Hail To Summer Vacation!

Peel forth the bells in exalted jubilation,
Let every child shout with a voice of gladness;
The Heavens and Earth call out in joyful cadence,
For summer has come to this weary land,

And Freedom everywhere proclaimed!

Memorial Day 2008

How do you measure the cost of war? Is it measured in the numbered dead? Do we measure it in the numbered freed? Is the sum totaled in the hope of a future where freedom continues generation upon generation? Perhaps we shall never truly know the answer to this question. One thing is certain; we should never forget those who have given their life’s blood for this ‘idea’ we call, America.

Since America united as one nation, this great country surrendered its bravest to liberate the oppressed and ensure freedom for its citizens and future generations. Battle lines were drawn and blood was spilled on U.S. soil and foreign lands. These were the sacrifices made in America's wars.


American Revolution
Dates: 1775 - 1783
Where: Eastern seaboard of North America
How It Ended: The Treaty of Paris was signed on Sept. 3, 1783
American Battle Deaths: 4,435 (approx.)

War of 1812
Dates: 1812 - 1815
Where: Canada, Eastern seaboard of the United States, Great Lakes and Lake Champlain
How It Ended: The Treaty of Ghent was signed on Dec. 24, 1814. Unaware of the treaty, Gen. Andrew Jackson engaged and crushed the British at New Orleans on January 8, 1815.
American Battle Deaths: 2,260 (approx.)

Mexican War
Dates: 1846 - 1848
Where: Mexico and southwestern United States, including modern-day Texas, California and New Mexico
How It Ended: The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was signed on Feb. 2, 1848.
American Battle Deaths: 1,733 (approx.)

Civil War
Dates: 1861 - 1865
Where: Primarily in the Eastern half of the United States (east of the Mississippi River)
How It Ended: Robert E. Lee surrendered to Ulysses S. Grant at the small settlement of Appomattox Court House in southwestern Virginia on April 9, 1865.
American Battle Deaths: Union forces 140,414 and Confederate forces 74,524 (approx.)

Spanish-American War
Dates: April 25 - Aug. 12, 1898
Where: Mainly in the Spanish possessions of Cuba and the Philippines
How It Ended: The Treaty of Paris was signed on Dec. 10, 1898.
American Battle Deaths: 385 (approx.)

World War I
Dates: 1914 - 1918
Where: The Atlantic Ocean and Europe
How It Ended: Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919.
American Battle Deaths: 53,402 (approx.)

World War II
Dates: 1939 - 1945
Where: Europe, North Africa, Asia, Australia, and Pacific islands including Hawaii, Atlantic and Pacific Oceans
How It Ended: Japan was the last Axis power to surrender on August 14, 1945, after the U.S. bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
American Battle Deaths: 291,557 (approx.)

Korean War
Dates: 1950 - 1953
Where: North and South Korea
How It Ended: The war reached a stalemate in June 1951. An armistice was finally reached on July 27, 1953.
American Battle Deaths: 33,741 (approx.)

Vietnam War
Dates: 1954 - 1975
Where: Southeast AsiaHow It Ended: The U.S. withdrew after a ceasefire in 1973.
American Battle Deaths: 47,424 (approx.)


Persian Gulf War
Dates: August 1990 - April 1991
Where: Iraq and KuwaitHow It Ended: After a four-day ground war, an American-led coalition declared victory. A cease-fire agreement was signed on April 9, 1991.
American Battle Deaths: 147 (approx.)

War on Terrorism
Dates: Oct. 7, 2001 (War begins with U.S.-led Operation Enduring Freedom, in Afghanistan, after the terrorist attacks against the United States on Sept. 11, 2001. Approximately 3,000 civilians and members of the military died as a result of the attacks in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania.) - Conflict continues...
Where: An effort to combat terrorism world-wide begins in Afghanistan.
American Deaths in Afghanistan: more than 450 as of May 2008

Iraq War
Dates: March 19, 2003 - Conflict continues...
Where: Iraq
American Deaths: more than 4,000 as of May 2008

All material taken from the History Channel Official Website.

The Golden What?

As Christians, it can sometimes seem as if God doesn’t take revenge near often enough. We are glad He provides mercy to us, but we sure relish a good Holy butt kicking when we hear about it.

I am sure by now everyone has heard of, or seen, the movie adapted from Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials. The first film installment of the series was entitled The Golden Compass.

The movie was released by New Line Cinema as the new Chronicles of Narnia without all the excessive religious overtones. Both movies were adapted from children’s books that use religious allegory to tell a story.

