My Ongoing Thoughts

BIRD WATCHING

6/19/2021

Proverbs 6:6 admonishes: “6Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! 7It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, 8yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest.” In so saying, Solomon codified the Biblical principle of learning from the animal kingdom. Jesus Himself would later employ this same principle with His own admonition to “consider the birds of the air” (Matthew 6:26).

While a multitude of animals play pedagogical roles in Scripture, birds are particularly noteworthy. The Lord utilized both a raven and a dove to speak to Noah in Genesis 8. He then used more than one crow to instruct Elijah in I Kings 17. And we also see a dove used to symbolize the presence of the Holy Spirit at Jesus’ baptism in Luke 3. Later, God used a rooster used to convict a wayward Simon Peter in Mark 14. It seems that birds are particularly useful to our Heavenly Father when He decides to educate us.

Thus, it is not surprising that the Lord used a bird or two to speak to me this week.

It all began a few months ago when a single hawk took up residence in our yard. As I wrote about in my post titled WHAT WE OUGHTA! back on March 12 of this year, a single hawk sent from the Lord appears to have taken up residence in the woods in our yard.

I soon took notice of his presence – no doubt as God had intended. He was a patient and skillful hunter, alighting and positioning himself to wait patiently, often for hours, before eventually swooping down upon some hapless squirrel or rabbit. Clearly, he was laying claim to his own newfound territory.

Shortly thereafter, another hawk appeared. Now there were two – one larger and one slightly smaller. Together, they systematically set about establishing a home together; and in short order, a huge nest, composed of sticks and straw, appeared in the very top of one of the tallest trees in our yard.

Thereafter, it was a fairly common sight to see the larger of the two hawks flying in with either a snake or a mouse in its talons, bringing nourishment to the smaller of the two as she sat perched atop what was obviously a clutch of eggs in their treetop abode.

It wasn’t long before the inevitable occurred. Multiple screeches soon flooded the air as at least two chicks made their appearance alongside their parents. As the days unfolded, the chorus quickly became a crescendo. The whole family seemed to exult in a common refrain.

But it quickly became obvious that they had more in mind than merely sounding off. Three times in the last two days - once while walking back form the mailbox and twice while cutting grass - I happened upon at least two hawks on the nearby ground. In each case, the smaller of the two was situated adjacent to the larger, which had his wings spread atop what was obviously a fresh kill. Clearly, “dear old dad” was instructing junior in the art and science of acquiring sustenance.

All of this leads me to my point. How ironic is it that all of this occurred on Father’s Day weekend?! Surely, in all these things, the Lord was reminding me of the role of a faithful father!

As I have reflected on this, I have been reminded of how blessed I am that the Lord gave me a father who acted much the same. He came of age, left home, and stood on his own two feet, long before he met and pursued my mother. Thereafter, he married her and established a home with her. The two of them then bore children, and set about rearing them in the fear and admonition of the Lord. In due time, their children (of which I was one) learned to fend for themselves and to survive in this world.

What more could I have asked? For that matter, what more could any person ask of a father?

I hope my own three children will one day reach similar conclusions about me. I hope they will do this for no other reason than that that they too will have come to see that I was faithful as a father to do what was rightfully to be expected of me, by them and by God.

That is to say that I first staked my claim to some small part of this world, that I then met and wooed their mother with passion, that I then founded a home together with her, that I then sired the children God intended for me, and that thereafter, I faithfully reared them as God would have me to, and in the process, prepared them, not only to survive, but to thrive in this world.

Assuming they reach any such conclusion, I will be honored. More to the point, God will be glorified; and my children (and grandchildren) will all be edified.

Amen!

SCRIPTURE SOURCES:

https://biblehub.com/niv/proverbs/6.htm; and

https://biblehub.com/matthew/6-26.htm.

GOING PLACES!

6/14/2021

I have come to understand why the well-known car tag reads: “If I had known grandkids would be so much fun, I would have had them first!” The Good News Translation of Psalm 127:3 tells us that children are a blessing from the Lord. If this is true, and indeed it is, then grandchildren are certainly blessings upon blessings.

Of course, multiple other translations of Psalm 127 state that children are a reward from God. One pundit said he understood this to mean that grandchildren are God’s reward to you for not killing your own children! What parent cannot at least on occasion relate to this humorous remark?!

Either way, these days, my wife and I are enjoying both the reward and the blessing that God has given us in our seven grandsons. Each day brings new adventures to their little lives. Simply watching them grow and develop and discover the world around them is a joy that is hard to describe.

Their current ages range from six months to four and a half years of age. As I have observed them, I have concluded that the one thing that ties them all together at this point in life is their ever increasing levels of mobility. The oldest loves to put on his “fast shoes” and then show us how swiftly he can run around the yard. He will literally run large circles for you as long as you will watch him.

