In dedication to all the soldiers who died for our freedom.  They are incredible.

And for those who resist their lives}  Law enforcement, firefighters and etc..

for our safety and etc…

They are awesome as well.  They deserve our recognition.  

Please be sacred on this day.  If possible hang your Countries flag out on

your front and back yard to demo your love for your Country, please.

Suggestion:  show your family a lot of love and pride knowing you can

do this.  Our troops made this day possible.  

Please add a photo of a soldier.. on the comment section at the bottom

so we can honor them..  

If you have a Memorial Wall in your community.. suggestion:  pay tribute

to it.. 

            Explosions shake the battlefield. Dead bodies lay scattered everywhere as blazing ammunition races above heads. A man wonders momentarily if he’s in the right place, but he knows the answer. He’s here for war. Leaning out of cover, he takes aim, but before a shot can be fired, an incredible pain ripples through his chest. Hit with a round of enemy fire, the weight of what just happened sinks in as fast as he loses consciousness. An American soldier has just made the ultimate sacrifice for his country. His cause was noble and his death was honorable. The last thing that soldier felt was a sense of pride, knowing he died fighting for the country he loved.

What makes a man gamble away his life for the sake of our country? The answer to that is pride. Respecting the purpose behind military, a soldier takes up his weapon not fearing his own death as a normal man would. He is proud of his country and its military, and realizes that he is fighting for a cause much greater than his own relatively insignificant life.

Americans are our own breed of people. Naturally, we are proud, if not arrogant, people. It’s the reason why we once led the world in the technological explosion of the 20th century. It’s the reason why we have the highest standard of living in the world. It is also the reason why we have the strongest and most competent military in the world. Pride in our country is pride in our military. An American soldier’s pride is matched by nothing.

            To sit in History class and listen about our nation’s founding fathers battle the world’s most powerful military force, the British army, without hesitation, instigates a sense of pride. This pride grows when taught about WWI, and WWII. The men who died; the men who gave their lives for our nation, shows us citizens that interests in our country are more important than our personal lives.

There has always been pride in serving our military. During the American Revolution, a small army of volunteer soldiers fought against the highly-trained British royal army. When the facts are added up, it is impossible to imagine how the Americans could have won the war. The main reason why the Americans won is because they had so much pride in their military. Each soldier fought past their last bullet, past their last ounce of strength. They fought to their last breath. The British did not have the pride shown by the Americans; therefore they did not fight as hard. They gave up and lost hope quickly. The most elite army in the word eventually surrendered to no more than an army of ill-trained farmers that had pride in their country.

In modern times, it is unquestionably honorable for a man to serve his country by joining the military. Sometimes living a life devoted to the military is as complicated as politics, economics, or family dynamics.  But sometimes, it is as simple as a love story.  There is a powerful purpose in what we do, no matter the reason that got us here in the first place. Yes, there is pride in devoting your life to something greater than yourself.

That is why we pledge our allegiance to Old Glory…to our flag of 50 stars and 13 stripes, and why we feel pride when we sing out, hand over hearts, to the “Star Spangled Banner.”  We know what has been sacrificed, are inspired by the love and price that has been paid, and are impelled to stay faithful to it.

What does it mean to pledge allegiance to something? 

pledge      noun       ˈplej

Definition of PLEDGE:  a binding promise or agreement to do or forbear

al·le·giance       noun        ə-ˈlē-jən(t)s

Definition of ALLEGIANCE

1 (1) : the fidelity owed by a subject or citizen to a sovereign or government 

   (2) : the obligation of an alien to the government under which the alien resides

2 : devotion or loyalty to a person, group, or cause

As Americans we respect the price that was paid, we love and are proud to be part of this incredible country, and are devoted to support it… but as Christians, do we show the same respect, love and devotion to the One star and His stripes?

We have an obligation to support it…

“Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”   Mark 12:17

We should be loyal to it…

“Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.”   1 Peter 2:17

Show we are proud of it…

“But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me.”   2 Timothy 1:12

Show our devotion to it…

“Pay to all what is owed to them: …respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.”   Romans 13:7

We will stand up for it…

“Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us.”   Titus 2:7-8

Understand what has been sacrificed for us…

“Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.”  John 15:13

There is a song that gets me every time I hear it.  I love the message because it is exactly how I feel about my relationship with Christ;

“It ought to be
More like falling in love
Than something to believe in
More like losing my heart
Than giving my allegiance

Caught up, called out
Come take a look at me now
It’s like I’m falling, oh
It’s like I’m falling in love

It’s like I’m falling in love, love, love
Deeper and deeper
It was love that made
Me a believer
In more than a name, a faith, a creed
Falling in love with Jesus brought the change in me”

“More Like Falling In Love”  - Jason Gray

I love this country, and am so thankful and blessed to live here.  But the love I have for this country does not compare to the love I have for my Savior.  One day this country will fall from my eyes and the only thing that will matter is the One standing before me. 

