Blog Archives - North Florida Writer

"Baghdad Jay" Hangs It Up

5/31/2014

For the last three years Americans have put up with Jay Carney on an almost daily basis giving some of the lamest excuses imaginable for all types of actions which are repugnant to so many Americans. The amazing thing about it is the man has been able to maintain a straight face when even his supporters in the press corps were either laughing, crying or sighing. It's been quite a side show.

In recent months he has been compared often to "Baghdad Bob", a press spokesman for Saddam Hussein who practiced his trade in a similar fashion. He has wheedled, whined and shown anger and frustration at questions from a friendly press corps when even they couldn't take the deception any more. It is inconceivable that he could actually believe the drivel that he dished out but like so many in Washington, he must have just swallowed his pride and honor in favor of the perks and publicity that came with access to the most powerful office in the world.

So what made him decide to quit? It couldn't have been because his boss was unhappy with him, could it? Well, it is highly unlikely there were any problems with the President who made such a big deal of giving him the somewhat embarrassing send off hug. No, I think he was indeed one of the President's favorites. After all, he daily came before the White House Press Corps and stood behind outlandish positions like a good little soldier.

Could it have been that he just couldn't take it anymore? Well, I can tell you this much. Since he is a family man and I'm sure he loves his wife and children, it is much more likely that he wanted to change the scenery and he probably is thinking that maybe he can somehow rebuild his reputation. I know he's a liberal and I know his views are much different than mine, but it seems to me that a steady diet of defending the indefensible and, in so doing, sullying if not destroying his own reputation finally brought him to the breaking point.

Whether or not he can salvage hiimself is, of course, something that is between him and his conscience. But if not, I'm sure there is a chair open at MSNBC where he can fit right in. In any event, I am personally sorry for the man and I hope he can come to grips with the many falsehoods he has stood for over the past three years. It surely would be enough to eventually bring any man down. As my grandchild would say watching him on television, "Isn't that the man who lies all the time, Grandpa?"

And now he has been replaced by a young man named Josh Earnest. What a name for the Press Secretary to the President. We'll now find out if the White House will be willing to come to grips with the truth in EARNEST or will it continue just JOSHing us. I'm sorry but it's difficult to take anything this Administration says or does without a giant salt shaker.

Have a great day, will you. God bless.

A Prayer for our Sick and Disabled Veterans

5/30/2014

On this Friday as we eagerly anticipate another weekend and fun with family and friends, please join me in taking a moment to offer prayer for those among us who are hurting and unable to enjoy the weekend. I am referring to our wounded and disabled veterans, those who served to make our lives safe and who sacrificed their own lifestyle for us. And now we find that many of them are not getting the care that they both need and deserve. Never forget them and demand that they get the care that they so richly deserve.

Dear Lord, Thank you for always being there for us, Father, and for listening to our prayers and always providing the right answer even if we don't always understand it right away. We know that you are all knowledge and all good and that by honoring Thee and following Thee we will always be on the right track to our personal salvation when our time on earth is done.

Today we ask for Thy divine intervention on behalf of our brothers and sisters who have suffered so gallantly for their country and their fellow citizens while serving in harm's way . Many of them are in constant pain and suffering. Some are facing a near certain death in the near future. Be with them, comfort them and infect them with your Holy Spirit and love.

As we learn of the travesties committed against them by a government that was sworn to care for them, we ask Thy help in ending their pain. Send the Holy Spirit to those in positions of trust who have violated that trust, and open their eyes to their wrongdoing and shine Thy light of truth and honor on them so that they can correct the errors of their ways. Help them to see that they must ask Thee for forgiveness and take Thy punishment, knowing that Thy mercy will be given them if they truly confess their sins.

We also know that there are many fine medical personnel working for the VA who, despite the difficulty of their work environment, strive with all their hearts to provide the service that these heroes deserve. Be with them in their efforts and help their example to be a guiding light for others who have not been so caring and sharing. And also be with our government leaders and officials who must seek the truth and insure that the travesties found are never again allowed to be repeated.

