The Sermon Faith, Family and the Flag by Major Alan Miller
Jul 01, 2012
Faith, Family and the Flag (29:42)
Referenced Scriptures: 2 Timothy 2:3-4; 2 Corinthians 13:5; Psalm 46:1; Deuteronomy 31:6; Isaiah 41:13; Ephesians 6:16
Audio
Click To View Notes & Scriptures
-
The scriptures below are from the WEB Bible.
2 Timothy 2:3-4
3) You therefore must endure hardship, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.
4) No soldier on service entangles himself in the affairs of life, that he may please him who enrolled him as a soldier.
2 Corinthians 13:5
5) Test your own selves, whether you are in the faith. Test your own selves. Or don‘t you know as to your own selves, that Jesus Christ is in you? Unless indeed you are reprobate.
Psalm 46:1
1) God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.
Deuteronomy 31:6
6) Be strong and of good courage, don‘t be afraid, nor be scared of them: for Yahweh your God, he it is who does go with you; he will not fail you, nor forsake you.
Isaiah 41:13
13) For I, Yahweh your God, will hold your right hand, saying to you, Don‘t be afraid; I will help you.
Ephesians 6:16
16) above all, taking up the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the evil one.
The WEB Bible is provided by Public Domain.
Click To View The Sermon's Machine Transcription
This is a machine transcript of the sermon. It won't be completely accurate of what's said in the sermon.
You like yet you did get that pride. I guess maybe him not to have pride I as a Christian you know we we wanted to be honored to Jesus. But, you know, I think the balance from a very young boy, I felt old enough to remember when he went to my aunt Rhonda always been very proud about without a very special part of our family. The children CM over here and take care the children down quietly and will given over ninety very much. It's a sincere honor for me to be here today. The help up my uncle Dave and being here with aunt Rhonda, the other special person and you hadn't met him already, but my dad Bob Miller and that's been a huge part of my life and that kind of ties in with my theme today. Today I like the take some of your time today here today and say thanks to all of those people in our country that have done so much for us were getting ready to celebrate the Fourth of July celebrate our independence as many out there that look to the United States of America as a beacon of hope as a beacon of freedom of independence in this world we live today as it's a crazy world out there. Someone to share. Hopefully, with God 's guidance today. Some of my thoughts about the inner working relationship between our faith, our family and of course our flag that we receive probably as we go down our street one. Whereas I was coming down Highway seventy six, as I was coming down fifty six today and we then I were just talking about, hey, look at the flags over there as we're coming down to Johnstown through Windber, those plans of where were proud of. I'm very proud of senses. Take a few minutes to pray to heavenly father, I ask for your guidance here today, as we share your word about freedom and our families, and of course our flag. They were proud of here in the United States of America. We thank you and ask that you be with us throughout this holiday weekend. Protect those here today and members of our congregation as well so we just thank the Lord and ask for your guidance in your name we pray. Amen. Well many of you know now, my family, my uncle Dave Myatt, Rhonda, and of course my dad back there. Bob Miller what you don't know though is my grandfather, my grandfather Reverend Frank Miller. My grandfather served in World War I in the infantry and then served in World War II is a Lutheran chaplain and he ended up on a aircraft carrier outside of Japan. As we were getting ready to invade this was before the two bombs were dropped in Hiroshima and Nagasaki as he served on that ship was very proud that he was on that coast outside waiting. And fortunately our leaders made some decisions that save millions and millions of lives, not only the lives of our countrymen, but also many lives in Japan as well, so they didn't have to as regular phase of the war. I also served very proudly in the United States Air Force for twenty four and a half years I was a navigator flew in Casey, one thirty five and the ones all bombers and then retired actually seven years ago. Is this month in June and I started working for company. It's called Northrop Grumman and I passed out some posters here earlier today that the child B-2 bomber, and that's where I worked today. I'm an air crew instructor work with new pilots as they come in. We teach in the aircraft systems and it's an interesting part because I get to meet all the new families. All the new pilots that come in males than females. We have the female pilots as well so it's interesting to get to know the families get to know a little bit about them. I still work at the base today and have been there now actually in Warrensburg, Missouri. Now for the past will be fourteen years later, not this summer. So what you think about little bit today about freedom and the sacrifices that are servicemen and women have made to continue to make three free and continue to make us free on a daily basis. Accordingly, Mark Alexander from the patriot Post, he says, since our nation 's founding more than