“Be Careful in How You Live?”

S-1508 8SAP/3B 7/19/2015 Hymns: (O) #16; (S) #333; (C) #47

Texts: Jeremiahs 23:1-6; Ephesians 2:11-22; Mark 6:30-44

Theme: “Be Careful in How You Live?” (Jeremiahs 23:5-6)

Question: “Do you care what others think of you?”

IN NOMINE IESU

Faithful followers of the Savior, Christ is Risen! He is Risen indeed! Alleluia! The text for the 8^th Sunday after Pentecost is from the O.T. reading: “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is the name by which he will be called: ‘The Lord is our righteousness’” (Jeremiahs 23:5-6).

INTRODUCTION 

Beautiful and Beloved people of God, a long time ago someone gave me this sign (Show) that has been hanging in my office. The sign reads: “Be careful how you live—you may be the only Bible some people read.” This is so true for all time! But now more than ever, we, Christians need to pay close attention in how we live and act in the public square. It is so vital for us to be in the ways of the Lord and give witness to His life-giving Word. While our good deeds do not save us, while we in no way earn our salvation, knowing that indeed, the Lord, He is our Righteousness, our being made right, pure, whole, complete – our Restoration to that which was lost in Eden. With that gift, we are indeed equipped to live in the light of His merciful victory! So often we downplay the full victory of Christ on the Cross! That is why I greeted you with the Easter Greeting: “Christ is Risen! He is Risen, Indeed! Alleluia!”

With that as our backdrop, we can look at our witness in and to the world, our witness to Christ’s victory on the Cross! Yes, we have seen a major shift in the world in general, and our country in particular. So many people no longer hold to the truth of Scripture. No longer do they believe that God is God and Jesus is His heaven-sent Savior. No longer do they adhere to the truth taught in the Bible. But raise themselves above God and His mighty Word.

Things continue to deteriorate in our world. We see evidence of this all over. On Thursday we heard again of the evil that was unleashed on the four US Marines and one US Sailor who were brutally murdered in the name of that liar and false god of Islam in Chattanooga, TN. We just heard of the Jury’s decision of James Holmes who 3 years ago walked into a Colorado theater and killed 12 people and injured 76 others. We have seen Bruce Jenner change his physique from a man to a woman saying he likes himself better this way. In essence, he said, “God made a mistake when He made me!” And if this not bad enough, the media on Wednesday (7/15) honored Bruce Jenner or whatever you want to call him/her “Caitlyn” with the Arthur Ashe Courage Award at the ESPYs.

Indeed, the world we live in has lost its moral compass. Now anything goes because God is no longer the Supreme God, but instead He has been pushed out of the lives of people who have elevated themselves above Him. How sad is this! Still, the Lord, He is our Righteousness, and that righteousness shines now through His Christians, through you and me, shining brightly in this darkened world!

So then, if ever there is a time for us as Christians to live and give witness that we are followers of Jesus, it is now. Now more than ever, we the minority must speak in love and truth who this God is and what His Son has accomplished for us on Calvary’s cross. And yet, with the minority of One dead corpse on a Roman Cross about 2,000 years ago, He won the victory. “Christ is Risen! He is Risen, Indeed! Alleluia!” PAUSE.

Let this truth sink into your heads and hearts. There is BIG difference between living for yourself or living in the reality of your Savior and His victory. There is a mega difference if you only think of yourself and not others. So many people are serving the gods of this world. Just this week I heard a lady who had cosmetic surgery saying: “Nobody is going to hold me back in getting what I want out of my life. THIS IS MY LIFE AND I WANT TO LIVE IT THE WAY I WANT TO!”

This is the problem the Lord God addresses in the text before us through the prophet Jeremiah. God warns the unfaithful shepherds of the imminent disaster that is coming because they have NOT held to the truth, taught the truth and lived by the truth. God warns of the demise of all these people, the unfaithful, the ungrateful and the untrue under-shepherds. He then offers Christ, the Righteous Branch, the Lord, our Righteousness!

The problem of unfaithful shepherds, and deep confusion and darkness in the hearts and lives of folks is not limited to these leaders but to us also. Many parents neglect their responsibilities and let their children do what they want to do. Too often, even in the Church of God, His Bride is unfaithful - We are no longer holding the Word of God before them as the compass for all of life. We have given up our role of leadership in the home, in church and in the community and have permitted the world to take over and affect how we live and what is right only in their eyes. Why don’t we stand up and live as the confessors and followers of Jesus? Why don’t we teach ourselves and our families what Scripture has to say about sin and its consequences? Why do we close our eyes about the evil around us without saying a word? PAUSE.

