America on the Brink, Killing Lincoln and Memorial Day

(I will share the following to open our church service today if the Pastor calls on me.)

I've been reading "Killing Lincoln" by Bill O'Reilly (of "The O'Reilly Factor" on Fox). It's about the final battle of the Civil War and lead up to the assassination of Abraham Lincoln by John Wilkes Booth. (That's the Siege at Petersburg picture from Wikipedia at the left, part of the final battle. Look at that cannon!)

And if there's anything that I've learned in reading "Killing Lincoln" it's that America has always been on a razor thin edge teetering on the brink and precipice. The end of the Civil War itself could have gone either way depending on the obedience of a select few soldiers.

And what's kept America alive, what's kept America free is the willingness of servicemen and women to give their lives for their country: 200,000+ made the ultimate sacrifice in the Civil War alone (that's combat deaths ~ second only to World War II ~ see quotes and links below).

We honor our war dead this weekend.(Selah ~ pause to reflect)

"'Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.'" (John 15:13)

"I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands: one Nation under God, indivisible, With Liberty and Justice for all." (The Pledge of Allegiance)

QUOTES:

"At any rate, these (the Civil War's) casualties (200,000+ combat and 400,000+ other) exceed the nation's loss in all its other wars, from the Revolution through Vietnam." (from civilwarhome.com)

"In total deaths the American Civil War was the deadliest war in American history (although in combat related deaths, World War II remains the deadliest conflict with 292,000 combat deaths [versus approximately 203,000 in the Civil War])." (from wiki.answers.com)

(Siege at Petersburg picture in the public domain: click here.)

You might also be interested in:

• 3 Things Hollywood Won't Tell You about Jesus' Death on the Cross
• My Country, 'Tis of Thee