By death and hell pursued in vain,
                    To Thee the ransomed seed shall come,
                    Shouting their heavenly Zion gain,
                    And pass through death triumphant home.”
                           –Charles Wesley

    “For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.”
                           –Romans 5:10(NASB)
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I am sitting here, at my desk, staring at the computer.  I’m trying to come up with the right words to put down, and with my limited vocabulary it isn’t easy.  I’m thinking of the times that I have visited Arlington and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.  When I stand there, I find myself unable to qualify my words as they are so inadequate.  Humbleness, for sure; indebtedness to their sacrifice.  Valor, the giving of their lives so that others may live.  Perhaps the words of General MacArthur rumble deep in my soul:  Duty–Honor–Country.
    The thoughts are there, not just in the mind, but down in the soul.  Most cannot comprehend unless they have worn the uniform, put their boots to a spit-shine, and folded the flag after it had been draped over a casket.  Some shake and tremble, some cry as the shots ring out and “Taps” are played for the last time.  Most cannot comprehend unless they have had the knock on the door, visited by a chaplain and a letter from the Department from which the person served.  

         “Alone and far removed from earthly care
          The noble ruins of men lie buried here.
          You were strong men, good men
          Endowed with youth and much the will to live.
          I hear no protest from the mute lips of the dead.
          They rest:  there is no more to give.

          So long my comrades,
          Sleep ye where you fell upon the field.
          But tread softly please
          March O’er my heart with ease.
          March on and on,
          But to God alone we kneel.”
                 –Audie Murphy

    When I stand at the Tomb of the Unknown, or gaze at the crosses or bronze markers of any military cemetery the feeling of pride also begins to move within my being.  I am grateful that I wore the uniform of an airman of our country.  I count it a privilege to stand among men and women, so dedicated that they would give their last ounce of devotion.  It is an honor to stand among the brave and the fallen.
    I get the same feeling in the stillness of a morning sometimes, especially around Easter when I think of the Savior who suffered and died for me.  There is that rumbling deep in my soul when I think of His duty and how He performed it and faced the enemy of my soul, storming the gates of hell, to redeem me with His precious blood.
    Memorial Day — let it be a time of celebration with family, but also, stop, look down at the fallen who have died to give you the freedom to celebrate.  Then look up to the heavens, seek the One who died to give you the chance at eternal life and eternal celebration with Him.

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

The entire ball of wax often seemed masked in a cacophonous, chilling cloak draped across the narrow shoulders of that insatiable, bony-fingered, skull-faced Thief of Souls.”
              –J. Lee Butts (And Kill Them All)

    “They are worthless, a work of mockery; In the time of their punishment they will perish.”
              –Jeremiah 51:18 (NASB)
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Absolutely absurd!  It is absurd that the gay lifestyle is being accepted as normal.  Paul tells us that this is foolish and that they exchanged the truth of God for a lie.  It is idiotic that there is a question about gender.  That is totally foolish as there are only two genders–male and female God created them.  It is also foolish to be confused; if that is the case, look to the author of confusion!  It is morally depraved to even think that a mother would kill her own child, yet there are those out there to defend the right of them to do so.  We are living in a moronic, absurd, bizarre world.
    Now, I just read this last week: the state of Washington has given you another choice.  It used to be that you could be buried or cremated upon death.  Now you can become human compost.  Just think of it–your Uncle Louis could be snuggling up to your tomato plants, and Aunt Agnes hugging the cucumbers.  One supporter even made the statement, “Oh great, you can plant tomatoes in me.”  
    In all of the above, what has happened to the dignity of man?  When you turn away from God anything is available.  Man no longer has a source; he is only an animal, or a clod.  Paul wrote, “And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting.” (Romans 1:28, NKJV) Another version uses “depraved, worthless, reprobate” for a “debased mind.”  In all of these cases you get the idea.  These people have no moral guidelines or moral base.  
    Just ponder the following for a few minutes.  “In our country, over 50% of children born to women under 30 years of age are born without fathers, and 64% of children under six are left alone for large portions of the day.” (Swanson)  “The majority of households in America are now led by single women.  Over 50% of children born to women under 30 years of age are illegitimate (this percentage is an increase from scarcely 5% in 1960, and 1% in the 1800s).  Half of marriages now end in divorce.” (Swanson)  
    I used to wonder how the Antichrist would be able to take over.  When I see the absurdity of American culture it is now apparent.  Paul wrote to the Thessalonians, “And for this reason God will send them a strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” (2 Thessalonians 2:11-12, NKJV)  Perhaps one of the saddest statements is when Paul, writing to the church at Rome speaks of those who “approve of those who practice them” [debased practices].
    So next time, check your garden compost, Cousin Tom might be mixed in.  Even more important, in this crazy, absurd world of unrighteousness heed the words of Paul, “Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle.” (2 Thessalonians 2:15, NKJV)  I just listened to Ravi Zacharias and Francis Chan speak on the importance of making sure sermons are fully filled with the Word of God and not just enticing words.