Beautiful and Beloved people of God, the time is now for us to live the right way that is from and in His Righteousness, as a “twig” growing from the Righteous Branch who is Christ and thereby reflecting the truth that we are the Baptized, the Redeemed, the Forgiven, the Blood-bought and the Heaven-bound children of God. Now is the time for us to live carefully and be the Bible that people read! Because sadly many don’t know what is in the Bible. They have been duped by the devil’s wily schemes and lies, like our first parents were. We should, by the power of the Holy Spirit be vigilant calling out to the Savior who died and rose for us to be His true and faithful followers.

Listen carefully please to the words of St. Paul as he encourages the saints in Ephesus with this admonition, “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is” (Ephesians 5:15-17), and again to the Church at Galatia: “For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another” (Galatians 5:16). Truer words could not be spoken for the times we live in.

Beautiful and Beloved people of God, today through the prophet Jeremiah God gives us this eternal promise: “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is the name by which he will be called: ‘The Lord is our righteousness’” He has done that already and fulfilled this promise in the gift of His Son—Jesus Christ.

Jesus is the Faithful Shepherd who would lay down His life for the lost sheep—you and me. He is the Faithful Shepherd who died for the sake of those who ignored His Word and lived according to the world. He is the True and Faithful Shepherd who even today calls you to hear His voice and come to Him and receive the blessings He offers you.

God kept His promise by sending His Son Jesus. He is the One who has dealt wisely with us and bids us come to Him, fear and trust Him above all things. He is the Lord our righteousness who makes us righteous by taking our sins from us and giving us His holiness so that we may not spend eternity in hell but with Him in the incarnate joy of the resurrection. He is the God who in our Baptismal Grace calls us back in His Righteousness. This Baptismal reality, that sinners like you and me can be brought back. This is a clear witness to the power of the Cross and Empty Tomb. This is the witness of Easter that Christ is Risen, He is Risen indeed! Alleluia! Yes, you are perhaps the first or only Gospel that someone will read. You have been redeemed by the Lord who is Your Righteousness. Branches grow and reach out and offer shade and food. He who is our Righteous Branch is working through you in this horridly dark and dead world. Go forth then, beloved of the Lord and be careful, that is full of care, His care, about how you live!

Yes, in this Holy house we—you and I have attempted to do everything we can to live carefully and faithfully for the sake of Christ and His blood-bought people. And pray we remain steadfast in the confession of faith given us through the Great Shepherd of the sheep—Jesus Christ.

Therefore, may our prayers be that we would continue to live our lives carefully to be the Bible that people read and give glory to God alone. Amen.

Please join me in a word of prayer: “Great God, never can we thank You enough for the privilege of calling You our Father. Your love in making us unlovely ones Your children in Christ staggers our minds. Give us, we ask You, the richness of Your Holy Spirit, who is the Spirit of prayer, and let Him forever move us to look up to You in childlike trust, to tell everyone what You have accomplished for us on Calvary’s cross and the empty tomb. In the name of the Righteous branch—Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.”

Now the peace…

SOLI DOE GLORIA

“The Advent Time!” (Galatians 4:4-5)

S-1400 3MIA/A 12/18/2013 Hymns: (O) #15; (S) #99; (C) #92

Texts: Psalm 31:14-20; Genesis 18:9-15; Galatians 4:1-7; Matthew 11:25-30

Theme: “The Advent Time!” (Galatians 4:4-5)

Question: “How do you fill your time?” Armour, SD 3^rd in sermon series on: “The Three T’s of Advent”

Faithful followers of the Savior, Christ is Risen! He is Risen indeed! Alleluia! The text for our 3^rd Midweek is from the Epistle lesson: “But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons” (Galatians 4:4-5).

INTRODUCTION: In Nomine Iesu.

Precious and beloved children of God time is a precious commodity. Yet, as precious as this gift from God is, our reaction to it never seems to be neutral. We either love it or hate it. We either think it is going too fast or too slow. There are moments when time seems to drag by like molasses in January and at other moments; it flies by like a supersonic jet plane! It seems we are never satisfied with time. But God ordained time to give us proper means by which we can rest, worship, work, study and play.

