Psalm 77:11 says, “I will remember the works of the LORD: surely I will remember thy wonders of old.” Throughout the Scriptures we see the word “remember” and are told to remember the blessings of God and the works of the Lord.

On this Memorial Day weekend, we pause to remember God’s blessings in providing freedom to us as American Citizens. This freedom would not be available without the sacrifices of so many men and women who have served our country and who have given their lives faithfully.

The writers of the Declaration of Independence wrote, “…and with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor.” Since that time, many millions of men and women have followed by giving sacrificially that we might enjoy the freedom we have today.

I remember walking through the Beijing Airport several years ago and seeing large signs that said, “Bringing Christian materials, Bibles, or other religious material into China is unlawful. You will be persecuted.” I remember thanking God for the freedom we had in America. I remember the moment of fear that came into my heart as I realized I could be arrested for passing out tracts in China. While we did pass out gospel tracts in China, the fact remains there is no real freedom there to do so. May we never take for granted the freedom we enjoy because of the sacrifices that are made by our armed forces. As we celebrate this Memorial Day, allow me to share a few thoughts on how we may express our gratitude. 1. Take time to pray and thank the Lord for the sacrifice He made on Calvary that we may be forgiven from our sin and have freedom in Christ. 2. Take time to thank a Vet and let them know how much you appreciate the service and sacrifice they have made on our behalf. 3. Be sure to thank the family members of the fallen. It may be a widow of a World War II era serviceman or it may be a parent of someone who has recently died in serving our country.
As we saw earlier in Psalm 77, we must take time to remember and be thankful for all that God has done.

Any casual observer can see rapid change taking place in our country and in the world. Paganism is on the rise. According to a recent USA Today survey, the fastest growing religion was no religion. Fifteen percent of Americans said they do not have a religion. Other pagan and Eastern religions were on the rise, while some Christian denominations are in decline. Anyone can go to a mall or shopping center and see people whose bodies are marked with ghoulish figures and pierced with every kind of device. Paganism is on the rise!

Certain denominations are apostatizing at a rapid rate. The Bible says that there will come a “falling away first” prior to the coming of our Lord. We are seeing this falling away before our very eyes, as pastors and churches turn from the Truth.

Last week, USA Today reported that several states passed sovereignty measures. Alaska, Idaho, North Dakota and Oklahoma voted to claim their tenth amendment rights to refuse federal intervention. Apparently, many leaders at the state level are concerned about the changing attitude of the federal government.

Even things as basic as marriage are changing. Recently in our own country, five states have voted to approved same-sex marriage.

As we think about change, the list could go on and on. Yet, I am thankful today that we have a faithful God in the midst of these changes. Lamentations 3:22–23 says, It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. 23 They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. In the midst of these changing time I am thankful for a few very important truths:

1. I am thankful that God’s provision is always reliable. He is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Upon giving the Great Commission, Jesus said to His disciples, “…I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.”

2. I am thankful that His promises are reliable. The Lord promises us His strength. Philippians 4:13 says, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” The Lord promises us His care and guidance. Poet Annie J. Flint once said, “God has not promised skies always blue, flower strewn pathways all our life through; God has not promised sun without rain, joy without sorry, peace without pain. But God has promised Strength for the day, Rest for the laborer, Light for the way, Grace for the trials, Help from above, Unfailing sympathy, Undying love.” Truly God’s promises are great and reliable to us today! I thank God that we serve an infallible [Numbers 23:19], immutable [Malachi 3:6], and eternal [Luke 21:33] God.

3. I thank God that His payment for sin is reliable. First Peter 1:18–19 says, Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: I thank God that the precious blood of Jesus has covered our sins. This is an exclusive promise that each of us can claim. First John 5:11–12 says, And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

Last week, Pope Benedict XVI spoke of his respect for Islam. The Roman Catholic Church officially teaches that Muslims are “included in the plan of salvation” by virtue of their claim to “hold the faith of Abraham.” The Vatican II documents say, “God’s plan of salvation embraces those also who acknowledge the Creator. Among these are especially the Mohammedans; they profess their faith as the faith of Abraham, and with us they worship the one, merciful God who will judge men on the last day.”

One must stop and ask the question, “Is salvation available through a common faith in Abraham or an exclusive belief in Jesus Christ?” The Bible is very clear on the answer {Romans 3:23–25]. God has set forth His Son, Jesus Christ, to be the single and only payment for our sin.

In this world that continuously uplifts tolerance, pluralism, and ecumenicism, may we be ever mindful that God has an exclusive payment for our sin, and that is the blood that was shed by Jesus Christ. Acts 4:12 is clear: Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

Yes, change is abounding, but may we cling to His provision and promises during these times. Finally, let’s thank God today for the payment He has made for our sin.

Last Friday I had the privilege of attending my grandmother Chappell’s ninetieth birthday celebration. It is hard to imagine all she has experience in her life. She was married to my grandfather at the age of sixteen, and together they literally cleared the land and developed the farm that has been such a great part of our family legacy.

Grandmother has endured many hardships including times of drought, recession, depression, and war. But the greatest decision she made in her lifetime was to accept Jesus Christ as her Saviour.

I thoroughly enjoyed seeing my aunts, uncles, cousins, and other relatives at my grandmother’s birthday party. But there were two hi-lights in particular last Friday. First, it was a great thrill in my heart to hear a man stand and tell about coming into my grandmother’s home in 1957. After a meal one evening, she took him (as a young teenager) into the living room, opened the Bible and shared with him how he could become a Christian. As this man, Mr. Brown, began to weep he said that was the greatest day of his life and that since then his life has never been the same. Others testified similarly how my grandmother had led them to Christ in her Sunday school class back in the 1950s. In fact, several months ago she led her new neighbors to Christ as they were moving in down the street.