Lord, also be with all of us. We are worried and concerned about the direction our country is headed and help us to always be strong and do what we can to return this land that we love to a loving and direct relationship with Thee, for only with Thy love and guidance can we successfully navigate a world which is today so engulfed in sin. Help us to keep our paths on the straight and narrow and live as a shining example of what Thou wouldst have us be. We ask all these things in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, who offers us redemption and salvation through His compassion and grace and His sacrifice for us on the Cross. Amen.

A Failed Speech At West Point

5/29/2014

USMA Campus, West Point, New York

Barack Obama went to West Point yesterday to deliver the commencement address for the graduates and newest batch of second lieutenants in the United States Army. I congratulate these young men and women on their perseverance and dedication but I am truly sorry that they had to witness such a weak and inappropriate speech on their special day by the Commander in Chief.

The President delivered a totally uninspiring speech to these new American warriors detailing just the opposite of what they wanted to hear. He talked down to America, deferring to the international community time and time again and, as a result he received tepid applause from a polite but uninspired audience.

The President included four main points which were supposed to establish his new policy for world affairs. Frankly, they appeared to leave holes as big as those found in a block of Swiss cheese. They included:

    1. Where American core interests demand, we will use force. It sounds reasonable, but do we even know what Obama considers our core interests? Are they anything more than capitulating our strength in a dangerous world where those not our friends are consolidating more and more power through alliances?
    2. We will focus more on decentralized terrorist groups since they are our biggest threat for the foreseeable future. The plan here is to partner with those countries who are facing internal terrorist issues and the President wants Congress to approve a $5B fund for providing the assistance they need to rid themselves of those elements.   It sounds to me like more of the same where we fund groups which often don't share our values to do the dirty work for us. We have recently started recruiting internal terrorists to fight the government supported terrorists and in so doing create a situation where we are funding those who eventually turn against us. Look at Syria, where radical Islamic rebels are receiving our weaponry to use against Assad. Much of it is, in fact, being turned against the minority Christians instead. Will we be next?
    3. We must strengthen our international institutions and alliances. I am assuming here the President is talking about organizations such as NATO and, of course, the UN. The problem here is that these organization are weak in willpower, excepting a few members such as Britain, and in the case of the UN the majority clearly oppose most of what America proposes. Of course, since the President has a penchant for criticizing America around the world, maybe he is more in tune with that sentiment than the interests of his own country. With diplomats like Samantha Power at the UN and John Kerry at State, we are now clearly pegged as weak and rudderless and the UN, well, the UN has done little to solve any worldwide problems and much to continue an endless debate leading to nowhere good.
    4. His last point was to say that America will act on behalf of human dignity. On its surface this is a noble cause but we can't be all things to all people. Additionally, he was delivering this speech to a new group of warrior leaders, those who have been trained to kill people, destroy things and thereby win wars. Nowhere in his speech did he comment on America's triumphs as a nation or about winning, something which most presidents do when talking to Academy graduates, be they Army, Navy or Air Force. And by his recent weakness with Russia and in closing out both the Iraq and Afghan conflicts, both nations will end up in the loss column similar to the ending in Vietnam.

This was truly the kind of speech designed for the UN not the United States Military Academy and when he told the audience that they probably wouldn't be seeing any more wars that comment fell flat. While no one, not even our warriors want war, they do expect their country to always be ready to pursue evil and destroy it when necessary and there is much evil out there in the world.

Further, when he tried to tie their mission to Global Warming you could just feel the eyeballs rolling. And I know the graduates must have been thinking of the 9800 troops who will be left in Afghanistan to provide training support for a government that is clearly corrupt and does not appreciate us. I only hope our finest are not told that they cannot defend themselves or they will become cannon fodder for an untrained and corrupted native military force with an increasing reputation of killing those sent to help them.

