Prisoner Freedom and Veterans Day 2014

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Edmund Burke, 1729-1797,  was a great orator, author and leader of Great Britain during the time of the Revolutionary War.  His statement written 1.9.1795, in a letter to William Smith is well known:

"All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing."

Thousands prayed and others did all they could to work for their release.  We are so thankful for the good news of Jeffrey Fowle, Matthew Miller and Kenneth Bae's release from a prison in North Korea.   Fowle was accused of leaving a Bible there. 

I am reminded of other true words of Edmund Burke,

"The blood of man should never be shed but to redeem blood of man. It is well shed for our family, for our friends, for our God, for our country, for our kind.  The rest is vanity; the rest is crime."  Letters on a Regicide Peace

"What is liberty without wisdom and without virtue?  It is the greatest of all possible evils; for it is folly, vice, and madness without restraint."

Many of our veterans have used the training they received to develop self control which goes beyond their immediate challenge to experience true freedom. 

Jesus said, "Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth."  (Matthew 5.5) What is the meaning of meek?  It does not mean "weak".  It is from a Greek word that means power that is under control." 

Peter was a follower of Jesus who had failed and learned a better way to live through mercy and grace. He wrote,

"As free, and not using your liberty for a cloak of maliciousness, but as servants of God. (1 Peter 2.16)

Happy Veterans' Day

Larry Wishard

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