A Different Type of SUBMIT Button -- November 9, 2012

"I, _____, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God."

This is the Oath of Enlistment that every new recruit in the U.S. military must take.  Notice that the oath is to "support and defend the Constitution of the United States".  Those that wear the uniform swear to uphold the document that lays out how this nation is governed.

We saw provisions of the Constitution in action this week with the Presidential Election.  Whether or not you liked the outcome, the process worked.

This Sunday, November 11th, is Veterans Day.  It is a day to say "Thank You" to anyone who has been or is currently serving in our military.

Where did Veterans Day come from?  Would you believe it comes from the end of World War I?

The conclusion of World War I came on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month in 1918 when Germany signed an Armistice (cessation of hostilities) which ended "The War to End All Wars".

The holiday was first celebrated as "Armistice Day" but was officially changed to "Veterans Day" in 1954 to honor not just WWI soldiers but all who had served in World War II and Korea plus those who would come after.

Did you know that Birmingham, Alabama holds the oldest Veterans Day parade in the country?  It's true.

Raymond Weeks, a WWII veteran from Birmingham, led the first Veterans Day parade in the country in 1947 and led it each year until his death in 1985.  This year's parade will be Monday at 1:30 p.m. and goes through downtown Birmingham.

Loved the historical perspective, Darren, but what does it have to do with our lesson this week?

Do you remember the part in the Oath of Enlistment that says "I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me"?

This phrase puts an enlisted member of the military in a willing position of submitting to a higher authority.

Isn't submitting what we as Christians should do to God?  Isn't He the "higher authority"?

This Sunday at 9:50 a.m., we will look at one New Testament passage and one Old Testament story.  It will be Hebrews 4:12-13 and 2 Kings 22:3-20.

We'll see what King Josiah did when a lost Book of the Law was found while rebuilding the Temple.

Who knows?  We may even see a few parallels between what's happening now and what happened then.

And you thought human nature had changed in 26 centuries. 

Finish Friday strong.  Enjoy Saturday with your family.  See you Sunday!

Loyally yours,

Darren Bayne

“When government accepts responsibility for people, then people no longer take responsibility for themselves.” – George Pataki