SERVANT OF CHRIST

Life Is a Gift

Today before you say an unkind word -
Think of someone who can't speak.

Before you complain about the taste of your food - Think of someone who has nothing to eat.

Before you complain about your husband or wife - Think of someone who's crying out to GOD for a companion.

Today before you complain about life -
Think of someone who went too early to heaven.

Before you complain about your children -
Think of someone who desires children but they're barren.

Before you argue about your dirty house someone didn't clean or sweep -
Think of the people who are living in the streets.

Before whining about the distance you drive
Think of someone who walks the same distance with their feet.

And when you are tired and complain about your job -
Think of the unemployed, the disabled, and those who wish they had your job.

But before you think of pointing the finger or condemning another -
Remember that not one of us is without sin and we all answer to one MAKER.

And when depressing thoughts seem to get you down -
Put a smile on your face and thank GOD you're alive and still around.

GOD BLESS

One detail that is never mentioned is that in Washington, D.C. there can never be a building of greater height than the Washington Monument .
With all the uproar about removing the ten commandments, etc., this is worth a moment or two of your time.? I was not aware of this amazing historical information.

On the aluminum cap, atop the Washington Monument in Washington , D.C. , are displayed two words: Laus Deo.

No one can see these words.? In fact, most visitors to the monument are totally unaware they are even there and for that matter, probably couldn't care less.

Once you know Laus Deo's history , you will want to share this with everyone you know.? These words have been there for many years; they are 555 feet, 5.125 inches high, perched?atop the monument, facing skyward to the Father of our nation, overlooking the 69 square miles which comprise the District of Columbia, capital of the United States of America.

Laus Deo!? Two seemingly insignificant, unnoticed words. Out of sight and, one might think, out of mind, but very meaningfu lly placed at the highest point over what is the most powerful city in the most successful nation in the world.

So, what do those two words, in Latin, composed of just four syllables and only seven letters, possibly mean?? Very simply, they say 'Praise be to God!'

Though construction of this giant obelisk began in 1848, when James Polkwas President of the United States , it was not until 1888 that the monument was inaugurated and opened to the public.? It took twenty-five years to finally cap the memorial with a tribute to the Father of our nation,Laus Deo 'Praise be to God!'

From atop this magnificent granite and marble structure, visitors may take in the beautiful panoramic view of the city with its division into four major segments.? From that vantage point, one can also easily see the original plan of the designer, Pierre Charles l'Enfant ..a perfect cross imposed upon the landscape, with the White House to the north.? The Jefferson Memorial is to the south, the Capitol to the east and the Lincoln Memorial to the west.
A cross you ask?? Why a cross?? What about separation of church and state? Yes, a cross; separation of church and state was not, is not, in the Constitution.? So, read on. How interesting and, no doubt, intended to carry a profound meaning for those who bother to notice.

Praise be to God!? Within the monument itself are 898 steps and 50 landings.? As one climbs the steps and pauses at the landings the memorial stones share a message.?

• On the 12th Landing is a prayer offered by the City of Baltimore;
• on the 20th is a memorial presented by some Chinese?Christians;
• on the 24th a presentation made by Sunday School children from New York and Philadelphia quoting Proverbs 10:7, Luke 18:16 and Proverbs 22:6. Praise be to God!
  
  When the cornerstone of the Washington Monument was laid on July 4th, 1848 deposited within it were many items including the Holy Bible presented by the Bible Society. Praise be to God!? Such was the discipline, the moral direction, and the spiritual mood given by the founder and first President of our unique democracy 'One Nation, Un der God.'
  
  ? I am awed by Washington's prayer for America ? Have you ever read it? Well, now is your unique opportunity, so read on!
  
  ? 'Almighty God; We make our earnest prayer that Thou wilt keep the United States in Thy holy protection; that Thou wilt incline the hearts of the citizens to cultivate a spirit of subordination and obedience to government; and entertain a brotherly affection and love for one another and for their fellow citizens of the United States at large. And finally that Thou wilt most graciously be pleased to dispose us all to do justice, to love mercy, and to demean ourselves with that charity, humility, and pacific temper of mind which were the characteristics of the Divine Author of our blessed religion, and without a humble imitation of whose example in these things we can never hope to be a happy nation.? Grant our supplication, we beseech Thee, through Jesus Christ our Lord.? Amen.'
  
