VETERAN's DAY

Actually yesterday was Veteran's day but today has been designated as the day of observance. Veteran's day is dedicated to the memory of all those who have fought this country's wars. Traditionally, I am reminded the most special tributes have been the moments of memorial silence. It is not the flights of of oratory but rather in the inner feelings of each of us that true memorials do exist. I firmly believe that what we do can also be a memorial. Our veterans fought to protect and advance the American way of life. The least we can do at times like this is to continue their dedication. It behooves us to look out over this great land and continue their dedication and try to make this country even better.
I pause this day to pay tribute to my four brothers who had a major part in helping to win world war two. Yesterday was a special time at worship services to honor those of us who have served our country.
I recall also that yesterday was General George S. Pattons birthday. I had the opportunity to stand at his grave site in Luxembourg in 1971. The cemetery there is a place where one can stand and recognize how important their lives and committment to this country means to us. It along with the memorials here in the United States are constant reminders of how fortunate we really are.
I also recalled that yesterday, November, 11, 1939 that Kate Smith introduced on her radio program a song written by Irving Berlin twenty years earlier, "God Bless America." It is tragic that today, in this great land, songs like this cannot be used in our schools because of the mention of God. I am so thankful this day for those men who continue to fight for this nation and their desire to serve voluntarily. "God Bless Them And America."

I have been thinking about the medical profession the past few days and realized that we need to continually pay tribute to those who contribute to our physical and temporal comforts and happiness. Times that are uppermost in my mind are Wendy's ordeal not too long ago in California and Cassie's battle to overcome JRA. The highly trained physicians, the skilled surgeons and the trained nurses--all give service the world needs and honors. How blessed we are as a nation yet, there are so many in the world who do have them. We would be poor indeed without them. They relieve pain, heal the sick, prolong life and give happiness and hope often to the hopeless. Our bodies are extremely important to us. They are the houses we live in for sixty, eighty years or more. But no matter how faithful the care our physicians can give us, the time will come when we must change this house for another one, and the physicians' service must end.
A service that aids us not only here, but continues to bless us even through eternity is more priceless even that which keeps our present house in order. Perhaps, then, the greatest servants of all are those who contribute to our spiritual needs, who train our minds, develope our hearts and give us a vision of eternity and the things of lasting value. Oftentimes many of those who give the greatest of all service are often unrecognized and seldom honored and praised. Lets not be guilty of failing to honor those who continually teach us and help us in our daily walk of service to God. Yes we want to someday live in the presence of the Great Physician, Jesus Christ.

Great week in football.
Disapointed in not going to Fayetteville for the Hogs victory over Spurrier and the Chickens.Hopefully, DMac can keep it up in the next three games. He and Jones will have a place in the pros.
My favorite Pro team, Favre and the Packers won another one today over the Chiefs. Favre is one class A Gentleman.
New England is not one of my favorite teams but I'm glad they beat Manning today.
Glad to see the Cowboys and Romo win another one today also.

Finally, I have been a Frank Broyles supporter for years. He has brought athletics to an all time high at the University. It was touching to see the tribute to him yesterday with the naming of the field after him. I hate to see him go but I know he feels due to age its time to go. Thanks Frank for all you have meant to the University and the Razorbacks.

Just a side note to ask for prayers regarding my health.

This week I have been to my heart doctor twice and waiting results on the Echo test. In addition, I spent over three hours at UAMS in Little Rock for testing. After about 8 or 10 x-rays on my neck, chest and abdomen I received a call from my doctor stating there was something abnormal about my chest x-ray. I have been scheduled for the CT scan on Wednesday the 7th. Hopefully everything will be ok and all this is just a fluke. Anyway, reaching 80 this month causes me to be concerned. Prayer cures a lot of ills.

Continuing with the subject of giving.
It is a platitude to say you can't give what you don't have, but the platitude is correct. You can't. Nevertheless, we often make the mistake of trying to give what we don't have. There are those, for example, who think they know everything about everything and if they do not they pretend. They can give advice on any subject. Now and then, of course, they reveal the fact they are speaking from a vacuum of knowledge.
I read what people write on different subjects and am amazed at the number of experts out there who have all the answers. Abraham Lincoln however, was a person who had great knowledge on many things but never claimed to have all the answers. He was vastly disturbed during the Civil War because he was so often denounced and criticized by people who pretended to be wise on a minimum diet of facts and and information. They offered wisdom they did not posess. So, whimsically he told the story of a backwoods traveler lost in a teriffic thunderstorm. The rider floundered thru the mud until his horse give out. Then he stood alone in the middle of the road while lightning streaked, and thunder roared around him. One crash seemed to shake the earth underneath and it brought the traveler to his knees. He was not a praying man but he made a petition short and to the point: "O Lord, if it is all the same to you, give us a little more light and a little noise."
The point is, we cannot give light or wisdom we do not have, and we do more damage than good when we speak with authority from a vacuum of knowledge and information that we may not have.
There are those even in the church who feel they have all the answers and can interpret the scriptures to mean things that that are foreign and contrary to what is intended.