The two oldest of his younger cousins have yet to master running smoothly, but have still begun to trot to each new destination. This all began when their walking first sped up. With each passing day, their steps now grow less and less precarious and more and more assured. Their arms too are prone to be less and less outstretched like balance beams and more and more swinging in confluence with his gait.

Other, younger grandsons have not quite mastered running; but they have learned to walk. What began as timid, teetering steps has now morphed into buoyant strides demonstrating deliberate foot placements and increasingly steady balance.

Still younger ones have not yet learned to walk, but have learned to crawl. What began as rocking back and forth has now quickly become the ability to perch confidently on hands and knees. Once so positioned, the temptation to go forth and investigate the world around them quickly overpowers any inertia. There is simply too much out there they need to investigate!

The youngest two are not to be outdone. The first of these two has now learned to roll over. It seems that he has discovered that he can enjoy more than one view of the world, and that it is within his power to change that view at will. This leaves the youngest of them all. He is just now learning to hold up his head and look around. But in so doing, he clearly demonstrates that he has a keen interest in the world around him, and is eager to discover more about it. Daily, he enjoys new perspectives!

What ties all of these traits together? To me, it is the fact that they represent a very important principle. That principle is that life is meant to be lived! We are not put here in this world to spend our lives as spectators, but as participants! We were not created simply to sit back and observe life from afar, like mere onlookers in some giant arena. Rather, we are meant to go forth and engage the world around us so as to make a difference for ourselves and for others.

Of course, to do this, we must be proactive; we must be intentional; and we must be determined. For it is only in first attempting to do something that we ever actually do something. And it is only in doing something over and over again that we finally perfect it. And it is only in perfecting one thing that we can build upon it and attempt even greater things. Ultimately, therefore, it is only in taking the initiative and running risks that we ever actually accomplish anything of significance in life!

For these reasons, if for no other, I am proud of every single one of my seven grandsons. Though tender in age, each of them is already demonstrating in his own way a determined propensity to proactively engage the world around them. Each one has shown that he fully intends to reach out and grab hold of life! In short, while some are running, some are walking, some are crawling, some are merely rolling over, and one is merely looking around, still, each in his own way is clearly intending to go places in this world!

Of course, they do not yet have the benefit of my sixty years of experience. Therefore, they cannot yet know just how bumpy that ride might eventually prove to be. But no matter, for they are bold. And daily, their boldness is being rewarded. Daily their confidence is growing. And daily, they are not only engaging life, but having small victories in the process!

So, yes, my children and my grandchildren are indeed a blessing to me! Better yet, they are blessing upon blessing to me. To use the analogy of the Psalmist (127:5), I am glad that God has chosen to fill my proverbial quiver with them.

But more than a blessing, they are also an inspiration to me - as well as a challenge. For through them, I am reminded daily that even though I am now an older man who has already been privileged to go lots of places and do lots of things in my life, I am not yet done. There are still more places for me to go in my life; just as there is still much more for me to do in my life!

Given this, when my Heavenly Father looks down upon me, I pray the efforts I display toward going places and accomplishing things in life are plainly evident to Him, even when viewed from the world above. I pray also that He is pleased with what He sees! May my efforts (and any rewards they produce) bring joy to His heart!

SCRIPTURE SOURCES:

https://biblehub.com/psalms/127-3.htm;

https://biblehub.com/niv/psalms/127.htm.

THE DISCOVERY OF A LIFETIME!

6/11/2021

Wise old King Solomon once said: “Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD.” All I can say to this is “Amen!” You see, this Bible verse, found it the Old Testament Book of Proverbs, chapter 18, verse 22, pretty much sums up the wonderful thing that happened to me halfway through the tenth grade.

I still remember the Sunday morning when I walked into a Sunday School class and unexpectedly beheld a new girl sitting quietly off to herself, wrapped up in her coat, with her head down staring at the floor. While she stared downward, I stared at her!

Of course, I was not the only boy to notice her; several others guys did as well. But I doubt seriously whether any of the competition knew what they were up against from that moment forward; for I was a man on a mission! I strategically positioned myself so that I could continue staring at her throughout the ensuing hour.

As soon as class ended, I wasted no time in making it my business to meet her. I soon discovered her name as well as the fact that she and her family had just moved into the community where I had lived my whole life. To my delight, I discovered that we would be attending the same high school in the3 same grade.

Over the next few weeks, she went out with one or two of the other guys before I finally worked up the nerve to ask her out. But that did not mean I was sitting idly by. By no means; for I quickly set about putting my plan in motion. First, I broke up with my girlfriend. Thereafter, each day before high school began, I managed to wander down the hall to “visit” a friend, who just happened to be in her homeroom. (We were all arranged alphabetically.)

