North Florida Writer - Blog

SUNDAY MORNING COMING DOWN: A Visit to the Beautiful River Today

2/23/2020

Our Lord is the River of the Water of Life

Then the angel showed me a river with the water of life, clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb.
- Revelation 22: 1 (NLT)

On Sunday mornings, I find myself anxious to experience the joy of believing God and The Savior in a place which clearly exemplifies the feeling of witnessing the most beautiful river I have ever seen. That river is the River of the Water of Life which is provided only by God the Father and the Son. Many of us will think about the river from the hymn, Shall We Gather at the River. I first remember that hymn from the old Westerns. It was frequently associated with hangings in the town square when the bad guys were caught and punished, old West style. And while that might seem like a gruesome touch, it did make me think of how even the bad guys, if they realized the evil of their ways and asked for forgiveness, could find eternity, for it is never too late to change and believe until after you are already dead. But I'll bet not too many associate it with the Book of Revelation, then one book in the New Testament that many don't like to read or contemplate, but in the last chapter of that book, just as shown above, is the passage about the River Life flowing from the throne of God and the Lamb, Jesus. That river represents salvation through the bathing of the Spirit upon us from that river.

As for us in modern times, the River of Life is wherever Jesus Christ is in your heart. for He is the giver of eternal life. No place is better due to its presentation of peace and hope than the Lord's House, and it is in such a place where we go to worship that the River of Life flows freely. It is so since we all associate attending church with going to God's House to spend time with Him and where would the River of Life be more likely to be reached than in that special place. Again, the River of Life can be found wherever we draw close to God and open ourselves to Him and the Christ through our Holy Spirit connection, but there is something that is super special to me when I walk toward the church door on a Sunday morning, see the doors open in welcome, hear beautiful music and listen to the bell chime. The River of Life is at that moment flowing toward me just as if I was sitting on the bank watching the water flow by.

Whatever your plans for this Sunday morning and wherever you might be, take time to witness the River of Life in the personage of God the Father and Son with the help and guidance of the inner Holy Spirit of God. You will feel better, you will feel closer in your connection to Him and it will truly play its part in making you and life better in harmony. Now go have a blessed Sunday and bask in the sunlight as you admire the beautiful flow of His River.

GEORGE WASHINGTON: A Special President Among Presidents

2/22/2020

Pictured above are three illustrations by artists depicting George Washington, the first President of the United States, in three different times and places in his illustrious life. In the first picture on the left, George is shown[ with his father when he was a young boy after his father asked him if he had done the chopping on his prized cherry tree, to which it is claimed that George said he couldn't tell a lie and yes, he did it. Now the story itself is told as a legend, but I will discuss it further in this commentary. The second shows Washington crossing the Delaware in the bitter cold, sleet and snow as he led and encouraged his troops toward battle with the Hessian mercenaries in Trenton, New Jersey who were fighting for the Crown against the upstart Americans. That fight would either doom Washington's Army to failure allow the Colonials to get the support needed to keep fight alive with success. And the last portion of his public life, Washington as President, points out how the outcome of his acceptance of leading the new nationan event which began with his selection as President and and could have been much different had George wanted it so. All three periods are important and they all led to the result being a man who is unique among all of our Chief Executives and deserving of a special place in history.

The first picture identified a key factor and no, the cherry tree incident is not thought to have been true, but rather representative of George's responsibility at a young age for acting as a man of the house. You see, George lost his father at age eleven and that required for him to assume responsibilities for his family, a common occurrence in Colonial times. George was, indeed, a responsible young man who loved his mother and it showed in his maturity and taking his responsibilities seriously. The result was the family finding its way through the difficult time with positive consequences and it helped George develop the ability to focus on goals and ultimately accomplish them.