  ? Laus Deo!

When one stops to observe the inscriptions found in public places all over our nation's capitol, he or she will easily find the signature of God, as it is unmistakably inscribed everywhere you look. You may forget the width and height of 'Laus Deo ', its location, or the architects but no one who reads this will be able to forget its meaning, or these words: 'Unless the Lord builds the house its builders labor in vain.? Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain.'? (Psalm 127: 1) 

Whoa, it has been a long time since I had the time to do some blogging, Today's rain has allowed me a little time to do so.

 I have had a little bit of time to read some of the blogs over the summer, but not enough time to comment.

 After caring for my brother last year ,during his last months on this earth; I was looking forward to a busy season of work to catch up with some of our bills that went unpaid and to pay for another wedding.  whoo hoo !

    It took a while to get going this year after all the crazy weather this spring, But since then it has been 70  hours a week without a day off. (We own and operate a seasonal business and the trade off is, having the winter off.)

 I intend to post some pictures of the projects we did this year over the winter.

 I look forward to the debates and conversations that exsist here  on FOX2 .

And I will leave you today with these thoughts:

**   Few of us will be remembered in the history books of the future,  So I ask you,       How do common folks leave their knowledge and positive mark for our future society ?

My answer is ......   Teach

 1) Your children

 2) Your friends and family

 3) All you meet

  Either by your words or by your actions you teach everyday !

 What is the message --- YOU--- convey to the world ?

 

God Bless

 

 

 

 

Don't Close Your Blinds

The other day, my nine year old son wanted to know why we were at war. My
husband looked at our son and then looked at me. My husband and I were in
the Army during the Gulf War and we would be honored to serve and defend
our Country again today. I knew that my husband would give him a good
explanation.


My husband thought for a few minutes and then told my son to go stand in
our front living room window.

He said 'Son, stand there and tell me what you see?'

'I see trees and cars and our neighbor's houses,' he replied.

'OK, now I want you to pretend that our house and our yard is the United
States of America and you are President Bush.'

Our son giggled and said 'OK.'

'Now son, I want you to look out the window and pretend that every house
and yard on this block is a different country' my husband said.

'OK Dad, I'm pretending.'

'Now I want you to stand there and look out the window and pretend you see
Saddam come out of his house with his wife, he has her by the hair and is
hitting her. You see her bleeding and crying. He hits her in the face, he
throws her on the ground, and then he starts to kick her to death. Their
children run out and are afraid to stop him, they are screaming and
crying, they are watching this but do nothing because they are kids and
they are afraid of their father. You see all of this, son....what do you
do?'

'Dad?'

'What do you do son?'

'I'd call the police, Dad.'

'OK.  Pretend that the police are the United Nations. They take your call.
They listen to what you know and saw but they refuse to help.  What do you
do then son?'

'Dad.........  but the police are supposed to help!'
My son starts to whine.

'They don't want to, son, because they say that it is not their place or
your place to get involved and that you should stay out of it,' my husband
says.

'But Dad...he killed her!!' my son exclaims.

'I know he did...but the police tell you to stay out of it. Now I want you
to look out that window and pretend you see our neighbor who you're
pretending is Saddam turn around and do the same thing to his children'

'Daddy...he kills them?'

'Yes, son, he does. What do you do?'

'Well, if the police don't want to help, I will go and ask my next door
neighbor to help me stop him,' our son says.

'Son, our next door neighbor sees what is happening and refuses to get
involved as well. He refuses to open the door and help you stop him,' my
husband says.

'But Dad, I NEED help!!! I can't stop him by myself!!'

'WHAT DO YOU DO SON?' Our son starts to cry.

'OK, no one wants to help you, the man across the street saw you ask for
help and saw that no one would help you stop him. He stands taller and
puffs out his chest. Guess what he does next, son?'

'What Daddy?'

