Posted on

One more thing to put on the table

You need one more thing on the table…

1 Chronicles 16

8 Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon his name;
make known his deeds among the peoples!
9 Sing to him, sing praises to him;
tell of all his wondrous works!
10 Glory in his holy name;
let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice!

Happy Thanksgiving!

There is no doubt this is a wonderful time of year. Kicking off the holidays, spending downtime with family and friends, and eating like there will be no tomorrow.

I’m not against any of that… I’m very pro Thanksgiving!

You won’t even see me getting on some bandwagon trying to boycott Black Friday, or Gray Thursday. There’s too much that I am “for” to spend time giving attention to things I might be “against.”

But, this Thanksgiving, let me ask you to add one more thing to your holiday table just like one more piece of pie. Don’t lie, you’re going to have pie.

Here’s what I want you to add to Thanksgiving this year… thanks.

Let me explain.

I love being a parent, and I love being a parent of my young men more than I loved being a parent of little boys. Parenting little ones was hard work… they don’t know anything!

They don’t know how to get dressed, how to make their own food, how to pay taxes… even though we love them unconditionally, they’re pretty useless for several years.

One of the things we teach them falls under the category of ‘manners’. The role of the parent is to teach the child how to say things like yes sir, yes ma’am, know when to open doors, and how to use the magic words: please and thank you.

That’s right, please and thank you don’t come naturally. And, it’s important to teach them that even if they’re thankful on the inside, they need to show it on the outside.

That’s the subject of the versus listed at the beginning of this article:

Oh GIVE THANKS to the Lord; CALL UPON his name; MAKE KNOWN his deeds among the peoples! SING TO him, SING PRAISES TO him; TELL OF ALL his wondrous works! GLORY IN his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord REJOICE!

As a parent, sometimes it’s enough just to watch the children playing with the new toy. We are satisfied in seeing that they are happy. But, sometimes we require them to grow up and express that thankfulness. Somehow we know it’s just the right thing to do.

So, on this holiday of feasting, family and overindulgence of every kind, make sure you do the “right thing.”

Intentionally have a conversation or two today and tell someone you love why you love them, thank your parents for all that they have done, send a note/text to a coworker, friend, Christian brother or sister and tell them why you’re thankful for them.

Then, make sure in front of everybody around the dinner table, spend a minute remembering why we should be thankful. Brag on God, thank Him in front of your friends and family for all He’s done, and praise His name before you fill your belly.

This Thanksgiving, let’s give thanks. Let’s make sure there is no doubt we know that our God is a good God and His love endures forever.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Posted on

One of my regrets… on this Veterans Day

On this Veterans Day I have a confession to make.

I like many others am more than thankful for all the men and women who have served our country. I like many others burst with pride at stories of their bravery and valor. I like many others hold in high regard, both those who have served and those who are serving.Silhouette of modern soldiers with military vehicles

My confession? One of my greatest regrets in life, at the point of being a 43-year-old husband, father and pastor, is that I never served in the Armed Forces.

For me, I feel that I missed an opportunity and did not offer everything to my country and my family that I could have. Perhaps, that’s why I am even more moved by the service and sacrifice of these incredible warriors.

I know in the last couple of years there has been a debate, specifically whether or not we should call all our soldiers “heroes.” I think that debate is one of the biggest wastes of conversational energy I have ever experienced.

I remember the first time I heard such a conversation was in 2012 on MSNBC with TV talkshow host Chris Hayes saying he was “uncomfortable” calling fallen veterans heroes. If I can be honest, I was uncomfortable just listening to him make that statement.

I know the background of his argument was the fear of an unthinking population justifying the morality of war. But, the truth is that his underlying philosophy had nothing to do with morality, but had everything to do with his politics.

I’m not usually the kind of guy to go negative, so please hear this as a rational argument to be processed and thought through. While I know you have the right, I don’t think it is responsible for you to question the heroism of our fallen soldiers as a TV talk show host until:

  • Your job puts you in mortal danger every time you go on the air.
  • Your career causes you to give up personal freedom and convenience for the sake of serving others.
  • Your day-to-day work, risking life and limb, helps to ensure the freedom of anyone else to go on the air and say anything they want, just because you value their freedom as much as you value yours.

I know those who would disagree with these statements will say I’m wrapping myself in the flag. Let me correct. I am not wrapping myself in the flag because I have never served in a way to deserve that privilege.

Instead of wrapping myself in the flag, I’m standing behind it and behind the men and women who have preserved it so that I am protected by it.

And, tonight I will go to bed and sleep in peace not worrying that someone will come knocking on my door to harass me, imprison me, or take from me because they did not approve of the content of what I write, say or believe.

It’s by that very same protection, that politicians, pundits and people of all persuasions can continue to say the most asinine things and even disparage those who have served. All under the great irony, that they have been hand delivered that privilege by those whom lived, served, suffered, sacrificed and died for them.

So, on this Veterans Day. Thank you all who served and are serving and will serve.

May God bless you, your family and our country.