Leonardo da Vinci, one of the greatest geniuses and painters of the Middle Ages, would often just stand and stare for a long time at the canvas, before he would pick up his brush to paint a scene. He was waiting for the right time for the image to be formed in his mind before he transformed it on the canvas.

In a similar way, the Almighty God, the Author of Time, created in the same way. At just the right moment, our Lord spoke everything into existence. After our first parents corrupted that perfect creation, our Lord did not cease to work “at just the right time.” Staring at the timeline of history, our Lord chose just the right time to make and keep His promise to Adam and Eve and every one of their descendants. At just the right time, the Lord of Hosts fulfilled a promise originally made to a fallen couple who lived without hope and without a future.

The message of God through Paul is this. “But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.”God was saying “It’s Advent Time! It’s time to remove the burden of the Law. It’s Time to carry out the plans God shared with father Abraham to bless all the nations of the world through his son. It’s Time to fulfill the promise of sending a Redeemer to buy humanity back. It was time to save mankind from sin, and death; and from the punishment of hell and the jaws of the devil.” PAUSE.

From the day God made the promise of long ago to send a REDEEMER, people in every age waited with great anticipation for God’s timing to be carried out. They waited for hope in their hopeless condition; they waited for help in their helpless state. And many thought that God had forgotten about them. Even, David the Psalter, whose heart was after God and put his trust in God alone, cried out saying: “How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I take counsel in my soul and have sorrow in my heart all the day? How long shall my enemy be exalted over me? Consider and answer me, O Lord my God; light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death, lest my enemy say, ‘I have prevailed over him,’ lest my foes rejoice because I am shaken” (Psalm 13:1-4).

People have cried for God to deliver them. Many thought He abandoned them. It may appear that way, however, Peter, the disciple’s spokesperson put it this way: “But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day” (2 Peter 3:8). God’s timing is not like our time. He doesn’t function by the clock but by love. As this is the case, is it any wonder that we struggle with God’s timing in our lives? Yet, we do find great comfort in the fact that at just the right time, God acted.

Therefore, when the clock of salvation struck noon, God in mercy sent His only begotten Son, to redeem, save, cheer, comfort and remove the burden of the law from their hearts. God’s love carried out this mission in a most unique and blessed way. He placed His eternal Son into a Virgin’s womb and dressed him with human cells, blood and skin. He did this so that His holy, innocent and perfect Heaven’s messenger could be under the law’s requirements and sin’s burdens. What sinful man couldn’t and wouldn’t do, God did in the sending of His Son to accomplish our redemption and salvation.

With His perfect life, the Babe of Bethlehem, the heaven-sent Savior—fulfilled every one of God’s commandments. With His innocent death, Jesus the Holy Lamb of God, paid for every sin of every human being. With His great love for you, Jesus the eternal God who came in time into our sin-infected and sin-infested world has covered our filthy lives with His holiness and purity.

Because Christ entered our world at the proper Advent Time, He shouts the shout of victory saying, I have completed the work God gave me to do. At the proper time Christ, liberated us from the burden of the law and all of its requirements. By His grace alone, He declares us holy and innocent to stand in the presence of God forever and ever as His sons and daughters. PAUSE.

But at times we don’t feel we are truly God’s children. We don’t feel that God even cares. We don’t trust that all of our sins have been forgiven. And just like David we cry out to God. O God how long before You look upon me—the sinner, help me, answer me and deliver me. O God, why not come to my aid and rescue me NOW!?

If you are one of those people who is asking this and other questions like it, then let the Apostle Paul by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit speak to your hearts tonight. Hear him as he taught the Galatians and us saying, “But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law…” and know that the work of Christ on your behalf has been completed.

In the fullness of time, God entered our time for the sake of the world. This world, the cosmos, is the world apart from God, and that world was founded when Adam and Eve sinned. When sin entered into God’s creation, given God’s purpose for mankind to be made into His image, it was necessary that there be a method of reconciliation between man and God. This reconciliation was only possible through the perfect sacrifice of Christ on the cross of Calvary for you and for me. PAUSE.

Children of the heavenly Father, on November 30, 1835, Mark Twain was born in Florida, Missouri. If you were to visit that little town, you will find in a park close to a two-room shack where he was born and a marker saying: “In this village Mark Twain was born. He cheered and comforted a tired world.”

