Memorial Day Weekend!

There are so many facets to our nation that holidays such as this one bring about thoughts of "how" we actually celebrate. For many it is an opportunity for four days away from their regular lives. For some it is an opportunity to attend the famous Indianapolis Speedway with their wives and children. Others prepare speeches and sermons for the events of remembrance the next few days. Growing up here in South Dakota I looked forward to the services in the church and cemetaries. My bugle by this day would have been shined and polished to a high luster and the tuning made as perfect as it could get for the blowing of taps. Genuine U.S. Cavalry issue from just over 125 years ago, it brought a great deal of pride to my family of military serving, prayer speaking, God honoring, elders to have me be a part of the services in our small community of 400. I guess I started doing that when I was 11 or 12, and really never gave it up. My last taps was blown on my trumpet at a service about 9 years ago. I would still serve if asked, in that capacity, or any other. I've delivered the sermons, the messages, the remembrances and simply done the introductions of distinguished members of every branch of military service(even introduced politicians during election years), but life in America has seen change. On any given Sunday there may be found but a remnant in our churches. If you look closely at the age groupings you will see differences that were not present even a decade ago. I spoke of my "family's" pride at my early service to God and Country, but I didn't mention my pride because at that time the biggest reason for doing the services was money. $5 went a long way in 1962, and I hadn't lived long enough to reach a level of maturity that brought about any real understanding. I knew growing up that some funerals were "different." Uncle Ed in '55 and my paternal grandfather in '56, the flag and the rifles wielded by the uniformed men, the same guys that worked in the hardware store or the filling station, but on special occasions carried the American flag at the front of the parade and were ever present at the military services. The funerals became a sort of parade for me as the sixties came and went. The money for doing the funerals got better as I moved up in the ranks to "organist" and "soloist" for the services, but it never really "got to me" until I watched men die for their country. Then it dawned on me in a flash of inspiration that can only be described as extraordinary! Perhaps that realization is why I write today. I guess some of us are slow to wake to the mournful meaning surrounding the sunset service and the haunting melody of "taps" blown in a graveyard populated by white crosses and flags. "All gave some.....Some gave all." This slogan is being sent across the net Memorial Day Weekend '05 from all points on the compass, as the "giving" continues in lands far removed from our own. Here is my "take" on the day: "Polish with pride what needs to shine brilliantly! Write words of consolation for the living! Wave the flag proudly! Share words of a celebratory nature for the dead! Pray loud, long, and strong for those who, at this very moment, place themselves in harms way for the sake of duty! Take time to consider what has been given for you!" God bless the USA! In Christ's Love, Preacher.

It seems so simple, faith of a child, more powerful than a mountain, untamed and wild! 

"A Daughter Is A Special Little Girl Who Grows Up To Be A Friend!" 

Learning More About How "Life" Really Works!

My youngest daughter fell absolutely head over heels in love with the kitty. She and three of the young ladies she works with at our local "Applebees" came over around 11 last evening to fetch the kitten. When Jasmine was 9 her greatest fondness was for cats. She loved them! At one time I think she had over a dozen living in, around, or near the parsonage. You see, they love her, too! I thought about this yesterday as the kitten played around my feet and followed me everywhere I went in the house. Animals have a sense about folks. I had a male Pom that was with me for eighteen years. I learned to trust him about people so much that I used his innate ability to tell what kind of person someone was 100%. If he didn't take an instant liking to them they were to be watched. If he warmed to them after awhile they might be all right. If after a couple three times of being around he didn't care for them and showed it, I needed to be very careful. I sure do miss him. Jazz says her cats can tell if someone is going to be an okay type person. I don't doubt it! The circle of firends she has are a perfet example of the way she lived when she was nine. You see, she lives with five girls, they all rent a fairly large house. Guys don't live with them but do stay over on occasion. One young lady is awaiting the arrival of her boyfriend serving in Iraq, another is in the pre-engagement stage. All of them have friends of every description but only Jazz seems to collect the people. She put it this way, "we got a couple three girls at the house that are adopted, just 'til they can find their own place." Just like when she was little she has surrounded herself with the ones she admires, trusts, loves, and the ones who simply need to be taken care of. She turns 20 tomorrow, and I don't think any parent could be more proud of a child than I am of her. God bless you Jasmine, happy birthday, I love you! I would so enjoy being in her life when she is my age, but that, of course, is an impossibility. Jesus operated along the same lines that Jazz does. He "collected" people from every walk of life. He knew in advance how they fit into God's scheme for living. Even Judas served his purpose. The instincts which God has implanted in us are often missed or dismissed, rather, by a veritable host of possible misunderstandings. How much easier life would be if we just had a pet that could tell us, in advance, everything we needed to know about someone before we put ourselves out on a limb. We do have prayer, though, and prayer can provide even better insights to the character of people, more so, I suspect, than a pet. The "Spirit" of discernment is with us when we seek God's will for our lives. I encourage everyone to give prayer a try, and applaud those who employ the benefits or prayer regularly. Life just seems to work better when we have a 'point' and our 'six' covered. In Christ's Love, Preacher.

It Gets Worse, I've Named Him CD! Does That Mean Anything To You? 

If You Know Where This Kitten's Mother Is, Please Call! 

Each New Day Is A Welcome Surprise!

I left for a few hours this evening to attend prayers and meetings at the church. This is perfectly normal for a Wednesday night. Cheryl arrived home about 50 minutes after I left to find a kitten(7-8 weeks old)crying beneath "Old Blue," our '86 Chevy conversion van. She did not get the name from her color, although she is two tone blue. Blue has 260,000 miles on her 315 cu. in. V8 and when started up takes about 30 minutes before the exhaust changes to a normal color. Probably valve seals, or just flat out old age, but I digress. The kitten is now living comfortably in a box in my dining room, and has mastered the art of whining to get whatever it needs from my wife. My daughter, Jasmine, who turns 20 the day after tomorrow thought it was the sweetest thing. She arrived shortly after the kitten to show us her "new" car. Now, I love my wife, and I love my daughter, and I even like Jasmine's friend Dave, but the kitty has got to go! We reside on the fastest, busiest street in the entire hamlet, and the life expectancy of a cat in this neighborhood is between 6 and 7 months, tops. Cats by nature are independent(this is a male)and prone to wandering far and wide. As much as everyone adores this kitten planted on our(almost)doorstep, it just would not be fair to the feline. Our neighbor to the east, Joel, a retired college professor, has lost two cats already this year to traffic. The scary part of this whole situation is the picture thing. Jazz has a new phone to go with her new car, and it takes pictures. The phone, not the car! It has always seemed a little like if we start taking pictures of an animal in the house it has to stay until claimed by natural causes or naturally(can't you see it flat)unfriendly(downright inhospitable and unforgiving)traffic. This is the last thing I will share with you this evening. Did you know they have "in-dash" DVD, CD, MP3 players for vehicles? I didn't! Think about it, my 20 year old daughter that is moving to Boulder, soon, can zoom down the highway watching a movie on her dash while talking on the phone and taking pictures of all the new things she is seeing. Throw a coke and a burger in to the mix and please, please, if you are out there on the highway watch out for her! She's driving a new green Pontiac Grand Am two door with a sunroof. If you see her in Colorado, tell her that dad is praying for her every day! God bless, Preacher.