In summing up the speech, I think the words of Mackubin Thomas Owens of the National Review puts the hammer squarely on the nail. He called the President's comments a "day late and a dollar short".   Oh, I agree, but I would add that the result left those fine young men and women in the audience symbolically standing at the base of a newly constructed dam, knowing that the flood soon to come would be directed at them.

The President has once again shown that he doesn't have a clue about what the military was created for and what it is designed to do. God be with these young officers as they report to their first duty stations and may God keep them safe and secure. We are clearly not in the best of hands. God be with us as well.

A Wonderful Performance by Dean Jones

5/28/2014

Most of us in these days so often filled political correctness instead of truth don't often think of actors as being a good representation of the Faith. So many movies today are filled with hate and violence that we easily forget that there is an increasing yearning among many for more Christian entertainment. The desire for more God-inspired material has also blessed us with more Christian performers showing themselves in plays and on the screen and they are also speaking out more frequently.

One actor who has left no doubt about the strength of his belief is Dean Jones who, now 83, no longer performs. And you'll probably remember him best for his leading role in Walt Disney's The Love Bug. But he also performed as a one person cast in a traveling play entitled St. John in Exile, a wonderful performance in which he plays the part of the Apostle John during his years in exile on the Isle of Potmas. The play was filmed for general distribution in 1987,

With few props and just himself dressed in prison garb (John was, after all, residing in a cave at the island prison colony), Jones gives one of he tbest performances I have ever seen. He tells the story of John and his relationship with Jesus so vividly, crisply and simply that it left me truly amazed. This is a performance that every Christian should see for it makes you want to study your Bible more earnestly and it gives such wonderful testimony to our Lord's grace.

After detailing John's life as a follower of Christ, Jones' description of the Crucifixion and its aftermath is told so wonderfully that you think you are right there with Him. And then, when the Easter story is completed, this fine actor goes into some of the bravery that the earlier followers of Jesus went through because of their love for Him. He details the gruesome ways of death of so many, yet it provides us hope due to the courage that these great early Christians displayed because of their love for Jesus. Watch this performance and you'll quickly surmise that Jones really isn't acting; he is following his heart which is filled with the Holy Spirit during this performance. I don't think you can come away from this performance without gaining more determination to live your life for Christ as well.

Researching the biography of Dean Jones after watching this masterpiece, I found that he was born into a Christian family and was raised in the tradition, served in the Korean War, and then later, after an accident, he began to lose his way. Over time, however, he came to realize that there really was not life for him outside of Christ and he came back to the fold. I tell you this because it is so true that if we raise our young with the Lord, even though they have moments of doubt in later life and may falter, their true heritage will come back to them if they were well grounded in it while young.

I hope if you haven't seen this wonderful play you will take the time to watch it. It is available from Netflix and is well worth the two hours of your time. I even plan to use it as a supplement to my Sunday school lessons over a multi-week period. It tells John's story so much more vividly than I could ever hope to tell. It truly is a work of art and Dean Jones is to be thanked for using the Holy Spirit so effectively to impact the lives of others.

The Lord works in many ways that we don't expect and today the growing focus on Christian movies and entertainment is just one more sign that He truly lives. Thank you, Dean Jones, for your wonderful effort and may He always be praised.

UK and France: Are They Taking Down Global Governance?

5/27/2014

On this past Sunday, Britain and France led the way in a major effort to begin the dismantling of the New World Order. Voters in both countries sent a resounding message that a growing number of citizens want their sovereignty returned from the EU and they want the unbridled immigration into their country stopped. Will this be the first of a world movement to end the march to global governance? And will this add impetus to the Tea Party-type efforts in the United States to reinforce our sovereignty as well? While the signs are certainly present, only time will tell for sure.

