It's About More than the Game

    Tomorrow is a big day in America.  Whether you are a die-hard sports fan or not, chances are you will be watching the Super Bowl.  In fact, it is estimated that over 117,000,000 people will watch the game between the Carolina Panthers and the Denver Broncos in the comfort of their homes, while another 100,000,000 people are expected to descend on the San Francisco Bay area to attend or celebrate the milestone that is Super Bowl 50.
     And there's enough hoopla to surround this game to make it spectacular --- will Peyton Manning go out on top, or will Cam Newton's youth and extraordinary talent carry the day?  Both are worthy of discussion, but today I want to focus on a player that won't be on the field tomorrow.
     Charles "Peanut" Tillman is the veteran Carolina Panthers cornerback who suffered a series of injuries to his ACL during the season.  A full tear of the ligament means that he will be cheering on his teammates from the sidelines.  Although his career as an outstanding football player has brought much-deserved recognition, I think it is his heart as a man that merits further acknowledgment.
     In 2014, Tillman was awarded the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year award, which is given annually by the National Football League honoring a player's volunteer and charity work, as well as his excellence on the field.  But this is a man that has made his life about more than football.  To begin with, he is an author.  He wrote The Middle School Rules of Charles "Peanut" Tillman to help kids, like himself, overcome the traumas of childhood.  With his father serving in the United States Army, Tillman attended 11 different schools domestically and internationally, and the book features the defining childhood stories of a young, well-traveled boy nicknamed “Peanut,” who had to deal with racism, adapt to constant relocation, and endure the divorce of his parents.
     Reviews of the book were consistently glowing ...  "appeals to the young sports fan with a book that goes beyond player statistics and gets to the heart of what makes them great!" ... A teacher writes, "I have often had students share dreams of becoming professional athletes. The life lessons in this book demonstrate that achieving that goal takes hard work and perseverance. Talent in and of itself are not enough; it takes character."
     But author and football star aren't the only hats Tillman wears.  After his daughter was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy and received a heart transplant, Tillman and his wife, Jackie, established the Cornerstone Foundation, which enriches the lives of chronically and critically ill children by providing them and their families with access to iPads, notebook computers, DVD players, portable Play Station game systems, and other electronic handheld games, to pass the time during recovery and treatment.  (For a list of the various programs the Cornerstone Foundation oversees, click here. )
     As if that is not enough, Tillman recently announced that he would raffle off an all-expenses paid trip to tomorrow's big Super Bowl game.  Proceeds from the raffle will benefit yet another of his charities, the Tiana Fund, which provides assistance to economically at-risk persons or families-in-need in the Chicago area.  This program aims to strengthen their ability to care for themselves, enhance their stability and security, and improve their quality of life or their ability to contribute to the community.
     As you can see, Charles "Peanut" Tillman has been inspired by his faith and family.  He has persevered and carved out a lasting legacy for himself, both on and off the field.  So, while he may not be playing tomorrow, and he won't be spotlighted during or after the game, he has left a mark on those whose lives he has directly touched.  He is a fine example for both the game of football and the human race.  And that makes him a champion to me, no matter the outcome of the game.

Luke 12:48   "And everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required; and from him to whom much has been committed, more will they ask of him."

What Is REAL Courage?

     You know, with all the alerts from around the world warning us that evil is encroaching upon our security, it would be easy to give in to the unsettling fear and worry.  I'm afraid that, as a culture, we have lost the sense of self-preservation and the responsibility to protect ourselves that was a hallmark of our ancestors.  Are courage and heroism no longer desired traits?

     We seem to have exchanged our instincts to defend and safeguard ourselves and our families for the idea that others will do it for us (like the government) -- or even more ridiculously, that it will never reach our shores.  Then again, we have become a society that puts more stock in the perceptions and interpretations we see on our TV and movie screens than we do in our own lives.  We sit back and watch celebrities play real-life characters in movies like American Sniper and the upcoming 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi, and look upon those actors as heroes, relegating the stories of the actual men to two-and-a-half hours of whatever the screenwriter chooses to highlight.  So, we are able to transfer those acts of courage onto a movie star, and give no further thought to the real struggles that those real-life heroes face -- or, even more importantly, how we might be called upon to respond in kind.

