Heartbeat

What is my purpose? Why am I really here? My answer to these questions....recklessly abandon it all for Christ, for his calling is much higher than anything I could imagine for myself. It is not about me, it is absolutely about Christ and his heart for the nations. The last few days I have purposefully engaged myself in conversations with people about why we are here. Keep in mind that I work at a Christian camp and conference center. Out of all the people I talked to only one gave an acceptable answer. One guy went so far as to say that "God created us just as he did the animals and we live and reproduce just like they do and then we die!" I'm sure he saw the shock register on my face because he then tacked on to the end of his statement, "and we should obey God" With my hands reaching up to heaven and my face tilted up to the sky I ask, "God, what have we become that most 'Christians' do not even know why they were put on this earth?". I believe that the will of God is twofold. Before we can ever do anything for Christ we must first love him. It makes sense. I love my father so much. I would do anything for him because I love him. If I didn't love him, it would be easy to not care about what he thinks or wants me to do. It is the same with God, if I don't love him then how can I care about what he cares about, and love what he loves? Deuteronomy 6:5 says,"And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might." I must love Him FIRST! This is the prerequisite to the second part. Christ asked Peter a very direct question "Peter, do you love me?" I can picture Peter looking at Christ with a puzzled look. He answers, "yes, Lord." Three times Christ asks this question, finally Christ says, "Then feed my sheep." This is the second part! Matthew 28:19-20 says, "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen" We are all called. Not all of us will be preachers or teachers, but we are all called none the less. God's heartbeat was and still does beat after the nations of the world. He loved all of the people of the world so much that he died for each of them personally.

My prayer is that God will fashion my heart to beat as his does, that he will make me sensitive to those thing which are dear to him. The preservation of the gospel, to love Christ, and the souls of men are the most important things, everything else is secondary.

Guardians of Freedom

I am a Christian. I am so thankful for the freedom I have in Christ. I am also a patriot and deeply thankful for those who willingly fight for and guard my freedom as an American. It angers me to my core when I hear people speaking out against our troops. I personally have had several family members who have fought and some died for the freedoms that we have enjoyed in America. None of them were drafted, they signed up to go. My uncle Walton S. Leveridge fought in the Philippines during World War II. My uncles Vernie, Karol, and Elmo Abla fought in World War II. Elmo was killed by a German sniper near the end of the war. My Grandfather, R.G. Leveridge joined the War as soon as he was old enough to go. He fought in Patton's Third Army and was there for the invasion of Normandy and the Battle of the Bulge. He also helped to liberate the prisoners in Buchenwald Concentration Camp. My uncle William Clyde Bowen fought in the Korean War and uncle Larry Bowen in Vietnam. I am proud to have these men as a part of my heritage. I honor their memory and I am eternally grateful for the sacrifices they made for my freedom.

I know there are many stories about the sacrifices people have made for our freedoms. It causes me to appreciate my freedom even more when I hear of them. I heard of one such story this past week. I don't know all the details, I don't even remember his name, but I do know that an American soldier willingly gave his life in order to save the lives of his fellow comrades. When faced with adversaries he chose to step in front of enemy fire and give the ultimate sacrifice. I'm sure that it is a sacrifice the rest of the men will never forget; for this was the day, their friend and comrade gave his life so that they could live. You know what I think is interesting? No one made him do it. Not the president, not a politician, not his officers, not his mom or dad, not his friends...HE CHOSE TO DO IT. Wow! It is a sobering thought. We should honor his memory and thank God for men who are willing to make sacrifices for our freedom.

These men are the Guardians of Freedom. They gave it all and had no regrets. So I ask you, "What have you done today for freedom? What sacrifices have you made today for America? Do your words and actions bring honor to your country or do they rip the very fabric from which this country was made?"

If you have or currently are serving in the military..."Thank you for your sacrifice."