TIED TO THE AFGHANISTAN WAR FOREVER?

I thought I had put a part of the Afghan War behind me once our oldest son returned home in late July of last year.  At least I thought I had.  I'd moved onto to other things even though I stayed up with current events of the War.  But this past week has been brutal.  And it looks like it won't get better any time soon.

This was the news from the Associated Press.  The Taliban took responsibility Monday for a bomb blast in Afghanistan that killed six American troops, while other militants launched suicide attacks on two police headquarters that left 20 people dead, according to officials.  German Brig Gen. Gunter Katz, a sposeman for the U.S.-led coalition, said the six Americans were killed on Sunday when their armored vehicle struck a bomb planted in eastern Afghanistan.  He said a seventh American soldier was killed in a seperate insurgent attack in the south.  The deadly attacks on a particularly violent day showed the militants' resilience, though the target date of NATO's handover of security responsibility to local forces is less than 18 months away.

And more.....the site of a suicide attack on Sunday

The horrific news (above) of six American deaths came after Iowans received news in late June of the state's  21st casualty in Afghanistan.  U.S. Army Sgt. James “Jamie” Skalberg, Jr., 25, of Emerson was killed on June 27 in Wardak province, Afghanistan.  He died when the Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle he was driving was attacked by an improvised explosive device.  Funeral arrangements were set several days ago. Skalberg's visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday at the Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Red Oak.  The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at the church with burial to follow at the Emerson Cemetery.

Several days ago I received a message from the wife of a soldier killed in Afghanistan last year.  She mentioned she had been up late night, unable to sleep and was searching the internet for some news.  News about her husband, partner and father of her children.  She came across a blog post I had written about her husband.  She dropped me a note to thank me and show her belated appreciation.  As I write this post, I'm convinced more than ever, the young wife's note was my prompt to continue lifting up our soldiers and their families.

And to think I thought I had put this War behind me, so to speak. Right.  Now more than ever, let me repeat that one more time.....now more than ever, our soldiers need your support and love.  In the coming months they will lose air support as part of the pullback of our troops and equipment.

Let me try to put that into perspective.  Crudely that is.  It would be like a football coach telling his team that they would not be passing the ball any more, only running.  Think the opponent won't know what's up and take advantage of it.  Wouldn't it be typical of your enemy to put out an all out blitz knowing you were severely hampered in protection?  Of course they would.  Now, let's go back to War.  And we.....the mightiest army in all the world are going to let it happen.    
           
The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold-Psalm 18:2

YGG,

John

WHAT DOES THE FOURTH OF JULY MEAN TO YOU?

The fourth of July has such a diverse meaning to America's inhabitants.  Are you a war veteran or a pacifist?  Did your ancestors come over on the Mayflower or are you a recent immigrant?  Are you part of the one-percent or the 99 percent?  Will you be voting for Romney, Obama or someone else?

What does the Fourth of July mean to you?  Parades?  Fireworks?  A day off from school or work?  Unfortunately, many of you know very little about the true meaning of the birthday of our country.  On July 4th, 1776, John Hancock, who was president of the Continental Congress and Charles Thompson, who was the Secretary, signed the Declaration of Independence, a document that stated we were no longer willing to be ruled by the British.  Have you ever wondered what happened to those who signed the Declaration of Independence?

Five signers were captured by the British as traitors, and tortured before they died.  Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned.  Two lost their sons in the Revolutionary Army, another had two sons captured.  Nine of the 56 fought and died from their wounds or the hardships of the Revolutionary War.

What kind of men were they?  Twenty-four were lawyers and jurists. Eleven were merchants, nine were farmers and large plantation owners, men of means, well educated.  But they signed the Declaration of Independence knowing full well that the penalty would be death if they were captured.  They signed and they pledged their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor.  Carter Braxton of Virginia, a wealthy planter and trader,  saw his ships swept from the seas by the British navy.  He sold his home and properties to pay this debts and died in rags.

Thomas McKeam was so hounded by the British that he was forced to move his family almost constantly.  He served in Congress without pay, and his family was kept in hiding.  His possessions were taken from him and poverty was his reward.

Vandals or soldiers, or both looted the properties of Ellery, Clymer, Hall, Walten, Gwinnett, Heyward, Rutledge and Middleton.  At the Battle of Yorktown, Thomas Nelson, Jr. noted that the British General Cornwallis, had taken over the Nelson home for his headquarters.  The owner quietly urged General George Washington to open fire, which was done.  The home was destroyed and Nelson died bankrupt.  Francis Lewis had his home and his properties destroyed.  The enemy jailed his wife and she died within a few months.  John Hart was driven from his wife's bedside as she was dying.  Their 13 children fled for their lives.  His field and his grist mill were laid to waste.  For more than a year he lived in forests and caves, returning home after the war to find his wife dead and his children gone.  A few weeks later he died from exhaustion and a broken heart.  Norris and Livingston suffered similar fates.