The EU Parliamentary elections were quite startling. In the UK, the heretofore fledgling United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP) led by the outspoken Nigel Farage gained the highest vote totals and the largest contingent to the EU Parliament with twenty-four seats. UKIP clearly outpaced the Conservatives and Labour in a result which is simply astounding. Both Labour and the Conservatives can clearly no longer publicly decry the UKIP as a radical outlier; the people have spoken.

In France another astounding result was found with Marine LePen leading her National Front, the most anti-Euro party on the ballot to a number one finish in terms of votes cast. Polling over 25% of the vote, compared to 21% for the Conservative UMP and 14.5% for the Socialists, French animosity toward unification of Europe and opposition to continued immigration has reached the boiling point.

Other European nations such as Denmark voted strongly against the EU and even in Germany, the largest player in the EU with the biggest voice on continental decisions, an anti-Europe party just one year old elected a Member of Parliament and garnered 6.5% of the popular vote. As Bob Dylan used to sing, "The times they are a 'changin".

Leaders in the pro-EU elites have been put on notice that the people have been watching and they don't like what they see. If they continue to ignore the movement, it will be a their own peril, for these newly emerging political groups have high energy and know that they can grow even greater in influence.

So what is all this about and what impact, if any, will it have on the United States?

Well, the impact on Europe is significant with Parliamentary representation in the European Parliament doubling in size for the anti-EU push in this one election alone. And with many of these same movements gaining increasing strength in local elections in their home countries, national elections in the upcoming years will be much more lively than usual. The public seems to have finally realized that whether or not your representative represents Labour or the Conservatives, the elites tend to muddy the difference and come up with an end result that weakens sovereignty in favor of a new order with no boundaries and no national integrity. The more they learn about it, the more they dislike it and they are finally beginning to speak out loudly.

As for the United States, the Tea Party concept needs to review what is happening in Europe and apply it to the American experience. One of two things must happen, each with its own potential dangers. Either Conservatives must band together and retake leadership of the Republican Party, field good candidates with stellar backgrounds who can grow the party in a fashion mastered by Reagan or the party must be obliterated. Having two parties in Washington who talk and talk and talk but end up either doing nothing or agreeing with one another is no longer an acceptable result.

And that brings us to a question which certainly will rear its head if the elites don't listen soon: Will America gave birth to a USIP where Conservatives and Liberals alike who put the welfare of their nation and its sovereignty above all else can create a unique coalition to upset the status quo? I think we might be getting close to finding out.

God bless you all and have a wonderful day.

God's Presence Seen in the Power of Nature

5/26/2014

An approaching summer storm

If you've ever had doubts about God's power and His ability to use it in our lives, take the time to really pay attention to what is going on around you in a severe thunderstorm. Nowhere is it more clearly seen than in rural America where there are few noise and view distractions and you can really watch things develop.

Yesterday afternoon was one of those times. I went out to our barn to start preparing feed for the horses, accompanies by my two Mountain Boys, Val and, Sal the Great Pyrenees puppies who are now getting quite large. I put the feed out for the barn horses and brought them in, carried feed out to the pasture horses, and was in the process of getting the hay ready for distribution when I heard a large crack and boom which nearly deafened me. Looking out the open side door of the barn a huge thunderstorm was nearly upon us, quickly rolling in from the east.

I was hoping to get the hay out before it struck but it was too quick. The rain quickly changed from sprinkles to downpour and the lightning became nearly non-stop, each flash followed quickly by a thundering boom that shook the barn. Now the wind picked up, growing from a gentle breeze to pine bending fury in moments as the forward edge of the storm advanced over us. I knew I was just going to have to "hunker down" in the barn and wait for it to pass.

The wind didn't last very long, but next came hail, not something we have often here but not totally uncommon. I didn't notice it at first but the loud pinging on the metal barn roof told me of it soon enough and then I could see it bouncing off the ground, little round ice balls about the size of a dime. Looking out in the pasture, which I could barely see through the heavy torrents, I noticed Charm, our pony, looking as if horse flies were attacking her. It was the hail and she quickly ran to outdoor cover.