And like most people, I long to hear those words…

“Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.”   Matthew 25:21

Now though, we have no pride in our country.  It’s an every man for himself culture.  “What do I get out of it seems to be the common mantra.  It doesn’t matter who we go to war with.  It doesn’t matter who the President is.  Without pride, this country will continue to decline.

We need to install a sense of pride in our young.  They need to grow up knowing that they live in the greatest country in the world.  A country that they should support.  A country that they want to see thrive.

I grew up in a house where this was the case.  I forgot it for a while but when I step back and look at the big picture I see that it is our primary problem.

“Ask not what your country can do for you…”

The first type of people are part of a smaller category than the latter only because nowadays in order to win tons of money you must be able to do almost anything and step on your own beliefs(e.g. showbiz, reality shows) which implies that pride isn’t required.

Yet the people that believe in pride and apply it are by far more reliable by one simple reason: a man with pride always keeps its promises. But this is now what I want to talk about.

There are certain times when people trust pride more than their own lives, and think they would better die with it then live without it. I know such a case, when a woman which graduated university as an engineer was injured at her workplace 9 years ago and because of that accident she stopped working. Because she didn’t practice her job for a long period of time, her graduating diploma is now invalid, so in fewer words she is no longer fit as an engineer. Her son had almost finished high school and needs her material support to continue college but she is decided not to get a job. When she was asked “why?” she said: “I cannot work as an engineer anymore.” Being qualified no more for her job, she must now start working from the bottom of the hierarchy again. Days later she was offered a job as a shop saleswoman but she refused. When asked why, she answered: “What would all my relatives say when they will see me work as a saleswoman? Where would my pride be then?”

This is where I wanted to get; yes it is true that pride is an important feature of life, but if you do not step on your own once in a while, your life may not be as good as it should. The important thing is not to let your pride degenerate into vanity, because any good trait can become bad.

So my dear friends beware of the quality of pride as it destroys its own soul. However, humility dressed in pride always makes progress.

1.  bearing, conduct, or speech indicative of self-respect or appreciation of the formality or gravity of an occasion or situation.  

2.  nobility or elevation of character; worthiness: dignity of sentiments.    

Pride: noun  

2.  the state or feeling of being proud.  

3.  a becoming or dignified sense of what is due to oneself or one’s position or character; self-respect; self-esteem.    

Decency: noun, plural -cies.  

1.  the state or quality of being decent.  

2.  conformity to the recognized standard of propriety, good taste, modesty, etc.    

Compassion: noun  

1.  a feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another who is stricken by misfortune, accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate the suffering.  

All definitions found @: http://dictionary.reference.com/    

I have dignity because I respect myself.  

I have pride because I am aware of myself and the respect I deserve.  

I have decency because I allow that OTHERS have dignity and pride in themselves.  

I have compassion because I understand that many do NOT and I wish to help them find themselves and their own self worth, self respect, dignity, pride, decency and compassion.  

In this way we can help each other build ourselves better and stronger in order that SOMEDAY we will ALL have dignity, pride, decency and compassion.  

I think then the world will be a better place. 

of the year but I feel that for those of us who do celebrate

Christ and what this season means, we should not feel the need

to hide or disguise ourselves.  Be proud of who you are and celebrate

this holiday season the same as those around us boldly celebrate

their religous views. 

Being an American is supposed to mean something, isn’t it?  Americans stand up and

produce.  We are not know for being afraid or cowering down.  So if we are strong and

committed to our causes let’s remain committed.

What is this talk about the Holiday Tree, Tree of Lights, Or whatever we are calling

the Christmas Tree now.  It is a CHRISTMAS TREE,  it is called a CHRISTMAS TREE because

it is about Jesus Christ and his birth, THE TRUE LIGHT.  The giving of gifts and many other things that we

celebrate at this time of year, well that is man made.  Christmas is about Christ and the gift

that Our Father, God gave to us, his son JESUS.

I don’t want to get into it too much but just let me say this.  Be who you are and be proud of it!