These are the people that enabled us to live the lives we do today.  Were they a lucky lot due to their stance and pledge.  How fortunate are we that they did?  And who can show us the true meaning of such fortune?  One of the most recognizable fourth's was 1939.  It was a day where New York Yankee great Lou Gehrig addressed the crowd at Yankee stadium with his famous speech.

Was Gehrig any luckier than the rest of us?  I think not.  The only difference is, Gehrig knew it.  How about you?

YGG,

John

ISAIAH 9:10 JUDGMENT

Yowsa.  That's pretty much my reaction after watching the two DVD set of Isaiah 9:10 Judgment.  In addition, I also shook my head more than once in disbelief and what I was hearing....and then I did some wishful praying.  If you want to challenge your thinking about what course of direction our country is in check it out.  And I mean soon.

Here is a short summary of the video.

Many followers of the Christian faith believe we are witnessing the end times as our world becomes more globalized and as the United States government continues to commit the sins of a nation on behalf of greed and corruption.  An obscure passage in the Book of Isaiah describing the fall of ancient Israel, has since September 11,2001, been eerily re-enacted in the United States exactly as it originally occurred in the time of the great prophet of Israel, leading to the nation's demise.  Has America set out on a similar journey which will lead to the eventual destruction of the United States?

"The Harbinger" a book written by  Jonathan Cahn, has been shocking audiences by revealing the astonishing parallels between the fall of ancient Israel and currents unfolding in the U.S., what he calls "an ancient mystery that holds the secret of America's future and the collapse of the global economy".

Yet, while many Americans are making "The Harbinger" and "The Isaiah 9:10 Judgment" national best-sellers, the mainstream media has largely ignored their meteroric popularity.  "Do you think there's an increasing divide between Americans who recognized these eerie harbingers of judgment and Americans who don't attribute any significance to these type of things", Cahn was asked.  "Absolutely", Cahn replied.  "We're watching a polarization and this is a dynamic of end-times civilization-that the dark gets darker and the light gets lighter".

 "Yet", Cahn says, "The Harbinger is such that you can be an atheist...and still say, "Wow.  There's something happening, there's something going on.  And I think there's an underlying sense in America that there is something wrong, that we are in a critical period and the "Harbinger" is connecting the dots in a way that, again, if you are a total skeptic, it's still hard to avoid".

YGG,

John

THE CROSSROADS OF MEDIOCRITY

Have you ever felt like you've been stuck in mediocrity?  Never being able to ride that wild crest of euphoria to the top?  Never being that person that everyone wants to be around, seldom having anything in your life be of some great value.  Well, don't feel like the Lone Ranger.  Many, many people are in the same boat.  All desiring to have some impact or making a difference in someone's life.

Rick Nielsen shared this poem with his followers today.  I'm grateful to be one of them.  The words speak so much truth about who we are and what we want to be or want to be known for.  It's titled "Mediocrity".

I'm a small and lonely man, my friend,
The world will not build a monument to me,
Somehow I've become sunken
In the mire of mediocrity.
Alone along life's torturous trail
Repeating my meaningless deeds,
Early errors now haunt me
And like a tumor on me feeds
Great things left to other men,
Great decisions not my care,
Noble steps and moments
Not my privilege to share.
Each life has its crossroads,
Be careful which you choose,
A life of greatness and happiness
Is all to easy to lose.

Ever been there?  Are you close to throwing in the towel today?  Are you at your wits end?  Have you given up?  Charles Swindoll touches on this subject in his writing, "Living Above the Level of Mediocrity".  "It is my firm conviction that those who impact and reshape the world are the ones committed to living above the level of mediocrity.  There are still too many opportunities for excellence, too much demand for disctinctiveness,, to be satisfied with just getting by.  As Isaac D'Israeli once wrote, "it is a wretched waste to be gratififed with mediocrity when the excellent lies before us".

Are the Crossroads awaiting you?

You might have needed to hear these words today.  I know I did.  Not that I'm discouraged, but the meaning they convey is challenging to me in regards to a new venture I'm about to jump headlong into.  Perhaps you are too.  Know that these words are there for you to lift you up and give you strength when you feel you've run out of resources.  The Bible verse below adds some additional zip.

"Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to curry their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters,  since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.   Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for their wrongs, and there is no favoritism".  Colossians 3:22-25


YGG,


John

WHERE'S THE ACCOUNTABILITY?

I just got off  the phone with a local restaurant operator.  It's the first time I've ever talked with him, but he seems genuine and one that most people could work for.  He has dreams....and he wants to share those dreams with his employees.  His business from the outside looks quite successful....but on the inside, it's another thing indeed.

His biggest struggle is the myriad of problems he sees his employees bring to work, that is, if they come to work.  "We see people in some of workers ones who are struggling, right on the edge of losing some thing or having a relationship go south or facing a legal action for making some bad decision", he said.

Hmmmmm.  I wonder if his situation is all that much different than any other employer, big or small.  "I just need people who are accountable and who will show up for work", he continued.

Accountability has to start with making a difference

So when did this accountable thing go astray? The problem with accountability is that it is the recipient of more lip service than action.  Accountability-to do what needs to be done-requires a level of commitment and discipline that many leaders spend time and energy seeks ways to avoid.  Every leader does this to some degree.  But the problem with accountability is that the more a leader avoids it, the more leaks spring up throughout their company.   Want proof?  Speed-write a list of issues your company is facing at this very moment.  Without question, every item on your list represents an accountability compromise.  Systems missing or not followed.  Rules broken .  Commitments broken.  Responsibility avoided.  Problems ignored. Tough decisions avoided.  Budgets not adhered to.  Information not shared.  Opportunities missed.  I've got more, but you get the point.

Somehow we've lost sight of the basics.  The New Normal is about reviving some fundamental principles such as are accountable to do the work for which they are hired.  Whether it's a management position or not, it doesn't make any difference, you  are accountable.

The New Normal is about having clarity about expectations and following through. When a person accepts a job, there’s an implied agreement to perform the work for which they are hired.  If a person says they didn’t know what was expected, why did they accept the job?

Sometimes it’s easy to blame the boss for not explaining what’s expected or for not providing training to do parts of the job but that’s not a good excuse to slack off. If you don’t know what you are supposed to do why don’t you ask?  What are you waiting for?

There’s no magic formula for success.  It’s really very simple: Success comes from being accountable.

We are all accountable for what we say and do. We are all ultimately accountable to God, and we should always remember to act accordingly. We are however also accountable to each other, to one another as fellow believers, holding fellow believers and Christians accountable. The Bible teaches us to encourage, exhort, pray for and correct one another in love, and in Christ. It is extremely useful to have people of the same mindset (i.e. fellow believers with the same goals) in our lives that we are accountable to. These “accountability partners”  can help us stay focused, encourage us when we need strength, and help us get right back on track when we start to stray.  We should also remember to be accountable to ourselves, holding ourselves responsible for our actions and for the results of our own actions – instead of blaming others.

"For it is written.  As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.  So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God-Romans 14:10-12.


YGG,


John  

LENDING A HELPING HAND

A friend of mine, Kim Baker, posted on Facebook yesterday the following comment:
"God wants us to help others win in life, to be people who reach, invest and help others to be the best person they can be. We each have skills, influence, position and knowledge to impart to others"!!!

Amen Kim.....

As the day went on, I couldn't help but think about that remark.  So when I was around the computer several hours later, I decided to "share" his post.  But even that wasn't enough.  I continued to think more and more about the statement.  "What Would Jesus Want Us To Do?", I thought.   Here's what was most impressionable to me in doing research with the aid of David Hopkins..  

Helping others was something Jesus did on a daily basis. He was constantly approached by people, but He always found time to stop what He was doing to help those in need. This is a lesson we must learn if we want to be anything like Jesus, our savior.

THE GOOD SAMARITAN

While Jesus was teaching one day, a man in the crowd tried to test him to see if he would give a wrong answer. He asked Jesus, what he must do to inherit eternal life.

Jesus, who knew the man was a lawyer, told him to follow the law, which says to love God and love your neighbor. In order to justify himself, the lawyer asked who his neighbor was. Jesus then responded with this parable.

Luke 10:30-37 And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee. Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbor unto him that fell among the thieves? And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.

To the Jews of Jesus' time there was no such thing as a "good Samaritan." Jews and Samaritans hated each other for religious and political reasons. The fact that it was a Samaritan who helped the Jewish man shows we are all neighbors. It also shows that God is interested in showing mercy rather than maintaining prejudice.
Not to mention the fact that the Jewish priest and Levite who are temple assistants, and are usually recognized as servants of God didn't lift a finger to help the man who was badly beaten.