The Chronicles of Narnia took the position as telling a story of redemption, forgiveness, and good overcoming evil. The Golden Compass did not. The truth is that Philip Pullman is a devote atheist, who told the Sydney Morning Herald in 2003, “My books are about killing God.”

In his books, every child is spiritually connected to a ‘demon’ that follows them through life as a guide, mentor, and protector. These ‘demons’ are in the form of animals and have the ability, for at least a time, to change shape at will. The world is ruled by a power lustful organization called the Magisterium which bears remarkable resemblance to a wayward church. The series centers on the destruction of the Magisterium and the return of ‘freedom’ through the rebellion of children.

Both movies, Disney’s Narnia and New Line’s Compass, cost in the ball park of $180 million to produce. The nice warm fuzzy part is that The Golden Compass only earned $70 million when released in the U.S. box office. Disney’s The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe earned a staggering $291.7 million before going into the global market where it exceeded $453.1 million. Needless to say, the Christian allegory was a smashing success and its hedonistic predecessor was not.

Golden Compass was such a dismal failure, and such a tremendous loss of profit to New Line Cinema, that the company had to fold and be swallowed up by its parent company, Warner Bros.

Now, I am suggesting that God cared so much about U.S. box office returns that He allowed Golden Compass to flop due to its content? Not at all; however, it sure was the sort of news that made me smile with some small part of me down deep inside say, “That’s what you get, stupid!”

The Audacity

I received this link in my e-mail a few days ago. Perhaps you have already seen it? It is a video about B. Obama. It is a very interesting watch.

http://www.eyeblast.tv/Public/Video.aspx?rsrcID=2036

This video contains explicit language not suitable for young children.

Thanks

I used to think this song was a simple song with simple words and a simple melody; however, lately the words seem to have a bit more depth.

I am so thankful that we are never left alone, that no matter what comes our way, God gives us strength to carry on! Whatever happens in this life, it is priceless to know that God is our dearest friend. I am so thankful to realize that if all that we know and love is taken away- God is still there.

I thank you Lord for strength you give to simply carry on,

through the toils and tests, life's worst and best, I'm never left alone.

Lord, your always right there beside me. You hear me every time I call.

Since I've first began you've been my dearest friend; I want to give you thanks!

***

Thanks! Thanks! I give you thanks for all you've done.

I am so blessed; My soul has found rest. O Lord, I give you thanks!

***

I give you thanks this moment and I will continually.

Each day I live, your grace you give, and I'm blessed abundantly.

I can't forget that moment when in my life you made such a change.

Since your Spirit came I've not been the same; I want to give you thanks!

How would you react to seeing this?

My Rant... & The Results of Poll #0304

Today I was reading an article in a monthly Business magazine that I subscribe to about the uselessness of polls and statistical information in America. I could not disagree more with what I read.

It appears that the author of the article was a man who had his ‘feelings’ hurt because he was not able to participate in a recent poll in his Elks Lodge. The Elks Lodge council conducted a poll as to the naming of the new in-house meeting room (Who on earth even knows what members of the Elks Lodge do? I sure don’t.). The man was on vacation with his family during the time the poll was conducted and was not chosen to participate.

Apparently he, and a few other members like him, felt that the meeting room needed to be named after his father- a man who had supported the Elks for years. He was upset, because while he was away a sample of Elk members was taken that did not include him. The decision did not go his way so he decided to write an article and ‘attack’ the decision with the pen.

Several things got me angry about his article- the first and foremost being that I just love Polls and Statistics. I have built my entire living on them. The second thing that infuriated me was how so many people in America these days seem to think- in the words of a popular musical artist- ‘I bet you think this song is about you?’

Polls are always conducted using a sample of people. Why? The answer is because anyone with half a brain understands that to ask everyone involved in a project is time consuming and can sometimes adversely affect the results. Polls are conducted using samples that should statistically and mathematically reflect the desires of the majority of individuals if the poll actually could be given to everyone; however, in the case it would be given to everyone it wouldn’t be a poll but a vote.

I could go on and on about how important polls are. Polls help us determine the real issues. They help us focus our intents and thoughts in a more unified way. If we had no polls and no data to look at, then we would be stuck in an endless round of voting that would never really accomplish anything.

Now that I have gotten all that off my chest… here are this weeks poll results… which I must say… should be a direct example of the general public. In most cases!

******************************************

Question:

If you could write the world a song,

which type would it be?