Christ was born to do more than to bring cheer and comfort to a tired world. Christ in Advent Time brought about salvation, forgiveness of sins and life eternal. And because of His gracious work, we can know the joy of being comforted in God’s Christmas gift of His Son to a broken and sin-filled world. For in that perfect time we have a blessed consolation that knows no end because God sent a Redeemer to redeem me and give me hope in my hopelessness, help in my helplessness and peace forever in my sorrow. He does this on HIS time. That is why we call it HIS-story. The story of His time becoming our eternity!

Today, we give thanks to God for coming into our world, and someday, we will be going into His eternal world. In the name of our Advent King and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Now the peace of God…

SOLI DEO GLORIA

“Get-R-Done!” (John 17:3-4)

S-1256 7SOE/3A 06/05/11, (O) #341; (S) #159; (C) #457

Text: Acts 1:12-26; 1 Peter 4:12-19; 5:6-11; John 17:1-11

Theme: “Get-R-Done!” (John 17:3-4)

Question: “What Job[s] are you Working on Now?

SOLI DEO GLORIA, Armour, SD

Faithful followers of the Savior, Christ is Risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia! The text for the last Sunday of Easter is from the Gospel lesson: “And this is eternal life, that they know You the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. I glorified You on earth, having accomplished the work that You gave Me to do!” (John 17:3-4).

In Nomini Iesu,

Precious saints in Christ walk into your home, basement, garage, office or shop and you will see projects that you are working on. How many of these projects have you started but didn’t finish? There is not a man or woman alive today who has finished every project they began.

Here is a list of famous people who began projects but never finished them: St. Thomas Aquinas stopped work on his Summa Theologiae in 1273 after a mystical experience. Leonardo da Vinci started a portrait of the Adoration of the Magi, but never completed it. Mark Twain took 20 years to write three versions of The Mysterious Stranger but he did not finish any of them. And right here in our State (SD), Korczak Ziółkowski, 1948 began the work on The Crazy Horse Memorial but he died in 1982 and the project is not completed yet.

Even though, you and I are not famous, we too, have projects that are not complete or will never be completed. When death calls, there will be the unread books, unwritten letters, laundry to wash, meals to cook, places to go, work to do and relationships to reconcile.

This is the nature of the beast we call life. We have every intention to complete the things we start; but we fail either because we procrastinate, lose interest, not sufficient funds or because other things demand our time more. PAUSE.

For this reason even comedian Daniel Whitney, known to most of you as Larry the Cable Guy has this catchphrase: “Get-R-Done!” This is a comedian’s call to accomplish something. That which you have begun, complete! When you do, you will feel better about it. But who of us has actually finished all of the projects that have been given him to do? No one! Study the history of man and you will notice there are books started but not completed, buildings begun, but not finished. There are paintings to do, bridges to build, dresses to saw and everything under the sun that are still not completed.

In 1822 Franz Schubert began writing one of his most famous works, the “Eighth Symphony in B Minor.” After finishing the first two movements, Schubert deliv­ered the manuscript to his spon­sor. But for reasons unknown, he never completed the symphony. For this reason, many people label it the “Unfinished Symphony.”

Today, John, the author of our Gospel writer takes us with him into the Upper Room and reveals to us the final moments of Chris before He heads to the cross. In this discourse (which is part of our Gospel reading for today), Jesus prays for Himself, His disciples and us. In the midst of this prayer we hear these words: “I glorified You on earth, having accomplished the work that You gave Me to do!”

Here is Jesus: in a few hours, He will be betrayed, taken as a prisoner, beaten up, bloodied and hanged on a cross. And yet He speaks these words. “I glorified You on earth, having accomplished the work that You gave Me to do!” Indeed, He is the One and only person who have ever lived who completed the task that was given Him. Jesus is the great composer of the symphony of salvation. How­ever, unlike Schubert, Jesus com­pletely finished His great work. On the night before His death, Jesus announced this fact. He boldly foretold the completion of His great symphony when He prayed, “I glorified You on earth, having accomplished the work that You gave Me to do!”

In less than 24 hours from when Jesus uttered these words, He spoke these 3 words from the cross—“IT IS FINISHED!” (John 19:30). These are the Greatest Three Words Ever Uttered…By the Greatest Man That Has Ever Lived; for the benefit of all people in the world. In these three words the consummation of all the Old Testament truth and the germination of all New Testament truth are fulfilled once and for all.