The lightning and thunder was so intense I thought of being in the midst of a large artillery barrage preparing the way for an Infantry assault. No one would want to be outside in the path of this storm, the lightning strikes were deafening and wherever they hit had to cause significant damage. In their own way, though, they were beautiful. One strike looked exactly like a pitchfork, beginning in the clouds like the handle while the tongs spread out and speared the ground. It was as if God was getting ready to pitch hay from the earth.

The two dogs were quite nervous, although the older of the two, Val, showed less sign of concern. His little brother, Sal, winced ever so slightly when the thunder booms went off. Val decided he wanted to go back to his doggie bed in the garage, and he set off on the thirty yard jaunt. Sal decided, although timidly, that he wanted to go with his big brother. Just after he headed out, a huge strike and thunder boom was heard and he immediately came back to my side under the cover of the barn with his tail between his legs and whimpering slightly. I rubbed his soaked head and petted him and he stayed with me for the duration.

The horses were fidgety in the barn. Part of it was that they wanted their hay but the main reason was the strength of the lightning, the banging of the hail on the roof, and the intense thunder. But they were safe and secure and I would hay them just as soon as the rain let up so that it wouldn't be soggy.

The most relaxed living creature in the barn was Rusty, the orange tabby cat. The little fellow was sound asleep up in the eaves of the barn, probably dreaming about a mouse walking by. Nothing phases that feline and his routine.

After about forty five minutes and three inches of rain it started to lighten up. Within the hour it had died out to just a gentle rain and the lightening sky was evidence that it would soon begin to clear. I went about finishing my chores, putting out the hay and putting out the horses, and then I looked carefully around me.

Luckily we never lost power, not even a flicker. And the rain was welcome since we had just finished about a two week spell of dry weather. That short burst of energy and moisture had turned the grass and leaves into a vivid green and looking at it against the advancing blue sky on the horizon and the golden rays of late day sun breaking through after the fury was simply beautiful.

So if you ever doubt the existence of God and his power and glory, take the time to really watch a summertime storm. If that doesn't eliminate your doubts, nothing will. And it will affirm your belief in the fact that we are mere mortals, brought to earth by the Father to live for Him. His power is far beyond anything we can comprehend or compete with. If by faith you accept these simple truths, your life will be wonderful. If you already have done so, you already know that you are very blessed.

Thank you, God, for your beauty and power that we are privileged to witness here on earth. May we ever be humbled by it and strengthened in our love. Have a wonderful day with God in your heart and at your side.
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If you like this little story, you'll probably like my book. Check it out at my two book sites: www.outskirtspress.com/honeyweshouldaboughttheark and amazon.com/author/jamesdick. Sample passages from the book are available at both sites.

Let No One Take Away Your Eternity

5/25/2014

As a Christian and former military officer, I must confess, my friends, that I am very fearful for the future of my country on this Memorial Day weekend Sunday. It seems to me that so many in this country, recipients of life in the best place on earth, have lost their soul and spirit. We have allowed those who don't share our values and beliefs to take root and it seems that their tentacles are spreading.

But then, I open my eyes and face the Truth. I was brought up with the Truth and though I, a mere mortal and a sinner, allow doubts to enter my heart sometimes, I know that I should not. When I open my eyes to the Truth my heart and soul also open and that allows the Holy Spirit to take charge and direct. After all the Father created us in His image, then He sent his only Son to die on the Cross and give us the opportunity for life everlasting and, finally, after Jesus ascended He sent the Spirit to guide and counsel us in the earthly fight for our lives against sin. It is important for me to always keep the Spirit active within me; He is my protection against all forms of evil in this world that are fomented by the fallen one.