Then, I finagled my class schedule to where we would strategically bump into one another in between classes. My coup de grâce was in finding out which lunch she had (early or late), and getting a class schedule that allowed me to eat lunch at the same time. Daily, I plotted. Daily I made progress.

When the time was right, having plowed the ground, I made my move. I called her up and asked her out on a date. She had some reason she could not go out. I took it in stride, and a week or two later, asked her out a second time, only to be rebuffed yet again. Nevertheless I persevered, and asked her out yet a third time. Again, for whatever reason, she was unable to go out.

Now, even someone as dumb as me understands the three strike rule. But I thank God I listened to my heart and not my head. So, I asked her out a fourth time; and this time, for whatever reason – perhaps pity – she finally said yes. We went out on a double date for pizza and a movie; and I will treasure the memories of that night forever.

To sum it all up, we went on to date for three years of high school and then through four years of college. Five years into that process, I got the nerve to ask her to marry me. I was lifeguarding at a local pool; and she came there to sun bathe. I only had thirty minutes for lunch; and was so nervous that I literally could not eat. So, I took her to the only place that was empty and quiet: the men’s dressing room. Closing the door, I dutifully got down on one knee and proposed. This time, thankfully, she did not need to be asked four times. She said yes! Greatly relieved, I ate lunch, and went back to work.

A couple of years later, on this date, June 11, back in 1983, we tied the knot, and have now been together for 38 years. When added to the seven years we had dated, we have now been blessed to be together for 45 years. And I thank God for every single second of every single moment of every single hour of every single day of every single month of every single year of every single decade of that time together.

You see, in accordance with the perfect will of God, I found myself a wife. And in the process, just as Scripture affirms, I found a very good thing. Even more, through my beautiful wife, I have found favor from the Lord. The Contemporary English Version translates Proverbs 18:22: “A man's greatest treasure is his wife - she is a gift from the LORD.” Truly, in allowing me to discover my precious wife, the Lord Himself gifted me with my greatest earthly treasure!

Today, as the two of us celebrate decades of life together, we pause to count our blessings – not the least of which are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Add to these three wonderful children, their respective three spouses, and seven grandsons, plus health, well-being, and stability, and we soon realize that our blessings are beyond number!

For all these things, once again I say, “Amen!”

SCRIPTURE: https://biblehub.com/proverbs/18-22.htm.

MONTH OF MONTHS

6/7/2021

As a child, I greatly looked forward to the first of June. The fundamental reason was that I saw the unfolding of June as symbolic of so many good things to come.

To begin with, school would finally be out. What child did not long for the end of the school year after nine long months of confinement? To be sure, June also meant that my chores quickly doubled up. With long days and plenty of sunshine, ample time had to be spent on seasonal tasks. From sun up to sundown, these long days would often be filled with cutting grass, gathering hay, and working in the garden.

But this was all bearable because June also brought summer fun. Some of these were simple daily pastimes to enjoy, such as catching June Bugs and Lightning Bugs (or Fireflies, depending upon what part of the country in which you grew up) in the yard and tadpoles in the pond.

Other pleasures were even more fun. Swimming, cookouts, family reunions - all these things happened in the month of June as well. As did annual trips with my family to nearby state parks for camping, boating, fishing, and similar such activities.

And then there were all the goings-on at church as well. Among them, “Vacation Bible School” was always a highlight. As were the annual “Homecomings”, “Dinner on the Grounds”, and “Sunday Night Sings”.

As I grew, the month took on even more significance, as I realized that my grandmother, Junie Mae, celebrated her birthday on the first day of June. It seems she was born right at midnight, so she was named for both months. Either way, it was always an occasion for yet another big celebration within our family.

Later on, when I first met my bride to be in high school, I quickly discovered that her birthday too fell in the first week of June. Thereafter, each of these two special women in my life helped to underscore the significance of the month of June.

Along the way, I discovered that June was the month for Father's Day to be celebrated. As I grew and matured, I loved finding ways to do special things for my dad on that day. (Later on, as a father myself, I was to be on the receiving end of such blessings.)

June would also become the month when I graduated from High School, as well as college. It would also become the month when my wife and I celebrated our wedding anniversary. Nor did we know at that time that our daughter would choose our own wedding anniversary date for the day of her wedding, giving even more special meaning to a certain day in June.

By God’s grace, this month marks my 60th time to experience these and many other blessings of the month of June. For all of this, I am extremely thankful. Only now, that appreciation runs a little deeper; for I have also come to know and appreciate the sacrifices so many others made in order that I might enjoy all this month has to offer.

