11-13-2022 Sermon
On the afternoon of July 28th 1914 a Serbian terrorist assassinated Austrian/Hungary Arch Duke Franz Ferdinand and his wife in Sariavo of Bosnia and Herzagavina.
Tensions had been building in Europe for a decade and more; this assassination was the spark for the explosion and military inferno of WW1 to begin.
Upon the assassination of the Archduke, Old alliances began to mobilize. Prior to this there were 2 main alliance blocs.
1. Was the Triple Alliance of Germany, Austria/Hungary and Bulgaria. 2. The Triple Entente of France, Russia and Britain.
These were as NATO today military aggression against one was military aggression against all.
Russia was an Allie of Serbia they began to mobilize to defend this smaller Allie. In response Germany declared war on Russia in defense of her Allie Austria/Hungary.
In response to that, France and Britain declared war on Germany, Austria/Hungary and Bulgaria. The Ottoman Turks then joined in with Germany.
British offspring Canada and Australia drew into it as well as Japan and as time went on additional nations.
In the US President Woodrow Wilson did not want war this he declared the US as neutral.
Between 1914 and the spring of 1917 the US was a major contribution of supplies for France and Britain in the Atlantic. This consisted of food, medical supplies and yes military armaments.
The Germans began to target these American vessels to stop the flow of assistance. Dozens of ships were sunk, hundreds if not thousands of crew members were killed.
On April 6th President Wilson called upon Congress to declare war on Germany and in essence their Allie’s as well.
Wilson called the carnage the War to end All Wars. Yeah, that would have been nice.
WW1 took the lives of over 17 million people along with over 100,000 American Doughboys, Naval and Air personelle.
100,000 Americans in less than a year and a 1/2 years lost their lives and most never came home, they are buried beneath white crosses.
As it became more and more clear that America and her Allie’s would be victorious an agreement of surrender was drawn up.
Germany, understanding that it was going to be invaded, came to a railroad car out of Champlain, France to sign its surrender.
This occurred on the 11th hour, on the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918 and that day became and was celebrated by the Allies and America as Armistice day.
The formal peace treaty occurred in 1919 in Versailles, France.
In 1964 President Eisenhower signed into effect the new name of which we celebrate Veterans Day.
The difference between Memorial Day and Veterans Day is the former we remember those who have died, the latter we remember all Veterans and now we also celebrate Our serving military personnel on Armed Forces Day.
I can only imagine that the people across Europe never thought that hell on earth would ever come to an end.
I can only imagine our soldiers sitting in water and mud and blood and excrement thinking when will this end?
No one but God knew the exact hour, day and month it would happen. For those who had no hope 111111 could not have occurred any quicker. Relief and rejoicing took place across the Atlantic and here in America.
I am really starting to get my fill of this world and the moral and spiritual demise of our society.
Everywhere you look evil abides and abounds. Never again can anyone of us say “that can’t happen in my backyard” because brothers and sisters it’s happening.
From the cold shores of Maine, to the plains of Nebraska, to the glades of Florida, to vineyards of California and to Western Pa. Evil stalks this land.
We cater to illegal aliens breaking our immigration laws and who knows what else, while Veterans sleep under bridges and our elderly can’t afford needed medicine.
We place greater value on a national bird than we do an unborn child.
Our poor children are exposed to things and they are being indoctrinated that if something feels good just go do it!
Universities and schools turning kids from God as he becomes irrelevant and they are taught that the Christian faith is their enemy not a friend.
I never thought I’d see the day that boys changed to girls and girls to boys and be encouraged to do it. Where men compete in women's sports and people cheer because gee whizz go figure the genetic man beat a girl.
Most veterans that I know believe they fought for all of our freedoms, but most I know would say, they didn’t do it for the nonsense that’s being exposed as normal today. My opinion.
Just when I say well now I’ve seen it all, bam! Tomorrow brings a brand new eye opener.
And this is the tip of the iceberg not only in our land but across this earth. I ask the question. How long Lord will you let this continue on?
Let’s reread our text today.
Folk, Jesus is coming. As this world draws closer to totally catapulting into the abyss ofno return, that means his coming is closer than it’s ever been.