Picture two shows George as the Commander of the Continental Army some thirty years later. At the time of the picture showing the approach by water across the Delaware River toward New Jersey and Trenton, Washington's Army was in tatters, hungry and without proper winter clothing and many without boots. the Revolutionary War was on the verge of ending disastrously before the battle really got started and Washington knew he needed a victory if he expected the Continental Congress to provide the provisions to continue on. Yet despite their hardships, Washington's men remained determined to fight, much of that determination coming from their general's leadership, and the victory that occurred in the early hours of the morning after Christmas 1776 lit the light of hope that sparked the ensuing energy to and drive which would lead nearly five years later to the British surrender at Yorktown.

The ensuring years, 1782 through 1788 were wrought with difficulty as the new nation struggled with organizing itself and was dealing with factionalism among the thirteen colonies. Yet, somehow the effort stayed alive until the Constitution was finally written creating the experiment in a representative democratic republican type of governance that was a marvel of the world. Oh, it wasn't finished in its entirety until the Bill of Rights was finally approved after the election by the representatives of the people of a man to lead the new nation. As we all know, that man was the former Continental Army Commanding General, George Washington. He was the perfect choice with his bravery, his stature as a leader of men and his desire to make sure the new nation was led in a way that would preclude the creation of a similar situation to which they had finally escaped, a powerful monarchy not responsive to the people and the quest to maintain freedom. Washington could have asked for and become a monarch, for that would have likely been agreeable to a people who wanted a strong leader but he would have nothing of it, and so the decision to create an elected President of the United States came to fruition.

Looking back at Washington's rise from a boy with no father to leadership of what would become later the most powerful nation on earth, it becomes obvious, at least to me, that this man's presence was pre-ordained by a greater power than man himself. After all, Washington spent time as young man as a surveyor, a dangerous occupation out in the wilderness where tragedies were so common. As a military leader, many reports were submitted by his subordinates saying that his ability to avoid almost certain death in combat had to be attributed to something much more powerful than he and, as the man selected to lead the land, he was obviously guided by principles and beliefs contrary to what so many others might have done when faltering could have made him a very wealthy and lifelong leader. That things turned out the way they did tell me that they were ordained by Mighty Providence, and it was his place in history to carry that forth. And that, my friends, is why I truly rate George Washington as the greatest President in American history, for if any of those things in his life had been different, our story as a nation could have been much different with a less remarkable outcome or even outright failure. Happy birthday to the late and great George Washington, for on this day the lamp of freedom shines brightly all over the fruited plain. It's a day to truly be proud of being an American.

They Were the Greatest Fridays of my Life

2/21/2020

Whalebone Junction on the Outer Banks, circa 1963

When we hear someone say that something was the greatest in their life, it is naturally a tendency to disbelieve, thinking that it as an overstatement. But when I make the statement as displayed in the heading above, I can tell you that it is the absolute truth. Now I've had many other wonderful Fridays in my life, ones that I remember fondly and that played a part in allowing me to be satisfied with my life as I look back. None of those days were as magical, however, capturing my soul, or exciting me as those days in my youth when we arrived for our summer vacation at Nags Head on the Outer Banks of North Carolina in the 1950's and early '60's. And if you think the picture above makes the beach look wide open and free, you should have seen it back in the early 1950's when the only road for passage was the beach road. The bypass, shown on the upper left wasn't fully completed until the early '60's.

I was blessed to have a mother who was a native Outer Banker and a father who, once Mom introduced him to it, just loved the beach. He was a hard-working and successful physician who knew she wanted a summer place and that he needed a place to relax and unwind. Plus, with two children in the family and the third soon to be added, it would be the perfect family place for memories and I can attest to how it truly filled that bill and then some. So, what was it about having a place on the oceanfront during all of those summer years that made the Friday of arrival so special? Simple put, it was the realization on arrival that what I would experience in the days ahead would transform my spirit as if by magic, a time where bathing suits and bare feet were the rule and everyone knew all those around them. It was small town America on the Atlantic coast and a family place where families returned year after year and all of the wonderful locals also came to be friends. It was safe and secure, everyone looked out for each other and locks weren't needed for crime was practically non-existent and the beach was wide, dogs could run free, bonfires required no permit, traffic was not an issue, and jeeps were plentiful, both on the beach and on Jockey's Ridge.