June also sees the annual celebration of Flag Day. Each year, as this unique day rolls around, I am reminded of what that the stars and stripes stands for, as well as the exploits of those in previous generations whose sacrifices helped to ensure it still proudly flies today.

Specifically, I have in mind two great events that unfolded in the first week of June over three quarters of a century ago. The first occurred over a three day period from June 4-6, 1942. I refer of course to the World War Two Battle of Midway. While still reeling from the attack at Pearl Harbor, the United States Navy surprised the Japanese by bombing Tokyo in April of 1942. A month later, the enemy was met and engaged at the Battle of the Coral Sea. More or less considered a draw, each side lost one aircraft carrier and multiple ships.

But barely one month later, in the first week of June, the U.S. Navy surprised the Japanese Imperial Navy by ambushing them in their attempted invasion of Midway Island. In the fierce three day long battle that followed, the Japanese lost four of their front line carriers, with the U.S. losing only two. From this point forward, therefore, Japanese expansion was over. The U.S. was now on the offensive; and the tide of war had forever changed. Granted, it would take three more years of hard fighting in multiple vicious island hopping campaigns, but Japan’s fate had already been sealed.

Two years later, the first week of June would also bring about a change in the tide of war in Europe as well. While the U.S. and her allies had earlier invaded North Africa and Italy on dates labeled “D-Day”, June 6, 1944 will forever be remembered for this singular designation. On this date, also referred to as the “Day of Days”, the largest seaborne invasion in recorded history unfolded in which 195,000 Allied personnel in over 5,000 ships descended upon the coast of Axis-occupied Normandy, France to begin the liberation of Western Europe from four long years of tyranny and oppression.

Histories, documentaries, novels, and movies now exhaustively document the titanic struggles that took place between good and evil in the skies and seas around Midway and on the shores of Normandy. And yet, there are no doubt untold numbers of stories of courage and bravery that unfolded in these eventful days that only eternity will reveal.

For my part, I have come to realize that the simple pleasures and privileges I shared in the opening lines of this blog post would never have been possible without the willingness of countless individuals - soldiers, sailors, and airmen alike - who readily gave of themselves by going into harm’s way in order to secure my freedom. Ultimately, 307 Allied personnel died in the Battle of Midway, as did another 4,414 at Normandy. These fatalities do not include the 10,000+ casualties suffered as well.

But these sacrifices were not without cause. They resulted in the freeing of the world from fascist domination and oppression. As one who grew up enjoying the simple freedoms that entails, I will forever be mindful of these sacrifices on my behalf. And I will do my best to make sure that my children and grandchildren are as well. Every June, as long as I draw breath, they will hear of the great sacrifice that made their freedom possible. We will then celebrate all that freedom has brought us.

ON GIVING ONE’S ALL…

6/3/2021

Lee Eclov is a retired Pastor who still preaches, teaches, and writes. His many books, articles, blog posts, and related material are all designed to encourage young preachers.

In the lead up to Memorial Day, he recently penned a blog post titled 'Homo Unius Libri', in which he encourages Pastors to give all they have to give. As a part of that post, he shares the following insightful tidbit of information:

During the Civil War, most soldiers were issued single-shot, muzzle-loading rifles. After the Battle of Gettysburg, at least 27,574 guns were recovered from the battlefield, their owners having fled or died. Incredibly, 24,000 were still loaded! And half of those had been loaded more than once, one shot jammed on top of another, without being fired! One poor guy had apparently loaded his gun twenty-three times without ever actually shooting!

Dr. Eclov’s point is that, just as soldiers were put on the field of battle for a purpose, so were we all put here on earth for a specific purpose. Most of us find it disconcerting to learn that 24,000 plus guns were taken into battle by soldiers but never discharged.

In like manner, however, we must also realize that God has uniquely outfitted each of us with a certain set of spiritual gifts, designed to be put to use in the titanic struggle between good and evil in this world. When we fail to employ these gifts, it is the same thing as if we chose not to engage.

And surely, few things can be as heartrending as coming to the end of one’s life with the knowledge that he or she decided to play it safe and never engage. In such a case, it is the same thing as if a person simply took his or her talent and buried it in the back yard.

I employ this analogy because of the story that Jesus told us in the New Testament Gospel of Matthew (chapter 25, verse 14-30):

14For it is just like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted them with his possessions. 15To one he gave five talents, to another two talents, and to another one talent—each according to his own ability. And he went on his journey.

16The servant who had received the five talents went at once and put them to work and gained five more. 17Likewise, the one with the two talents gained two more. 18But the servant who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground, and hid his master’s money.

19After a long time the master of those servants returned to settle accounts with them. 20The servant who had received the five talents came and presented five more. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.’