Bradley Cooper, as Chris Kyle

     That's why it sickens me when I see and hear the accolades heaped upon actors like Bradley Cooper, Liam Neeson, and Edward Norton (and the additional 97 celebrities who joined them) for signing a letter to the President in support of gun control.  What are we to think of them?  If they truly believe that "guns [are] far too easily available to people intent on doing harm", are we to assume that they lack a moral compass or conscience because they have no problem making millions of dollars playing characters who use guns to defend themselves, the weak, and the defenseless?

     Don't be mistaken -- I'm not looking to turn this into a gun control argument, although I do find their argument for enhanced background checks without logic -- as Breitbart.com states, "It is hard to figure out which is most embarrassing, the fact they cite a shooting where the gunman and gunwoman passed a background check for their handguns–San Bernardino–or the fact that they cite Sandy Hook, where Adam Lanza went around background checks altogether by stealing his guns."  But, back to my real point -- It is that they don't deserve to be compared to the flesh-and-blood heroes they portray; nor do I think they comprehend what lies at the foundation of real courage. 

     Let them spend one day, even one hour, in the shoes of men like Chris Kyle, or Glen Doherty, or Tyrone Woods, and maybe... just maybe... I would listen to what they have to say.  Instead, let them visit with Jeff Struecker, a real-life survivor of another blockbuster movie, Blackhawk Down.  Maybe it is easy for actors, once the cameras stop rolling, to discard the persona of the dead men they are playing.  But let them hear Jeff Struecker tell his story of what it was like those fateful hours in Mogadishu, as the Army Rangers/Delta Force attempted to secure the area after a UN peacekeeping mission went awry in the middle of Somalia's civil war.  Let them hear, first-hand, how Ranger PFC Todd Blackburn failed his fast-rope drop-in and fell 70 feet to the ground headfirst.  Let them experience the horrors that surrounded the Rangers and Delta Force operators, as they secured the perimeter, and how the subsequent efforts to rescue the fallen ranger led to two helicopters being shot down and 18 deaths.  

     Let Struecker relate how he rescued Blackburn, who was unconscious and bleeding through his nose and mouth, and stretchered him to a Humvee that would drive him to the base; how he drove carefully through the alleys of Mogadishu, so as not to jar the injured soldier.  And then, let them try to imagine what it was like as Struecker paints them the following picture:  "Turning a corner, the entire city erupted with gunfire.  We were being shot at from a 100 different directions, it seemed like—from rooftops, from alleyways and from doorways and windows. There were rocket propelled grenades and automatic gunfire from AK-47s from 20, 30 feet away."  

     Rear gunner Sgt. Dominick Pilla was killed by a militiaman waiting in ambush. "When I turned and looked over my shoulder, it looked like the whole back of my vehicle had been painted red with Dominick Pilla's blood," says Struecker. "I thought I was going to die in the next moments, but then I remembered I was in charge and I needed to get myself under control if I was going to get my men out of there."  It is one thing to play those emotions as an actor; it's quite another to actually live them.

     But here is the part of the story that I'm fairly certain these actors cannot understand, and where the heart of what courage really is comes into play ... The column of Humvees managed to escape the hostilities in the city and return to the base. Medics and surgeons ran to stretcher in Blackburn. Meanwhile Struecker thanked God that he had gotten out alive.  At that moment, the platoon leader informed Struecker that a Black Hawk helicopter had been shot down, and that the pilot needed Humvees to go rescue him. A special operator counseled him to wash the blood off the Humvee first so as to not terrify the new crew.

     As he washed the Humvee, he experienced convulsions of fear like he had never felt before. "I was totally and completely certain that I was going to die," he said. "And every fiber of my being was saying, 'No, Jeff, don't do this. This is crazy. It's suicide. You're going to get yourself killed if you go back out there.'  But then he remembered he was a Ranger, whose creed is to never leave a fallen comrade to fall into the hands of the enemy. As a Christian, he started to pray.  

     "God I'm in big trouble right now, and I need your help because I'm certain that I'm going to die tonight," he said.  The Lord brought to his mind the recent Bible devotional about Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. There, Jesus said, "Not my will, but yours be done... Jesus, the perfect sinless Son of God, walked into the hands of the enemy and He willingly, freely gave His life up so that your sin and my sin could be dealt with once and for all," Struecker relates. "At the back of that Humvee, I prayed, not my will. From that moment on, God once and for all dealt with that fear. I had no worries about what was going to happen to me that night."

