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Happy Veterans Day!
On this day in 1918: The Allies and Germany signed an armistice that ended the fighting in World War I.
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Many thanks to those who served and those serving. Your nation owes a great debt of gratitude.
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From yesterday’s WV thread you may find this at #262. GOOD MORNING RANDOM! Here is your daily dose of nihilistic quandries to ponder as you go about your day today!
From #256 People seldom seek “truth.” Mostly they seek confirmation of what they want to believe. Truth is very difficult to discover.
And
Truth is not decided by numbers of believers.
This is curious in that these statements are made by a self-professed nihilist. Shall we delve into the contradictions that arise from a nihilist commenting on the nature of “truth”?
Let’s.
In the first comment, the nihilist suggests “truth is very difficult to discover.” Hmm. How does a philiosophy which denies objective truth, especially of the moral stripe, know with such certainty the nature of truth in which he does not believe exists?
Likewise, there is another certainty which the resident nihilst posits about truth which does not exist. For sure its not decided by numbers of believers, whatever truth may or may not be.
The nihilist once told me that “truth is tentative.” I scratched my head at the time and wondered aloud if that statement was true in the absolute sense. For if it is, then we have a problem. The nihilist just demonstrated that some sort of absolute truth exists.
This is grasping for the wind. Maybe that is what a nihilist does from time to time, like when I stick my hand out of the window of my car when I drive down the interstate. I know, however, that I cannot catch the wind. Maybe nihilism teaches you can. I do not know. I’ve never been a nihilist.
Ok, then! What if there are a few hundred nihilists which show up for the “National Nihilism Conference” in Albany, New York? Just because there are say 238 people in attendence there, does not mean they are right simply because there are that many people who believe in nihilism.
And lastly, the nihilist must be exempt from the statement that he seeks confirmation of what he believes. Apparently he needs no confirmation. Empiricism nicely confirms the reality of nihilism.
Or, wait…how can it? I do not know. How does a nihilist prove nihilism is true using empiricism? There is very little empirical evidence that nihilsm is the correct way to interpret the world.
OH
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In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow.
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
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.
-Lt. Col. John McCrae (1872-1918)
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For those following the Nihilist/Hickory debates here is a basic definition of nihilism.
“An extreme form of skepticism: the denial of all real existence or the possibility of an objective basis for truth.”
OH
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Nice poem, Nana.
Of course if there were such a thing as nihilism, they would be prohibitied from having any sort of definition of nihilism. For to do so would be to say, “This definition of nihilism is true” thereby sort of admitting its self-refuting and contradictory position of using an objective truth to deny objective truth.
You see.
OH
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My wife is a very tangible, concrete person. She pays close attention to details in her environment, and often chides me for living on too abstract a level.
She is an excellent cook and baker. When she bakes something it either comes out well or it does not. There is subjectivity; one person may like an item and another may not, but it is closely tied to the real world.
Abstract thinking, I suspect, is a major flaw in humanity. It has its uses. Albert Einstein and other theoretical physicists used abstract thinking to develop nuclear energy and the atomic bomb, a device that brings great benefit to mankind.
However, a great deal of abstract thinking is so removed from any real reference points, it serves very little useful purpose.
For example, words such as “liberal,” and “conservative,” “socialism” and “free enterprise” exist in their own little world of abstraction, stirring up huge clouds of emotion, and readers act as if someone is talking about a real item like a muffin.
Religion is very abstract thinking indeed. One cannot see or touch God; thus It can be just about anything one imagines; people at this web site imagine many strange things indeed.
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Old Hickory is clearly a very intelligent person. Perhaps he should come up with his own abstractions to obsess on, instead of depending on me to come up with ones for him?
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Religion is very abstract thinking indeed. One cannot see or touch God; thus It can be just about anything one imagines; people at this web site imagine many strange things indeed.
One cannot see or touch an “abstraction” either. Thus, to label something as an abstraction and dismiss it out of hand because it is deemed an abstraction, is, in and of itself an unempirical abstraction.
What one must do is clarify their terms.
As far as people imagining strange things on this web site, it is indeed true.
Take nihilism for example…
OH
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Thank you Nana. That is one of my favorite poems. My dad had a paper back copy of 101 Famous Poems 1920’s edition. I grew up on that poem, Maud Muller, The Owl and the Pussycat, The Gingham Dog and The Calico Cat, The Minuet, and Come Into My Parlor Said The Spider to The Fly…. Love them all.
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God bless our soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines and their families. We can never repay the debt we owe them for preserving the blessings of freedom.
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Oh, dearest Random, I chide your insistence upon what you deem an obession.
Is this bad? Is this good? Or, forbid it, is it…true? GASP!
If it is “true” that I am obsessed, then we perhaps may begin some open dialogue on the nature of objective truth? Maybe it is “good” that I appear to be “obsessed”.
Obsession is a cologne for men. It is expensive. I’m fond of it but long ago found it to be quite useless for I am still single.
OH
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Mine, too, Kim. I keep a copy in my wallet. Many people don’t know the origin of the Veterans’ poppies.
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Last week I attended a seminar to train instructors for the AARP driver safety training program. The other four candidates were very intelligent, competent, and impressive people. Two of them in particular relate to today’s theme.
One had just retired from a life in the military, finishing his career as a sergeant in the army. He spoke of six years stationed in Saudi Arabia. He spoke of his time in Vietnam.
“I flew as a passenger in small planes, essentially Piper Cubs. There were no satellite photos, no drones. We few a few hundred feet above the ground, taking pictures and studying the landscape. When we returned, our plane would be full of bullet holes. I never was full of holes.