21His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Enter into the joy of your master!’

22The servant who had received the two talents also came and said, ‘Master, you entrusted me with two talents. See, I have gained two more.’

23His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Enter into the joy of your master!’

24Finally, the servant who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Master, I knew that you are a hard man, reaping where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what belongs to you.’

26‘You wicked, lazy servant!’ replied his master. ‘You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed. 27Then you should have deposited my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have received it back with interest.

28Therefore take the talent from him and give it to the one who has ten talents. 29For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. But the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. 30And throw that worthless servant into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

If anyone had the right to make such an assertion, surely it was Jesus Christ. When He came to the end of the battle, He had fully expended himself. Thus, the Bible tells us in Philippians 2:7 that He “emptied Himself”.

The words to Gloria Gaither’s hymn, “Broken and Spilled Out”, come to mind here:

One day a plain village woman
Driven by love for her Lord
Recklessly poured out a valuable essence
Disregarding the scorn

And once it was broken and spilled out
A fragrance filled all the room
Like a pris'ner released from his shackles
Like a spirit set free from the tomb

Broken and spilled out
Just for love of you Jesus
My most precious treasure
Lavished on Thee

Broken and spilled out
And poured at Your feet
In sweet abandon
Let me be spilled out
And used up for Thee

Lord You were God's precious treasure
His loved and His own perfect Son
Sent here to show me the love of the Father
Just for love it was done

And though You were perfect and holy
You gave up Yourself willingly
You spared no expense for my pardon
You were used up and wasted for me

Broken and spilled out
Just for love of me Jesus
God's most precious treasure
Lavished on me

You were broken and spilled out
And poured at my feet
In sweet abandon Lord
You were spilled out
And used up for Me

In sweet abandon
let me be spilled out
And used up for Thee

Amen!

On a personal note, my recent unexpected trip to the emergency room for unanticipated surgery has reminded me that I still have lots to do in life. I still have much within me to spill out for the glory of God and the betterment of my fellow man. To play on Dr. Eclov’s analogy, I still have plenty of ammo that needs expending. And when my time on the field of battle is over, I hope I have nothing left in my chamber.

I covet your prayers as I seek to use my God-given talents to glorify my Heavenly Father. Rest assured that I pray the same for you.

STORY SOURCES:

Lee Eclov’s website can be found here:
www.leeeclov.com.

The specific blog post referenced above is posted here:
https://www.leeeclov.com/homo-unius-libri/.

LYRICS SOURCE:

https://hymnary.org/text/broken_and_spilled_out.

SCRIPTURE SOURCES:

https://biblehub.com/bsb/matthew/25.htm;

https://biblehub.com/philippians/2-7.htm.

IN MEMORIAM

5/31/2021

Memorial Day has come to signify numerous things in the modern world. For many, it is the unofficial start to summer. All over America, families and friends are spending the weekend gathering to celebrate amidst cookouts, swim parties, and other such leisure activities.

For others, it is the first real chance of the year to get outdoors in general, and to travel in particular. Indeed, destination weddings are increasingly planned for this time of year.

Of course, the holiday holds special significance this year. After more than a year of masking up, social distancing, quarantining, and the like, the vast majority of us are feeling more than a little cooped up. Memorial Day, 2021 is increasingly seen as the first big rebound from the Covi-19 pandemic.

While all of this is true, however, it is important not to lose sight of the real purpose of Memorial Day. As a prominent national politician learned the hard way this week, this is intended to be much, much more than just a chance to “enjoy a long weekend”. It is intended as a time to honor those who gave what Abraham Lincoln famously termed “the last full measure of devotion” to the cause of our freedom.

Simply put, Memorial Day is the time we set aside for honoring and mourning the military personnel who have died in the performance of their military duties while serving in the United States Armed Forces.

One of the things I appreciate about this weekend is the number of networks that still choose to broadcast war movies. In my opinion, this annual ritual is vitally important in that it serves both to remind us of and to affirm the exploits of heroes of previous generations.

On Sunday, the History channel chose to air the entire HBO miniseries titled Band of Brothers. Based on the book of the same name by Professor Stephen Ambrose (which was itself based on his multiple recorded interviews with actual veterans), this ten volume mini-series dramatizes the history of "Easy" Company, 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, of the 101st Airborne Division.

It recounts the company’s exploits from basic training in the United States through multiple major actions across Europe (including D-Day, Market Garden, The Battle of the Bulge, the liberation of concentration camps, etc…), and eventually on to Hitler’s own Eagle’s Nest itself as the war concludes.

While every episode recounts one or more poignant moments in the lives of various soldiers, one in particular stands out in my mind. It comes at the end of episode three, where Easy company has just taken the little French city of Carentan, the key to the Cotinine Peninsula and a deep water port for the Allies to us in following up their earlier D-Day landings.