one million American soldiers, sailors, American airmen, Marines and Coast Guard men have paid the ultimate price in defense of our nation. It is their final sacrifice that we honor the solemn reverence we do that, of course, each on Memorial Day, but not working to think about our independence, but we seen the kind of take that for granted of them were free to come here to church this morning with countries where you're not free to come to church, but we seem to forget about that freedom and how to take it for granted somewhat heartbreaking. I read about a poll commissioned by the national World War II Ms. using a it revealed that our nation is in danger of forgetting the real meeting of freedom and independence to work since we got our kids are grand children are friends that I know why we gather each and every year for the Fourth of July Memorial Day today. I'm sure we have many family and friends here and I venture to guess that many of us are to be out on the Fourth of July. We go to picnics organist seated the fireworks were to spend time with our family were going to have a nice, right in the middle of this year and middle of the week the fourth of July will have all the special events with picnics and family gatherings to enjoy that Fourth of July season in the summer season as well when I challenge you with today is to remind yourself when you see the flash when you see the fireworks going off in your communities think about the real meaning of the Fourth of July. What it's all about. As you may already know the Fourth of July is the day that we celebrate the camera commemorating of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence. That was on July fourth seventy six, declaring independence from at that time the kingdom of Great Britain. Independence Day is commonly associated with like we talked about fireworks, parades, barbecues, the carnivals. The picnics. The concert, baseball games, family reunions and other ceremonies as well. In addition, the various other public and private event celebrating the history, the government and the traditions of the United States in the pen today is our national day for the United States. This independence should not be taken for granted preserve this day, each and every year as a reminder of the sacrifices made to keep radome make freedom be recognized in your neighborhoods in your communities by flying the American flag be proud to stand up as you see that flag goes goes by in a parade or fewer than baseball game or an event stand and be proud when you see the American flag, especially in our homes and our businesses and of course at the cemeteries where we see our veterans made the rest also don't forget when you see the American flag. It is an honor for us in our country as well, and an honor to those who have served our country. Most of all, I asked if you remember anything today. That's remembered our freedom is very precious, God has given us this country 's freedom to us. So remember that if you remember something today and to preserve it, preserve our faith is also in brain were talking about little bit about family and our faith. Our faith is ingrained in the fabric of this great country and its history. Although there are those who would like to take that away from us. We see this across all all around the world, but if you review the Declaration of Independence and the quotes from our founding fathers such as George Washington, they always include God, and I didn't give you a few examples here. This is right out of our declaration of independence. It talks about the nature of God entitle them a decent respect to the opinions of mankind why they should declare the causes which impelled them to separation. Also, you recognize this we hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator certain on it on a label rights among these are life and liberty and the pursuit of happiness probably heard of John Adams, John Adams tells us it's the duty of all men in society, publicly and and at stated seasons to worship the supreme being, the great Creator and preserver of our universe and for worshiping God in a manner that is most agreeable to the dictates of his own conscience or for his particular religious profession. We also hear. Additionally, from John Adams. He wrote income on the commemoration of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. He wrote his wife Abigail thought this was kind of interesting, but that they would be the most memorable in the history of America. I'm apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations. And that's true today as the great anniversary Festival got a be commemorated as the day of deliverance by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. And then he goes on to talk about obese solemnized with pomp and parade, with gains in sports and guns and bells, bonfires and illuminations from the one, and this continent to the other from this time forward in for evermore. Then Thomas Jefferson think we recognize that name. He talks about the liberties of our nation to be thought secure that we should be removed. There only firm basis of conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are a gift of God, so you can see how history. How is it ingrained in our faith in their faith in this country that we have Joseph story in eighteen thirty three, made some commentaries on