“However, when I came home from Vietnam, I was beat up in a bar by people who were angry about the war.”
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OH, perhaps you need to find a companion to be your wife.
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Now I only use the cheap shaving lotions strictly for utility purposes of hygene, smooth skin, sun protection, etc.
OH
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Random
If I do, would you like to come to the wedding?
OH
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I have never understood the anger some people have at the military men and women who were just doing the job they were given. I have never served in the military, but my understanding is that you sign your name and agree to do whatever the President, Congress, and the officer in charge of you tells you to do. I have also heard that war is often “an old man’s war; and a young man’s fight”. Whatever it is, we wouldn’t be the land of the free if it weren’t for those who laid down their lives.
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Random
I’ve heard similiar stories myself. I once met a retired colonel who served in Vietnam. He told me of an experience where he and his men were low crawling through some area and the guys to his left and right both persihed quite abruptly and grotesquely. He remained haunted by the incident. Said he never talked about it much.
All I could do was listen, really.
OH
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I am off to help with the wood splitting.
My wife made an appointment yesterday to have our chimney for our wood stove cleaned.
Perhaps quite a few people here need their chimneys cleaned.
We spoke with Mommy last night. (My daughter’s partner and birth mother of our granddaughter.) Random Granddaughter is having a hard time in kindergarten. At the age of five, she is acting like a little adolescent, associating with the worst peers in her class, giggling inappropriately, and being unkind to other children. She doesn’t have a troublesome boy friend or girl friend yet, but perhaps she does, and is keeping said romantic interest secret from her mommies, who will only discover the problem when RG turns out to be pregnant at the age of six.
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On a lighter note, my brother Doug has been patiently awaiting getting on the list to transfer into Public Affairs. He’s been in the infantry for twenty years now.
He just found out a few days ago he finally made the list. That could possibly cut his time in Iraq (we hope). He’s very excited.
Public affairs was my branch when I was in service.
OH
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Enjoy the vim and vigor of the outdoors today, Random. Split a log or two for Old Hickory.
OH
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KIM, NANNA: Good try on getting this post off to a good start.
“…God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.” Eph. 2:4-6 NKJV
The view from the throne room is awsome. Our God reigns.
Abundant Godly blessings on everones day.
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Roger
Random and I are perfectly fine. It is an open thread and like morning coffee, Random and I have had our morning’s “joust”. I enjoy it and I think Random does too. If he does not, I shall stop with all due respect to him. I appreciate Nana and Kim’s contributions.
You are of course free to skip our little ditties.
Blessings to you this day as well.
OH
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Kim, Frequently when discussing something about which I have no first-hand knowledge, I’ll say, “I wasn’t there, I only state, what was told to me, by the Chinese plate.” It usually elicits strange looks. Thanks for understanding.
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52. For the Absent
O God, whose fatherly care reacheth to the uttermost parts
of the earth: We humbly beseech thee graciously to behold
and bless those whom we love, now absent from us. Defend
them from all dangers of soul and body; and grant that both
they and we, drawing nearer to thee, may be bound together
by thy love in the communion of thy Holy Spirit, and in the
fellowship of thy saints; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
From my crumbly old BCP.
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OH: With all due respect, perhaps you should consider that not all of us enjoy seeing posts that simply go around in circles while accomplishing nothing except raising the room temperature.
Thanks
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Now that is a nice post, Thomas.
OH
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My son is named after my uncle who died a few weeks before he was born. My uncle was a veteran of WWII. Although both his brothers also served, this uncle was a Sergeant in the some of the worse fighting in Europe. At some time during the war my Grandmother received a letter of condolence saying he was dead. This was a mistake. He lived to be over 80. For most of his life he never talked about the war, but what I remember most about him was that he was always in a good mood. He got more pleasure out of a piece of cake than most people get from a two week vacation. I think he was just happy to be alive.
One day his younger sister began collecting WWII memorabilia when she found some medals at flea market. Then a couple of other veterans gave her some more things, medals and uniforms. It soon got around that she would cherish anything given to her and veterans she didn’t even know brought her things they were afraid would end up in the trash after they died. Some stayed around and told her stories. This made her want to know more and she began to interview her brothers. For some reason this uncle finally began to talk about what he went through. One thing I remember that he told her was that he would often have young men put in his charge who would die before he got a chance to learn their names.
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Roger
I would only suggest once more that it is an open forum, that at least from my perspective, Random and I have an understanding in our exchanges as I admitted to yesterday. Not everyone “enjoys” every single post in here, it is true. I do not post to offend. I attempt to be thought provoking, lighthearted and humorous in “Random” style toward Random and no one else. You are free to skip what I post.
What is protocol in an open forum like this? I do not know, save for the guidelines already posted. I’m not calling Random “names” nor do I take anything he says personally. I assume we have an understanding when we post. Roger you and everyone else are free to skip over what I or Random write.
OH
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OH- While you do have some interesting things to say, I agree with those who say you are going overboard in your posting to Random. He often gives his email address, so why don’t you just send your posts to him directly instead of crowding up the bandwidth here? I believe it is eman_modnar@yahoo.com (or is it modnar_eman?). Yes, this is an open thread, but when the number of posts get up into the 100s by noon, it loses its charm, unless the conversation is between several people, not just two guys continuing from the day before.
So, keep posting things of a general nature, and take your “nihilism” posts directly to your counterpart. Or go to his blog (click on his name) and confront him there.