Jeff Struecker

     I'm pretty sure that no Academy-award winning actor could accurately portray how that changed Jeff Struecker.  "I realized if I go home to my family in Georgia or go home to my Father in heaven, in either case, I cannot lose because of what my Savior Jesus Christ had done for me.  That alone gave me the peace to go back and forth into the streets repeatedly for the rest of the night."  And that he did, miraculously avoiding death as an RPG bounced off the hood of his Humvee, and gunmen opened fire on him with AK-47s from point blank range.

     Note that it was the peace of God that gave Jeff Struecker his courage.  That kind of courage doesn't come from the efforts of a man, and that is something these actors may never realize.  But Struecker's fellow soldiers saw it, and wanted to know how he did it.  They approached him, "Jeff, there was something different about you last night, and I want to know what it was,'" Struecker says.  "For the next 24 hours, I had guys lined up to ask me about Jesus Christ because they could see the difference that He makes when you're getting shot at and when the bullets are flying." 

     "Before that night, I thought you could transform the world through military prowess and national power," Struecker said. "But I realized something in Mogadishu, Somalia: There is only one force great enough to transform the world, and it is the Holy Spirit of the Living God through His Son Jesus Christ."  And that's why, after counseling a large number of comrades shaken by death, Struecker realized God had something greater for him than "kicking in doors and slinging lead at the enemies of our country," he said.  He became a Chaplain for his same Ranger regiment.

     And that is my definition of a hero.  You see, Jeff Struecker learned what real courage was that night, and how to deal with his fears, as he experienced the tragedy that was Mogadishu.  In the Bible, courage is the opposite of fear. When Struecker prayed for God's will, and not his own, we can see God working in each incident in those dark alleyways of Somalia.  It was not natural for Jeff Struecker to be brave and courageous, but with God protecting and guiding him, he could have courage because he was confident in Him.

     That is something that only comes from knowing God.  That is what allows a man to be called a hero.  It will never come from "playing" a hero.  What Jeff Struecker learned that night in Mogadishu is what each one of us needs to learn as we face the uncertain future and our own fears.  We need to stop play-acting, and relying on our roles as Americans, or successful businessmen, or church leaders, or whatever part we're playing in our life's story.  We need to allow God to replace that fear, and come to the understanding of His sovereignty, and that His plans and purposes cannot be stopped; that every circumstance of life is subservient to His will.

     I began this post by saying that it would be easy to give into our unsettling fears and worries, and that we have lost the sense to defend ourselves.  But we must realize, as I believe our ancestors did, that God is our defense and our shield; that He is the one who makes it possible for us to do acts of courage because He takes away our fear and replaces it with confidence in His will and purpose for our lives.  Real men, like Jeff Struecker, have experienced fear and overcome it with their trust in the will of God.  May each of us experience that same Godly courage in the days to come.

Joshua 1:9    Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.

Why Did It Take So Long?

     I join with the millions of Americans who grew frustrated with the slow response of Congress and the White House to lowering their flags to half-staff after the murder of four Marines and one Navy Sailor in Chattanooga last week.  Yesterday morning, Congress finally issued the proclamation to lower the flag at the US Capitol; and shortly before noon the White House followed suit -- five long days after the murders of these military servants!
     I find it disturbing that within hours of the Navy Yard killings, the Boston Marathon murders, and the Newtown shooting, all federal flags were ordered to half-staff.  So what was so different about this tragedy?  Why did it take days to issue what should have been an immediate response? Oh, yeah, it meant that our government would be honoring our military with the respect and mourning period that they deserved.  I mean, for crying out loud, the White House ordered the flag lowered for Whitney Houston!  I recognize that she was talented, but what has she given the country in comparison to the service of these honorable men?
      What has happened to the sensitivities and diplomacy of this nation?  The White House, which is supposed to be "The People's House", didn't have any trouble lighting up in the rainbow colors of the LGBT community after their Supreme Court win.  And the Empire State Building, which is symbolic of American individualism and the free-enterprise system, lights up in green to celebrate the end of the Islamic "holy" month of Ramadan -- just hours after the murder of the four Marines by a devout Muslim who texted a friend a verse from the Koran which included, "Whosoever shows enmity to a friend of Mine, then I have declared war against him."
     It would have gone a long way towards telegraphing honor and sympathy for our armed services if the White House had lit up in the red, white, and blue; or the Empire State Building had shown some discretion instead of honoring the faith of a killer.  Did they stop to think how this would offend the families of the dead, or would add to the frustration of the American people ... or didn't either of them care?  Somehow, this fact has been overlooked: that Ramadan is the most violent month of the year in the Islamic world, because Ramadan is the month in which Muslims renew their devotion to Allah, and violent jihad is a supreme act of devotion to Allah.  Does anyone need to be reminded of the massive numbers of heinous beheadings, massacres, and shootings that happened during this "holy" month of this proclaimed religion of peace ... including the deaths of these American soldiers on our home soil???
     But as disappointed and disheartened as I've been over the lack of respect shown these fallen heroes, I have been proud of the response of the American people themselves.  Governors of individual states followed Tennessee's lead and began lowering their flags at half-staff; choosing to act on their own in showing their respect and consideration for the families.  And I have to admit that I teared up a few times as the stories began appearing across the media spectrum of individual citizens showing up outside recruitment centers to exercise their Second Amendment rights and guard our unarmed military personnel.  The military's current policy of unarmed personnel on military installations must change!

