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FAMILY NEWS — GET INVOLVED!WEDNESDAY FLOWER SHOWER TO NEIGHBORS! We need everyone here at 4:45 Wednesday to deliver a flower with a message and an invitation to every home in the neighborhood. This just involves handing them a flower we have purchased, wishing them a good day, and inviting them to come and be with us whenever they can. There is no pressure, debate, or sermonizing involved — just a friendly greeting to let our neighbors know we are here and we want to serve them. After the flower delivery we will have a light supper which will be provided before our Bible class. SAVE FAIR DATE! The Cass County Fair is August 3 – 8, and we have our regular slot reserved. Save the date and plan to be involved. We have talked in our sermons about being active in the community — not just keeping house. Be a part of that! MEMORIAL DAYA Commentary by Richard Hoyt (a Veteran), 2015Just as so many days have different meanings to different people, Memorial Day is no different. Starting out as Decoration Day and observed on different days in various regions of the country it takes time for people to show respect for those who have served and died for our country. It becomes extremely hard to bring to focus the blood mixed with hatred of the Civil War; the blood mixed with Mustard Gas of World War I; or the blood mixed with water at Pearl Harbor; the blood mixed with snow in Korea; and it does not become any easier to focus on the blood mixed with sand of the Mideast. Those who have died, died for a country, not a dictator, they died for an idea that all men should be free. They died because they did not want a foreign country telling them what to do and how to live. They were united because they believed in what they were fighting for. In 2015, 239 years after this nation had a united goal these ideals have changed. Has the Almighty God changed? Have the meanings of the ideals (freedom, justice, equality) changed? What then has changed? Maybe, just maybe we, we as a nation AND individuals have changed. Have we forgotten that God created all men equal (Romans 10:12); have we dismissed the idea that we are to help those who are in need (Galatians 6:10); have we forgotten to prepare for a future with God? Memorial Day is a time to remember what all those who have given their lifes to preserve, a time to come together to give honor and thanks for the men and women that have died for the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. It is also a time to remember that none of these ideals would have lasted for 239 or 2000 years if the Lord were not in control. THIS IS THE MEANING OF WHAT THE MEMORIAL THAT WE SHARE AND HONOR THIS DAY! TODAY'S LESSON
INTRODUCTION
A. Tomorrow is Memorial Day to honor those who died fighting for our country.
I. WE SHOW WHAT WE VALUE BY OBSERVING MEMORIALS.
B. Not Veteran's Day to honor anyone who served. C. History — see The Back Page below. D. God calls Christians to be involved in memorials. A. What happens tomorrow? What was it 100 years ago?
II. OUR DEGREE OF APPRECIATION IS SHOWN BY OUR GIVING.
B. Acts 10:4 — What do prayers do? 1. God knows our priorities by what we honor.
A. Matthew 26:6 – 13
III. RECALLING — REMEMBERING — RECOLLECTING
1. What was the value Judas placed on Christ?
B. Memorials demand time, energy, not just money.
1. What do you do with 168 hours? A. Recalling (mneia) — Philippians 1:3; 1 Thessalonians 3:6; 2 Timothy 1:3; 2 Peter 1:15 — People who have blessed us.
IV. GOD — HONOR THE RIGHT THINGS IN THE RIGHT WAY.
B. Remembering (anamnesis) — constant indwelled memory — Luke 22:19; 1 Corinthians 11:24 – 25; Communion C. Recollecting (hupomnesis) — Review a past event — 2 Timothy 1:5; 2 Peter 1:13, 15; 3:1 1. Purpose of Memorial Day is to stir our minds. A. Glory in a kind of Honor (doxa=praise) — John 5:40
V. WE HONOR GOD BY REMEMBERING ALL HE DOES FOR US.B. Glory can be weight (timao) — John 4:44; Matthew 15:4; Ephesians 6:2; 1 Timothy 5:3; 1 Corinthians 12:23 – 24; 1 Peter 3:7; Romans 13:7 C. Glory can be celebrity honor (entimos) — Luke 14:7 – 11. 1. Memorial Day is this kind of honor. THE BACK PAGEMEMORIAL DAYThis is Memorial Day weekend. The last Monday in May, became Memorial Day in 1967. The first Memorial Day was celebrated on June 3,1861 when a Civil War solder's grave was decorated in Warrenton, Va. After Lincoln's assassination in April 1865 a “Memorial Day Observance” was held on May 1 in Charleston, S.C. In May 1868 the celebration was called “Decoration Day.” Michigan led the country in that celebration with flowers being used as a part of the honoring of those who died to keep America free. On Memorial Day the proper flag celebration is to raise the U.S. flag to full staff and then immediately lower it to half staff until noon to honor those who have died defending this country. At noon the flag is to raised back to the top by those living to resolve not to give up the fight for liberty and justice for all. We show what we value by observing memorials. It is sad that for many Americans this is just the first three-day weekend of the summer — nothing more. The fact is that the cultural icons of history receive significant memorials — The Taj Mahal, Graceland, Michael Jackson's Home, the Easter Island Statues, etc., are examples we are aware of. In today's lesson we talk about three different kinds of memorials. The Bible uses different words to describe these memorials. There is a difference between recalling, remembering, and recollecting. God calls us to do all three of these. We are not to be in a praise hunt, but we are called to be active in encouraging and uplifting one another and in honoring God. This is not just done in worship. Hopefully our lesson will complement our thinking this Memorial Day. Spend some time in prayer tomorrow remembering those who have died to bless us with living in this great country. — John Clayton Our sign by the street!
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