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I think RN’s attitude is rubbing off on you.
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The WWI armistice was signed in a railway car.
The same one Hitler chose to use to receive the French surrender.
http://www.corbisimages.com/Enlargement/Enlargement.aspx?id=HU029199&ext=1
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This is how my parents met: Mother worked in candy/cookies in a large department store. A lady with three sons overseas in the war (WWII) came in frequently to have cookies shipped to them. After chatting, she asked my mother if she would write to the sons, which she did. When they came home, she met, dated and married one of them. To this day (they are 83 and 88) she calls him “Cookie.”
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MOMMY: Beautiful. Some good things do come out of war, yes?
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You guys have got to be kidding. I mean, good grief, it’s an open forum; it’s Whirled Views!
OH, I’m all for your continued posts to Random; if not to him, they’re instructive to others who haven’t considered the ramifications of nihilism. And as long as Random keeps posting his little lectures ridiculing a world view he doesn’t understand, on the basis of his *own* world view that he also doesn’t understand, it’s good of you to keep his feet to the fire.
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My great-great grandfather served in the Army in WWI (the British Army that is being from Ireland) and then my grandfather served in Korea (with the American Navy), then my father served in the Coast Guard and my mom’s two brothers both served in the Marines in Vietnam and proudly I continued the tradition by serving in the Navy.
I believe the greatest thing I have or will do for my country was serving and I thank all the men and women who selflessly serve their country and many times get no thanks. I sat with my uncle as he was dying from cancer shortly after the Iraq war started and we were watching yet another war protest and he said to me, “the men who are willing to serve are the courageous ones. Anybody can sit at home and protest but it takes real courage to go where those people wouldn’t dream of.” He spoke of his time in Vietnam and the pain of coming back to so much hate when he simply did what soldiers do, he served.
Today or tomorrow when you sit one of our fine men and women who are selflessly serving our country with dedication and professionalism, no matter what you think of war or what you think of the ones we are in right now, will you do these men and women a favor? Will you shake their hand and thank them? Will you buy them a candy bar? Will you take them to the nearest bar and buy them a drink? Will you give of yourself just a little to show that you love living in freedom because they were willing to give of their time with their families to protect our shores?
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My husband served his country for 22 years. He went in as a 17 year old Airman Basic and retired as a Major in the Air Force proudly. I loved being a military wife and I loved the Air Force. Veterans day holds special meaning to us. We are deeply grieved by the senseless loss of 13 brave soldiers at Fort Hood. We hope and pray the war is ended as quickly as possible, but not before we have met our objectives.
God please bless America again!
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Roger, Peter
Thank you for your thoughts and comments.
OH
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OH – I thank YOU for your service to our country and, of course, your brother Doug.
Many Blessings………Nana!
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My own personal veteran works for a Canadian company and is in the office today. The girls get to sleep in. Sigh.
My Sicilian grandfather “earned” his US citizenship by serving in the US Army during WWI. He was in Mississippi with his battalion preparing to go to France. After a long night of tramping through the woods, Grandpa got very sick and wound up in the hospital with spinal meningitis. His battalion went to France and most perished. He wound up cooking at the Presidio in San Francisco.
One of the sweetest, most gentle men I knew–my brother-in-law’s father–served as music director at a high school in Fresno. He oversaw the choir with his wife at church was always ready to lend a helping hand. He never talked about the war other than the joy he found in listening and sharing Lutheran hymns with the natives in the Solomon Islands and other spots in the South Pacific. He went back at least once and kept up a correspondence with the friends he made there.
Later, we learned that members of the Army and Navy band–he was a clarinetist–had day jobs with their fighting units. They were the ones who cleared the bodies off the beach after a landing.
No wonder so many of these men were grateful for their lives after the war. No wonder so many just wanted peace. No wonder so many just loved us for who we are–because just being here was a blessing for them.
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On a different theme, from this morning’s devotion in My Utmost for His Highest:
“If you are not living in touch with Him, it is easy to pass a crude verdict on God. You must go through the crucible before you have any right to pronounce a verdict, because in the crucible you learn to know God better. God is working for His highest ends until His purpose and man’s purpose become one.”
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Folks,
I was in for 8 years and
We need to be praying for Our Christian Chaplains, they face restriction on what they can and can not preach. Now they are being told that certain issues in the Bible will be off limit.
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My husband served in the Air Force during the Vietnam war, but spent his time after basic mostly in California.
I have many relatives who have served or who are now serving. One of my uncles is featured in a book just put out by a Veteren’s group. I have not had a chance to read it yet.
His brother was a prisoner of war in Korea for two years. (He served in wars before and after, also.) My grandmother was also told he was dead. She never believed it and was proven right.
My dad joined up, but was finally given an honorable discharged for his asthma, while in boot camp. He recently was treated to an expensive rib dinner when the server happened to notice the vet’s card in my dad’s wallet when he went to pay.
He teased us he was going to always make sure the servers see it from now on!
I’m grateful for all those who serve others in this unique way.
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Mommy, I have oftern posted the words to The Gingham Dog and Calico Cat here after several posters go a round or two.
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Pastor Roy, I pray almost daily for the chaplains. Theirs is a very difficult and challenging task. Thanks for the reminder.
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MAUD Muller, on a summer’s day,
Raked the meadow sweet with hay.
Beneath her torn hat glowed the wealth
Of simple beauty and rustic health.
Singing, she wrought, and her merry glee 5
The mock-bird echoed from his tree.
