America Has Spoken

Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2012, the American people chose Barak Obama as our president and the most important and powerful man in the world for the next four years. Regardless of how you voted, now is the time to pray for our country, its leadership, and our future.

I know from our relationship with our Father God, that “His” man was elected as president. Since I am a Christian, a “born again” Believer and Follower of Jesus Christ, I know beyond any doubt that God, the Creator and Ruler of everyone and everything in the universe is in complete control. God makes no mistakes! God has a perfect plan for all of us. So whether or not you have faith and believe in the abilities of the man chosen to be our president, KNOW, BELIEVE, and HAVE FAITH in the One who knows the future of this country, of this world, and of our lives.

Trials

There was a blacksmith who gave his heart to God. Though conscientious in his living, still he was not prospering materially. In fact, it seems that from the time of his conversion, more trouble, affliction and loss were sustained than ever before. Everything seemed to be going wrong.

One day, a friend who was not a Christian stopped at the blacksmith’s shop to talk to him. Sympathizing with him in some of his trials, the friend said, “It seems strange to me that so much affliction should come to you just at the time when you have become an earnest Christian. Of course, I don’t want to weaken your faith in God or anything like that. But here you are, with God’s help and guidance, and yet things seem to be getting steadily worse. I can’t help wondering why it is.”

The blacksmith did not answer immediately, but finally, he said, “You see here the raw iron which I have to make into horse’s shoes. You know what I do with it? I take a piece and heat it in the fire until it is red, almost white with the heat. Then I hammer it unmercifully, to shape it as I know it should be shaped. Then I plunge it into a pail of cold water to temper it. Then I heat it again and hammer it some more. And this I do until it is finished.”

“But sometimes I find a piece of iron that won’t stand up under this treatment. The heat and the hammering and the cold water are too much for it. I don’t know why it fails in the process, but I know it will never make a good horse’s shoe.” He pointed to a heap of scrap iron that was near the door of his shop. “When I get a piece that cannot take the shape and temper, I throw it out on the scrap heap. It will never be good for anything.”

He went on, “I know that God has been holding me in the fires of affliction and I have felt His hammer upon me. But I don’t mind, if only He can bring me to what I should be. And so, in all these hard things my prayer is simply this: Try me in any way you wish, Lord, only don’t throw me on the scrap heap.”

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” (James 1:2-4)

Veterans Day

This coming Sunday, Nov. 11, is Veterans Day. It is an official United States holiday honoring armed service veterans. This day is the anniversary of the signing of the armistice, which ended World War 1 hostilities. Bet you did not know that?!

Arlington Cemetery Facts

The dedication to Duty of these Soldiers is beyond what we can imagine …. Jeopardy Question No One Could answer? On Jeopardy the other night, the final question was “How many steps does the guard take during his walk across the tomb of the Unknowns” — All three contestants missed it!

This is really an awesome sight to watch if you’ve never had the chance. Very fascinating.

Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

1. How many steps does the guard take during his walk across the tomb of the Unknowns and why?

21 steps: It alludes to the twenty-one gun salute which is the highest honor given any military or foreign dignitary.

2. How long does he hesitate after his about face to begin his return walk and why?

21 seconds for the same reason as answer number 1.

3. Why are his gloves wet? His gloves are moistened to prevent his losing his grip on the rifle.

4. Does he carry his rifle on the same shoulder all the time and, if not, why not? He carries the rifle on the shoulder away from the tomb. After his march across the path, he executes an about face and moves the rifle to the outside shoulder.

5. How often are the guards changed? Guards are changed every thirty minutes, twenty-four hours a day, 365 days a year.

6. What are the physical traits of the guard limited to? For a person to apply for guard duty at the tomb, he must be between 5’ 10’ and 6’ 2’ tall and his waist size cannot exceed 30.

They must commit two years of life to guard the tomb, live in a barracks under the tomb, and cannot drink any alcohol on or off duty for the rest of their lives. They cannot swear in public for the rest of their lives and cannot disgrace the uniform or the tomb in any way.

After two years, the guard is given a wreath pin that is worn on their lapel signifying they served as guard of the tomb. There are only 400 presently worn. The guard must obey these rules for the rest of their lives or give up the wreath pin.