There has never been in all of human history—anywhere, at any time, by anybody, were three words more pregnant with meaning and benefits, than these three words given by One Man at the end of His life – “IT IS FINISHED!” These words are spoken for your benefit and mine.

Imagine, my brothers and sisters in Christ what life would be like if Jesus had not finished His work. We would be lost. We would be heading for hell. We would be damned forever and ever. He has com­manded us, “Love the Lord Your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind;” and, “Love your neighbor as your­self” (Luke 10:27). We daily fail in perfectly loving our Lord and our neighbor. That’s why the Bible says: “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Indeed, we are guilty of not finishing the work the Savior has given us to do.

But how beautiful it is to listen to Jesus’ symphony! In the first movement, He came into this world and lived perfectly under God’s law for us. He fulfilled the heav­enly Father’s command to love Him and our neighbor perfectly. He pro­claimed the good news of salvation to all by word and deed.

In the sec­ond movement, He was “delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification” (Romans 4:25). His death on a cross completely paid the penalty for our sins. In the third move­ment, He rose from the dead and announced that the Father had fully accepted His work on our behalf. His beautiful symphony proclaims, “Sinner, YOU are for­given, holy, and sinless in God’s eyes—all because of the work I have accomplished!” PAUSE.

When Jesus spoke these words to His heavenly Father saying: “I have completed the work You gave Me to do!” He meant it. For everything has been completed and done in a way that satisfies the will of the Father. There is nothing that you and I need to do to complete the work of our redemption. There is no need to pay your dues so to speak. There is no need to give more money to the church, or to be present more time in His house to earn His favor and grace. No His work has earned our salvation and redemption and justification. Our need to do all of these things in order to accomplish our salvation is complete. However, our work in this world isn’t done. There is a need and a call for us to “Get-R-Done” in the way we live in love to those around us as we ourselves have been loved by Jesus. PAUSE.

To this day many people won­der what a complete version of Schubert’s symphony would sound like. Some composers have even attempted to finish his work. But they fail because they can produce only imitations of what the great master might have done.

Larry the Cable Guy might try to spur us on, by saying “Get-R-Done!” Yet, we know we can’t because we are not able to, or not willing to, or don’t care to. On the other hand, Jesus doesn’t say, “Get-R-Done!” Instead, He says: “It Is Done!!! I have finished the work! I have completed the task. I have finished my course!”

Saints in Christ, isn’t it wonderful that you do not have to complete Jesus’ work? Jesus com­pletely finished His great work of salvation—for all. Now that is a great symphony indeed.

Please join me in a word of prayer: “Dear Jesus, thank You for enduring the full penalty for our sin. Help us trust that nothing more needs to be added to Your perfect work of redeeming us, restoring us and forgiving us. Amen.”

Now the peace of God…

SOLI DEO GLORIA.

Speaking at LWML Convetion

Pastor Nabil S. Nour will be speaking at the South Minnesota LWML convention on Saturday June 27th. He will be speaking on the "Who Are The Muslims?" and how to "Witness to them".

THE AMERICAN SOLDIER—THE UNSUNG HERO

(This speech was delivered at the Memorial Day Service in Armour, SD on May 31, 2010 in front of a crowd of about 400. I thank God for the honor and privilege to do so.)

THE AMERICAN SOLDIER—THE UNSUNG HERO

With your permission, I would like to ask any person who has served in any branch of our armed forces to kindly stand up and be recognized. Please join me as we honor them and thank the Lord for their services to this great nation. (Please be seated).

September 11, 2001 was a terrible day in the history of our nation. It ranks right up there with December 7, 1941, which is a date that will live in infamy. These dates are in the “team picture” of terrible events that have marred the history of our country. In this picture are events like the assassination of Presidents, natural disasters and explosions of space shuttles. These are the kind of moments that bring us back to understand that we are mortal. They shake us to the core. They remind us that the life we live is not fully ours. For events like these, everyone alive at the time remembers what they were doing; and where they were when they happened.