But when she glanced to the far-off town,
White from its hill-slope looking down,
The sweet song died, and a vague unrest
And a nameless longing filled her breast,— 10
A wish that she hardly dared to own,
For something better than she had known.
The Judge rode slowly down the lane,
Smoothing his horse’s chestnut mane.
He drew his bridle in the shade 15
Of the apple-trees to greet the maid,
And ask a draught from the spring that flowed
Through the meadow across the road.
She stooped where the cool spring bubbled up,
And filled for him her small tin cup, 20
And blushed as she gave it, looking down
On her feet so bare, and her tattered gown.
“Thanks!” said the Judge; “a sweeter draught
From a fairer hand was never quaffed.”
He spoke of the grass and flowers and trees, 25
Of the singing birds and the humming bees;
Then talked of the haying, and wondered whether
The cloud in the west would bring foul weather.
And Maud forgot her brier-torn gown
And her graceful ankles bare and brown; 30
And listened, while a pleased surprise
Looked from her long-lashed hazel eyes.
At last, like one who for delay
Seeks a vain excuse, he rode away.
Maud Muller looked and sighed: “Ah me! 35
That I the Judge’s bride might be!
“He would dress me up in silks so fine,
And praise and toast me at his wine.
“My father should wear a broadcloth coat;
My brother should sail a painted boat. 40
“I’d dress my mother so grand and gay,
And the baby should have a new toy each day.
“And I’d feed the hungry and clothe the poor,
And all should bless me who left our door.”
The Judge looked back as he climbed the hill, 45
And saw Maud Muller standing still.
“A form more fair, a face more sweet,
Ne’er hath it been my lot to meet.
“And her modest answer and graceful air
Show her wise and good as she is fair. 50
“Would she were mine, and I to-day,
Like her, a harvester of hay:
“No doubtful balance of rights and wrongs,
Nor weary lawyers with endless tongues,
“But low of cattle and song of birds, 55
And health and quiet and loving words.”
But he thought of his sisters proud and cold,
And his mother vain of her rank and gold.
So, closing his heart, the Judge rode on,
And Maud was left in the field alone. 60
But the lawyers smiled that afternoon,
When he hummed in court an old love-tune;
And the young girl mused beside the well,
Till the rain on the unraked clover fell.
He wedded a wife of richest dower, 65
Who lived for fashion, as he for power.
Yet oft, in his marble hearth’s bright glow,
He watched a picture come and go;
And sweet Maud Muller’s hazel eyes
Looked out in their innocent surprise. 70
Oft, when the wine in his glass was red,
He longed for the wayside well instead;
And closed his eyes on his garnished rooms
To dream of meadows and clover-blooms.
And the proud man sighed, with a secret pain, 75
“Ah, that I were free again!
“Free as when I rode that day,
Where the barefoot maiden raked her hay.”
She wedded a man unlearned and poor,
And many children played round her door. 80
But care and sorrow, and childbirth pain,
Left their traces on heart and brain.
And oft, when the summer sun shone hot
On the new-mown hay in the meadow lot,
And she heard the little spring brook fall 85
Over the roadside, through the wall,
In the shade of the apple-tree again
She saw a rider draw his rein.
And, gazing down with timid grace,
She felt his pleased eyes read her face. 90
Sometimes her narrow kitchen walls
Stretched away into stately halls;
The weary wheel to a spinet turned,
The tallow candle an astral burned,
And for him who sat by the chimney lug, 95
Dozing and grumbling o’er pipe and mug,
A manly form at her side she saw,
And joy was duty and love was law.
Then she took up her burden of life again,
Saying only, “It might have been.” 100
Alas for maiden, alas for Judge,
For rich repiner and household drudge!
God pity them both! and pity us all,
Who vainly the dreams of youth recall.
For of all sad words of tongue or pen, 105
The saddest are these: “It might have been!”
Ah, well! for us all some sweet hope lies
Deeply buried from human eyes;
And, in the hereafter, angels may
Roll the stone from its grave away!
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I really like that poem also, Nana. Thanks for posting it.
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What you have to know about Maud Muller was that my father was a big old gruff teddy bear of a man. 6′ 6″ 240# reminescent of John Wayne, and he loved this poem and made me memorize it and repeat it to him. It is funny, a friend of mine’s husband said my father was like the guy on King of the Hill, big old bubba redneck and then when you scratched the surface there was a whole lot more complexity there.
It makes me wonder what we miss about some of the posters here. How many of us knew of the poetic leaning of Old Hickory until he showed up as Iambic Pentameter?
How many of us scratch past Thomas1’s liberal leanings to know there is a man underneath who will post a prayer from the Book of Com
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KI 11.11.09 AT 10:47 AM
Pastor Roy, I pray almost daily for the chaplains. Theirs is a very difficult and challenging task. Thanks for the reminder.
–
I worked hand and hand with them, I was the only Christian in my offices. I was even asked to run a Bible Study out of the Chaplain Office for soldiers. I saw the struggle the faced , trying to reach people for Christ. While working with in the Military Guidelines.
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Common Prayer. How many of you would have known I had a love of old words? What are we missing about each other? How can we be “better for having known” each other.
I cherish the conversations I have had with WWII vets. I am off to see one of them soon. He is 85 yrs old, retired Navy, WWII vet, native of Rocky Mount, NC. He could have been a Major League Ball Player if it hadn’t been for Hitler. How many gave not only their lives, but their dreams….
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Nihilism, fatalism and hopelessness are all closely related concepts.