All of those things certainly had their impact on me in my first eighteen years, but it was much more than just that. Maybe those Fridays were so important because of the impression they had on me. Maybe the impression I had of knowing that every morning I awoke would be a glorious time to walk the beach early, see that glory of the sunrise and what it meant. Maybe it was learning from the birds in the sky and on the beach of how hard work was necessary for both success and survival. Maybe it was watching the local fishermen bring in nature's bounty and helping them to sort and get the catch ready for the market. Maybe it was learning to work a trotline or attending the little Baptist Church with the power man of God who truly loved his work and his church family. But perhaps most of all, it was having my father explain so much about how that beautiful place had to be appreciated and cherished, for things never stay the same for long and he was oh, so correct. That was so important, for when my father passed away during those years, those things he showed me and explained to me have stayed active in my heart and played such a role in my belief structure and my reliance on God. The place, however, has changed so dramatically that if the geography wasn't simlar to as it had been, it would be unrecognizable.

Now I don't know how many of you had similar experiences, but I know there are some of you who share those memories of Nags Head with me. And I'll bet, when you sit down and ponder all those wonderful times, the day when you arrived for the season probably had a similar impact. Thank you for the memories, Lord, for no one can ever take them away. They are truly part of my soul.

BOY SCOUT BANKRUPTCY: Will the Tradition Just Die?

2/20/2020

From a Michigan Chapter Facebook homepage.

Yes, the headline is true. The Boy Scouts filed for bankruptcy, but the real story is why and, when all is said and done, what will happen to the Boy Scouts? Well, the cause is that the organization is awash in sexual abuse lawsuits and with a dwindling Scout membership and the subject of abuse of children being so prevalent today, and rightly so, the assets needed to morally dispense the charges just aren't available unless they are sold off.

Remember, however, that in dealing with business or organizational failures and meeting their obligations, what is law prevails and sometimes the law doesn't have the laws of God included which govern His creation's laws as given by the Ten Commandments. No, man's laws are determined by elected politicians who make those decisions and they are faulty due to the influences which impacted the creation of those laws. So, if the decision is made to reorganize the corporate structure as determined by the court, instead of fully paying for the likely judgments and costs against it, plaintiffs will receive compensation that will be formulated based upon how much money is available and what the proper breakdown of those funds should be. But, regardless of where this ends up, what used to be known as the Boy Scouts is now a shell of itself, both in terms of its attractiveness to young boys and the resultant number of active members in the organization itself. When you take a brand, change it to take out many of the things that made it attractive, not just to the boys but to caring parents looking for something to give them a moral value structure, then the brand just becomes another one that is torn apart in the resultant actions.

In my opinion, the Boy Scouts as both a social good and a corporate structure, has lost its compass. It has taken a path which it thought would lead it to continued growth, but it has instead taken away the very value structure that made it so All American. That value structure included God and country and the close relationship of the two. The Boy Scouts at its founding recognized the same thing that the Founder realized, that the American experience began from a relationship with God and that God was the traditional one, with godly law based upon God's creative structure and nature, not philosophically evolved balderdash talking about God and what He expected to evolve. God's laws don't evolve, they are eternal, and when man changes them, society and the structure of organizations founded on that firm foundation crumble as a result. Now having stated that, the acceptable moral code evolution of the Boy Scouts didn't start the problem, for it existed any time a group leader violated his trust. If the parent unit had taken the steps to remedy the situation when it happened, many of the lawsuits in the pipeline would have been unnecessary. But in recent times, with the Boy Scouts watering down their standards, the organization now takes the position, whether it realizes it or not, has dramatically changed its value structure to get in line with a "if it feels good, do it" society. That is one which assumes that all things are merely relative, that there are no absolutes that are sacred. For the Boy Scouts and other organizations which traditionally played a role in maintaining the view of a strong linkage between God and country, that role has just disappeared. When the norms and standards associated with that goal go, so does the organization and when unacceptable behavior results, and particularly when it involves actions by an adult toward a child below the legal age, it is tragic and is likely to have consequences on the child that are both not positive for the child or the organization. It's really just that simple.