the Constitution, he said, let the American youth. Our kids never forget that they possess a noble inheritance, brought either toils and sufferings in the blood of their ancestors and capacity if wisely improved and faithfully guarded. There's that word again faithfully guarded transmitting to their latest posterity all the substantial blessings of life, the peaceful enjoyment of our liberty, property, religion, and our independence, so you can save from our our fathers brought forth this Declaration of Independence, to God and faith was a part of their life. So what does God provide for us for our nation on this one like myself who serve in the military we serve our country, our God, our families, how do we show this faith in a world of differing faiths in my faith has carried me through some difficult times as well. We wish have many times were were separated from our families think about maybe members in your community here that are in Afghanistan now. Or maybe served in Iraq may being away from their families for up to a year or more of my faith not provided me with strength and perseverance to carry on, in spite of some of those overwhelming odds. At times you think about your family back home. You know they care who you were meant to take care of our families. One time I was asked to leave my family. I just gotten married and we just discovered that my mother-in-law at that time had been diagnosed with cancer cell is a difficult time for my wife, Lorraine, who couldn't even be here with us today. I wish he could have let. She's a musician and so she's back home, playing in our home church today, so this was a difficult time for us. We were fairly only just gotten married not to far previous from this so is the early days of our marriage, and it provided. Provided us really a chance to kind of show our faith of serving our country, but at the time it, it provided perseverance as well. The trip work that worked out for both of us with God 's loving guidance with his care, as Jesus says in the Bible in second Corinthians verse thirteen, says test yourselves to see if you are in the faith, examine yourselves, or do you not recognize this about yourself that Jesus Christ is in you no matter where we are, even though were separated from our families to go on it goes on the same first Corinthians sixteen be on your guard stand firm in your faith be men of courage strong, but about those veterans like my grandfather that was separated from his family. They had to be strong away from their families. This is another really good story and Mrs. talks about protection and this is a story from a man of faith for my home church. His name is Ron Rhody. The story goes on to talk the protection for our airmen and their overseas. Our soldiers or Marines there in the Middle East today. It starts with the story in Iraq. My friend Ron was normally at work as you as you are overseas or very early in the morning. He was a transportation expert, so he worked and directed a team of people that would work on the vehicles that would go on her about the convoys to go out and deliver equipment and people and things out to these outposts will his job was to work with the group of soldiers and airmen in Menard United States Air Force and so we were working right along with the Army at that time of his job was to organize those teams get those vehicle specs so that they can want to be out on the road and have a broken vehicle would be not a good thing so wrong that particular morning, he had had an office area that he worked this particular morning, though they had had a night of mortar shelling and so he was up late and you'd been up late working as well so they they slept in a little bit that particular morning, and you know what God was looking out for so wrong got up as he normally would. They went down to the chow hall. We called it chow hall mess facility would everyone call to get some breakfast. So he got his breakfast as guys are with them. Then they went to go off to work well in the middle of the night if the mortar shelling started. You put your helmet on and you dove into a bunker to hopefully and pray to God that border would not fall on top of the. They had some villages close lives of those shells, and in the almost became like a nuisance. They got used to it. Imagine that it used to put your helmet on, and I've been in, get used to the this mom coming down on top of you. So this particular morning that it happened on the previous night, but what Ron get to know, is one of those mourners hit his desk in his office and Ron gone to work at his normal time in the morning, Ron Brody would been sitting there under that shell and probably would either been killed or series seriously injured. So God was looking out for him. God was protecting him and his men that work for him. This man they knew that Ron was a man of faith. They knew he was a Christian. He faithfully prayed and had his Bible with and you you wonder how God uses those situations in that particular case. Those people now are coming from Ron 's I saw what happened. They saw that they would've been. They could've been hurt, they could kill so I gave Ron a chance to share his faith with those men and women that worked with him, so it's amazing what God uses what situations of the users, and it sells us in Psalm forty six, verse one. God is our refuge is our