A decent argument can be made that some Christians are really nihilists when it comes to their, and everybody else’s lives. If everybody is eventually going to go up in puff of smoke, what’s the point in trying to do anything for them or for oneself? If an omnipotent god can/will simply flick his finger and send the earth caroming off into the blackness of space, what’s the point?
If we are really helpless, why not just be helpless?
I find it appalling and choose to do what I can to value and and to care about humankind. I also choose to enjoy my time on the earth rather than ruminating on a speculative afterlife. And yes, I believe in man’s ability, without gods or the superstitions of long dead itinerant shepherds and fishermen, to make his own life and the lives of future generations in this world better.
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Arcadia, I don’t even know where to begin, but the Bible simply does not in any sense teach “what’s the point” if “everybody is eventually going to go up in a puff of smoke.” And I certainly know no Christian who lives like that. It’s just a complete misunderstanding of the nature of God and man, but as I said — I don’t know where to even begin, perhaps OH or others can find the time to help you there.
On another note, John Piper posted this quote on Facebook today:
“If there is no God, everything is permitted.” Fyodor Dostoevsky born today 1821
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donna j – it is just another anti-christian posting from arcadia
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Kim, thank you for the bifurcated shout-out.
Actually, there’s a LOT in the BCP about social justice and equality, so it shouldn’t be that much of a surprise that a mentally-challenged liberal such as myself would post something from there.
There are also specific prayers in there about protecting soldiers at war, prayers for our enemies, prayers for the nation. A lot of them would be appropriate to post here. I chose the one I did because it represents best what people here are needing when a loved one is overseas.
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My father-in-law was a career officer in the Air Force. He started out as a musician in the band, then decided to go to officer training school, and he because an electronics warfare specialist. He flew I don’t know how many missions in Vietnam, was stationed in Thailand long enough to learn fluent Thai, and only went to a desk job when they made him because his eyesight wasn’t good enough to be in airplanes anymore.
By the time I knew him, he was a civilian (forced to retire from the Air Force) with a big beer belly (he told me that his job required too much entertaining in nice restaurants). He had a wonderful sense of humor and a deep faith, and I wish we could have seen more of him. After being widowed, he moved in with us, and our sons got a few wonderful years with their Grandpa, before he died in a car accident almost five years ago.
My husband has tried to persuade our older son, who is a wonderful musician, to follow in his grandfather’s footsteps, but Zach doesn’t have any interest, unless it’s the only way to pay for his education.
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Thank you Kim for both #46 and #48. We can’t really know much of each other in this arena. But, we sure could be more gracious if we really believed that so much more lies beneath the surface that would help explain some of our reactions.
Isn’t it wonderfully amazing that God knows EVERYTHING about us. We tend to think that would drive Him away, but maybe that is what attracts Him to us. I imagine that His heart aches when we don’t let Him love us. (and when we don’t care much about getting to really know Him.)
We tend to willingly exchange doing the hard work of getting to know each other for our present easy ego. “What might have been” ought to awaken a yearning to “let it be” in our relationships with God and each other.
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Would it be fun for each of us to post an obscure fact about ourselves? I, for instance, know how to play the accordian.
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Shouting THOMAS Don’t use such big words I am from the S-O-U-T-H!!! You do know I have the same odd affection for you that I have for Random and we do share the Book of Common Prayer. You just prefer the one with the ugly words and I prefer the one with the pretty words…
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Oh Mommy that sounds fun except I think I have at some point over the last five years told all there is to know about me…
I have seen in person: Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, Papa Bush, and Bill Clinton, (once he was governor and once he was President).
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I know that this is from the dreaded New York Times, about dreaded New Yorkers, but it may make you smile: Metropolitan Diary is sort of a Monday morning slice of life in the city, written by citizens themselves.
Dear Diary:
Rosemary and I were exchanging city gardening experiences.
Rosemary: “I have grapes in my garden.”
Me: “Are they sweet?”
Rosemary: “Oh, yes. Birds love to eat them, too. Sometimes they get drunk.”
Me: “How can you tell when birds are drunk?”
Rosemary: “They get rowdier and refuse to leave.”
Jenifer Lee
Dear Diary:
It is fall on a quiet, tree-lined street in Brooklyn. The beautiful auburn hue, nestled in the hollow of the tree, peeks out curiously. Gingerly I approach it, curious and excited at the unexpected beauty. My eyes gaze upon it. A parking violation.
Susan Osterer
Dear Diary:
At the corner of Avenue of the Americas and Waverly Place, a thirtysomething woman is walking her border terrier.
Suddenly — right in my path — the border terrier stops short.
I almost trip over the dog; the woman at the other end of the leash is snapped to a halt.
The woman tugs on the leash. The dog refuses to budge. So she turns around and looks the terrier right in the eye:
“We are not going to the pet store right now.”
The dog still refuses to budge.
“There is no way that is going to happen.”
Something in her tone tells the dog she’s serious. They continue their walk, leaving me laughing on the corner. Kirk Citron
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Mommy,
I wanted to learn to play the accordion, after getting to know a missionary in Spain who played it as the accompaniment for church services, because the church met in a schoolroom that didn’t have a piano. I found a used accordion at a thrift shop, but never found a book to teach myself how to play. I also discovered that just about everyone I mentioned it to thought it was so funny that anyone would want to play it – or that anyone would want to hear it. A few years ago, when we were getting my son’s French horn repaired, I asked the music shop about the value of a used accordion, and they said there’s really no market for them. So it sits in the closet and props up boxes of stuff.
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Kim, I doubt there’s a big word that gets past you, and the generally slower pace of life in the S-O-U-T-H gives you more time to understand what they mean.