To do one's duty to God and country, a child must understand God and His relationship to the nation. And then, to be morally straight he must follow the laws of God, for they are eternal and everlasting, unlike man's laws which can be changed by the whim of a changing political body. Agree or disagree, I would hope that readers would just consider that argument and think about this final word in a questioning way. It's simply How did we come to change the laws of nature and water down God's word, factors which have played a leading role in societal living that has worked for thousands of years? We have clearly done just that and as a result, how can we expect anything different than the unintended consequences that have taken place? And one of these is the dramatic impact of an adverse way on the Boy Scouts of America. Make your own decision on this and believe what you want, just be sure you are willing to accept the consequences.

When Amazing Words Come From Where They Are Least Expected

2/19/2020

Singer, songwriter and guitarist Chrissie Hynde

Sometimes a nice word can come from the most unexpected places, like the other day when New Age Rocker Chrissy Hynde passed along a thank you to President Trump. Ms. Hynde is certainly not a fan of the President, for she is a devout liberal of the strongest order, a vegan and a long-time student of the hippie counter-culture, so what could it be that Donald Trump did to merit her thanks. Well, it was quite simple and it was for, of all things the love of her father.

Chrissie Hynde grew up in Ohio, was likely rebellious toward her parents and their view as was so often in those days of anti-war protest revolving around the Vietnam War. What's more, she attended Kent State University as a music arts student and one of her best friends on campus had a boyfriend who was one of the four students killed in the National Guard campus tragedy. This undoubtedly added to her view of the government and policy and not too long thereafter she went to Europe. She came back for a while to Ohio but ultimately settled in London, where she lives today. As she got older, however, while her politics and lifestyle continued to reflect her views, she learned the art of tolerating those with whom she didn't agree. She also developed a respect for her then aging father, realizing that her parents were both from a different age and that they loved her. So, she enjoyed spending time when in the country visiting with him and she watched him come alive through his devotion to the latest craze on the radio starting in the late 1980's, talk radio. Rush Limbaugh was his favorite and she remembered that.

So, when President Trump presented the Presidential Medal of Freedom, Ms. Hynde sent a message to the President thanking him for doing so. She said that while she disagreed with Rush on most issues, he was a great entertainer and wasn't afraid to voice his opinion in front of twenty-million listeners and that her father always loved it. Rush mentioned that on his radio program, telling a little known secret which now the world would know. And he also explained how the publisher of the music had tried to refuse the Rush Limbaugh Program from further use of the song as it's theme, but Chrissie Hynde told the publisher to leave it alone. He did, and the music prior to the words sung by the singer open his show every day as they have for years. And I don't know about the rest of you, but for the singer, a woman of much different views than either Rush or her late father, to stand up for what she remembered just because the memories were wonderful was refreshing to me. Maybe we should consider that as just a small message supporting tolerance, grace and the acceptance of different viewpoints and political and religious beliefs to stand. After all, what we see today is a one way street and if liberalism continues its push to silence those who disagree with their view, the counter push will be dramatic and it won't be good for anyone with the chaos that will erupt. Freedom means we are all free to voice our views and hold our cherished religious beliefs and I'm glad that Chrissie Hynde has gave just a small example of what that can mean.

And by the way, if you don't know the song, the link below will take you to her group, The Pretenders, and her rendition of the song on youtube. The title is The City is Gone and it tells her study of going back to her hometown in Ohio and finding it, or at least as she knew it, gone. Just copy and paste to your browser to listen.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=thu8DWsirJo

The Importance of Earning Our Own Keep

2/18/2020

He's up early, searching for his daily bread. It's about survival.

