Friday, November 30, 2007
Blue Fridays
"Blue Fridays. Very soon, you will see a great many people wearing blue every Friday. The reason? Americans who supportour troops used to be called the "silent majority" We are no longer silent, and are voicing our love forGod, country and home in record breaking numbers.
We are not organized, boisterous or overbearing.Many Americans, like you, me and all our friends,simply want to recognize that the vast majority of America supports our troops. Our idea of showingsolidarity and support for our troops with dignity and respect starts this Friday -- and continues each andevery Friday until the troops all come home, sending adeafening message that ... every red-blooded Americanwho supports our men and women afar, will wear something blue.
By word of mouth, press, TV -- let's make the UnitedStates on every Friday a sea of blue much like a homecoming football game in the bleachers. If everyone of us who loves this country will share this with acquaintances, coworkers, friends, and family, it willnot be long before the USA is covered in BLUE and itwill let our troops know the once "silent" majority is on their side more than ever, certainly more than the media lets on.
The first thing a soldier says when asked "What canwe do to make things better for you?" is ."We needyour support and your prayers." Let's get the word out and lead with class and dignity, by example, and wear something blue every Friday.IF YOU AGREE -- THEN SEND THIS ON. IF YOU COULDN'T CARE LESS -- THEN HIT THE DELETE BUTTON."
The War on Terror is like all wars, unwanted and controversial. But at the heart of all wars are the Soldier and his or her family. When they are deployed into a war zone life as we know it stops for the soldier as they try to survive and their families as they pray for both survival and safe return for their loved one. Theirs isn’t a life of Geo-Political Politics but rather one of service, disruption, and prayer. If you feel so inclined to forget to remember these troops and their families and make every Friday a “Blue Friday.”
I'll leave with 2 pictures and captions from the Rocky Mountain News:
Todd Heisler The Rocky Mountain News
When 2nd Lt. James Cathey's body arrived at the Reno Airport , Marines climbed into th e cargo hold of the plane and draped the flag over his casket as passengers watched the family gather on the tarmac. During the arrival of another Marine's casket last year at Denver International Airport , Major Steve Beck described the scene as so powerful: "See the people in the windows? They sat right there in the plane, watching those Marines. You gotta wonder what's going through their minds, knowing that they're on the plane that brought him home," he said "They will remember being on that plane for the rest of their lives. They're going to remember bringing that Marine home. And they should."
Todd Heisler The Rocky Mountain News
The night before the burial of her husband's body, Katherine Cathey refused to leave the casket, asking to sleep next to his body for the last time. The Marines made a bed for her, tucking in the sheets below the flag. Before she fell asleep, she opened her laptop computer and played songs that reminded her of 'Cat,' and one of the Marines asked if she wanted them to continue standing watch as she slept. "I think it would be kind of nice if you kept doing it," she said. "I think that's what he would hav e wanted."
PLEASE KEEP THIS GOING!
"No arsenal, no weapon in the arsenals of the world, is so formidable as the will and moral courage of free men and women." -- Ronald Reagan
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
The Right Man
Most of you are probably aware of the recent death of Washington Redskins Safety Sean Taylor. Taylor was killed at this home in Miami, the alleged victim a robbery. I was watching ESPN just before the Redskins Press Conference. A former player of Gibbs was being interviewed about how the team would approach and handle the death of their teammate. I was struck by what was said next.
The former (sorry – didn’t get his name) player said that Coach Gibbs was the right man to handle this situation. He then relayed how he himself while playing for the Redskins, had been injured and was going through rehab. He said one day he was at the Redskins Training Facility rehab his knee when Coach Gibbs asked him to come to his office. You can imagine the “threat level” this young man went to knowing that he was an injured player that had a high probability of being cut or traded as damaged goods.When he walked into Coach Gibbs’ Office he noticed a board behind Gibbs’ desk. Gibbs pointed out the board and the fact that on it were all the names of the injured players, their injury, and their rehab status. Coach Gibbs complemented the player on his work ethic with respect to his rehab and then said the following:
“Don’t worry about the injury. You see this board, all the names, and your name? I come in each and every morning and I pray for all of you. I’m praying for you right now so work hard and trust in God.”