I’ve got both versions of the BCP. The one in my briefcase or desk has the ugly words. I use it for triage. The one with the pretty words is for healing.
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Good Morning everyone. I hit a deer last night on the way home from work. It was a 10 point buck. The police officer said that it was over 200 lbs. They asked me if I wanted the deer. LOL. I suggested they donate the meat to the local food bank. We have been around town with various pictures of the damage to see what it is going to cost to get my truck repaired.
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And yes, I believe in man’s ability, without gods or the superstitions of long dead itinerant shepherds and fishermen, to make his own life and the lives of future generations in this world better.
Better than what, Arcadia?
Again, we have this elusive “standard” of yours of what is meant by “good” “better” or “best”.
Feel free to criticize, of course. But your objective definition of what constitutes good remains conveniently hidden.
OH
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I’ve been wondering how many WMB posters are veterans besides SAWGUNNER, PASTOR ROY, OLD HICKORY. Maybe they could chime in if they like.
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Thomas, my life experience is rural. I know virtually nothing of city gardening and parking tickets in tree forks. Isn’t it fascinating that those simple little stories can enrich my life as they open my heart and mind to the real lives of others. That’s what listening to veterans does as well. My father has only recently begun to open up about his experiences as a WWII bomber pilot in the Philippines. Both our lives are enriched; his for the releasing, and mine for the enlarging.
I suppose that it would be obvious that I love fishing. But more specifically, I love fly fishing. Not just for the catching. I love the pursuit, the solitude, the grace, the freedom, the anticipation, the detail, the beauty, the communion, the ripple, the…..
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#63 JoeB,- Since you were not hurt, that’s a good story.
Some of my rural trivia:
I’ve hit 6 deer with cars over the years. No serious damage to my vehicles.
I was riding with a friend to go duck hunting when a buck ran into the side of our car and killed himself.
Out here (Ore/Ida) we have mule deer and count only one side, so a buck with ten total points would be a 5 point buck. One I killed driving across the desert in Eastern Oregon was a 4 point.
When I was younger living in Central Oregon I put aircraft landing lights on my car to use at night to keep from hitting deer. The traffic was much lighter then and those lights are prohibited now, but it really lit up the road and helped spot the deer much more easily.
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Out here it is illegal to keep road killed deer. It would be too easy to intentionally fill our freezers.
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Death toll at Ft Hood – 14, not 13
http://themoderatevoice.com/52547/14-killed-at-fort-hood-not-13-as-reported-why/
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14 lives + all who loved them destroyed by one under the influence of a peaceful religion. The man was demonically possessed.
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NANNA @ 65: USMCR 1949-53 with 2 years active duty at the outbreak of the Korean conflict.
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Fisherman, here you can keep the antlers if the authorities are notified within 24 hours. Can’t eat antlers, though.
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War is hell! God has the better way, but who is listening?
I do not mean to take anything away from those who make the sacrifices.
They are all heros in my estimation.
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roger patno 11.11.09 AT 12:20 PM
14 lives + all who loved them destroyed by one under the influence of a peaceful religion. The man was demonically possessed.
—-
You better be careful some here will call you a bigot. Do you not know it was not his fault but it was us, the mean and evil Christia fault.
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Hey, ROGER! The Few. The Proud. The Marines. Semper Fidelis!
Even in that “forgotten war.” Wasn’t yesterday the Corps anniversary?
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Roger, I remember now from the USS New York thread.
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Mommy @ 57
I cross stitch.
OH
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OH -counted xx ?
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I have (I think) a 24 count project I’ve been nursing for like five years now. I go for a month or so a year on it. Usually when Mom and I get together I break it out.
OH
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Amphipolis @ 69
An excellent point. One which I overlooked myself. Thanks for the link.
OH
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Wow. That’s too small for me anymore unless I had a magnifier. Even 18 and 14 count are tough. Do you go over two threads? My arthritis slows me down, but I bought a nice lap stand that helps. I bought some pretty Monk Cloth (7 count) and finished a nice bell pull last spring. I have basketful of projects for Christmas gifts, but will only be able to finish a large underwater dolphin scene for G’daughter #2. So I have lots to do before Christmas 2010
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NANNA: Considering the fact that there is no such thing as an “ex” Marine, every day is our anniversary! Semper Fi!
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Touche! (still haven’t mastered the accent)
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Yes, the count is small, but in answer to your question, no, I’ve never gone over two threads. I’ve never worn contacts or glasses but as I get a bit older, I’ve noticed it takes my eyes a little longer to refocus at a distance whenever I’ve stared at something miniscule. I do need good lighting whenever I work on it, though. It’s a little house with a tree or two and the phrase “Be not weary in well-doing” on it. The colors are all earth-tones. My favorites.
My Mother, on the other hand, goes from cross stitching to quilting and back to cross stitching with a multitude of baskets, closets and places under the table filled with unfinished projects.
OH
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A dear friend on mine was in the first Gulf War. He was living in a building that was housing the PA National Guard. As he told me and the Church one Sunday. I never went for breakfast, I always sleeped in on my day off. God woke him up that day, and as he was praying God told him to go to breakfast. So he obey God, (now the sad part) that building he was living in was hit by a missile, while he was eating breakfast, every one was killed. As he sat, there he told us, crying, God spoke to him and told him that it was not his time and that he needs to be about doing God’s Work. My friend left the Air Force the same time I left the Army. We went to school togetter, he is back in the Air Force as a Chaplain.
