Memorial Day: A Blessed Day

Today we celebrate and remember those who have given their all in service for our nation.

Memorial Day: A Blessed Day

"Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD,
The people He has chosen as His own inheritance."

(Psalm 33:12)

I hope you are having a blessed and safe Memorial Day. Most Americans are not working today, and many students are rejoicing that school is over or almost over! But today we celebrate and remember those who have given their all in service for our nation. I am grateful to God for those who have served and continue to serve in the Armed Forces in our country. These are brave and dedicated men and women who are patriotic and passionate about defending our nation against her enemies.

When I think of the military, my mind goes to my first cousin, Commander Scott Morton, and to Rear Admiral Endel Lee. Both men served faithfully for decades in the military, primarily in the Marines and Navy. Scott, Endel, and I attended the University of Mobile, AL in the 1980s. We have maintained a close friendship through the years. I pray for these men and their families by name every day. Here is a picture of Endel and his wife Kathy with Pastor Jim Cymbala. The next picture is Scott and I aboard the USS Boxer in 2013.

Another person I think of on this Memorial Day is Retired Lt. General Bruce Wright. I first met Bruce while he was a three-star general at Langley Air Force Base in Virginia. He, his wife Kerri, and their daughter Jackie attended Liberty Baptist Church where I served as the pastor. I had the honor of baptizing both General Wright and Jackie. After Langley, he led all the Armed Forces in the Pacific region while stationed in Japan. He flew me over to speak to his chaplains, and that was a blast. It was General Wright who asked me if I would like to fly in the backseat of an F-15 fighter jet. When I said that would be great, he said he could make it happen, and he did. It was the thrill of a lifetime for me to fly in that jet. We pulled multiple Gs, and I threw up ten times, but it was great! Here is my plaque commemorating my F-15 flight:

On that trip, General Wright and I also spent some time with Mayor Gordon Helsel. Gordon is also a veteran, a man who suffered serious wounds while fighting in Vietnam. These are good men, patriots for the Lord, most of all, and staunch in their support for their country.

May the Lord bless you and your loved ones with a relaxing and thoughtful Memorial Day. Pause for a few moments and thank God for allowing you to be born and live in this great country. Ask God for His continued grace and favor to shine upon our land.

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Strongman for Jesus: Devin Wyman on Evangelism, Overcoming Obstacles, and More

Pastor Danny welcomes to the show strongman, evangelist, and motivational speaker Devin Wyman to share his powerful testimony of God's grace, redemption, and guiding hand that took him from staring down the barrel of a prison sentence to the NFL to now using feats of strength to open the door to sharing the gospel all across the world.

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