Dull Politics

I will certainly be glad when this election season is over. There is simply too much rhetoric going on about how America will be changed for the better and we will all be richer and safer. We have heard all this before but, now from some who don't have a clue as what to do. Some of the greatest men in history won fame because they didn't talk much. They said little and did much. They were not morose or unsocial. They were simply not loquacious.
George Washington was one of the silent men of our American scene. He only talked when necessary, was not hesitant when directions were to be given or advice sought, but the Virginian was not given to small talk, nor noted as a conversationalist.
Abraham Lincoln had his silent hours when he appeared to be withdrawn from the social chatter about him, and was not of the mind to relate incidents of old Indiana and Illinois days. He seemed to have his brooding days, which on occasions were shrouded in deep melancholy.

One of the disturbing statements recently made by one of these candidates. "America is the one of the greatest Nations in the World. Will you join with me in changing It?" If that person is elected then this country will become an Obomanation.

Great phrases seem to be a thing of the past. Henry's, "Give me liberty or give me death," Lincoln's, "Government of the people, by the people and for the people," Churchills, "blood, sweat and tears" Statements like these identified the speakers but also shaped the destiny of nations. I don't seem to be seeing any hope with some in this election year, just rhetoric.

ARKANSAS RAZORBACKS

Well, it was disapointing today to learn that our track coach was retiring. John McDonnell has coached our track team for 36 years and has led the Hogs to 42 national championships. This is a feat that no other coach in any sport has ever accomplished and probably never will. He is a legend in his own time and has always been a vital part of the overall success under the Broyles era. It was difficult for him today to finish his speech but he did say that his success has been attributed to tough love and his respect for those who participated in his program. Needless to say, they performed under his leadership and he leaves with the respect of all the sport fans and the entire State of Arkansas. Best Wishes John on your retirement. Enjoy your cattle ranch in Oklahoma.

GRATITUDE

Often times it is probably difficult to offer our gratitude and thanks to those whom have been the real influence in our lives. I suppose reaching the 80 year milestone in my life has caused me to reflect back and to recall those individuals in my life that really played a major role in my developement over the years. The difficult part is that most of these have passed on to a greater reward and I most likely never thank them sufficiently for what they meant to me. The other evening Mom and I sat talking about gratitude and those to whom we have tried to help along the way. I recall being seventeen years old before ever having a father figure in my life. That person, ( my Father in Law) took me under his wings and really helped me to develope into a person seeking all the right things in life. I probably never expressed to him how important he was to me in my life. If you could go back to a person who has gone on and could whisper in their ear, what would you say? Recently, I expressed to family members of a dear friend of mine how much their Dad had helped me to become a stronger person of faith. Did I ever tell him? That seems to me now to have been the most important thing I should have done. Why wait till it is too late. I think we often take gratitude for granted. I often see this in our younger generation who seem to have the Me attitude and just expect people to go out of their way to help you.

One of my heroes of this great nation was Abraham Lincoln. I often reflect back on his words and how he addressed situations of gratitude. Today, yes today, there are those in our country who are critical of this nation and those who have sacrificed so much so that we might have a better life. They fail to recognize they are drinking from wells that others have dug with sweat and tears.
Mr Lincoln said, "We are blessed with bountiful fields and healthful skies. To those bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from whence they came, others have been added which are of so extraordinary a nature they fail to penetrate and soften the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God."
"Needful diversions of wealth and strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defense have not rested the plow, the shuttle or the ship. Population has steadily increased.
"It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemly, reverently, and greatefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American people.
If you are like myself, there are probable numbers of individuals who need to be told how important they are to you. I have begun this approach to let individuals know how much they are appreciated and to thank them for their influence on my life. It is not about Me, its those that walk beside me working together to make this a better society so others can come to know and recognize that Almighty God is in control and he has placed a responsibility on each of us.
Lets be more grateful and do less criticizing and do everything within our power to save this great country.
We are spending entirely too much time dwelling on the mistakes of the past rather than shouldering the responsibilities that we have. We cannot change what has already happened but we can change the future by applying ourselves to the task that lies before us. In all that we do, always do everything for the Glory of God and always asking him to help us become the people he would have us to be.

Memories.

Well last night was scary for a while. It brought back memories of a Saturday afternoon in 1973 when I stood in my driveway and watched a tornado pass by the northend of our street. I had just picked my daughter from the church building about five minutes before it hit the building. As I recall, we had in access of $150,000 in damage to our auditorium and educational building.
Last night a tornado came almost as close as the previous one. The Sylvan Hills Hi School was hit which is only about four blocks from our church building. The North Little Rock Airport was practically destroyed along with over thirty private and business planes. This damage will result in unknown millions.
It makes you stop and think about how quickly lives can be changed. Thanks to our technology today warnings are available to help save lives. However, everything else is beyond our control. The important thing is to stop and reflect on where we stand in our relationship with God. Not everyone can escape the dangers of disasters. Things can be replaced but lives are the most important aspect of our families and society as well.