He told me that since God spared his life, he would serve Him in the Military.
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The killings at Ft. Hood are a stark reminder of the power of sin and the horror it can cause.
I thank God for His grace in restraining me from being as bad as I could, for not letting me “go my own way.”
Why God in His sovereignty does not restrain some is a mystery, but we know that what man intends for evil, God works for good. I don’t pretend to see how that works in these cases, when so many families are left with broken hearts. I suppose we can’t see it in the midst of it and we are left with faith alone in Christ alone.
Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief. We need look no further than the crucifixion, arguably the darkest moment in human history, for our hope and trust in God’s over-arching faithfulness and goodness, even through agonizing times and events.
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OH – My next is the Doxology, beautifully embellished.
Praise God From Whom All Blessing Flow.
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When abortion isn’t a choice
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/10/AR2009111013891.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns
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Donna, beautifully stated, thanks. I’d only add that with faith in Christ we are never alone (I know you know that).
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Donna
even through agonizing times and events. I hope it will be the case with me. I’m burning out and its not even Thanksgiving.
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Nana (89) Amen.
OH: Cross stitch is really that agonizing, eh?
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Nana 87
That sounds wonderful.
I wish at present that I could actually be a living example of the Doxology. I fear OH is in the duldrums, which are half way down from the mountaintop experience and the pit of despair.
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OH, praying for you.
I love the doxology, we sang it often in my 2 former churches, not so much in the current one.
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VETERANS
THANK YOU for your service and sacrifice.
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PASTOR #85
Good story. Thank you for sharing.
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Thank you for sharing your veteran stories.
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I know this is a day for veterans, but does anyone know if there is a day to honor the police who serve and die for us at home?
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This story just appeared less than a day ago – Very interesting that they would even consider the “big BANG” – What happened to the book of Genesis ?
READ the REST http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hf92aHEwYT87J1XPP4JrIusKBT-AD9BSTO1G1
news2me 11.11.09 AT 2:26 PM
PASTOR #85
Good story. Thank you for sharing.
–
my friend wife just gave birth to their first child.
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A vet gets 100?
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YESSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Pastor Roy, I appreciate your story also. It is events like these that make it impossible for some to even question whether or not God is real. He has made himself real to them.
I go between cross stitch and quilting also. I do less and less cross stitch, because of bad eye sight. Even with a magnifier, I find it tiring on the eyes.
Amphipolis, that is an important story. Breaks the heart.
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Chicago Mayor Richard Daley pointed to America’s “love” affair with guns as the driving factor behind last week’s shooting at Fort Hood, becoming the latest and possibly most prominent figure to show a reluctance to cite religion.
Another idiot response to the killing of our brave soldiers at Ft. Hood. Liberals just don’t get it.
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Went to a Rotary Club meeting for lunch and to my surprise a retired Army major whose name escapes me was speaking. He was General Petraeus’ aide spoke. He spoke about his 4 heroes, all men he served with that gave their lives in either Afghanistan or Iraq. He also spoke quite passionately about what is happening as the current administration dithers about what to send to Afghanistan and as someone who was one of the top commanders on the field there he knows what he is talking about.
As a veteran who never served during war time (you can hardly call my time in Bahrain from August – October 1992 as war time service especially since I was just writing contracts with local vendors), it was heartening to hear a soldier talk about why men and women serve.
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Trivia: I won’t eat lobster because as a teenager I had pet crayfish. I learned to draw them, too (which isn’t easy). Years later, in a game of Pictionary, I got the word “lobster.” The artist on the other team drew a little round bug, and her team was still guessing “ladybug” when my team got the point . . . and my team gloated by showing them my picture to show them what a lobster really looked like.
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I suppose this is a good Veteran’s Day story, even though no one in it is a veteran (yet). Anyway, I just heard it at lunchtime. I had lunch with two of my brothers, including the one who just lost his wife.
The other brother has a son who’s a genius at math. (Example: This son’s older brother once got in trouble for writing answers in the back of his fifth-grade math book, questions they hadn’t covered yet and maybe he wasn’t supposed to write in his book anyway. His parents went to bat for him, because it wasn’t the fifth grader, but his kindergarten brother, who’d answered the questions, and apparently answered them correctly.) So, this young man (the kindergarten brother) won a full scholarship at a very prestigious military school.
The military people did a special ceremony at church, honoring the young man and explaining how very prestigious this scholarship is, and how much they expect from this young man in the years to come. The youngest boy in the family is far less academic, but very social, quite small for his age and the class clown. After all this pomp and circumstance and grand announcement, the youngest (a pastor’s son, and probably about 15 at the time) quietly stepped to the microphone and said, to laughter of everyone in the church, “And T— [himself] is going to be a garbage collector.”
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I just got a prayer request emailed around the department. A co-worker’s son, who has cerebral palsy, was taken to the ER Sunday. He has H1N1 and pneumonia. Yesterday his mom was thinking he’d be released in a few days but now he’s in the ICU and things are looking much more serious. His name is Jim. I think he’s in his early 20’s.
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Mommy suggested that we each give a trivial fact about ourself.
Mine is this:
Once, I saved Planet Earth by single-handedly fighting off an entire invading Armada of heavily-armed alien battleships from the notorious Stench Nebula.
I did this armed only with an accordion, a hamster in a canning jar, and a paper-back copy of Robert’s Rules of Order.
The hamster did have the mange, which actually turned out to be important to my successful strategy.
But it was, in fact, the accordion that proved, by far, to be the most potent and lethal weapon and which was ultimately responsible for the complete demoralization and eventual destruction of the enemy battle fleet.