strength. He's an ever present help were in trouble and in Deuteronomy thirty six to thirty one parsecs, he says to be strong, be courageous. Don't be afraid. Don't be terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you. He will never leave you, and he will never forsake you. Also on Isaiah, chapter forty one, for I am the Lord your God, who takes hold of your right in and says to you, do not fear I will help you story didn't have little more personal to me, talks about being on alert. My first nine years of my twenty four years in the over twenty four years in the service when I was in Casey, one thirty five and call tanker aircraft that we fueled other airplane and you'll see actually may see some some photos up here as well. There's some photos and then we have about about Casey, one thirty five C ten refueling. Another aircraft you see some other aircraft listed in here as well that the two. That's the airplane. I teach part of its so that they are prepared so that they can go and the ploy of notes longer overseas show that freedom in America. And then after that we had on home for families carry that faith with us as we go along, so this alert. I pulled for nine years. What is alert me. You might say what that well for one week each month. I would go and spend that week on the base away from my family and I would be on alert, ready to go. So if the horn sounded, I responded to the airplane. In fact, they run an update. My dad is. I think seeing this as well. We would respond to the airplane would matter where we were. We had a truck with us on the base so we were at the gym working out a jump in the truck and we responded the airplane if we're in the alert facility. We ran we were supposed to be on alert, ready to guess what like to share a little bit of some words from a Lieutenant Colonel Ward ran his Air Force pilot calls it on alert today is the time of Ritz offered Christians in the military time calls for the warrior spirit and the followers of Christ as an officer said to me recently. Are we warriors or we define safe havens where our lives will be comfortable, secure, were certainly in this country, all insecure and what is your answer to that question mine was to recall some of the warnings and injunctions of the New Testament. Jesus told his followers to be ready for times like these when there would be wars and rumors of wars. The also tell them to be alert therefore be alert since you don't know when the master of the house is coming he might come suddenly and find you sleeping. And what I say to you. I say to everyone. Be alert, not out of Mark thirteen hours thirty three. Are we on alert. Are we warriors ready for the spiritual battle might be, we might not be what Jesus may have been speaking of his return. The principle of alertness applies to us in all of every generation, and circumstance. This particular pilot spent seven years of his life on alert setting alert for the Air Force for a part of that time I was a good guy piloting and air defense fighter and protection of the US assets here and abroad, so he talks about being a Christian officer being on alert and I can certainly identify with the delightful nine years of alert myself finally today I like to share a little bit about one of my favorite presidents, President Ronald Reagan, President Reagan said freedom is a you as citizens and as members of the world community. We are outraged beyond description by the attack on our homeland and the senseless killings of so many thousands of innocent men, women and children as we saw on 9/11. So, in humble obedience to the Scriptures with our failing lagging well behind in our faith, we come to you now in prayer for our enemies and for those who would consider them being our enemies are attackers. Lord we pray that you would pierce them with the conviction of your Holy Spirit, that they might not experience a moments peace until they are broken before you, and total repentance and in that moment we pray that you would remove the veil of Satan that he is placed over their eyes and forever shine in their life. Shine your light into their hearts, our leaders more literal and military alike. We pray for wisdom and courage and tenacity wisdom does discern the way forward courage to take to translate their resolve into action and tenacity to stay the course, long after the dust has settled, we thank you for our president 's cabinet, the Congress, the Germans of the joints Chiefs of staff for military leaders and our military members throughout the world. We asked for your hand to be upon them for our soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines, Coast guardsmen 's Lord we pray for your covering hand is a stand and unpleasing watch to preserve our freedoms, our faith. They are so dear to us. God is Eric 's spouses, siblings, children of families in every American community. Not sure we have those and when burgers well yet they are also an instrument of our natural match national security policy. We thank you have each one of them, and pray that they are placed in as they are placed in harms way that you would be secure in their footing, make steady there, and in certain their fire. Lastly, for I is your people Lord here today in Windber as well. Lord we pray you would ensure that ours is a righteous anger towards our enemies fill us with an indignation compelled by