We believers are charged with returning the Hope of Jesus to those who have lost it and with delivering it to those who never had it. It is a daunting task for there are many today who want desperately to keep our message out of the public sphere by any means possible. Others want to eliminate Christian worship and replace it with something else that does not practice peace. And Big Government, well, it tends to see itself as a religion into itself with its constant use of political correctness to stifle what we know is the Truth.

But be of good cheer, my fellow Christians, for the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ which was shed for us is our source of strength and virtue. By believing in Him and living for Him, we have nothing to fear. Oh, there will be bad days, terrible days that we may have to face, but if we surrender our hearts and soul to Him He will stand with us and, when the day is done, we will sit forever at His side at a glorious table that He has set for us.

The Apostle John in his Gospel probably did the best job of all of the scriptural writers of stating it so clearly and succinctly. In his final years of life in exile on the isle of Patmos in the Mediterranean Sea, these simple words should give us all the comfort we need to face all the trials of this world:

For God so loved the world, that He gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him, shall not perish but have Everlasting Life. --John 3:16 (KJV)

Nothing can be easier to understand and nothing can be a better explanation of the Truth. Live for Him, believe in Him, and Honor Him. If you do, you need not fear anything again.

God bless you and God bless those dearly departed heroes that we celebrate this weekend. They have gone to their glory, now it's time for us to get ready ourselves.

"Friday Night Lights" Down on the Farm

5/24/2014

Molly, a Jack rat with attitude and charm

Last night was a wild one out here in rural Florida. Just as my wife and I were turning in our two outdoor dogs, the Mountain Boys, Val and Sal, started raising a ruckus. Great Pyrenees are noted for protecting their property from strangers and these two wonderful dogs, while still in late puppy stage but growing fast, were obviously taking care of business.

Unfortunately for us, their barking got the attention of Molly, our Jack rat, and Kaz, our normally gentlemanly but curious Great Dane, and they both let us know that if we wanted quiet we needed to let them out. They immediately found Val and Sal and the four of them created quite a noise. They were likely on to something and whatever it was time would take its course.

And that's why I call this "Friday Night Lights". Or sometimes Monday, or Thursday, or whatever. When our small but energetic in house "football team" gets together the rough housing begins and last night was no exception.

Molly is clearly the quarterback; she calls the shots and is very demanding. Of course, she is not afraid to "run the ball" herself. Val and Sal are like two tackles or guards and they can play both offense and defense. Kaz is the fullback, always around to provide whatever Molly wants. He worships the little dog and they are as close as two dogs can be. Mutt and Jeff is the best way to describe their relationship.

Well, the chaos continued for about thirty minutes and then, just as suddenly as it started, silence. After about five minutes I figured I'd better check things out. Whenever this group gets totally silent something is usually up and it often isn't good.

Walking out into the dark on a typical humid and warm night, I called for the two inside dogs, first Molly and then Kaz. Kaz, always the most responsive, quickly approached and I opened the door and let him inside. I called for Molly again with no result so I decided to sit on the deck and wait for a moment. She always takes a little time to respond. I think it's her show of independence.

Anyway, my wife came outside and decided to walk over to the barn and look around. And she found the cause which, in this case, was last night's football. A dead possum lay beside the barn but, since it could be playing possum, she left it where it was. Molly came back home with her and the Mountain Boys came and took up their evening vigil in their customary spot on the dog bed just outside of the kitchen door.

This morning when I went to the barn to feed the horses the possum was still there, stiff as a board. I guess the Mountain Boys found him either en route to or leaving the barn and held him at bay awaiting Molly. And while I don't like to have them kill critters that really cause us no harm, I know it is just what they are born to do.

If an animal is part of our extended family, they never need to fear harm from any of the dogs. But if you are a stranger and you make the mistake of stepping foot on their turf when they are nearby, look out. It's just the way nature is and it is our way of life. And come to think of it, ever since we got the Mountain Boys we really haven't seen many critters on the farm, at least not in the fenced in residential portion. They have learned and performed their job very well.