Then since this is the case our first priority should be to ensure that justice is carried out around us, that we show mercy to our "neighbors," and that we practice our faith and not just talk about it, while letting go all stereotypes, forms of discrimination and hatred.

TREASURE IN HEAVEN

A rich young man was wealthy enough for this life but he wanted to know about eternal life. He was unsure of his destiny and came to Jesus seeking security for his future.

Luke 18:18-25 And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God. Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother. And he said, All these have I kept from my youth up. Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me. And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich. And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

Notice how Jesus did not challenge the young ruler's claims about his life, but said that he still lacked just one more thing. He then told the young man to sell all that he had, distribute to the poor, and he would have treasure in heaven.

This focused on his wealth and caused the rich man to become very sorrowful because his money was obviously most important to him.

However, Jesus clearly makes service to others the last indication of fitness for eternal life aside from keeping the ten commandments.

Therefore real wealth involves following Jesus by living not to be served, but to serve others and to devote one's life to the well being of others.

On this Father's Day take a moment to reflect on sowing a seed.  Have you planted any recently?  And if not, why not?

Kim.  Thanks for planting a seed with me.  It's not that I didn't know the importance of your words....I just needed reminding!!!

YGG,

John

HONOR "YOUR" FLAG

FLAG DAY....It's a day that doesn't get the proper respect it deserves DESPITE all it represents for us.  Maybe, just maybe it doesn't because we don't know the true origin of day.  Here is the background of a day we need to lift up and exclaim it's greatness!!! 
 
The Fourth of July was traditionally celebrated as America's birthday, but the idea of an annual day specifically celebrating the Flag is believed to have first originated in 1885. BJ Cigrand, a schoolteacher, arranged for the pupils in the Fredonia, Wisconsin Public School, District 6, to observe June 14 (the 108th anniversary of the official adoption of The Stars and Stripes) as 'Flag Birthday'. In numerous magazines and newspaper articles and public addresses over the following years, Cigrand continued to enthusiastically advocate the observance of June 14 as 'Flag Birthday', or 'Flag Day'.
 
On June 14, 1889, George Balch, a kindergarten teacher in New York City, planned appropriate ceremonies for the children of his school, and his idea of observing Flag Day was later adopted by the State Board of Education of New York. On June 14, 1891, the Betsy Ross House in Philadelphia held a Flag Day celebration, and on June 14 of the following year, the New York Society of the Sons of the Revolution, celebrated Flag Day.

Respect and Reverence all in One!!!

Following the suggestion of Colonel J Granville Leach (at the time historian of the Pennsylvania Society of the Sons of the Revolution), the Pennsylvania Society of Colonial Dames of America on April 25, 1893 adopted a resolution requesting the mayor of Philadelphia and all others in authority and all private citizens to display the Flag on June 14th. Leach went on to recommend that thereafter the day be known as 'Flag Day', and on that day, school children be assembled for appropriate exercises, with each child being given a small Flag.

Two weeks later on May 8th, the Board of Managers of the Pennsylvania Society of Sons of the Revolution unanimously endorsed the action of the Pennsylvania Society of Colonial Dames. As a result of the resolution, Dr. Edward Brooks, then Superintendent of Public Schools of Philadelphia, directed that Flag Day exercises be held on June 14, 1893 in Independence Square. School children were assembled, each carrying a small Flag, and patriotic songs were sung and addresses delivered.
 
In 1894, the governor of New York directed that on June 14 the Flag be displayed on all public buildings. With BJ Cigrand and Leroy Van Horn as the moving spirits, the Illinois organization, known as the American Flag Day Association, was organized for the purpose of promoting the holding of Flag Day exercises. On June 14th, 1894, under the auspices of this association, the first general public school children's celebration of Flag Day in Chicago was held in Douglas, Garfield, Humboldt, Lincoln, and Washington Parks, with more than 300,000 children participating.
 
Adults, too, participated in patriotic programs. Franklin K. Lane, Secretary of the Interior, delivered a 1914 Flag Day address in which he repeated words he said the flag had spoken to him that morning: "I am what you make me; nothing more. I swing before your eyes as a bright gleam of color, a symbol of yourself."

Inspired by these three decades of state and local celebrations, Flag Day - the anniversary of the Flag Resolution of 1777 - was officially established by the Proclamation of President Woodrow Wilson on May 30th, 1916. While Flag Day was celebrated in various communities for years after Wilson's proclamation, it was not until August 3rd, 1949, that President Truman signed an Act of Congress designating June 14th of each year as National Flag Day.

YGG,

John