your will to do justice, and preclude future tragedies guard our hearts against the poison of vengeance of hate that would seek to repay our nation 's great suffering by inflicting even greater pain upon our enemies by your strength Lord, not our own grant that we may choose the love in your spare rather to hate flesh all this. Lord we pray that you would be glorified for it is in Jesus name we pray. Finally I just like to say thank you again we ask that we, God bless the United States of America. God bless those that are still serving our country for a far freedom as it says in Corinthians sixteen, verse thirteen. Beyond the bar stand firm in the faith. The man of courage, a strong, thank you very muchYou like yet you did get that pride. I guess maybe him not to have pride I as a Christian you know we we wanted to be honored to Jesus. But, you know, I think the balance from a very young boy, I felt old enough to remember when he went to my aunt Rhonda always been very proud about without a very special part of our family. The children CM over here and take care the children down quietly and will given over ninety very much. It's a sincere honor for me to be here today. The help up my uncle Dave and being here with aunt Rhonda, the other special person and you hadn't met him already, but my dad Bob Miller and that's been a huge part of my life and that kind of ties in with my theme today. Today I like the take some of your time today here today and say thanks to all of those people in our country that have done so much for us were getting ready to celebrate the Fourth of July celebrate our independence as many out there that look to the United States of America as a beacon of hope as a beacon of freedom of independence in this world we live today as it's a crazy world out there. Someone to share. Hopefully, with God 's guidance today. Some of my thoughts about the inner working relationship between our faith, our family and of course our flag that we receive probably as we go down our street one. Whereas I was coming down Highway seventy six, as I was coming down fifty six today and we then I were just talking about, hey, look at the flags over there as we're coming down to Johnstown through Windber, those plans of where were proud of. I'm very proud of senses. Take a few minutes to pray to heavenly father, I ask for your guidance here today, as we share your word about freedom and our families, and of course our flag. They were proud of here in the United States of America. We thank you and ask that you be with us throughout this holiday weekend. Protect those here today and members of our congregation as well so we just thank the Lord and ask for your guidance in your name we pray. Amen. Well many of you know now, my family, my uncle Dave Myatt, Rhonda, and of course my dad back there. Bob Miller what you don't know though is my grandfather, my grandfather Reverend Frank Miller. My grandfather served in World War I in the infantry and then served in World War II is a Lutheran chaplain and he ended up on a aircraft carrier outside of Japan. As we were getting ready to invade this was before the two bombs were dropped in Hiroshima and Nagasaki as he served on that ship was very proud that he was on that coast outside waiting. And fortunately our leaders made some decisions that save millions and millions of lives, not only the lives of our countrymen, but also many lives in Japan as well, so they didn't have to as regular phase of the war. I also served very proudly in the United States Air Force for twenty four and a half years I was a navigator flew in Casey, one thirty five and the ones all bombers and then retired actually seven years ago. Is this month in June and I started working for company. It's called Northrop Grumman and I passed out some posters here earlier today that the child B-2 bomber, and that's where I worked today. I'm an air crew instructor work with new pilots as they come in. We teach in the aircraft systems and it's an interesting part because I get to meet all the new families. All the new pilots that come in males than females. We have the female pilots as well so it's interesting to get to know the families get to know a little bit about them. I still work at the base today and have been there now actually in Warrensburg, Missouri. Now for the past will be fourteen years later, not this summer. So what you think about little bit today about freedom and the sacrifices that are servicemen and women have made to continue to make three free and continue to make us free on a daily basis. Accordingly, Mark Alexander from the patriot Post, he says, since our nation 's founding more than one million American soldiers, sailors, American airmen, Marines and Coast Guard men have paid the ultimate price in defense of our nation. It is their final sacrifice that we honor the solemn reverence we do that, of course, each on Memorial Day, but not working to think about our independence, but we seen the kind of take that for granted of them were free to come here to church this morning with countries where you're not free to come to church, but we seem to forget about that freedom and how to take it for granted somewhat heartbreaking. I read about a poll commissioned by the national World War II Ms. using a it revealed that our nation is in danger of forgetting the real meeting of freedom and