Facing Up To Self

Today, while at the Church Office, our secretaries were going through old files and getting ready to destroy those that had been archived for years and were of no value to keep. In those they found some of my teaching materials that were filed back in the 60's and 70's. I kept a few that they had run across. One of the lessons contained this subject material that I feel is approiate still today.

We all believe in something, whether it be power, money, prestige, or personal growth. We are usually willing to work for these things. But there is a difference in the way unhappy and happy persons approach their beliefs. The unhappy person thinks only of himself. Too much of the world is on the wrong scent in the pursuit of happiness, as Henry Drummond aptly put it. They think happiness is in having and getting and being served by others.

The happy person has outstripped his foundering friends by finding happiness in giving and serving others. As a matter of fact, the happy person dedicates himself to those things that are bigger than he is. He finds happiness more than the joy of serving self. His happiness comes from obligations that are fulfilled, duty that has been discharged, acts of generosity done secretly, and appreciation of the beautiful in nature, art and conduct. The happy person is one who believes that life is good despite setbacks and frustrations and then works to make his belief a reality. Believing in someone bigger than your self and relying on your faith is the main path to happiness.

Would you today consider yourself to be happy or unhappy?

ANYWAY 3/18/2008

People are unreasonable, illogical and self-centered.
Love them anyway.
If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives. Do good anyway.
If you're successful, you'll win false friends and true enemies. Succeed anyway.
Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable. Be honest and frank anyway.
The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway.
The biggest people with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest minds. Think big anyway.
People favor underdogs, but follow only topdogs. Fight for the underdogs anyway.
What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight. Build anyway.
Give the world the best you've got, and you'll get kicked in the teeth. Give the world the best you've got anyway.

DEENA BURNETT AND 9/11

Last evening I attended the annual Partners Dinner for Central Arkansas Christian Schools. The featured speaker was Deena Burnett. Deena's husband Tom was on flight 93 going home to California. Deena shared with the audience the four phone calls that Tom had made to her that morning. The first call, Tom told her the plane had been hijacked and for her to call the authorities. Prior to the call she had seen an image of a plane hitting the World Trade Center. She was busy with feeding the kids breakfast and had not really sensed what was going on. Tom told her he would call her back. The hijackers were trying to get in the cockpit. The second call a few seconds later, Tom mentioned that he was getting the men organized to storm the cockpit. Deena told him that the second plane had hit the other tower. She had contacted the the FBI, but there was not much they could at the moment. The third call Tom told her they were looking for a rural area before attacking the cockpit. She said she pleaded with Tom to sit in his seat and wait. The fourth and final call came and the I love yous were exchanged. She mentioned she could hear the people in the background and she knew they were ready to do something. She had told him the third plane had hit the Pentagon. The actions of Tom and the rest of the men who on that day probably saved countless numbers from losing their lives since it became evident the flight 93 was headed toward another Federal building.
These men along with Tom became heroes on that fatal day. However, she stated that her husband would never want to be classified as a hero but simply a person who felt he had to do as an individual and make a difference in the lives of people. She received e-mails later of individuals who stated that her husband had impacted their lives. These were people that Tom had never mentioned to her even though they shared everything together. Listening to this lady sharing her story was an inspiring and emotional experience. Her message to the audience last evening was one of dedicating our lives to helping people. Going beyond self and reaching out to those we come in contact with daily. A smile, a hand shake, a hug, a pat on the back and all those things that do make a difference in the lives of those we see on a regular basis. This was a good message not only to our faculty and staff but everyone there including our Board of Directors.
Since her loss of her husband she has helped other victims' families in a number of ways.
She successfully spearheaded an effort to have the Flight 93 cockpit voice recorder released in April 2003, and is currently the lead plantiff in a law suit to bankrupt terroist organizations. She has also twice served in Europe as a witness in the criminal trials of AL Qaeda members. In addition, she is involved in other important roles of service to make our country safe.
Deena now lives in Little Rock with her three daughters Haley, Madison and Anne Clare. He has remarried to Rodney Bailey and his son, Tanner.

This message left me wondering. Why are there those in this great nation who are so set against our doing everything possible in fighting terroism not only here but abroad? What scares me most,there is a possibility the next President will do whatever it takes to abort all the efforts now going on. What a tragedy that will be.

Game of Life Player

God, help me to be a good sport in this little game of life. I don't ask for an easy place in the lineup. Play me anywhere you need me. I only ask for stuff to give You one hundred percent of what I've got. If all the hard drives seem to come my way, I thank you for the compliment. Help me to remember that You won't ever let anything come my way that You and I together can't handle.
And O God, help me to always play on the square. No matter what the other players do, help me to come clean. Help me to study and think about the Greatest Player that lived, and other great players that are told about in the book.
Finally, O God, if fate seems to uppercut me with both hands and I'm laid on the shelf in sickness or old age or something, help me to take that as a part of the game,too. Help me not to whimper or squeal that the game was a frame-up or that I had a raw deal.
When in the falling dusk I get the final bell, I ask for no lying complimentary stones. I'd only like to know that you feel that I've been a good, game guy.