When I look at the picture above, I see much more than the sight of a beautiful seabird, one of God's creations, winging his way over the ocean as the dawn of the day begins. What I see is a picture of the fight for survival that life can often be. That majestic bird knows that he is on his own to find food to eat in the sea and that if his search turns up empty, he will go home hungry. With the number of calories required to fuel his flight, he also knows he can only come up empty a few times before he will perish. The laws of nature give him the motivation to do what he must and in nature, sometimes it can be brutal, but it is reality. But how can that situation also apply itself to we humans? What are our responsibilities to support ourselves and under what conditions? In a mixed-up world where so many today think they deserve everything they want, worthy or not, it is a good question.

We humans have been truly blessed by God. While we are like the seabird in the fact that we are also living beings created by God, we were given the dominion over the earth and all living things due to God's grace in giving us both a brain with the ability to reason and the ability to chart our course based upon free will. This choice can sometimes be seen as a curse if we don't follow the Spirit of God, the Holy Spirit within us, for in such case we use our brainpower for things that are ungodly. That wouldn't be a problem if there was nothing competing with the Holy Spirit, but we know there is. The Evil One, Satan, The Devil, whatever you want to call him, is alive and well in the airwaves around earth and he has some special powers to let him know who is weak and how they are susceptible to his cunning and deception. When he finds someone like that who is willing to turn away from God due to his own desires and if the price is right, he sells his soul and problems erupt for mankind which impacts the way we think and live. Those who have sold their soul often formulate schemes that are designed to promote their power and their acquisition of riches and they can easily then see themselves being a replacement for God Himself. Their arrogance and self-indulgence is truly amazing, but not in a good way. They worship something or someone other than the One and Only God and follows with great impact. The easiest trick in their trade is to trick others into believing that they can provide for their wants and needs better than the individuals can for themselves. Those looking for any easy answer to life's problem often accept a system of rewards for those who accept those premises.

When someone is going through a rough patch in life, it is easy to fall prey to the easy answers if that person has no strong principles of free will self-reliance. If the person suffering would only turn to God and open his or her art, the means to end the problem would, with a little prayer and patience be provided by God but so often He isn't given the chance. Sadly, today we see so much evidence of that in modern societies where huge numbers of people rely on the state and their greedy politicians who control them. They keep them satisfied with "free stuff," or at least they call it free, including welfare checks, food assistance, medical care, and much more and those using free will properly pay the bill. Now don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that there is never a time for personal assistance for those in need, but it was never supposed to take the place of self-reliance for life. No, it was meant to be a temporary fix in troubled times, but the powerful politicians realized it was their ticket to power and riches that come with a life commitment to maintain that standing.

Again, compare that to the seabird who is on his own to try to stay alive by his own abilities and cunning. He may not be able to reason, but he senses exactly what he needs to do and does it. And just watch the way animals raise their young. Using another bird as an example, a number of years ago, I watched a family of eagles as the eaglets developed and grew. Daddy Eagle over several days walked Junior out on the limb and Junior balked at trying to fly. By the end of those few days, Junior was soaring with his dad and just a short time later he was gone, off to make his own way in the world and hopefully start his own family. There are no twenty-something eagles returning to their birth home and the parents can, after much hard work, become "empty-nesters." I think we can learn something from what those beautiful creatures in the nature provided by God can teach us and, further, if we apply that knowledge with the guidance and understanding that God expects of us, we will understand what we need to do to meet His expectations. Only then can the bondage offered by those who seek their own glory be broken. If we want freedom as intended by God, it's something we must do. Have a blessed day.

SUNDAY MORNING COMING DOWN: A Prayer of Thanksgiving and Praise

2/16/2020

Sometimes God appreciates a prayer of praise without asking for anything in return.

I thought long and hard yesterday in deciding what I wanted to offer in this week's Sunday Morning Coming Down. The last few weeks have been challenging and they have made me do some serious soul-searching about many things in my life that are important to me. But, finally, I just came to the conclusion that perhaps a prayer of thanksgiving and praise would be in order. For when we pray to God without asking for anything else in life, I truly believe it lets Him know that we appreciate Him for who He is and the importance that brings to us with no strings attached. I know He must love that, so here goes:

Dear Lord, As this Sunday prepares to dawn, I want to thank you for all of the many blessings that you have given to me. I know that I am a mere and mortal sinner among many, yet you treat me with such love and grace even though I am unworthy of it. I also know that you are my Mighty King, the King over all of us and everything and you have given us a beautiful earth which we often mistreat. You also have promised us a future life of such beauty and abundance that we can't even imagine it, yet I yearn for it and the closeness that it will bring which will be so supreme.