independence to work since we got our kids are grand children are friends that I know why we gather each and every year for the Fourth of July Memorial Day today. I'm sure we have many family and friends here and I venture to guess that many of us are to be out on the Fourth of July. We go to picnics organist seated the fireworks were to spend time with our family were going to have a nice, right in the middle of this year and middle of the week the fourth of July will have all the special events with picnics and family gatherings to enjoy that Fourth of July season in the summer season as well when I challenge you with today is to remind yourself when you see the flash when you see the fireworks going off in your communities think about the real meaning of the Fourth of July. What it's all about. As you may already know the Fourth of July is the day that we celebrate the camera commemorating of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence. That was on July fourth seventy six, declaring independence from at that time the kingdom of Great Britain. Independence Day is commonly associated with like we talked about fireworks, parades, barbecues, the carnivals. The picnics. The concert, baseball games, family reunions and other ceremonies as well. In addition, the various other public and private event celebrating the history, the government and the traditions of the United States in the pen today is our national day for the United States. This independence should not be taken for granted preserve this day, each and every year as a reminder of the sacrifices made to keep radome make freedom be recognized in your neighborhoods in your communities by flying the American flag be proud to stand up as you see that flag goes goes by in a parade or fewer than baseball game or an event stand and be proud when you see the American flag, especially in our homes and our businesses and of course at the cemeteries where we see our veterans made the rest also don't forget when you see the American flag. It is an honor for us in our country as well, and an honor to those who have served our country. Most of all, I asked if you remember anything today. That's remembered our freedom is very precious, God has given us this country 's freedom to us. So remember that if you remember something today and to preserve it, preserve our faith is also in brain were talking about little bit about family and our faith. Our faith is ingrained in the fabric of this great country and its history. Although there are those who would like to take that away from us. We see this across all all around the world, but if you review the Declaration of Independence and the quotes from our founding fathers such as George Washington, they always include God, and I didn't give you a few examples here. This is right out of our declaration of independence. It talks about the nature of God entitle them a decent respect to the opinions of mankind why they should declare the causes which impelled them to separation. Also, you recognize this we hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator certain on it on a label rights among these are life and liberty and the pursuit of happiness probably heard of John Adams, John Adams tells us it's the duty of all men in society, publicly and and at stated seasons to worship the supreme being, the great Creator and preserver of our universe and for worshiping God in a manner that is most agreeable to the dictates of his own conscience or for his particular religious profession. We also hear. Additionally, from John Adams. He wrote income on the commemoration of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. He wrote his wife Abigail thought this was kind of interesting, but that they would be the most memorable in the history of America. I'm apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations. And that's true today as the great anniversary Festival got a be commemorated as the day of deliverance by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. And then he goes on to talk about obese solemnized with pomp and parade, with gains in sports and guns and bells, bonfires and illuminations from the one, and this continent to the other from this time forward in for evermore. Then Thomas Jefferson think we recognize that name. He talks about the liberties of our nation to be thought secure that we should be removed. There only firm basis of conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are a gift of God, so you can see how history. How is it ingrained in our faith in their faith in this country that we have Joseph story in eighteen thirty three, made some commentaries on the Constitution, he said, let the American youth. Our kids never forget that they possess a noble inheritance, brought either toils and sufferings in the blood of their ancestors and capacity if wisely improved and faithfully guarded. There's that word again faithfully guarded transmitting to their latest posterity all the substantial blessings of life, the peaceful enjoyment of our liberty, property, religion, and our independence, so you can save from our our fathers brought forth this Declaration of Independence, to God and faith was a part of their life. So what does God provide for us for our nation on this one like myself who serve in the military we serve our country, our God, our families, how