******************************************

Possible Responses:

Country....... 21%

Rock-n-Roll....... 21%

Bluegrass....... 1%

Gospel....... 21%

Cnt. Christian....... 3%

Instrumental....... 0%

Pop....... 4%

Jazz....... 17%

R&B....... 4%

Soul....... 8%

Polling for Poll #0304 officially closed May 9, 2008

*****************************************

P.S. No extra info today because of my lengthy comments...

-Hugs

Aprelle

To The Texas District, You're Welcome. -Life Tabernacle

My blog has been a little silent lately; I have had so much going on in my life.

Several weeks ago I was given a very important family decision that needed to be made, the deadline was May 1. This past week at school has been the week of TAKS testing in Texas Public Schools and my students and I have been prepping for weeks. I have also been very busy with my mother’s house, trying to clean the pool without it ‘floating’ away. A far more delicate process than I ever thought. I also learned that my principal was moving to another school. I needed to make a decision to move with her or stay at the campus I have been at for five years now.

In the middle of all this, perhaps the most sensitive matter has been that my pastor, the only pastor I have every truly known, has been elected to be the Secretary of the Texas District, which means he has resigned our church. Congratulations to him and Sis. Elms. The Texas District needs to send a large and very sincere thank you card to our church!

Although this is great news, words cannot convey what a burden this has become for me. I feel as if my generation, more than any other, will bear the weight of our choice since it is we who will serve under our new pastor more than any other. I, and those my age, have been praying, fasting, and feeling tremendous burdens for our church.

It seems that it has fallen on those who are willing in our church to assure that things remain the same- I guess that is what happens eventually in life. It is a burden that we accept willingly- knowing and feeling as if it is our time to pick up the mantel and run the race. Our church will be fine; however, up to this point I haven’t discussed my church situation for several reasons.

At first, I was angered that so many people knew before our church knew. They seemed to think nothing of discussing the situation around members of our church or even calling them to ‘let them know’ what had happened. I was hurt and upset that people could be so insensitive to the role a pastor plays in the lives of his church. It infuriated me and all I wanted to do was post something that bitterly attacked anyone reading my blog who might have been a part of something so thoughtless.

Second, I felt as if it was no one’s business. My church is my church; your church is your church, keep your nose out of mine… or at least that is what I wanted to say. I wanted to tell anyone I could that they needed to mind their own business and leave us alone. After all, who did they think they were asking how we were doing or how we were taking ‘the news’? I wanted to respond back with, “How would you take the news- you idiot?” (Maybe I had to include that just to get away with ‘kinda’ still saying it? LOL)

Finally, I guess I just didn’t know what to say? What do you say? My pastor has been the man who has molded my principles for almost 25 years, everything resolute in my mind has Wendell P. Elm’s fingerprint on it. What do you say to something like that?

My great pastor will willingly admit that he does not think himself a great orator or speaker- maybe he is right; but that is not the important thing. The important thing is that my pastor has been the man whose messages have helped save me! In my darkest hour, my times of need, it has been God using HIS words to guide me. Wendell Elms has been the pastor that has kept me saved.

I often think that too many young men go to Bible College to learn to ‘preach’ and not nearly enough of them sit under men like Wendell Elms to study the art and gift of ‘pastor.’ There is a tremendous difference between the two, and only those who have been gifted with a true ‘pastor’ know what that difference looks like. After 24 years, Life Tabernacle knows the difference.

“Empty Altars”, “Bridges That Shouldn’t Collapse”, “The Holy Ghost Said”, “Circumstances or Christ”, “Hearts”; after a lifetime of messages, these are just a few that are forever burned into the fabric of my life. How can you even begin to really discuss the impact of the preached word of God from a watchman to his flock?

A chapter in my life is closing, and it is stressful, painful, and deep down still peaceful in the Holy Ghost. I know those words do not really go together but the things of God, and even God Himself, can sometimes be hard to understand.

It is funny, but in the midst of all of this, our church has had so many visitors. We have had people baptized and/or receive the Holy Ghost almost every Sunday. We are within just days of finishing knocking on every door in Wichita Falls. EVERY DOOR! Every door in our city will have been knocked on in just about four weeks. How incredible is that?!

God is showing us that the promise is sill out there for us to take hold of if we really want it. Thank you Jesus for keeping your promises!

So… I guess I just thought I would say, “We are doing well, thank you for asking.” (We have been pastored by the greatest for so long- what did you expect?)

God is good. This is His church and His will shall be done. The Lord reigns and is still on the throne! Thank you, Jesus! Hallelujah!