After a hard fought battle, Easy Company’s soldiers were removed from the front on June 29, and placed in Sainte-Marie-du-Mont for a well-deserved rest. Sadly, the company had lost a total of 65 men during the engagement.

To dramatize the significance of this, in the closing scene, a U S soldier goes to a local French laundry to retrieve some items he had earlier dropped off for cleaning and repair. As he is about to leave, the French lady in charge asks if he could take some of the others’ laundered items back to them.

As she hands him package after package, the viewer soon realizes what she could not possibly have known – that she is returning packages of freshly laundered clothes to men who have not claimed them personally simply because they have all just been killed in action! The look of pain on the soldier’s face as hears and sees the names and then realizes all of this is not something soon to be forgotten.

Why? Precisely because of what this gripping moment of film so powerfully underscores - the notion that freedom is not free! His comrades had all died engaging a cruel and ruthless enemy. They had done so in order to resist tyranny and to ensure freedom for all who suffered under the terrible hand of oppression.

May we never forget this simple, yet profound notion! Freedom is not free! It always comes at a great cost!

And as we celebrate the many things Memorial Day has come to represent this weekend, may we do fully cognizant that chief among them must always be the honor and respect we owe to those who gave their all that we might be a free people!

NOTE:
For a fairly in depth episode guide to Band of Brothers,
cf.: http://orma.iasfbo.inaf.it:7007/~mauro/TV/PDF/ENDED/BoB.pdf.
Page 30 recounts the above mentioned scene.

NO MATTER THE COST!

5/28/2021

This past week, Fox News carried a wonderful little Associated Press story that beautifully illustrates the gospel of Jesus Christ. It all unfolded down in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where, as the May 18, 2021 headline reads: “NFL Player Isaac Yiadom’s Maserati Taken Apart to Rescue Kitten Trapped Inside.”

It seems that local firefighters were called to the home of New York Giants cornerback, Isaac Yiadom, in order to rescue a cat that was stuck under the player’s car. According to an update posted on their Facebook page, officials said the kitten had somehow become stuck “above the rear differential of his car.”

When the rescue was completed, it was determined that the animal did not appear to be injured. The same could not be said Yiadom’s Maserati. The super-expensive sports car had to be partially disassembled in order to affect the rescue of the cat.

Now, I’m glad all turned out well - especially for the kitten. Kudos to the firefighters for their ability to pull off the rescue with no loss of life or limb, as well as to Isaac Yiadom for acting swiftly to avert any tragedy when he discovered the poor cat’s plight.

For my part, I don’t live in an upscale beachfront Florida locale. Moreover, my garage contains a couple of homegrown Fords, the combined value of which would probably not even constitute a good down payment on an imported Italian luxury vehicle. Nonetheless, I have enough sense to know that even a highly paid professional athlete was well aware of the cost he was incurring by allowing his sports car to be damaged in order to save the little cat.

After all, my research indicates that Maserati are quite valuable. The company has placed an annual production output cap at 75,000 units globally, keeping the number of available vehicles relatively low, and the prices high. The various ones I found for sale on Autotrader.com were all used, and still ranged between c. $75,000 and $150,000 each.

And for me, this is precisely what makes Yiadom’s actions so laudable. Let’s be honest, not everyone out there would make such a sacrifice for so small a creature. But to his credit, he chose saving the life of the little kitten over the value of some mere possession.

In all of this, I cannot help but see a picture of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Like the little kitten, I found myself in peril. The weight of the world was pressing down on me. And like the kitten, I chose to cry out for help. Like the homeowner, the Lord of the Universe heard my despairing cry. And in His grace, He chose to come to my rescue, no matter the cost to Himself!

Literally, the God of this universe was willing to sacrifice anything necessary to achieve my salvation. For this reason, He allowed the One entity which He loved above all else, His One and Only Son, Jesus Christ, to be damaged bodily on a cross in order that I might be saved.

I’m sure that if a certain little kitten could grasp the significance of the sacrifice undertaken on its behalf by Mr. Yiadom, it would be quite grateful. Likewise, knowing how much I was loved and how great was the sacrifice undertaken on my behalf, I will be forever grateful to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

The Apostle John understood this well. He wrote extensively of the great love God has for each of us. In chapter 3, verse1 of his First New Testament Letter, he encourages us to “See what great love the Father has lavished on us…” His choice of words is well put here, for as he goes on to remind us…

9“This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.”

Notice that the pronouns here all plural and inclusive. What God did for one, God did for all. And this includes you, my friend. God loves you; and He paid an incredible price to set you free. Even now, He stands ready and willing to come to your assistance. As the hymnwriter of old puts it, “He your savior wants to be; be saved today!”

