D.S. al Coda: Go to the Sign of the Cross, Then proceed to the End

Today is Memorial Day.   This national holiday began after the Civil War in 1868 and was originally called Decoration Day since it began as a practice of decorating the graves of soldiers in the national cemeteries.    Since it originated in the north by those wanting to memorialize the union soldiers who had died, the southern states began having their own Confederate Decoration Day traditions, but by the 20th century the two competing factions merged into a unified Memorial Day to honor all Americans who had died in military service.    After many years of Memorial Day being observed every year on May 30, no matter what day of the week it fell, in 1968 Congress passed a law making 4 national holidays to always be on a Monday to give us four 3-day weekends.   So, Memorial Day is now always on the last Monday of May, and it marks the beginning of summer in America.     Do you have any idea how many Americans have died in combat over our 241-year history? 1.1 Million.

Psalm 90:12-14   The righteous will flourish like a palm tree,   they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon;   planted in the house of the Lord ,   they will flourish in the courts of our God.   They will still bear fruit in old age,   they will stay fresh and green.   Today is Sr. Adult Day at Lexington Baptist Church.     I am so very thankful that each year on the first Sunday of May we, as a church Body, choose this day to recognize the ones who have lived longer, experienced more, and have given the most through the years not only to build up and support the ministries of Lexington Baptist Church, but in a larger context the Kingdom work of our Heavenly Father on earth.   To you I want to say thank you for the leadership you have provided and the Legacy you have already left for me and many others to follow.   I praise and thank the Lord for each one of you.   You are, and have been, a huge part of who I am today,   and I am so very grateful that God has placed us together in s