But at the same time these horrible events also have some “silver lining” blessings. One of those silver linings that came out of 9/11 was the appreciation for the “unsung hero.” It was there for the first time in a long time the people of our nation appreciated those nameless faces that make a habit of running in when every other sane human being is running out. The single day in history when more firefighters, police officers and EMT’s died in the line of duty. On that day, too, all of our military personal—Navy Seals, Air-force pilots, Marines, Army and National Guard soldiers were called upon to protect our shores, our borders and air space against the tyranny that was attacking us. These events caused a nation to reflect and thank God for those who do those “unsung” heroic things that make sure that life and liberty, people and property, church and community are protected.

The unsung heroes of our nation go back more than a decade, even more than a century, all the way back to the founding: the American Revolution. The American Revolution was a movement of unsung heroes. Our nation won two World Wars by the efforts of unsung heroes that went by the names of G.I Joe and Rosie the Riveter. And all this happens even to this day. Nameless faces still serve in those underappreciated and yet necessary tasks that make our homes, communities and world safe!

It is the American Soldier who rises up and wears the uniform and stand sentry to make sure that our borders and buildings, our homes and hearts are protected against the evil foe. And who is the American Soldier? The Average age of our solider is 20 ½ years old. He/she is the brightest and the best of our nation. He/she is tall or short. He is a man or a woman. He is your father; mother, brother, sister, cousin, nephew and niece. He/she is a volunteer. They are many but an army of one. Some of them you know and others you don’t. But it is the American Solider the unsung hero who makes it possible for us to live in freedom. You know that there are no freedoms, without those willing to fight for them. And our American Solider has been fighting to keep Freedom alive ever since the inception of this nation. PAUSE.

Benny Hochman a Nazi concentration camp survivor in his book From Hell To Here stated: “I love the American Soldier for all that he stands for…” How right he is. The American Soldiers are fearless men and women who put on the uniform every day to make freedom possible. He/she is a soldier, sailor, airman, guardsman and marine. He can use his body like a weapon and his weapon as part of his body. He can take a life or he can save a life because he has been so remarkably well trained. And when the soldier wears the uniform and leaves homes, he/she knows they are is not going on a vacation, but rather into harms way, into a mortal combat; knowing full well that some of them will not return home.

I, as a former foreigner but proud to be an American citizen, know the meaning of that word and how precious FREEDOM is. The American Soldier this unsung hero leaves family, home, community and church and heads off to distant land to keep freedom alive. It is the American Solider the unsung hero that we honor today.

You will find the American Soldier serving both at home and abroad: You will find them throughout our land staking sandbags to stop flooding, rescuing people from tornados and hurricanes or building bridges to name a few. But they do more; they liberated many from the concentration camps in Auschwitz and Buchenwald. They protected many in Lebanon and Egypt. They fought in Vietnam, Korea, Iraq and Afghanistan and other places. The American Soldier has been standing up for Freedom ever since the founding of this great nation. Today, we the new generation ought to Stand up for Freedom: It is worth fighting for.

Sometimes we forget that freedom is everyone’s responsibility. You never know how precious it is until you lose it. My hope and prayer is that the sacrifices borne by so many.........will spawn and fulfill the promise of this great nation. A nation, that rose from the ashes of the Revolutionary War and became the mighty symbol of freedom for the whole world. A nation born with the sweat and blood of fearless young men and young women who fought to keep our flag flying high. A nation that continues to raise up mighty, massive, moving men and women who are willing to sacrifice limb and life for its liberty. No wonder this is the greatest nation in the world. You ought to be proud of it. You ought to bleed for it. You ought to die for it. Is it any wonder that many people want to come and live here?

I came to this country at age 16 to seek a better life. Some of you among us here today have done the same. Some of your parents or grandparents left everything and crossed the ocean to make a new life—a life that is possible because of the American Soldier the Unsung Hero. PAUSE.

Travel to New York Elis Island and you will see the great symbol of Freedom—Lady Liberty. On the platform of Lady Liberty are these words: “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me”. What makes it possible for the masses, the poor and destitute to come to our shores? The American Soldier the Unsung Hero.

But if you want to see the GREATEST Symbol of Freedom, this is not found in the American Flag or Lady Liberty in New York; instead travel to Calvary, and see the cross towering high above all. On that cross, the Lord Jesus Christ fulfilled His Words “Greater love has no one than this that someone lay down his life for his friends”. (John 15:13). Jesus willingly laid down His life to free us from the tyranny of the Evil Foe-Satan, and death and hell. That is what it means to be free indeed. And that is why all the masses are welcomed into His bosom. PAUSE.