Lord, I thank you first of all for the gift of Life, something that we often take for granted but instead need to savor and make the most of by living for you. I thank you for the Universe and the stars and the moon that fill the night sky, the sun that gives us light and warmth, the oceans, mountains, rivers, plains, mountains and even the deserts with give such variety and beauty for all of us to behold and enjoy. I thank you for family and friends, the joy of the fellowship they bring and the love they offer. I thank you for the church and all of its membership, both locally and universally as children of yours. I thank you for the beauty and joy of our living other friends including the horses, dogs, cats, fowl and fish, as well as the wild things that show and teach us so much about how to live, as well as the plants and trees that add beauty to the world. Above all, I thank you for giving us the ultimate gift of yourself, your Son Jesus Christ, who gave His life so that we might have the opportunity to live eternally if only we make the right choice with your gift of free will. And lastly, I thank you for the gift of the Holy Spirit, given to us by Jesus so that we would have the ability to ward off our sinful nature by listening to His advice only requiring an open heart.

Oh, dear Lord, there are so many more things that I could include in this prayer and I will do so at another time. But just know that I love you and want you to envelop me in your arms of peace, love and grace and follow your wishes in all that I do, for I so look forward to the time in that ultimate life when pain, suffering, hunger, thirst and all such human feelings will all disappear as I, and those who share these beliefs, will inherit new bodies of perfection when life on this earth is done. It will be an unbelievably wonderful time, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart. I ask this prayer in the name of Christ Jesus, Amen.

A Case Where Technology Really Made Customer Service a True Service

2/15/2020

You can tell when they pick up the phone if it will be real service

There is nothing more aggravating than to have a service problem and calling the company that must deal with it and find someone who doesn't seem to care. Worse, there are occasions when the service representative seems to be doing all they can just to get you off the phone whether they have helped you or. I mean, really, let's face it, all companies promise great customer service or you wouldn't purchase a good or service from them, but how many of them really deliver. After all, as Clark Howard, the guru of finding the best for the lowest price says, most provide CUSTOMER NO SERVICE. And even Clark, as cheap as he really can be, admits that sometimes the lowest price isn't of primacy, that a higher price which provides exemplary service is sometimes optimal.

Well, what service am I talking about and who is this provider? I will tell you up front that I don't like to give out names in a blog when the service is bad, for it can be seen as sour grapes and can, if one isn't careful, lead to personal consequences, but in the case of a positive report it is certainly justified. So, the product is auto insurance and service and the company is United Services Automobile Association (USAA), a provider of services to active military, former military and their eligible dependents. They aren't the cheapest but they meet Clark's guidelines due to their excellence in service. To pull it off, it takes dedicated employees and smart allocation of assets as well as having an employee force which loves what they do. USAA treats their employees well and it shows and the story below about my most recent experience with them yesterday truly amazed even old me.

The story began Thursday evening when my wife arrived home from work. She came in the door saying that something was wrong with her truck, that it had been running fine all the way home, but once she turned into our private lane back to our homestead, it stalled. She had to restart the engine six times to make it down the lane to our gate. It repeatedly stalled along the way. Well, obviously there was a problem, so I went out to look and check what could, which with all the engine gadgetry and computer modules today made it difficult. The oil was normal, it wasn't overheated, and there was no sign under the hood of anything out of order, so I tried to start it and had a similar response. It started up find but wouldn't hold an idle and died. It was obviously something caused by lack of fuel flowing, perhaps a bad fuel filter, but it was not something I could get to due to the modern engineering. It makes me wonder sometimes if the automotive engineers have an idea what they've done to make sometimes simple problems impossible, or perhaps it is by design. In any event, I came back into the house, told her that she likely wouldn't be able to get to work in the morning and I would start the ball rolling to get help.

