The Truth About Freedom

We have recently heard a lot about freedom in the media and from the politicians. They talk a lot about the so called "freedoms" that they want to "grant" to us. They think that they have the power to set us free. However, they don't understand that our freedom isn't something that they voted on. It was purchased by the blood of brave and honorable men that stood against the oppression that we are threatened with today. Our physical liberty was bought with blood and was whole-heartedly earned. But is the liberty we enjoy as Americans enough?

The fact of the matter is that we are truely slaves. We have no way to obtain true freedom in and of ourselves. The Bible in fact says that we are slaves to sin. As slaves to sin we cannot be free, because we are liars and only the Truth can set us free. "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23) The fact is that it doesn't matter how many good deeds we do, our status doesn't change. We have been seperated from God and there is nothing that we can do to change that fact. The Bible says, "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;" (Romans 1:18). And what does the Bible say about our unrighteousness? "For the wages of sin [unrighteousness] is death..." (Romans 6:23a). The Bible says in Romans 2:11 & 12, "For there is no respect of persons with God. For as many as have sinned with law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law." So we must conclude that there is nothing we can do in and of ourselves.

However, there is hope. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16). In Romans 5:8 the Bible says, "But God commended his love toward us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." The hope we have is found in the person of Jesus Christ. He said that he alone is the Way, the Truth, and the Life and that none can come to salvation unless it is through him. Romans 5:1 & 2 says "Therefore being justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: by whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God."

So how do we obtain this hope? We must accept the gift. "For the wages of sin is death, but the Gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 6:23). Romans 5:15 says, "But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many." Christ, the only begotten Son of God is the Gift, and he only way to truely be free is to accept him as the Lord and Savior of your life. The Bible says, "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." (Romans 10:13). It is a free gift that God desires all of us to partake in. The fact of the matter is that the only thing you have to do to accept that gift is found in Romans 10:9, "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." It is that simple. It's not about good deeds or how much you give to charity or how much you attend church or even if you get baptised. "For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." (Romans 10:10).

The bottom line is that whether republican or democrat, church member or not, moral or immoral, rich or poor, we are all slaves to sin. And the only way to be free is through Jesus Christ. I pray that you will be free. I pray that you accept Christ as your savior and that when Christ returns we will meet in the air.

Valkyrie

Little Is Much

5200 Greek hoplites stood by as the massive Persian armies marched toward them at the beat of their drums. The Persian King, Xerxes (as the Greeks called him) or Ahasuerus (as he was known in Asia) had sent emissaries to all the Greek city-states demanding, "Earth and water," the tokens of their submission to the "Persian". But the Greeks which stood before him this day, though mere peons to the vast numbers that the Persian had assembled, represented those Greeks that rejected his rule and chose instead freedom over slavery. And though he laughed and scoffed at their little attempt to resist, the Greeks' resolve and determination shook his own resolve to the very core.

We all know how the Battle of Thermopylae ended and what the over all result was of this war. The result however was not what was important here but rather the stand that those brave 5200 men made that day. To me however it pales in comparison to the bravery, determination, and committment that I have seen over the past two weeks in a couple that I have had the pleasure of knowing for the past two years.

Earnie and Martha Brockman are the directors of the Eagles' Nest Christian Servicemen's Center in Clarksville, Tennessee. On a daily basis these two passionate people serve the Lord by ministering to the tens of thousands of soldiers that serve in Ft. Campbell, Kentucky. If they are not on a Drop Zone (DZ) serving food to the soldiers who are performing paradrops, then they are on the roads of Ft. Campbell at 0300 in the morning serving gatorade and snacks to the soldiers who have been on a twelve hour road march, or they are counseling with soldiers or their wives and helping them adjust to the life that they now live. They ensure that there is never a day where they don't share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with a lost soldier.

The topper, these two who are in their sixties do this with Mrs. Brockman's mother who is well in her ninety's and who is sharp as a tack. The three of them have been serving at the Eagles' Nest alone for over two years after the death of their partners. However, that past two weeks I and my wife have had the pleasure of taking part in their ministry and pray for many, many more. I thank God for these folks who have such a burden for my fellow brothers in arms both among the Screaming Eagles and the 5th Legion.

Please pray for them and us we continue to reach out to the soldiers here on Ft. Campbell.

5th Legion Valkerie

I am not normally someone that would blog, but I think it might be fun and interesting in order to say things that I feel need to be said. What I don't want to do is end up becoming a blogger who blogs just because it's the thing to do. I feel that is a waste of time.

I am currently married to greatest woman in the world, who I like to call Lei, the love of my life. She is the most beautiful woman in the world and am so blessed that she feels that I am worthy of her, (though I don't really know why). She is constantly doing everything for me, and I don't ask for her to, (usually). I'm so thankful for her and all that she does for me. God has blessed me so greatly. I'm not saying that we haven't had our rough spots, believe me, have we had our rough spots. But she has stood by me through everything. I love her more than anything

God has also blessed me with the best little boy that you could ever hope for. He is so fun and full of life and is, to put it quite honestly, a whole lot bigger than a child that I should produce. He is going to be 2 years old next month. He loves to watch Barney even though I'm not such a huge fan, but he's learning a lot. He also likes the Incredible Hulk, I think because he's big and green. But more than anything he loves his mommy just as much as I do. And I love watching the two of them play together.

God has also allowed me to give me the Job that I wanted since I was a little kid, and I love it. I do a job that not even one percent of the population of the US can do. And in that job I have a skill that even fewer have. Again God has been good to me, despite myself. I love my family and my job but I wouldn't have them if God did not see fit to give them to me. I am so thankful to him and all he has done.

The 5th Legion Valkerie