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I was in the Al Southern California Honor Band in 1965.
I was in the US Army in Germany 16 AUG 66 through 15 Aug 68. My unit was the 5th Surgical Hospital, Mobile Army (5th MASH). The Russians knew that I was there so they didn’t attack.
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I served in the US air force, 52nd Tactical Fighter Wing at Spangdahlem Air Base, West Germany. (1981 – 1985)
You’re welcome!
Military chaplains are my heroes above all else. The way I see it, (good thing I qualified that one, huh?) the Holy Bible supercedes the UCMJ on all counts.
Now, before anybody has an unnatural desire to send all sorts of liberal gob my way, I did qualify my comment.
For those of the younger demographic of World Mag Blog, have you ever considered why November 11th was chosen to commemorate Veteran’s Day? Here is why:
Today is Veterans Day. We encourage all Patriots to set aside time and reflect on the sacrifice of our Patriot veterans and those serving today, and honor them accordingly.
On Nov. 11, 1921, an unknown American soldier from World War I was buried in Arlington National Cemetery, in recognition of WWI veterans and in conjunction with the timing of cessation of hostilities at 11 a.m., Nov. 11, 1918 (the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month). President Warren Harding requested that: “All … citizens … indulge in a period of silent thanks to God for these … valorous lives and of supplication for His Divine mercy … on our beloved country.” Inscribed on the Tomb are the words: “Here lies in honored glory an American soldier know but to God.” The day became known as “Armistice Day.” In 1954, Congress, wanting to recognize the sacrifice of veterans since WWI, proposed to change Armistice Day to Veterans Day in their honor. President Dwight D. Eisenhower, former Supreme Commander in WWII, signed the legislation.
To honor those veterans who sacrificed all, an Army honor guard from the 3d U.S. Infantry (The Old Guard) keeps day and night vigil at Arlington. At 11 a.m. this morning, a combined color guard representing all military service branches executed “Present Arms” at the tomb for the laying of a wreath by the president, followed by “Taps.”
More than a million Patriots stand ready, or are actively defending our nation today. These men and women were not drafted into service, but volunteered to serve. To all our veterans: Thank you for your dedicated service to the cause of liberty.
To the wounded soldiers and civilians, and the families of those killed or wounded at Fort Hood: Our prayers are with you.
(Patriot Post 11/11/09)
Now, a quote from my personal favorite US President:
“It is, in a way, an odd thing to honor those who died in defense of our country … in wars far away. The imagination plays a trick. We see these soldiers in our mind as old and wise. We see them as something like the Founding Fathers, grave and gray-haired. But most of them were boys when they died, and they gave up two lives — the one they were living and the one they would have lived. When they died, they gave up their chance to be husbands and fathers and grandfathers. They gave up their chance to be revered old men. They gave up everything for their country, for us. All we can do is remember.” –Ronald Reagan
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Victoria, re the Vatican: that is sad.
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We cannot imagine what the world would be like were it not for US Soldiers and those who have supported them so courageously. (Yes, I know there are bad exceptions)
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#51: I can’t do it. I can’t lie to myself like that. I can’t just ignore or turn off my reasoning process. Perhaps you could provide pointers as to how you manage it.
#108: I’ve seen that movie.
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NJL – 111
I was very surprised something of that nature would come from the Vatican.
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Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children’s children what it was once like in the United States where men were free. Ronald Reagan
Thanks to our veterans for fighting to keep us free.
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BOB BUCKLES, JUSTUS331 – so many unrecognized, under-appreciated men, positions, missions and families who do their duty. Never let us forget them. Thank you.
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Victoria, NJL – the Vatican (which you inow is not my authority) has me baffled, dis-heartened and waiting for the next shoe to drop. All the more reason to stand firm in the Truth as I wonder what in the world is going on. I guess politis is no respecter of persons. ;(
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I know you get the typos.
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Nana,
It appears they are tossing out the LORD as creator, mentioned all through the Bible, and instead “openly endorse scientific ideas like the Big Bang theory as a reasonable explanation for the creation of the universe” -
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VICTORIA @ 98: As a Christian I believe in the big bang theory.
“In the beginning God said “Let there be…” and “”BANG”", there it was! Praise His Holy Name!
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Y’all have lots of great Vet. stories. I’m trying to read them all. Cheryl, I think the almost vet. story was an excellent addition too. Thanks for sharing.
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Now Nana, you know, in the beginning there was nothing and then it exploded, and then slime crawled out, became a bombadier beetle, exploded and became a long neck giraffe. Something like that.
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Good article presented today over at Answers Research Journal, that I’m sure the Vat might want to read.
http://www.answersingenesis.org/articles/arj/v2/n1/dembskis-theodicy-refuted
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METANOIA #103
I wonder how many GUNS Mayor Daley owns.
Reminds me of a photo my husband sent me which showed a sign on someone’s front lawn with a big red arrow pointing to their neighbor’s house.
My Next Door Neighbor Wants to BAN all GUNS!
<—Their house is NOT ARMED!
Out of RESPECT for their opinions
I promise NOT to use MY GUNS
to PROTECT THEM
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funny cartoon
http://anneminard.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/evolution-cartoon.jpg
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Roger 120
GOD creating the entire world, everything in it day by day certainly wasn’t a “big bang” – I don’t take creation so lightly.
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Victoria,
The Big Bang is the Universe’s beginning, not the Earth’s. And, it fits very well into Christian theology — any type: New Earth, Old Earth, or other.
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