This player finished the story by saying that Coach Gibbs would bring in his relationship with God to help his team during this tragic loss. When I heard this story my heart was warmed and I want to get one of those boards.
I guess my board is my blog links. All of you are in my heart and prayers when I look at my site. May God bless each and every one of you.
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Furniture / Thanksgiving
It was bought and owned by my mother and father. I have images in my mind of my Dad and yes, even my Mom lying on this couch. This couch would be the last piece of furniture my Mother would “enjoy.” A week before we moved into our new home which had a Mother-in-Law’s Quarters built over our garage, we learned that Mom’s cancer had returned with a vengeance. Mom was one of those “lucky” people who had never smoked but was now stricken with lung cancer. I can still remember picking my Mother off that couch and carrying her down the stairs to make her last trip in a car as we headed for the hospital.
A few years later the couch would make a trip to our preacher’s office. We gave him the couch along with some chairs that belonged to Mom.
Earlier this year as many of you know, we went through a challenging yet rewarding time as we contemplated merging with a local conservative Christian Church. There was one particular meeting among ourselves (4 and Don at the time) where we nearly let fear and tribal instincts get the best of us. To say that meeting was heated would be an understatement. Yet, sitting on Mom’s couch gave me a peace and also a mandate to not allow our meeting to end in division. Fortunately the Holy Spirit prevailed and we walked out of our most heated meeting, united and more in love with each other than ever before. I just knew Mom was smiling and maybe even uttering a heavenly, “Cecil, you’re a good son. I knew you would listen to your heart.”
Fast forward to a few weeks ago and now the couch sits in this storage room as we have remodeled Don’s and Brenda’s offices. New furniture has replaced Mom’s couch and so it sits in this room. But just like Mom it isn’t staying still for long. Just this past Sunday a lady with 4 kids, fleeing an abusive husband from another country came to our church in need. I know she and her kids will find comfort when they sit or lay on this couch for the spirit of my parents, especially my mother will be with them.
Now for a couple of pictures from Thanksgiving:
Monday, November 19, 2007
Oasis Roundup
Kudos to our youth guy along with the youth guys from Melbourne and Jacksonville. The Oasis Youth Rally was outstanding. As with our week of Bible Camp, they were not under a leadership that was being held hostage by churches or leaders who are adept in the fine arts of blackballing or “un-inviting.” They were able to use Dr. David Fraze, the youth guy from the Richland Hills Church. He is a great communicator and gauging by the attention level of my son he was also engaging.
Kudos to the Argyle Church for hosting the event. They have a beautiful facility and a visionary leadership.
For all intent and purpose, this will probably be the last youth rally I attend were Steven is a member of our youth group. I’m so proud of the Christian young man he is becoming. No, he isn’t perfect as is his Dad but he is on the journey. I enjoyed seeing him sing praises to God, laugh, and interacting with the other teens.
We had some cool moments together. As we were moving towards the lunch line I put my arm around him and told him I loved him. His response was, “I love you too Pops.” You can’t put a price on those kinds of moments as well as believe that you’re being called “Pops” or his other favorite word for me, “Cec-so.”
I’m proud of our youth group. We had zero problems out of them and instead, they stayed engaged throughout the weekend. That hasn’t always been the case in the past as I’ve had to track down many a stray that has wondered off.
O.K – are you ready for some pics? Here we go:
Son in the middle listening to Dr. David Fraze.
Friday, November 16, 2007
Oasis
Son had his next to last Fall Ball Game last night. He played 2nd and went 0 for 3 at the plate. He hit the ball hard, in fact his last at-bat he hit one to deep leftfield but our latest (don't laugh) cold front came in around the 4th inning bringing a strong wind out of the North. The wind kept his ball from going out. Hard to believe his last Fall Ball game as a Senior is next week.
The good thing about that game is his Uncle Bobby will be down from South Carolina and we’ll get to see him play. I’d like to ask for prayers for Barb. She is experiencing severe pain in her sciatic nerve.
I'm driving our church bus right after school today as I take our Youth Group to a youth rally in Jacksonville (http://www.oasisyouthrally.com/) called Oasis. Our youth guy was involved in conceiving and putting together "Oasis." I would ask that you pray for us to have a safe journey and that the teens will grow closer to God this weekend. I would ask that you pray for my ability to get some sleep as well but, I'm hanging out with a bunch of teens this weekend - don't bother.