When you live rural and are over fifteen miles from town, a vehicle problem is often quite difficult to deal with. My old clunker, now just used around the farm, is not something I put on the highway and, frankly, with my limited needs for a separate vehicle, I've opted not to replace it. It just doesn't make good financial sense, so I called USAA to confirm that my roadside assistance coverage was good. I opted out of the motor club option when late at night they failed to respond to a call years back and my wife had to pay cash to a local firm near her work to help her out. I found out the good news about my policy and was told to call them back when I needed the service which would be first thing in the morning. Then I called our AAA-endorsed care repair shop, left the message that the truck would be towed first thing in the morning and asked them to confirm.

Here's is where the excellent customer service comes in. I received a call back from the repair shop shortly after my call, telling me to have it brought in and they would get on it first thing after morning opening. So at six a.m., I called USAA's roadside assistance and they patched me directly through to their servicing agent, a contractor firm that specializes in roadside service. The agent was very professional and cheerful, English was her native language and she said I would soon start receiving voice mail messages (I don't have texting on my cell, as I said I am frugal) and for a moment I thought that maybe this would turn out like the auto club where the wait is forever. But no, within less than a minute a voice mail came in telling me the name of the towing company and that my next call would be that they were arriving. I was further adviced that they would be there within the hour, something which raised my skepticism based upon the distance from town. Imagine my surprise when they pulled in after fifty seven minutes, had the truck hooked up and out the gate within five minutes (all I had to do was identify myself, there was no paperwork needed). Thirty minutes later the next message told me the truck had been delivered to the repair shop and I was told to look on my email where a picture would be up showing the truck at the service bay door. Wow! So, I quickly confirmed that all was complete, gave them a five star rating, including for the excellent driver who was sharp as a tack, and the work would begin. Later, I received a call from the garage telling me that the entire problem had been caused by a very small piece of trash debris that had blocked the sensor that monitors the fuel and air mix and that was the culprit. They did a few other minor things with my approval and this morning I will pick up the truck thanks to a neighbor who will give me a lift.

Now this might all seem very blah as a subject for a blog to many, but after some of the disasters I've been through in recent years in the customer service department, I just find it something special. And the old adage of you get what you pay for stands out as the truth that it is and my thanks to USAA for truly being there when they are needed. Now, about that old farm vehicle, what will I do? Probably just procrastinate as I always do. In any event, have a great day, folks, it's going to be a glorious weekend. Every single weekend always is in my book.

VALENTINE'S DAY: Trust Me, Guys, You Don't Want to Forget Her Today

2/14/2020

Showing her how much you love her might just create the perfect moment.

VALENTINE'S DAY. It's really a day for the ladies and for those who love them to do something special to show that love. While sometimes the men receive loving tokens of appreciation from their special ladies, it's always been ladies first and, frankly, I would urge all of my fellow males to take heed to the tradition. While she may not show her true feelings when she is not specially remembered and might outwardly shrug it off, she will remember it. Trust me, you don't want to do that. And while Valentine's Day, named for St. Valentine, is seen as created in love, it wasn't quite the way we might think, so a look back at its creation shows why it morphed into what it is from a not-so-happy beginning. While there are a number of stories about how it came about, one of the most compelling was written by David Kithcart, Features Director for the 700 Club on the Christians Broadcasting Network (CBN) and I think it is worth of sharing.