STORY SOURCE:
https://www.foxnews.com/sports/nfl-isaac-yiadoms-maserati-rescue-kitten.

SCRIPTURE SOURCES:
https://www.biblehub.com/1_john/3-1.htm;
https://biblehub.com/niv/1_john/4.htm.

HYMN SOURCE:
"Love Lifted Me", 1912 by James Rowe. Lyrics available at:
https://hymnary.org/text/i_was_sinking_deep_in_sin_far_from_the.

A MATTER OF DAYS

5/25/2021

The whole matter began about ten days ago. From what I know now, a single hair follicle on the top of the back on my right leg apparently became infected (likely chaffed from walking). I barely noticed it at first. But by the end of the week, an abscess had set in; and a fairly sizable (and extremely painful) sore had arisen.

Still, I persevered. My motto, learned from Ron Carlson, has pretty much always been to just give most any difficulty a couple of weeks. If we do, the vast majority of time, no matter how bad things may seem to be, they always tend to work themselves out. But this time, that was not to be.

By Thursday of last week, I was running a fever. By Friday afternoon, my fever was bad enough that I was having uncontrollable shivering. At this point, my wife loaded me in the car for a trip to the emergency room. What we assumed would be a short stay turned into emergency surgery and a three day stay in the hospital, followed now by two weeks of home health care all to effect the healing a wound with the circumference of a baseball.

Along the way, I have had massive doses of antibiotics and similar, powerful medicines poured into my body via IVs and pill form. And though now home, I can either stand up or lie down, but cannot sit – a situation which will not be changing for some time. (I am typing this on my laptop while standing up.)

That is the bad news. The good news is that I am slowly healing. They say that no situation, however difficult, lasts forever. This one, too, shall pass!

I will never forget the words spoken to me by the doctor who performed the surgery on me. “If you had waited another couple of days before you came in, Mr. Jackson, you would have been in serious trouble!”

I have reflected a lot on that one single statement. After all, it’s not every day one is told any such news. As a result, I have come to one overriding conclusion: I am very thankful today. First, to my wife who recognized it was time to stop trying to tough it out and go get some help!

Second, fast on the heels of this is my appreciation for my family, who checked on me continuously, and kept me supplied with Chick-Fil-A and Zaxby’s chicken to bolster the “heart-healthy” meals of the hospital.

Third, to the entire staff of the local hospital, who, from top to bottom, did their individual jobs in a skilled and proficient manner. Excellence in the performance of their respective tasks combined to bring about the collective task of healing.

Above all, I am thankful to my Lord. I have been reminded once again that life is precious. Each day is a gift; and nothing - not health, nor time, nor life itself - should be taken for granted. The Lord and I have had more than one conversation about all of this. Today is a gift; as will be tomorrow. And I intend to make the most of every such gift I am given.

“Give it two weeks; things will work out!” Dr. Carlson’s words are words of wisdom, well worth living by. But they have now been forever joined in my consciousness by another, equally profound bit of wisdom, which I have been reminded of after hearing an offhand remark from a gifted surgeon: “All our days are gifts from God! Make each of them matter!”

OH HAPPY DAY!

5/18/2021

I pen these words just after having arrived back home from attending my four year old grandson’s preschool graduation ceremony. I freely admit that, as his class took the stage, my face beamed with pride. I could not help it; for quite naturally, my heart was swollen with joy.

Along with his classmates, his part in the program was to sing a couple of songs. The first of these was “If You’re Happy and You Know It…” Perhaps you know the various stanzas: “Clap Your Hands”, “Stomp Your Feet”, “Jump up and Down”, etc… I could well relate to the lyrics!

The second song sung was “He’s Got the Whole World In His Hands”. Again, the verses are fairly familiar… “He’s Got The Whole World In His Hands”, “He’s Got You And Me, Sister (or Brother), In His Hands”, “He’s Got Everybody Here In His Hands”. Yet again, I found the words resonating in my heart!

You see, this day was not just special because my oldest grandson was graduating from four year old preschool. It was also special because of the news we all earlier received as a family.

My sister found out about four months ago that she had a recurrence stemming from an earlier bout with ovarian cancer. She has thus spent the last four months undergoing a half-dozen rounds of intense and agonizing chemotherapy. Today was the long awaited day in which she received the results of her final scan. And praise the Lord, the doctor pronounced her cancer free!

So, am I happy? You bet! Do I know it? Absolutely! And why is this so? Because along with my sister and the rest of my family, I believe with all my heart that He (the Lord God) has the whole world in his hands! This means that He has us as a family in His hands. And the events of the last four months, though difficult and, at times, even quite painful, clearly prove this. We rejoice in that wonderful truth.