Have a great weekend family.
Monday, November 12, 2007
Weekend Roundup
Weekends – Don’t you just love them? Mine started on Friday (as I’m sure most of yours did) at church. I met up with my father-in-law, the Chuckster, Phil, and Don to lay laminate in our Secretary’s and Minister’s Office. Except for a couple of “science projects” (phrase used at Chuck’s work to describe any task take copious amounts of time) around some steal door jams, we finished both rooms in about 5 hours. This also included a visit to a local Mexican Restaurant that had a Mariachi Band. When they came to our table we requested “Ring of Fire” and “Tequila.” That is the “song” variety.
Thursday, November 08, 2007
Special Needs
What a week it has been! Between Steven’s Fall Ball games, church, trying to meet with a drywall guy to repair some damage in our game room, and Parent Conferences last (Thursday) night, I need a break. Oh, I forgot that my good friend Chuck and I are going to lay laminate in the newly renovated offices of our Church Secretary and Minister tomorrow after school. It’s a good thing I’m a “young man.”
Tuesday, November 06, 2007
"Re-Pitcher-ized"
As always, I want to thank all of you for your comments on my previous post about Steven going “muddin,” I mean running. I like Brady’s comment, “It takes wisdom to make those decisions, I think.” Those kind of decisions as a guy I used to coach with in Little League would say, “You can go from “hero” to “zero” just like that.” Speaking of “wise” decisions I think one was made last night at Steven’s game.
Friday, November 02, 2007
"Running like Crazy"
Steven received a call about three-fourths of the way through the movie from his friend Zack. He and Zack are seniors in our youth group. As Steven was talking to Zack his answers went something like:
“Hello.”
“Yes”
“Really”
“Are you kidding?” (That one concerned me)
“That’s crazy” (Red Alert!)
“I’ll have to ask my parents.”
I’ve been privy to many of Steven’s conversations but I have to admit when I heard the words “really,” “kidding,” and “crazy” my level of concern was elevated to Code Red. It was about 9:15 in the evening at this point.
Steven first asked, “Dad, Zack and I want to for a run.” Innocent enough, yes? You have to admire a couple of young men who are trying to stay fit, yes? Of course it begged the eternal question of parents with teens, “Where?” The answer:
“The Power Lines.”
Clarification: For us, the “Power Lines” is an area under high voltage (In So Cal people actually live there, in homes.) lines that is un-developed, very wet, and a haven for folks who want to take their 4-wheeled vehicles (or Ford Contours – see earlier post) as we say here in West Cocoa, “Muddin.”
I was quite sure this was the first request for jogging the Power Lines. As I looked at Mom her reaction was predictable, “Are you crazy – No.” Me, being whatever a leader is in a church and of course, a major fun-miester I inquired further with a “W” question of my own, “Why” I asked.
Steven’s answer, “Zack wants to do something crazy.” In a moment my mind which I believe may be faster than a “Mac,” went into overdrive and do you know what I came up with? If that is the “craziest” thing these boys want to do in a world that teens can do some “crazy” things, I found myself say, “O.K., but please be careful!”
As my wife looked at me with a "Linda Blair" gaze without the head spin, I flashed back (cue the theme from "Kung Fu") to a sermon Terry Rush delivered at Long Beach. He told of being faced with a similar decision from one of his sons who wanted to drive 90 miles with some of his friends to some event, while still in High School I believe.
Although everything inside him told him to say "No," he chose to say "Yes" and he told his son that he trusted him. "Time" is fleeting with our boys as in a few months they will be off to college. I guess I held on to my part of "making a memory" for these young men.
Of course my wife reminded me that if they got hurt it would be my fault. I knew that but perhaps it's an advantage (I'm sure the ladies would say "disadvantage") we Dad's should have with our sons. We should never forget what "fun" feels like as we to were "boys" once.
Steven made it back home, muddy, wet, appreciative, and I'm sure with a memory he'll never forget.
My advice family:
1. Have a good weekend.
2. If you do go "muddin," go in a vehicle but avoid the use of a Ford Contour.