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paris childFreedom is not free.

I should not – I must not forget – that peace is won at the cost of precious life.

Flanders Fields, not strawberry fields, remind me of that truth.

canadian veterans

Free nations must do everything to keep the peace. Where peace is threatened by force, it must be met with force.

Canada’s role as “Peacekeeper” has been a part of our nation’s pride. That role has shifted recently to “Peacemakers” – fighting to win the peace in Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria. The decision to withdraw Canadian combat support against ISIS is now another change in direction.

Lonya D’Orsay is a part of the community of believers at North Pointe. Her husband, Dan, is retired military. He served two tours in Afghanistan.

Lonya wrote,


“I cannot understand how any person living in the free world in this day and age can sit back and be comfortable with a ‘hands off’ approach to radical Muslim terrorist attacks. The very ideology of radical Muslims is to terrorize and end our civilization.

As the wife of a retired soldier I understand the cost of fighting for our freedoms and taking on the enemy. Dan and I are shocked that there are still people who do not understand that freedom is not FREE.

Anything worth having is worth fighting for.”


canadian veterans2

Opinions like Lonya’s can be met with labels of  “warmongering.”

Hardly.

Otherwise every Canadian soldier who perished at war should be painted with the same brush.

John McCrae’s words serve well to remind us of our sacred obligation to those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

“Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.”

God keep our land, glorious and free.

APPLICATION: What do you think: Are people of faith to be peacemakers or pacifists? Please leave a comment below. Thank you.


I write to inspire people to be real, grow an authentic faith in Jesus, enjoy healthy relationships and discover their life purpose. If this material is helpful to you, please follow me.

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Bob Jones

Happily married to Jocelyn for 44 years. We have two adult sons, Cory and his wife Lynsey and their son Vincent and daughter Jayda; Jean Marc and his wife Angie and their three daughters, Quinn, Lena and Annora. I love inspiring people through communicating, blogging, and coaching. I enjoy writing, running, and reading. I'm a fan of the Double E, Bruins, Celtics, Red Sox and Pats. Follow me on Twitter @bobjones49ers

One Comment

  • Debbie Philips says:

    “Canada is opening its arms to refugees – 25,000 Syrians by the end of 2015. They are coming to a free country.”

    The government is opening their doors to Syrians to come into a free country who are indoctrinated by Muslim law and teaching. Canada will defend and protect other countries but’s it own, how sloppy. They throw the doors open to leave the country unguarded. Conspiracies have been already detected. I believe this is a huge mistake and Canada will pay for it down the road.

    How can Canada say we are screening and trust their own methods of a nation that is 90% Muslim where people are entrenched by Muslim religion and state law in their upbringing?

    Does not Ephesians teach we are to arm ourselves daily? There is an age old spiritual battle that continues to goes on over the centuries. Canada’s soldiers fought to keep our land free, while the government opens the doors so it may be taken over. Is there a contradiction, yes there is.

    “The largest religious group in Syria are the Sunni Muslims which make up around 74% of the population, of whom about 80% are native Syrian Arabs, with the remainder being Kurds, Turkomans, Circassians, and Palestinians. Sunni Islam sets the religious tone for Syria and provides the country’s basic values.”

    “Religious clauses are constitutionally entrenched ….

    The Constitution of the Syrian Arab Republic that was passed in 2012 guaranteed religious freedom in Article 3 and Article 33. Article 3 stipulates:“The State shall respect all religions, and ensure the freedom to perform all the rituals that do not prejudice public order; The personal status of religious communities shall be protected and respected.”

    Despite claiming to be a secular state, the 2012 constitution also states in Article 3 that the President must be a Muslim, and that the majority of laws will based on Islam. Despite being prevalent in the constitution, Syria is seen as a secular state without having its laws based on Islam.“The religion of the President of the Republic is Islam; Islamic jurisprudence shall be a major source of legislation;…”

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