In his story, which came from Father Frank O'Gara of Whitefriars Church in Dublin, Ireland, Kithcart says St. Valentine was a priest during the rule of Rome under the Emperor Claudius. While Christianity was not nearly as actively persecuted in Ireland as in mainland Europe, violations of the Emperor's edicts were dealt with harshly. One such edict forbid the marriage of young people, largely due to the belief that young men being married would be a detriment to Rome's need for large numbers of soldiers. It was believed that a soldier who was married would be less committed to his duties requiring great risk of losing his life and many still believe that today. But Valentine knew that love of a man and woman should be allowed since it was a natural and healthy state of life with the commitment of true love between the two. And remember, Rome had very loose morals and thought nothing of polygamy and sexual gratification by unmarried persons, views that were naturally abhorrent to Valentine. So, he violated those rules and secretly married many young men and women and was eventually caught and imprisoned with harsh punishment. While there, a Roman representative, Asterius, was sent to judge him and adjudicate the ultimate decision and he even became a Christians himself when Valentine healed his blind daughter. When he was eventually sentenced to a slow death ending in decapitation, the story goes that he sent a note to that young lady who could now see, signing it from your Valentine.

As I mentioned earlier, it is one of several stories about the mysterious St. Valentine, and the church led by Father O'Gara is one claiming to be the burial ground for the saint. Whether it is true or not, it does send a message of love and devotion which points not only to the sacrament of Christian marriage as sacred, but also to the courage and conviction for the faith that St. Valentine displayed and lived bu. It is certainly worthy of the special day that is named for him, for it gives those who love one another a great opportunity to do something special to show the value of the bond and commitment. So, don't forget it, make this day a celebration and share your love with the one with whom you have made that special commitment with the love of God in your hearts. Happy Valentine's Day and do something speicial on this wonderful occasion.

When You Need God's Help, Remember to Praise Him First

2/13/2020

He's always ready to help. (Photo courtesy Outreach Magazine)

It goes without saying that God is super-special. He is the Creator, the Father of Life and all that is in it and He loves us. But sometimes when we are concerned and worried and need His help, we forget one important step when we ask Him for help. We forget to begin our prayer, which is really a personal conversation with God, by asking for something without first telling Him through praise how thankful we are for what He has given us. Perhaps an illustration of how that must feel to Him from the human perspective might make this easier to understand. I'll use a situation I witnessed just before I left active military service those many years ago.

It was the late 1970's and I had made the decision to leave active duty as a commissioned officer the following year. The Army was slashing the officer corps as happens after a major conflict like Vietnam and, as a reservist, I figured my name would sooner or later come up. But I always tried to do my best under any possibilities and as both Thanksgiving and Christmas came, I was one of many who volunteered to help with the Army Community Service's food giveaway for young soldiers with families who were below the poverty line. In earlier times, soldiers who expected to have family members with them on assignment had to hold at least the rank of sergeant, but with the liberalization of the rules, hardships quickly ramped up. We were checking identification of recipients to be sure of eligibility and once confirmed, a nice food basket including a turkey was presented. If help was needed, someone would take the basket to the vehicle which brought the soldier or authorized dependent with a wish for a safe and blessed holiday. I was set back by the fact that very few recipients so much as said thank you. It amazed me and I can just imagine how God must feel when we treat him the same way. But there is an easy way to correct that and we should all take heed.

Every time you want to speak to God, think first about all the wonderful things He has given us, especially life itself. Life is a miracle in its own right and should be appreciated and cherished, for life gives us the opportunity to spend whatever time God gives us to live for Him in a way that makes life so much better, not just for ourselves but everyone we come in contact with. That's one of the things He expects of us and it should naturally follow from faith. And since we are Americans, we should realize that He gave us the opportunity to live in the best place on earth and it's up to us to do what we can to allow freedom to ring, for that very freedom on earth is what makes it so easy to worship God as we choose and we should never take that for granted. Oh, sometimes God tests us in ways we don't understand, but if we keep our heart attuned, our eyes and ears open and pay close attention, we can never fail to realize the blessings we have received just by being born here. Remember these things when we want to ask Him for help and start with a praise and He certainly will be much more attuned to what we really need. He might not give us what we want, but He will give us what we need, and it will be on his timetable and not ours. Don't be like those ungrateful recipients of a basket of food in the 1970's, but instead be humble, honest and thankful to the Father of Life and it will be an amazing experience. Have a blessed day.