Those of you who have never experienced rural living might find this to be very dull. But to me it shows that God created all of His creatures, including us, for explicit purposes. Some of us take our entire life finding out exactly what it is; others of us figure it out at a young age. But as for my dogs, each of them know naturally what it is they are meant to do and be. And it is just a wonder that God created such wonderful animals.

Thank you, Lord.
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If you like this little story you will like my book, Honey We Shoulda' Bought the Ark, available on line at www.outskirtspress.com/honeyweshouldaboughttheark or amazon.com/author/jamesdick. I also hope you enjoy the pics.

It's the Memorial Day Weekend: Honor Their Memory In Action and Prayer

5/23/2014

Normandy Cemetery: Overlooking the English Channel

Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. --John 15:13 (ESV)

At the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month of the year of Our Lord 1918, the guns fell silent in France. A truce signifying the end of the “War to End All Wars” brought with it an uneasy, yet peaceful serenity to the thousands of soldiers, Allied Forces and Germans, who had lived with terror in their hearts just prior to their demise. Tragically, life for the 116,000 dead Americans was ended in their early prime as it was for our allies and enemy soldiers alike.

While it took a considerable period of time for the Articles of Peace to be formulated and make the cease fire final, the end result was good for soldiers but ultimately tragic for the world. The proud German people were basically held responsible for all aspects of the war and treated accordingly. And with the upcoming economic disaster known as the Great Depression, the world created the very seed for a much more expanded and even more bitter contest to unfold in a mere twenty years.

With the exception of the Civil War, where Americans fought against their own brothers and cousins, World War II by far had the highest death total, over 400,000. And this number does not include those who were lost and never found in the swamps of Guadalcanal or in the snows of Bastogne. Almost every family in America was touched by the tragedy of this war on two fronts and it was one that all hoped would never be repeated.

Sadly, since that time America has been involved in many conflicts, the most noteworthy being Vietnam (over 58,000 deaths), Korea (over 36,000), Iraq (4800) and Afghanistan (almost 3400 and still growing) with a large number of smaller conflicts which also resulted in death. Despite all of the death, and the heretofore unmentioned large number of maimed and wounded who survived and suffered through these conflicts, we today once again find the world filled with hatred and animosity and the prospect of further conflict ever present in our minds.

So I would urge every American to honor those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for each of us and our fellow countrymen, for as long as man lives on this earth there will be conflicts for which we must maintain a standing force of brave men and women ready and willing to answer the call of duty.

What can you do to honor our dead? Visit a military cemetery, participate in a Memorial Day service or event, fly your flag proudly, and thank those who have sacrificed for us. Each of us has a neighbor or friend who has sacrificed their time and in many cases their physical well- being for our freedom and they deserve our sincere gratitude and respect just like those dead patriots we honor this weekend. Don’t forget to tell them they are appreciated.

And there is one other thing we need to do. We need to pray to our Lord for the care of those who have suffered, for their families and for the souls of those departed. Won’t you join me in prayer?

Dear Lord: We thank you for always being available to talk with you and seek your guidance through prayer and we beseech you to help us find a way to end the pain and suffering that so many of our fine young men and women face due to never ending war. Hatred, anger and bitterness, all of which are a waste of good energy and contrary to what you would have us do, is so prevalent today and we each must reach into our inner selves and, with the help of the Holy Spirit, find forgiveness and peace.

We know that you love those who died in support of their country and that war is not of your doing but just another of the sins that we mere mortals have created with the free will granted to us. But help us to be strong in searching within our conscience and ridding ourselves of the very traits that, on a societal level, allow for war to take place.

And please remember those living veterans who are suffering from war wounds, both physical and mental, and help our government officials to provide the care that they have been promised instead of using their positions to further their own careers and fortune. Help them see the light and turn to you for the strength they need to listen to you and follow you in all that they do.