'He walks across the street to the old ladies house and breaks down her
door and drags her out, steals all her stuff and sets her house on fire
and then...he kills her. He turns around and sees you standing in the
window and laughs at you. WHAT DO YOU DO?'

'Daddy...'

'WHAT DO YOU DO?' Our son is crying and he looks down and he whispers,
'I'd close the blinds, Daddy.'

My husband looks at our son with tears in his eyes and asks him.
'Why?'
'Because, Daddy.....the police are supposed to help people who need
them...and they won't help..... You always say that neighbors are supposed
to HELP neighbors, but they won't help either...they won't help me stop
him...I'm afraid....I can't do it by myself, Daddy.....I can't look out my
window and just watch him do all these terrible things and, and, do
nothing...so....I'm just going to close the blinds.... so I can't see what
he's doing........and I'm going to pretend that it is not happening.'

I start to cry. My husband looks at our nine year old son standing in the
window, looking pitiful and ashamed at his answers to my husband's
questions and he says... 'Son'

'Yes, Daddy.'

'Open the blinds because that man.... He's at your front door...'WHAT DO
YOU DO?'

My son looks at hi s father, anger and defiance in his eyes. He balls up
his tiny fists and looks his father square in the eyes, without hesitation
he says:'I DEFEND MY FAMILY, DAD!! I'M NOT GONNA LET HIM HURT MOMMY OR MY
SISTER, DAD!!! I'M GONNA FIGHT HIM, DAD, I'M GONNA FIGHT HIM!!!!!'

I see a tear roll down my husband's cheek and he grabs our son to his
chest and hugs him tight, and says... 'It's too late to fight him, he's
too strong and he's already at YOUR front door son.....you should have
stopped him BEFORE he killed his wife, and his children and the old lady
across the way. You have to do what's right, even if you have to do it
alone, before it's too late,' my husband whispers.

THAT scenario I just gave you is WHY we are at war with Iraq.
When good men stand by and let evil happen, son, THAT is the greatest
atrocity in the world.


'YOU MUST NEVER BE AFRAID TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT EVEN
IF YOU HAVE TO DO IT ALONE!'
BE PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN!
BE PROUD OF OUR TROOPS!!
SUPPORT THEM!!! SUPPORT AMERICA SO THAT IN THE FUTURE OUR CHILDREN WILL NEVER HAVE TO CLOSE THEIR BLINDS...

Listen, children, to a story
That was written long ago,
'Bout a kingdom on a mountain
And the valley-folk below.

On the mountain was a treasure
Buried deep beneath the stone,
And the valley-people swore
They'd have it for their very own.

Go ahead and hate your neighbor,
Go ahead and cheat a friend.
Do it in the name of Heaven,
You can justify it in the end.
There won't be any trumpets blowing
Come the judgement day,
On the bloody morning after....
One tin soldier rides away.

So the people of the valley
Sent a message up the hill,
Asking for the buried treasure,
Tons of gold for which they'd kill.

Came an answer from the kingdom,
"With our brothers we will share
All the secrets of our mountain,
All the riches buried there."

Go ahead and hate your neighbor,
Go ahead and cheat a friend.
Do it in the name of Heaven,
You can justify it in the end.
There won't be any trumpets blowing
Come the judgement day,
On the bloody morning after....
One tin soldier rides away.

Now the valley cried with anger,
"Mount your horses! Draw your sword!"
And they killed the mountain-people,
So they won their just reward.

Now they stood beside the treasure,
On the mountain, dark and red.
Turned the stone and looked beneath it...
"Peace on Earth" was all it said.

Go ahead and hate your neighbor,
Go ahead and cheat a friend.
Do it in the name of Heaven,
You can justify it in the end.
There won't be any trumpets blowing
Come the judgement day,
On the bloody morning after....
One tin soldier rides away.

Go ahead and hate your neighbor,
Go ahead and cheat a friend.
Do it in the name of Heaven,
You can justify it in the end.
There won't be any trumpets blowing
Come the judgement day,
On the bloody morning after....
One tin soldier rides away.

by Lambert-Potter