do we show this faith in a world of differing faiths in my faith has carried me through some difficult times as well. We wish have many times were were separated from our families think about maybe members in your community here that are in Afghanistan now. Or maybe served in Iraq may being away from their families for up to a year or more of my faith not provided me with strength and perseverance to carry on, in spite of some of those overwhelming odds. At times you think about your family back home. You know they care who you were meant to take care of our families. One time I was asked to leave my family. I just gotten married and we just discovered that my mother-in-law at that time had been diagnosed with cancer cell is a difficult time for my wife, Lorraine, who couldn't even be here with us today. I wish he could have let. She's a musician and so she's back home, playing in our home church today, so this was a difficult time for us. We were fairly only just gotten married not to far previous from this so is the early days of our marriage, and it provided. Provided us really a chance to kind of show our faith of serving our country, but at the time it, it provided perseverance as well. The trip work that worked out for both of us with God 's loving guidance with his care, as Jesus says in the Bible in second Corinthians verse thirteen, says test yourselves to see if you are in the faith, examine yourselves, or do you not recognize this about yourself that Jesus Christ is in you no matter where we are, even though were separated from our families to go on it goes on the same first Corinthians sixteen be on your guard stand firm in your faith be men of courage strong, but about those veterans like my grandfather that was separated from his family. They had to be strong away from their families. This is another really good story and Mrs. talks about protection and this is a story from a man of faith for my home church. His name is Ron Rhody. The story goes on to talk the protection for our airmen and their overseas. Our soldiers or Marines there in the Middle East today. It starts with the story in Iraq. My friend Ron was normally at work as you as you are overseas or very early in the morning. He was a transportation expert, so he worked and directed a team of people that would work on the vehicles that would go on her about the convoys to go out and deliver equipment and people and things out to these outposts will his job was to work with the group of soldiers and airmen in Menard United States Air Force and so we were working right along with the Army at that time of his job was to organize those teams get those vehicle specs so that they can want to be out on the road and have a broken vehicle would be not a good thing so wrong that particular morning, he had had an office area that he worked this particular morning, though they had had a night of mortar shelling and so he was up late and you'd been up late working as well so they they slept in a little bit that particular morning, and you know what God was looking out for so wrong got up as he normally would. They went down to the chow hall. We called it chow hall mess facility would everyone call to get some breakfast. So he got his breakfast as guys are with them. Then they went to go off to work well in the middle of the night if the mortar shelling started. You put your helmet on and you dove into a bunker to hopefully and pray to God that border would not fall on top of the. They had some villages close lives of those shells, and in the almost became like a nuisance. They got used to it. Imagine that it used to put your helmet on, and I've been in, get used to the this mom coming down on top of you. So this particular morning that it happened on the previous night, but what Ron get to know, is one of those mourners hit his desk in his office and Ron gone to work at his normal time in the morning, Ron Brody would been sitting there under that shell and probably would either been killed or series seriously injured. So God was looking out for him. God was protecting him and his men that work for him. This man they knew that Ron was a man of faith. They knew he was a Christian. He faithfully prayed and had his Bible with and you you wonder how God uses those situations in that particular case. Those people now are coming from Ron 's I saw what happened. They saw that they would've been. They could've been hurt, they could kill so I gave Ron a chance to share his faith with those men and women that worked with him, so it's amazing what God uses what situations of the users, and it sells us in Psalm forty six, verse one. God is our refuge is our strength. He's an ever present help were in trouble and in Deuteronomy thirty six to thirty one parsecs, he says to be strong, be courageous. Don't be afraid. Don't be terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you. He will never leave you, and he will never forsake you. Also on Isaiah, chapter forty one, for I am the Lord your God, who takes hold of your right in and says to you, do not fear I will help you story didn't have little more personal to me, talks about being on alert. My first nine years of my twenty four years in the over twenty four years in the service when I was in Casey, one thirty five and call tanker aircraft that we fueled other airplane and you'll see actually may see