Winds of War

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Original Headline from the Korean War circa 1952

Just in the last few hours, the United States has been threatened with a pre-emptive strike by the North Korean government of Kim Jung Un. We can only hope that the president and our nation's state department will avert such a hideous outcome as that. War is a serious thing. We must pray for our nation that we will have the wisdom to know what to do to stop this horror before it happens.

Not only is our nation being threatened with war, so are families that adhere to the Bible as their source. We have just finished our series at Oceanside that has to do with the Modern Family. Using the 21st Century Family as our standard, we found that the Bible still works as it has for thousands of years. Our families have fallen apart only since the philosophies of Dr. Benjamin Spock and Dr. Joyce Brothers have taken hold in our society since WWII. These family values were a shot across the bow of many believer's families. Instead of standing and fighting, many laid down and surrendered. The consequences are evident nearly everywhere we look. Some of these statistics in the narration are shocking.

This week, I read a portion of Point Man by Steve Farrar to my daughter Addie. Somehow in my mind, I thought I had already shared that portion of the book to nearly everyone. So, I decided that I would narrate that part of the book with pictures, sound effects, and background music from the movie We Were Soldiers and place it online for any and all to hear. It only takes a few minutes to listen to and it should bring tears to your eyes when you realize the importance and dangers of leading our families. This is our very own culture that is downright hostile to the biblical American family.

I present to you The War on the Biblical Family:

Let's take it to those who would want to destroy our Bible loving families. Start in your own home.

Pastor Trey Rhodes

What's Happening at Oceanside Church...

Men's Morning Briefing - Beginning Tuesday, March 11, Oceanside's men are meeting at Troubadours Coffee in Mount Pleasant. We will encourage, pray, and discuss the Bible and get our briefing on. See you at 7:00 a.m. on Tuesday morning.

Daylight Savings Time This Sunday - Watch this humorous video and pass it around. Set your clocks ahead 1 hour and see you at Oceanside Church.

Candlelight Service - Sunday Night, March 24, 2013 7 p.m. Join us as we act out the last supper and participate in this traditional and simple service. this will prepare you to seek The Lord as never before.

Easter Sunday - Nearly 80% of the USA go to church on Easter Sunday. Be sure and invite people to our exciting Easter Sunday service. Easter is early this year. It is on Sunday, March 31st.

 

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A Few Good Men

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Your family in Fallujah...on patrol?

I am giving you this instruction in keeping with the prophecies previously made about you, so that by them you may strongly engage in battle, having faith and a good conscience. Some have rejected these and have suffered the shipwreck of their faith. (1 Timothy 1:18-19, HCSB)

We live in a world where men have chosen the easy way. But, those Men who think that life is simple and can coast through it are just fooling themselves. The proof of that last statement is validated by simply reading the newspaper or watching the latest network or local news report.

As a general rule, men are horrible examples. And it seems to me that men who should have the most responsibility to lead us, are the ones who tend to disappoint us the most. I wish I could say that it was only men from a certain line of work, like a politician, who blow it. But it's just not that way. There seems to be just as many "religious men" that fall with increasing regularity.

Has it always been that way? I guess you could make an argument for that. But, it seems that now more than ever, men are taking a backseat when it comes to living upright, clean, and moral lives. Is it really any wonder that we see the next generation tripping and stumbling like blind men without a lead? Examples of good lifestyles are few and far between, especially when it comes to men. Men, let me say this, "These things ought not be!" You see, we live in a war zone. Not a war zone of bullets and bombs, but a war zone that is after the lives of our own families.

I have been reading a book once again called Point Man by Steve Farrar. He was talking about welcoming us to a war zone. Let me read a little bit for you:

"On this particular day, you would give anything not to be here. For you are going out on patrol. You've been on patrol before, but today is different, and that's why there's a knot in your gut and and icy fear in your heart.

"Today is different because the patrol leader has appointed you to be 'point man' point. In essence, you're the leader. Everyone else will fall behind you. And as you move out to encounter the enemy, you realize that the survival of those seven men stepping cautiously behind you will depend upon just one thing: your ability to lead. Your judgment may determine whether they live or die. The responsibility hangs over your head like the suffocating humidity and anxiety in the air."

Then it happened:

"You never saw it coming. The violent shock and utter surprise of gunfire momentarily paralyzes you, despite your 'instant reaction' training. Before you can respond, a bullet tears through your flesh and explodes the bone in your leg. 1000 thoughts instantly floods your mind: Am I going to die? Where are the shots coming from? Is there more than one? Will I lose my leg? Where's the patrol leader?

 "One glance...tells you that the family of the patrol leader is now fatherless. You're trying to determine what to do next, just what is the situation? What are we up against?

"Two other men beside the patrol leader were hit. One is dead, the other bleeding profusely."

"Men ought to pray always..."

Ah, you say, but such are the perils of war, so let's change the scenario slightly. Yes, you're still in battle, on patrol, in the same battlefield, but something about the patrol is different.
Imagine now... you're leading your family. This time it's not your patrol behind you but "you see your wife and your children following behind. Your little girl is trying to choke back tears, and your boy is trying to act brave. Your wife is holding the baby and trying to keep him quiet. On this patrol, you don't want to engage the enemy, you want to avoid him." He continues:

"What would you be feeling under such conditions? The survival of each member of your family – and his survival as a whole – would completely depend upon your ability to lead through the maze of possible ambushes, unseen booby-traps, invisible snipers, and all the extraordinary hazards of combat."

It might sound far-fetched, but the reality is that we are in a war. And it is a war that we must win for our wive's and children's sake. It is a battle and we seem to be outnumbered, but it can be won. You can win.

Men, will you choose to make a difference today?

In the battle with you,
Pastor Trey Rhodes

Don't miss Part 2 tomorrow for Battlefield Instructions


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