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Did You Know? - September 29: Service | Excellence | Creativity · Voices Of Life

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  Welcome to the Did You Know series of the Voices
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  of Life podcast, a ministry of the Church for
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  Life. A place where faith speaks, where history
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  breathes, and where hope finds its voice again.
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  Each episode is crafted to inspire, to strengthen,
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  and to guide you on your walk with God. And now,
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  to lead us through today's journey. Here is your
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  host. Pastor David. Welcome to the Voices of
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  Life Did You Know series, a ministry of the Church
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  for Life. I'm Pastor David. Today is September
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  29th and we'll be looking at three discerning
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  moments in history. On September 29th, 1789,
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  the first Congress of the United States passed
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  an act that officially recognized the Army under
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  the new Constitution. It wasn't the birth of
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  a new force, it was the continuation of a promise.
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  a commitment to defend liberty and to serve under
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  lawful authorities. The soldiers who had fought
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  under the Continental Congress were now entrusted
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  to a nation that had written its principles into
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  law. This moment mattered. It's said to every
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  citizen, freedom requires guardians, and those
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  guardians serve not for glory, but for duty.
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  Think of what it means today, every uniformed
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  man and woman, every family waiting at home,
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  every chaplain, medic, and volunteer. They stand
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  in the same tradition. They remind us that service
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  is sacred. It's not just about the battlefields.
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  It's about the hospitals, the disaster zones,
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  the communities, where people step forward when
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  others step back. For the Church for Life, this
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  story connects deeply, we believe. that faith
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  and citizenship are both acts of stewardship.
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  To serve faithfully, whether in the military,
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  in the ministry, or in daily life, is to honor
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  the God who calls us to protect and to care.
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  So today, we remember September 29, 1789. We
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  give thanks to those who have served. We renew
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  our own commitment to live with courage, discipline,
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  and compassion. Now, Shifts the scenes from the
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  halls of Congress to the green expanse of the
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  polo grounds in New York. It's September 29,
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  1954, game one of the World Series. The Cleveland
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  Indians are at bat. Dick Wertz sends a towering
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  drive to deep center field. And then Willie Mays
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  runs. He turns, looks over his shoulder. and
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  makes the catch that baseball fans simply call
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  the catch. It's more than a highlighted reel.
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  It's a picture of focus, preparation, and grace
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  under pressure. But here's the part many forget.
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  Just two years earlier, Mays had been serving
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  in the U .S. Army. He missed parts of two seasons
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  to fulfill his duty with the country. When he
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  returned, he didn't complain about the lost time.
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  He trained harder. He played with joy. And on
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  that September day, he gave the world a moment
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  of pure excellence. That's the kind of excellence
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  that grows out of discipline, service. It's the
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  same spirit that drives a soldier, a teacher,
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  a nurse, a pastor, anyone who gives their best
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  when the pressure is high and the outcome is
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  uncertain. Willie Mays reminds us that faithfulness
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  isn't limited to one field. Whether you're catching
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  a ball, leading a team, or helping a neighbor
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  to rebuild after a storm, your focus can become
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  your testimony. So when life sends a long drive
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  your way, run hard. Keep your eyes on the goal
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  and trust that the strength that God gives you
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  is enough to make the catch. So in our last segment,
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  did you know on September 29th, 1965 president
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  lyndon b johnson sat at the white house rose
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  garden and signed a law that would change how
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  america sees creativity the national foundation
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  on the arts and humanities act established two
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  new institutions the national endowment for the
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  arts and the national endowment for humanities
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  it was a moment of recognition that art music
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  Literature and history are not just luxuries
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  for the few. They are expressions of human spirit.
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  Johnson said that day, That vision still matters
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  because creativity is how we remember, how we
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  connect, and how we heal. Every song, every painting,
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  Every story is a way of saying, this is who we
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  are. For the Church for Life, this story is more
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  than history. It is the mirror of our mission.
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  We believe that creativity is ministry. When
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  we write, sing, record, or tell stories, we are
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  helping people find meaning. Connection and hope.
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  That's so important. The Arts Humanities Act
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  reminds us that faith and creativity walk hand
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  in hand. Both call to see the beauty, to honor
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  truth, and to share the light we've been given.
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  So today, as we remember September 29th, 1965,
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  we celebrate the artists, musicians, writers,
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  and storytellers who help us see the world through
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  grace. Because when creativity serves love, it
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  becomes a form of worship. September 29th carries
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  three powerful lessons today. Service builds
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  character. Excellence honors gifts. And creativity
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  is such an important ingredient in our lives.
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  From Congress recognizing the Army to Willie
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  Mays showing what focus looks like and President
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  Lyndon Johnson signing into law the importance
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  of arts and humanities, we find that each story
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  reminds us that faithfulness in action, is the
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  heartbeat of life and life well lived. I'm Pastor
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  David. This is Voices of Life. Did you know?
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  Thank you for joining us. And until next time,
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  stay grounded, stay grateful, and keep listening
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  for the voice that leads you forward. Thank you
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  for joining us today on the Voices of Life podcast,
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  a ministry of the Church for Life. As we close,
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  May the stories we share strengthen your faith,
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  steady your heart, and remind you that God is
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  present in every chapter of your journey. If
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  this episode encouraged you, share it with someone
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  who needs hope. And until we meet again, walk
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  in truth, stand in courage, and keep listening
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  for the voice that leads you forward. This has
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  been Voices of Life. Peace be with you.