some some photos up here as well. There's some photos and then we have about about Casey, one thirty five C ten refueling. Another aircraft you see some other aircraft listed in here as well that the two. That's the airplane. I teach part of its so that they are prepared so that they can go and the ploy of notes longer overseas show that freedom in America. And then after that we had on home for families carry that faith with us as we go along, so this alert. I pulled for nine years. What is alert me. You might say what that well for one week each month. I would go and spend that week on the base away from my family and I would be on alert, ready to go. So if the horn sounded, I responded to the airplane. In fact, they run an update. My dad is. I think seeing this as well. We would respond to the airplane would matter where we were. We had a truck with us on the base so we were at the gym working out a jump in the truck and we responded the airplane if we're in the alert facility. We ran we were supposed to be on alert, ready to guess what like to share a little bit of some words from a Lieutenant Colonel Ward ran his Air Force pilot calls it on alert today is the time of Ritz offered Christians in the military time calls for the warrior spirit and the followers of Christ as an officer said to me recently. Are we warriors or we define safe havens where our lives will be comfortable, secure, were certainly in this country, all insecure and what is your answer to that question mine was to recall some of the warnings and injunctions of the New Testament. Jesus told his followers to be ready for times like these when there would be wars and rumors of wars. The also tell them to be alert therefore be alert since you don't know when the master of the house is coming he might come suddenly and find you sleeping. And what I say to you. I say to everyone. Be alert, not out of Mark thirteen hours thirty three. Are we on alert. Are we warriors ready for the spiritual battle might be, we might not be what Jesus may have been speaking of his return. The principle of alertness applies to us in all of every generation, and circumstance. This particular pilot spent seven years of his life on alert setting alert for the Air Force for a part of that time I was a good guy piloting and air defense fighter and protection of the US assets here and abroad, so he talks about being a Christian officer being on alert and I can certainly identify with the delightful nine years of alert myself finally today I like to share a little bit about one of my favorite presidents, President Ronald Reagan, President Reagan said freedom is a you as citizens and as members of the world community. We are outraged beyond description by the attack on our homeland and the senseless killings of so many thousands of innocent men, women and children as we saw on 9/11. So, in humble obedience to the Scriptures with our failing lagging well behind in our faith, we come to you now in prayer for our enemies and for those who would consider them being our enemies are attackers. Lord we pray that you would pierce them with the conviction of your Holy Spirit, that they might not experience a moments peace until they are broken before you, and total repentance and in that moment we pray that you would remove the veil of Satan that he is placed over their eyes and forever shine in their life. Shine your light into their hearts, our leaders more literal and military alike. We pray for wisdom and courage and tenacity wisdom does discern the way forward courage to take to translate their resolve into action and tenacity to stay the course, long after the dust has settled, we thank you for our president 's cabinet, the Congress, the Germans of the joints Chiefs of staff for military leaders and our military members throughout the world. We asked for your hand to be upon them for our soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines, Coast guardsmen 's Lord we pray for your covering hand is a stand and unpleasing watch to preserve our freedoms, our faith. They are so dear to us. God is Eric 's spouses, siblings, children of families in every American community. Not sure we have those and when burgers well yet they are also an instrument of our natural match national security policy. We thank you have each one of them, and pray that they are placed in as they are placed in harms way that you would be secure in their footing, make steady there, and in certain their fire. Lastly, for I is your people Lord here today in Windber as well. Lord we pray you would ensure that ours is a righteous anger towards our enemies fill us with an indignation compelled by your will to do justice, and preclude future tragedies guard our hearts against the poison of vengeance of hate that would seek to repay our nation 's great suffering by inflicting even greater pain upon our enemies by your strength Lord, not our own grant that we may choose the love in your spare rather to hate flesh all this. Lord we pray that you would be glorified for it is in Jesus name we pray. Finally I just like to say thank you again we ask that we, God bless the United States of America. God bless those that are still serving our country for a far freedom as it says in Corinthians sixteen, verse thirteen. Beyond the bar stand firm in the faith. The man of courage, a strong, thank you very much