The shoes are specially made with very thick soles to keep the heat and cold from their feet. There are metal heel plates that extend to the top of the shoe in order to make the loud click as they come to a halt.

There are no wrinkles, folds or lint on the uniform. Guards dress for duty in front of a full-length mirror. The first six months of duty a guard cannot talk to anyone nor watch TV. All off duty time is spent studying the 175 notable people laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery. A guard must memorize who they are and where they are interred. Among the notables are: President Taft, Joe Lewis {the boxer}, Medal of Honor winner Audie L. Murphy, the most decorated soldier of WWII and of Hollywood fame. Every guard spends five hours a day getting his uniforms ready for guard duty.

ETERNAL REST GRANT THEM O LORD AND LET PERPETUAL LIGHT SHINE UPON THEM.

In 2003 as Hurricane Isabella was approaching Washington, DC, our US Senate/House took two days off with anticipation of the storm. On the ABC evening news, it was reported that because of the dangers from the hurricane, the military members assigned the duty of guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier were given permission to suspend the assignment. They respectfully declined the offer, “No way, Sir!” Soaked to the skin, marching in the pelting rain of a tropical storm, they said that guarding the Tomb was not just an assignment, it was the highest honor that can be afforded to a service person. The tomb has been patrolled continuously, 24/7, since 1930. God Bless and keep them.

After reading this I was humbly proud of these special soldiers. We can be very proud of our young men and women in the service no matter where they serve. God Bless America.

To Everybody

Bill Hitchcock wrote to me and shared this true story. Read it and I think you will agree with Bill that there is hope for America.

“I opened my window this morning (around 9 a.m.) and heard the kids chattering from the school next door. I was going to close it to keep out the noise when I heard the teacher saying something in a louder than usual voice … “now sing it like you never have!”

First, God Bless America! Second, America the Beautiful! Third, The Star Spangled Banner! And finally, chants … USA, USA, USA … (That went on for a full minute or so, followed by a great cheer of their squeaky little voices!)

You can’t put a price on that! There is hope for America!

Now … . . DID YOU GET OUT AND VOTE?! If not, do not complain!

A Bible Story Worth Repeating

All of my readers who are Sunday School teachers, take note: A teacher was telling her class about Jonah and the big fish. She told them it was impossible for the fish to swallow Jonah.

But a 12-year-old girl stood up and said, “I know Jonah was swallowed by the whale, the Bible says so, so when I get to Heaven I’ll ask him.”

The smug teacher looked at the little girl and said, “Well, what if Jonah didn’t go to Heaven, what if he went to hell?”

The little girl stood back up and with her hands on her hips told the teacher, “Then you ask him.”

In Our Prayers

Let’s continue to pray for the following special people who are experiencing different challenges: Kristen Moorman is having difficulties recuperating from surgery; Alyssa Morris is just about ready to have her baby girl; Hunter Taylor, grandson of Melinda Haney, is scheduled for more tests; Gene Gregory, owner of Gene’s Fine Foods, having rehabilitation with a situation with his left foot; Connie Burgess, wife of Rev. Johnny Burgess of New Hope Baptist Church, discovered to have cancer and is presently in treatments.

Ms. Ruth Quinn is asking that we pray for her sister-in-law, Pear Lee Holt, who is having a serious medical situation. Marvin McCullough, Sarah Heatherly, Ronnie Fisher, Bouncer Bright; and for the many, many people who are victims of hurricane Sandy. A lot of misery, pain, needs, and destruction followed this storm.

Lastly, let’s pray for our newly elected officials, that they will work hard for our benefit.

Thought Of The Week

“Success is 1% inspiration, 98% perspiration, and 2% attention to detail.”

If You Have Good News

When you see, hear, or make news, hear good, funny, and clean jokes, please email your news and jokes to me at cap9296@aol.com, call me at 864-441-2371, mail your news to me at POB 128, Buffalo, or stop me on the street. When you celebrate good things in your life, I would like to share that with the good people of Buffalo. You want to laugh. I want to laugh. So please make me laugh.

Until next week, may God bless you richly.