Young people, and some you who are not so young, the next time you see an American Soldier walk up to him/her and thank them for serving our nation. When you see the stars and stripes raised high salute it. This is the symbol of a nation made free. I, as your speaker can not force you to do these things. I can not command you to obey me. But I hope that you listen and listen well.

This nation is worth fighting for. This nation has given you a hope and a home. This nation is a nation that stands for the poor and hungry, the downtrodden and destitute. It is our privilege and responsibility to fight to keep freedom alive. It is not just the American Soldier’s responsibility but every American Citizen because this is our nation- The Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave. PAUSE.

Permit me to introduce you to one of these Heroes: Richard Naasz, the father of a Pastor friend of mine Terry Naasz (from Brookings, SD). He was a quiet man of medium height, and looking at him you would never suspect he was a hero. But he was twice combat wounded, both times severely, and he stated that as a sergeant, he refused a battlefield commission to be a lieutenant, which would have taken him off the front lines, because he promised his men he would get them home alive. America’s real heroes don’t flaunt what they do; they quietly go about their day to day lives, doing what they do best. They earned our respect and the freedoms that we all enjoy. Look around and see if you can find one of those heroes in your midst. Often, they are the ones you’d least suspect, but would most like to have on your side if anything ever happed. This genteel and quiet family man didn’t even share this information with his family; until the pastor who preached his funeral sermon informed them about it. Richard would never speak of his experiences and people never knew how long he served on the front lines (for over a hundred days) but it was because of unsung heroes like Richard Naasz that we won WWII.

Every American citizen is blessed because he is protected and represented by our brightest and best—the American Soldier the Unsung Hero. For all of us here are Americans. This is what we do as Americans—rise to the task before us. We care for the needs of our people, protect them, and provide them the best that life can offer. We ought to be proud of this nation. I am sick and tired of people who complain about this country. If you don’t like this country THEN LEAVE. We should thank the Lord, Jesus Christ every day that we live here.

We should thank every day the Lord Jesus Christ, whom the Bible says, is the Mediator of every good gift—including the precious gift of freedom (1Timothy 2:5). Memorial Day is a time to remember the noble sacrifices behind our freedom. Won’t you, then, today, join me in thanking God for the American Soldier the Unsung Hero today? I hope you always do. For after all, the freedom and the liberty we have, has been born on the wings of these unsung heroes our fearless men and women. Some are with us today, while others have sacrificed their lives so that you can be gathered here and celebrate the freedoms, rights, and blessings of our beloved land—The Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave.

Thank you and God bless you all.

Will you please join me in a word of prayer?

Heavenly Father, today we remember those who have served our country with honor and devotion, especially those who have given their lives. We praise You for all the blessings that we enjoy as a result of their sacrifice, including peace, liberty, security, and the freedom we have to worship You. We implore you to keep our young brave men and women who are serving today safe and bring them home to their loved ones soon. We also, ask You to use us as Your instruments of peace and love as we serve You and others. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

Speaking at Hannover, ND

Pastor Nour will be the guest presenter on Saturday the 25th and 26th of September at St. Peter Lutheran Church 2095 Hwy 31 in Hannover, ND

On Saturday Pastor Nour will lead a workshop on “Who Are The Muslims?”

And on Sunday, He will be the Mission Preacher for both St. Peter Lutheran of Hannover, and Zion Lutheran of New Salem, ND. You are welcome to join us for this blessed event.

The time of the workshop and preaching will be posted at a later time. Hope to see you there.

In Christ’s love and in His service,

 

Rev. Nabil S. Nour Pastor and Foot Washer Phil. 1:6

Pastor Nour is Available to Speak at Your Event.

Speaking Engagements

Pastor Nour is available for speaking engagements:
He has spoken on these topics:

• 1. How to witness to Muslims?
• 2. Who are the Muslims?
• 3. How do we as Christians live on Temptation's Island?
• 4. The true meaning of Evangelism.
• 5. Will the Real Son of Abraham Please Stand Up?
• 6. Sharing the Good News.
• 7. What is Love?
• 8. Living the Happy Married Life.

Rev. Nabil S. Nour
P. O. Box 158
Armour, SD 57313-0158

Church: (605)724-2489
Home: (605)724-2722

eMail: nabilsnour@hotmail.com