But there is yet more to rejoice over. He not only has my sister and me in His hands. He also has “everybody here” in his hands. And this includes you, my friend!

Are you currently in an uncertain place? Are you even now facing a difficult stretch? Then take it from some who have been where you are – “God is good! All the time!”

My sister is an abidingly spiritual person. She is steeped in holy scripture. And one of the passages she has chosen to claim is Psalm 91…

1Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
2I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”
3Surely he will save you
from the fowler’s snare
and from the deadly pestilence.
4He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
5You will not fear the terror of night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,
6nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
nor the plague that destroys at midday.
7A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.
8You will only observe with your eyes
and see the punishment of the wicked.
9If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,”
and you make the Most High your dwelling,
10no harm will overtake you,
no disaster will come near your tent.
11For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;
12they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
13You will tread on the lion and the cobra;
you will trample the great lion and the serpent.
14“Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
15He will call on me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.
16With long life I will satisfy him
and show him my salvation.”

We are living proof that God honors His word. Neither the “pestilence that stalks in the darkness” nor “the plague that destroys at midday” has prevailed against her. Why? Because she has chosen to dwell in the shelter of the Most High, and to rest in the shadow of the Almighty. And true to His promises, He has chosen to save her!

Given what all she has been through over the last few months, that makes today a happy day!

SCRIPTURE SOURCE:
https://biblehub.com/niv/psalms/91.htm.

ON SEWING AND REAPING…

5/12/2021

A few weeks ago, the following headline caught my attention: “California's ‘I-5 Strangler’ Roger Kibbe Was Strangled to Death, Autopsy Shows”. The article, written by Stephanie Pagones via The Associated Press and then published on www.FoxNews.com on March 4, 2021, goes on to tell how a convicted California serial killer who was accused of strangling at least seven women faced a similar fate earlier this week.

It seems that a certain Roger Reece Kibbe, who was known as the “I-5 Strangler” in the 1970s and 1980s, was spotted unresponsive Sunday in his cell at Mule Creek State Prison southeast of Sacramento, with his 40-year-old cellmate standing nearby.

According to the Amador County Sheriff’s Office, an autopsy determined that the 81-year-old convicted felon had been manually strangled to death in what authorities have now classified as a homicide. As of yet, however, no charges have been filed in connection with his death.

It turns out that Kibb, a suburban Sacramento furniture maker whose brother was a law enforcement officer, was initially convicted in 1991 of strangling a 17-year-old named Darcine Frackenpohl, who had run away from her home in Seattle. Her body had been found west of South Lake Tahoe below Echo Summit back in September 1987.

He was finally captured after Sacramento police said another would-be victim escaped, and they recovered a garrote made from a pair of dowels and parachute cord, along with scissors and other items. Investigators said they matched the cord to rope found with Frackenpohl’s body and at Kibbe's house, all with microscopic dots of red paint.

All along, investigators suspected him in other similar slayings. But it wasn't until 2009 that a San Joaquin County District Attorney’s Office investigator used new developments in evidence to connect him to six additional murders in multiple Northern California counties. Several of these victims had been found alongside Interstate 5 or other highways back in 1986.

DNA eventually linked him to two other victims, and he agreed to cooperate in exchange for prosecutors taking the death penalty off the table. Thus, Kibbe was serving multiple life terms for all these slayings when he was killed.

As I read this article, I could not help but think of certain Biblical passages about reaping what one sews.

To begin with, 2 Corinthians 9:6 says that whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Alas! That principle applies to the sewing of both good and bad seeds.

Thus, Galatians 6:8 says that those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit.

Jesus Himself underscores this in Luke 6:38 when He says: “With whatever measure you use it will be measured back to you.” Later, building on this, the Apostle Paul plainly states: “Do not be deceived: God will not be mocked. A man will reap whatever he sows!”

It seems that the “I-5 Strangler” merely lived out this basic Biblical principle. But he is not alone. The Bible also tells us that God is no respecter of persons. Therefore, what applies to any one individual applies to all individuals.

So then, just what are you sewing? That is to say, what seeds are you planting with the life you are living? And what will you reap as a result of all this activity? These are very worthwhile questions to ask. After all, God is not mocked! Our measure will be returned to us! And sooner or later, we will reap what we sew!

STORY SOURCE: https://www.foxnews.com/us/californias-strangler-strangled-himself-autopsy. The writer, Stephanie Pagones, is a Digital Reporter for FOX Business and Fox News who can be followed on Twitter at @steph_pagones.

SCRIPTURE SOURCES: https://biblereasons.com/reaping-what-you-sow/.

<<Previous