may carry the evidence inside them: a pin holding a bone together, a piece of shrapnel in the leg--or perhaps another sort of inner steel: the soul’s ally forged in the refinery of adversity. Except in parades, however, the men and women who have kept America safe wear no badge or emblem. You can’t tell a vet just by looking.
What is a vet?
He is the cop on the beat who spent six months in Saudi Arabia sweating two gallons a day making sure the armored personnel carriers didn’t run out of fuel.
He is the barroom loudmouth, dumber than five wooden planks, whose overgrown frat-boy behavior is outweighed a hundred times in the cosmic scales by four hours of exquisite bravery near the 38th parallel.
She--or he--is the nurse who fought against futility and went to sleep sobbing every night for two solid years in Da Nang.
He is the POW who went away one person and came back another--or didn’t come back at all.
He is the Quantico drill instructor that has never seen combat--but has saved countless lives by turning slouchy, no-account rednecks and gang members into
Marines, and teaching them to watch each other’s backs.
He is the parade-riding Legionnaire who pins on his ribbons and medals with a prosthetic hand.
He is the career quartermaster who watches the ribbons and medals pass him by.
He is the three anonymous heroes in The Tomb Of The Unknowns, whose presence at the Arlington National Cemetery must forever preserve the memory of all the anonymous heroes whose valor die unrecognized with them on the battlefield or in the ocean’s sunless deep.
He is the old guy bagging groceries at the supermarket--palsied now and aggravatingly slow--who helped liberate a Nazi death camp and who wishes all day long that his wife were still alive to hold him when the nightmares come.
He is an ordinary and yet an extraordinary human being, a person who offered some of his life’s most vital years in the service of his country, and who sacrificed his ambitions so others would not have to sacrifice theirs.
He is a soldier and a savior and a sword against the darkness, and he is nothing more than the finest, greatest testimony on behalf of the finest, greatest nation ever known.
So remember, each time you see someone who has served our country, just lean over and say, "Thank you." That’s all most people need, and in most cases,
it will mean more than any medals they could have been awarded or were awarded.
Two little words that mean a lot: "THANK YOU."
It is the soldier,
not the reporter,
Who has given us freedom of the press.
It is the soldier,
not the poet,
Who has given us freedom of speech.
It is the soldier,
not the campus organizer,
Who has given us the freedom to demonstrate.
It is the soldier,
Who salutes the flag,
Who serves beneath the flag,
and whose coffin is draped by the flag,
Who allows the protester to burn the flag. (copied, source unknown)
See you Sunday!
REVIVE Youth Bible Study: Each Wednesday evening we have some fun and spend some time in the Word. Encourage each other to be involved in Revive! Let’s keep priorities straight and be faithful to weekly time around God’s word on Wednesdays! Also, beginning to make plans for a “toy drive” for Christmas. Details coming soon!
Men’s Bible Study – Beginning this Sunday… Sunday Mornings @ 9AM.
“Quiet Strength” This study explores six tough questions men ask. Each of the six Bible studies is crafted especially for men, and provides biblical answers, relationship-building discussion questions, fun activities, and character-building insights from the life of Super Bowl XLI Winning Head Coach Tony Dungy. For more information, check out our Facebook page:
www.facebook.com/event.php
Ladies Bible Study - The ladies of CrossBridge are enjoying a Bible study going through the book of Philippians. Join this great group of ladies this Sunday at 9!
Honoring our Veterans – This Sunday will be a special service honoring our Veterans. You will hear a message of God’s grace at work in the lives of one of our very own, Paul Schroeder. Invite a Veteran you know to join us this Sunday at CrossBridge!
Upcoming Church-wide Events:
November 14 – “Quiet Strength” men’s Bible study
November 14 – Philippians – ladies Bible study
November 14 – Veteran’s Day service
November 21 – CrossBridge Thanksgiving Dinner (following morning service)
November 28 – Lord’s Supper Service
Be a part of the excitement Sunday at 10:00 am at CrossBridge! Invite someone to be your guest this Sunday!
Have a Great Day!
Pastor
