Valor?

Valor? (02.28.11-- Valor!--Hebrews 12:1-3)

May I ask you a question? Does the Bible or our Constitution speak more to our duties as believers and citizens to go beyond our own happiness to serve others?

My friend, Life’s a story, welcome to This Passing Day.

I'm M. Clifford Brunner.

You and I live in a culture obsessed with fairness. Political correctness and equity have taken precedence over common sense and, for that matter, the common good. Recently I was counseling a couple having marital problems. The usual arguments were aired: he said, she said and a whole laundry list of accusations and innuendos. While all of these were unpleasant, I think that the most alarming statement I heard was when the wife declared “I have a right to be happy; don’t I?”?I can’t tell you how shocked she was when I responded that neither the Bible nor the U.S. Constitution guaranteed that right. “In fact,” I continued, “both pretty much guarantee that you probably would experience a whole lot of unhappiness before life was over.” Her jaw dropped when I added, “Both the Bible and our Constitution speak more to our duties as believers and citizens to go beyond our own happiness to serve others. I think it’s called valor.”

Here's a story: President George W. Bush made this statement on July 16, 2001, as he presented the Congressional Medal of Honor to Army Captain Ed Freeman. “On November 14, 1965, an unarmed helicopter piloted by Captain Freeman flew into a dangerous combat zone. Even though the zone had been closed as a helicopter landing zone, Captain Freeman risked his own life by flying his unarmed helicopter through a gauntlet of enemy fire, time after time, delivering critically needed ammunition, water and medical supplies to an under-siege battalion. Captain Freeman flew 14 separate rescue missions, providing lifesaving evacuation of an estimated 30 seriously wounded soldiers, some of whom would not have survived, had he not acted.” On August 20, 2008, Captain Ed Freeman died at the age of 80. He will always be remembered for his “selfless acts of great valor, extraordinary perseverance and intrepidity [which] were far above and beyond the call of duty or mission” (Author Unknown).

Captain Freeman’s valor exemplifies the courage with which Jesus endured the cross. With great valor, He suffered untold physical, emotional, and spiritual anguish as He paid the price for the sins of the whole world. The valor He dis- played can only be fully appreciated by understanding another word that explains His motive: LOVE. That love is defined countless times in Scriptures as unqualified. Think of it this way; Jesus gave without expecting anything in return. If happiness WERE what this life was all about, then He would have had just as much right to claim it as we. But, the fact is that life is all about “selfless acts of great valor,” like Captain Freeman’s. This is what God expects of us, and the only right we have to claim. Happiness is a blessing, something we need to pursue. It is never an entitlement.

We pray. Heavenly Father, we live in a world that is constantly telling us that we need to look for fairness in life, that we have a right to be treated the same as everyone else. Forgive us Lord when we are doomed into believing that we are guaranteed a happy life, a life that somehow is filled with rights we earned in some way. Your Word Lord tells us to be givers and not takers, to be lovers of others and not ourselves. Keep us ever mindful that only be giving can we ever receive in kind. We need to take risks and make that an important part of our lives. In Jesus name we pray. Amen!

Therefore my friend, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry for itself; each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matt 6:34) This Passing Day. May this passing day honor our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and be a blessing to you and everyone you meet. Find a stranger and say hello. Don't let another day pass without your day blessing someone else.

If you have a special prayer request, please send your request to ”This Passing Day!”

<thispassingday@gmail.com> From Beech Springs, God bless you for Jesus sake.

Valor?

Valor? (02.28.11-- Valor!--Hebrews 12:1-3)

May I ask you a question? Does the Bible or our Constitution speak more to our duties as believers and citizens to go beyond our own happiness to serve others?

My friend, Life’s a story, welcome to This Passing Day.

I'm M. Clifford Brunner.

You and I live in a culture obsessed with fairness. Political correctness and equity have taken precedence over common sense and, for that matter, the common good. Recently I was counseling a couple having marital problems. The usual arguments were aired: he said, she said and a whole laundry list of accusations and innuendos. While all of these were unpleasant, I think that the most alarming statement I heard was when the wife declared “I have a right to be happy; don’t I?”?I can’t tell you how shocked she was when I responded that neither the Bible nor the U.S. Constitution guaranteed that right. “In fact,” I continued, “both pretty much guarantee that you probably would experience a whole lot of unhappiness before life was over.” Her jaw dropped when I added, “Both the Bible and our Constitution speak more to our duties as believers and citizens to go beyond our own happiness to serve others. I think it’s called valor.”

Here's a story: President George W. Bush made this statement on July 16, 2001, as he presented the Congressional Medal of Honor to Army Captain Ed Freeman. “On November 14, 1965, an unarmed helicopter piloted by Captain Freeman flew into a dangerous combat zone. Even though the zone had been closed as a helicopter landing zone, Captain Freeman risked his own life by flying his unarmed helicopter through a gauntlet of enemy fire, time after time, delivering critically needed ammunition, water and medical supplies to an under-siege battalion. Captain Freeman flew 14 separate rescue missions, providing lifesaving evacuation of an estimated 30 seriously wounded soldiers, some of whom would not have survived, had he not acted.” On August 20, 2008, Captain Ed Freeman died at the age of 80. He will always be remembered for his “selfless acts of great valor, extraordinary perseverance and intrepidity [which] were far above and beyond the call of duty or mission” (Author Unknown).

Captain Freeman’s valor exemplifies the courage with which Jesus endured the cross. With great valor, He suffered untold physical, emotional, and spiritual anguish as He paid the price for the sins of the whole world. The valor He dis- played can only be fully appreciated by understanding another word that explains His motive: LOVE. That love is defined countless times in Scriptures as unqualified. Think of it this way; Jesus gave without expecting anything in return. If happiness WERE what this life was all about, then He would have had just as much right to claim it as we. But, the fact is that life is all about “selfless acts of great valor,” like Captain Freeman’s. This is what God expects of us, and the only right we have to claim. Happiness is a blessing, something we need to pursue. It is never an entitlement.

We pray. Heavenly Father, we live in a world that is constantly telling us that we need to look for fairness in life, that we have a right to be treated the same as everyone else. Forgive us Lord when we are doomed into believing that we are guaranteed a happy life, a life that somehow is filled with rights we earned in some way. Your Word Lord tells us to be givers and not takers, to be lovers of others and not ourselves. Keep us ever mindful that only be giving can we ever receive in kind. We need to take risks and make that an important part of our lives. In Jesus name we pray. Amen!

Therefore my friend, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry for itself; each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matt 6:34) This Passing Day. May this passing day honor our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and be a blessing to you and everyone you meet. Find a stranger and say hello. Don't let another day pass without your day blessing someone else.

If you have a special prayer request, please send your request to ”This Passing Day!”

<thispassingday@gmail.com> From Beech Springs, God bless you for Jesus sake.