Going through life is something like riding a deep canyon where the light seldom shines.  It is a strange canyon with unexpected turns and insurmountable walls and cross-canyons, boxed completely from the light.”
              –Zane Grey  (Captives of the Desert)

    “But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.”
              –Hebrews 10:39 (NKJV)
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I remember a song we used to sing back in Sunday School when I was a kid.  “Dare to be a Daniel; dare to stand alone.”  That’s the only part of the song I can remember.  This week I was reading Daniel, chapter 5.  Two significant things became very apparent to me.
    The first is something that we’ve heard preached (at least in times past) – The handwriting on the wall.

         “In the same hour the fingers of a man’s hand appeared and wrote opposite the lampstand on the plaster of the wall of the king’s palace; and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote.  Then the king’s countenance changed, and his thought troubled him, so that the joints of his hips were loosened and his knees knocked against each other…  And this is the inscription that was written:  MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN.”
                   DanieL 5:5-6,25 (NKJV)

Even though the king couldn’t translate the writing, he could sense its meaning.  He was caught in the balance and found wanting.  Because of his blasphemies, his life would end.  Today, we use the cliché, “the handwriting is on the wall” meaning that it’s all over now.
    The other part that struck me is found in verse 11.  “There is a man in your kingdom in whom is the Spirit of the Holy God…” (NKJV)  Ponder that statement.  How many of the Israelites were serving God?  They had been taken from Israel and had now been in Babylon seventy years.  Very few were probably serving and worshiping the Lord properly, without compromise.  There was one, however, an older man now, around eighty years old–Daniel.  Culture, society, government, none of these could persuade him to serve any of the gods of the Babylonians.  The Spirit of God rested upon him.  More and more it is becoming apparent that this would be the way it was until the return of the Lord.  No one will be able to use the excuse–“they (whoever they are) made me do it.”  As Christians we are not to become curious, compromising, or complacent about our walk with the Lord despite the culture in which we live.
    Here are a few other thoughts from Daniel, chapter five, by Elliot Johnson.
         1)  Learn from history.  Belshazzar didn’t learn from history.  He rejected the word and the will of God.  Godless men don’t learn from history, so they are doomed to repeat the mistakes from the past.  John Calvin said, “The world wishes to be deceived and shuts its eyes against the light.”
         2)  God’s mercy is longsuffering, but His judgment is swift and decisive.  He destroys those who reject truth.
         3)  God doesn’t judge success as man judges.  He looks upon the heart.  Belshazzar had everything by man’s standards, but he lacked humility, character, wisdom, and repentance.
         4)  God is very jealous for His name.  The very hour Belshazzar used the vessels set apart for God, the handwriting appeared on the wall.
         5)  Drunkenness doesn’t excuse sin.  It only adds sin upon sin, all of which will be judged.
Take time to read the chapter and contemplate what is taking place.  Then dare to be a Daniel in our society, at your workplace, in the classroom, wherever you may be.