“This nation will remain the land of the free only so long as it’s the home of the brave.” (Elmer Davis) How do you say, “Thank you,” to military veterans who have served their country, often in the face of great danger? The Italians have a word which they shout, Bravo! It’s a cheer, it’s applause. “You are brave!” Maybe it’s a call, an e-mail, a personal letter, or just a handshake. Thank some veteran this week! ;-) Jack
FROM LOUG: Dear Lord, Our hearts are filled with gratitude for the men and women who serve our country now and in the past, and for the sacrifices their families make so that we can all enjoy the blessing of freedom. We praise you for calling them to help protect us, and for giving them the courage and ability to do their jobs well. Help them to see you working in their daily lives, whether in the field, at home, or abroad..Guide their choices and their actions, Lord, Surround them with your mighty angels; protect them in your mercy; cover them with your grace. Guard their hearts while they are far from loved ones, and bless them with moments to cherish when they are together.
Hold these families close, Lord. May they look to You for the strength and peace that only You can give. Amen.===JACK: A good prayer...worth saying and saving. Thanks Did you compose it?
FROM ST PAUL IN ST PAUL: if you are ever in KC, MO, go to the WW I Museum there. it is rated as the 5th best museum in America. it is sad, sobering, informative, and a reminder of how horrible a war can be. and often how senseless.===JACK: I hadn't heard of that museum. I have visited the WW 2 in New Orleans...and that was impressive, too.
FROM TAMPA SHIRL: We had our annual Veterans Day parade on Saturday! Our neighborhood was originally made up of Air Force families stationed at Mac dill in the 1970s ===JACK: "Birds of a feather..." seems to apply to Air Force birds, too.
FROM EDUCATOR PAUL: I learned something watching SNL Saturday night. The exchange between Pete Davidson and Dan Crenshaw was a great moment of healing. Representative Crenshaw was asked dhow we can honor veterans, “When you meet a veteran,instead of saying Thank you for your service, say Never Forget. The veterans that I have met are so fearful that people will just forget the history of what they did, I learned something!===JACK: I think that it was Santayana who said, "Those who do not learn history ( or who forget history) are doomed to repeat it."
FROM RS IN TEXAS: Went to the VA hospital in Dallas yesterday. It’s amazing how much they appreciate a little attention and conversation.===JACK: What a great idea. There are veterans and there are veterans and there are veterans...those in the cemetery, the battle-participants (wounded and scarred) and the others who gave days of their life.
FROM THE SHARK: This is how I say thank you to all Veterans every year....by giving a free pizza or 3 free tacos to veterans.===JACK: This is great and so like you. BTW, Have any local Chaldeans been members of the Iraqi Army?===TS: Yes. In Iraq, it was a mandatory draft, if you didn't enroll in college.
FROM OUTHOUSE JUDY: Amen. Made over 100 cards with grandkids for grandson Noah’s 4H Group to send to soldiers.===JACK: I guess that those who are currently serving in the military deserve a "thank you", too. We're never too young to learn to say, "Thank you!"
FROM BLAZING OAKS: My Bill was a Navy Vet. of WW2, but only involved in one battle before the war ended. Then based on the tiny Isle of Eniwetok for a year. His ship was the USS New Jersey He recalled when the loudspeaker came on with "NOW HEAR THIS", You'd better hear it, and act accordingly. A fact he drove home to our kids and his parishioners! :-) BRAVO is a good word for our Vets; People seem more conscious of them than they did in earlier times, it seems to me. I, too, live for the day, when a child will ask his mother, " Mamma, what was War?!" Will it ever happen?? ===JACK: Did Bill ever say that his "war experience" helped move him toward deciding to enter the ministry? I see that there is a real need for military chaplains these days. Different calls,,,but the same ministry!He didn't say that his navy experience had a direct influence on that decision, but he mulled over the idea when he was a SR in High School,and I'm sure thought about what he would do with his life, when he had all night shifts on the tiny Isle looking out over the ocean. He often said
God called him to be a pastor, so I could be a pastor's
wife! :-) We were a good team! He sold Life Insurance, taught Jr.High Math,
managed the Men's dept. at Moline Sears store, ran Oaks & Sons
construction CO. before going to Seminary when he was 30. all those Experiences
helped him to be
an effective pastor, I think! His call to ministry is quite
a story, moving us to Canton, and then to Elgin and Seminary while he served as
Asss't Pastor at FBC there. Sometime I will give you the details...:-)===JACK: Isn't it amazing how the choices we make (even the little ones) have such a big effect on our lives and the lives of others?
FROM LK IN NI: Who are the veterans?===JACK: Technically speaking, a veteran is a former member of the Armed Forces of the United States (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard) who served on active duty and was discharged under conditions, which were other than dishonorable....but the word is described...A veteran (from Latin vetus, meaning "old"); it is a person who has had long service or experience in a particular occupation or field...like a "veteran pastor."
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