The second great blessing was to hear our niece, Rachel (who is a student at West Coast Baptist College) sing “No One Ever Cared for Me Like Jesus.” Rachel did such a wonderful job, and you could sense the joy of the Lord in her life as she presented this message in song.

After Rachel sang, my grandmother told me that she remembered the first time she heard that song, how it convicted her heart of her need for the Saviour, and she was saved just a few days after hearing that song for the first time.

I suppose a lot of things could be said about our lives as we come to our final days, but to hear people say, “I will be in Heaven because of this person’s faithful witness” is an amazing thought. May we all learn a lesson from my ninety year old grandmother…the law of sowing and reaping still works!

He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him. Psalm 126:6

Last week, I had the privilege of preaching for a wonderful church in the Atlanta, Georgia area.  On our way to the airport Wednesday morning, one of our members, who is an is an accomplished combat pilot and leader in F-22 developmental test, had arranged for Dr. R.B. Ouellette and I to take a tour of the F-22 factory in Marietta, Georgia.  The factory was overwhelming for many reasons.  First, the size was amazing!  Built over a thirteen-month period during the World War II era, this is one of the largest buildings under one roof in America.  Second, the number of different aircraft built at this factory is astounding!  Some of the greatest airplanes ever built were assembled there in Marietta.

The plant manager took time to show us through the assembly procedures for the F-22 aircraft.  This aircraft is leading the way in the defense of our nation during this important time in world history.  Dr. Ouellette and I could sense the pride the workers take in their mission.

One thing that has always amazed me about any airplane assembly line is the cleanliness of the building where the assembly takes place.  Signs abounded in this particular building that said “Beware of FOD.”  FOD stands for “Foreign Object Debris.”

One of our guides on the tour said, “The greatest factor in the rising expense and sloth of the progress in aerospace projects is FOD.  Just a little FOD can ruin an entire project.”

When our guide spoke this way about the small amounts of debris creating such a problem, I could not help but think of the problem that just a little sin creates in the heart of a Christian.  In Galatians 5:7–9, the Apostle Paul said to the church in Galatia, “Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?  This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you.  A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.”

In this passage, sin is likened to leaven, which rises in the life of a Christian.  Most of us have had opportunity to attend at least one, and perhaps many, revival meetings.  In meetings such as this, the evangelist or pastor encourages us to keep “short accounts with God.” Just a little bit of bitterness, lust, or envy can ruin a person’s entire life and testimony.  May God help us to beware of FOD.

I thank God for our defense industry and for the faithful men and women who serve America today.  May we, as Christians, keep our defenses up by dying to self and walking in the Spirit day by day!

Sunday we enjoyed a great Mother’s Day with our family and our church family.  I thank the Lord for my wife, Terrie, and for her faithful love and nurture given to our children over the years.  Her wisdom and thoughts have been a treasure in our lives, and it is always a joy to honor her.

I also thank God for a church family filled with godly women who reject the common philosophies of today’s society and follow faithfully the teachings of the Word of God as they raise their families for His glory.

Sunday morning, we learned how a young man named Timothy—who was raised in a rough Roman village called Lystra—could become a great leader of the first century churches.

In many ways, our children today are growing up where they are surrounded by paganism and often, like Timothy, have at least one parent who does not know Christ as Saviour.  I am thankful that there is still hope for these children to be raised up with a godly purpose in their lives.  I believe there is hope for these children in three significant ways:

1. There is hope for every child when there is a local church in his proximity. The local church at Lystra was founded by the Apostle Paul.  This great missionary was thrown out of the city, stoned, and left for dead because of his attempts to plant this church.  Amongst the early converts was a young man named Timothy who received the Word of God through the work of this great missionary.

2. There is also hope for every child who grows up in a loving family. Timothy’s mother and grandmother, Eunice and Lois, passed three great characteristics to Timothy:
·  A pure faith.  The unfeigned faith of these women was noticeable.  They were not “Sunday morning only” Christians.  Timothy simply duplicated what he saw in their lives every day.
· A persistent example.  According to Acts 16:1, Timothy’s father was not a believer.  But, Timothy’s grandmother and mother provided persistent nurture in his life.  They also provided a persistent example during times of adversity.  It has been said that “every adversity carries with it an equivalent or greater benefit.”  I am amazed at how many great Christians I know who were raised by a single parent or in a home in which one parent was a believer.  When adversity is mixed with God’s grace, wonderful things can be accomplished in the life of a young person.
· A patterned instruction.  Eunice and Lois admonished Timothy from the Scriptures.  Second Timothy 3:15 says, And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

3. Finally, there was hope for Timothy because of his hope in the salvation of the Lord. Second Timothy 2:9 says, Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound. This verse is really a mini study of the doctrine of Soteriology, which speaks of our salvation through Jesus Christ.  We see in this verse three great truths about our salvation
·  Notice the permanence of salvation.  We are saved permanently.  First Peter 1:5 says we are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
· Verse nine says it is not of works.  Ephesians 2:8—9 says, For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. Romans 3:24 says, Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
·  The purpose of our salvation is also seen in these Scriptures.  Christ not only died to save us from a Christ-less Hell and to bring us to a home in Heaven, but it is His purpose that we would be made conformable to His image [Romans 8:28–29].  Furthermore, God purposes that each and every one of us would live to the praise of His glory [Ephesians 1:5–6].

If God, through the local church and a loving family, could raise up a Timothy in the first century Roman village of Lystra, He can still bless our children today.  May God help us accomplish this great and needy task!