Finally, help our enemies to also find peace and tranquility and a willingness to come to solutions short of warfare, but help us to always be vigilant against those who do not seek peace honestly but instead use temporary periods of peace to plan for more and greater bloodshed. Let us always stand strong and resolute against such action.

Lord keep all of our military safe, be with them in their good and bad times and enter their hearts and souls to guide them in the difficult tasks that they are called upon to do. Be with them forever and with the rest of us as well and keep us straight and true in the light of your love. We pray in your Holy name, Amen.

Never forget what our heroes have done for us and honor them always. Enjoy this special holiday with picnics and relaxation time with family and friends but always put those who did so much for us first in our hearts and minds on this day. Happy Memorial Day 2014 to everyone and may Old Glory ever fly free as a symbol of what America truly means.

Hot Dog, It's the First Weekend of Summer

5/22/2014

Summer means kids, beach pails and shovels

While summer doesn't official start for another four weeks, most Americans celebrate the Memorial Day weekend as the unofficial beginning of the season that we all love so much. After all, school is either completed or nearly so for the year, the weather is warm and sunny and thoughts easily surface about days at the beach or the lake or even in your own backyard pool.

You're probably looking forward to that special family vacation that makes so many lasting memories or, if the budget in a tight economy precludes it, at least some free days to do things you want in a leisurely and relaxed fashion. Whatever your pleasure, there is something about warm days and short sleeved nights that seems to be so agreeable to all of us.

I always remember summer as a time for the beach. Our family was fortunate to have a cottage on the Atlantic shore and we children and our mom spent most of the summer there. My dad, the breadwinner for the family, would travel back and forth to our permanent home each week for his business and we always looked forward to his arrival each Friday night but were sad to see him leave late each Sunday afternoon. He was a hard working doctor but I remember that on a Saturday afternoon at the shore he would float for hours in the crystal clear Atlantic, sorry later when he came inside as beat red from the sun as a freshly steamed lobster. But he lived to do it again on his next weekend visit.

We kids spent endless hours walking the beach, swimming in the surf and surfcasting. I loved to spend the early morning surfcasting. Under the slowly lightening sky just before dawn, we would make camp with our lantern and fishing gear and dream of the huge catch. Alas, we were happy to catch a small blue or croaker or even Ocean View spot, and even this smaller collection fried up well with bacon and eggs for a special breakfast treat.

A year round neighbor who was a commercial fisherman would put his fishing nets out before dark twice a week and pull them in before sunup the next day. On those occasions, he would let us ride along in the jeep as we checked the nets several times in the evening and as I got older I was even allowed to work with him on the Boston whaler when we would put out or bring in the nets. A heavy truck on the shore was used to pull the nets in after the offshore anchors were released and then we would scurry to remove all the fish and sort them in bushel baskets for market before the sun rose.

Within an hour, the refrigerated fish market truck would come to haul them off to market and we would trudge home exhausted with all the fish we could carry. No wonder I've always loved seafood. I don't care what the food police say, there is nothing like an old fashioned Southern fish fry.

The only thing bad about summer at the shore was its end. I can remember in late August, when the nights began to cool and the days were noticeably shorter, my mind would start thinking about the drudgery of the classroom to come as a replacement for my time on the beautiful beach. Labor Day marked the day for our departure and I can remember arriving home and noticing how small our yard looked in comparison to the openness of the beach beside the endless sea.

Oh, well, I got over it within a day or two and I knew that in nine months the circle would be completed and it would be time again to return to the place that I still to this day remember so well. I hope each of you have wonderful memories as well as future plans for your summer. Whatever you do, have fun but be safe, for summer is the time of so many accidents that are avoidable. Be careful out there.

Since it is the Memorial Day holiday weekend beginning tomorrow to kick things off, don't forget to take some time to remember those who gave their lives so that the rest of us might be free. I'll have more on that later in a separate posting.

Until then, God bless you all and have a wonderful summer. It is just another seasonal gift from a Gracious God who loves us so.