Wednesday, May 20, 2015
Building People of Substance for Works of Power
A profoundly happy Memorial Day to you, Friend.
This morning I woke up to online photos of refugees running from the city of Ramadi in Iraq. Their home had been overrun by the islamist jihadis and they feared for their lives. It was sad. You see, that city was liberated by U.S. troops in 2006. It was a tremendous victory paid for with valiant American lives and those of their Iraqi counterparts. Unfortunately, the necessary efforts were not made to maintain the gain. As we approach Memorial Day I want to say “thank you” to all who served and sacrificed in Iraq, and to let them know that there are many of us who esteem them very highly for what they did. I also want to be sure we recognize the cost of liberty. It costs something to obtain it, and it requires vigilance to keep it. Just for your information, here are a few casualty numbers in so-called “major” conflicts:
| Conflict/ War | American dead |
| American Revolutionary War | 25,000 |
| Civil War | 625,000 |
| World War I | 116,516 |
| World War II | 405,399 |
| Korean War | 36,516 |
| Vietnam War | 58,209 |
| Iraq and Afghanistan | 7,402 |
The total number of Americans dead and wounded while fighting on our behalf are 1, 343,812 killed, 1,529,230 wounded, and 38,159 unaccounted for.
So many have given so much. Thank you.
I encourage you to take a little time this weekend to remember what it took to give us what we enjoy, and to ask if we are willing to go to the lengths necessary to maintain the gain. We need to be engaged, informed, and courageous.
Scripture Reading: Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor. (Romans 13:7 NKJV)
Somebody Said: Is life so dear or peace so sweet as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take, but as for me, give me liberty, or give me death! Patrick Henry
Thank You, Lord, for those who have given life and limb so I can worship without fear. Bless their families, that the seed they sowed bears fruit, and that the victories they gained will be maintained. Give us clarity of mind, compassion of heart, and steeliness of will that we might live worthy of the price that others have paid for our liberty.
Pastor Virgil Stokes
FCF of Tucson
3141 W. Ironwood Hill Dr.
Tucson, AZ 85745
520-792-FCFT
pastorvirgil.com 