     Time and again, across the country, Americans chose to take a stand and protect those who protect us.  Their locations may have varied, but their cause was the same throughout the land:  "Too many people have died for our freedoms.  I’ve never been in the military.  I never served as law enforcement, but I certainly am grateful for those men and women who have died in the past to secure those freedoms" (Virginia).  "To think [that] the people who are supposed to protect and serve us are unable to protect themselves ... So if we, the citizens, who carry legal permits, are able to help protect them, then that's what we're gonna do"  (Georgia).  "We're the third line of defense; the military, then law enforcement and then we, the people.  I just can't sit back and not let these guys be protected... If it takes the citizens to come together to arm these types of establishments, then we'll do so until the government steps up" (New Hampshire).  In Wayne County, Ohio, sheriff's deputies stood watch outside recruitment centers -- on their own time.  "We're here today on our own time. This isn't something that we are being compensated for, [we are here] simply as a way to show support for our service men."
     Let's quit pretending.  Our government does not respect or honor our military.  The VA Hospital debacle (which has still not been remedied) proves that point.  The continued budget cuts and downgrading of our military defense options paints a clear picture.  The ranks of the military are being confounded with policies that promote homosexuality and transgenderism, while denouncing any display or action of Christian faith.  Just like the culture, God is being removed from the military, and the results will be devastating.
     We can all try to put a happy face on this situation, but we know better.  It is up to each of us to bolster and support our military; to show them that there are millions of us who honor their personal sacrifice and their commitment to the Constitution and the ideals of this nation (what little is left of both).  We all know that the call has gone out across the terrorist social media outlets to attack our soldiers and military installations.  We must demand that our elected representatives take this threat seriously and allow our service men and women to protect themselves.  With each act of murder in the homeland, our enemy gets stronger and bolder.  The American people no longer accept delays and excuses from those who are supposed to "faithfully execute" their offices, and with "true faith and allegiance" defend the Constitution ... the enemy has breached the wall and our protectors are under attack.  Be the leaders you were elected to be!

1 Peter 2:19     "For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly."  

   

Honoring A Hero

     Today marks the second anniversary of the murder of Navy Seal Chris Kyle.  I am still amazed at all the attacks against him and the movie American Sniper.  In this day of 24-hour news cycles, stories like this usually last a day or two and are then replaced with the next celebrity "hate-fest".
     But on this emotional anniversary, perhaps his detractors want to sling a little more mud on his hero status.  But that has just become more difficult because American Sniper surpassed Saving Private Ryan as the number one domestic grossing war movie of all-time.  They need to ask themselves why.
      You see, those of us in Texas know that Chris Kyle was not perfect.  But he stands for the sacrifice that our military have made in the last decade, and his life represents the heavy price they've all paid.  This is not a movie making a political statement about the war -- as much as "they" would like it to be -- it is a movie about the cost our military families have paid on our behalf.
      Governor Greg Abbott has declared today "Chris Kyle Day" in this soldier's beloved state of Texas.  The Governor spoke for millions of Texans, when he said, "[In the Lone State], we honor our military heroes.  In honor of a Texas son, a Navy SEAL and an American hero — a man who defended his brothers and sisters in arms on and off the battlefield — I am declaring February 2nd Chris Kyle Day in Texas,” said Abbott. “We will commemorate his passing, but more importantly, remembering his answering of the call of duty.”  And this day will honor all who have answered the call.
     That's right, we think Chris Kyle and our military are heroes.  Not because we all agree with the Iraq War, or the politics of George W. Bush, or because we hate Muslims.  We think Chris Kyle is a hero because of his incredible courage in standing up to Evil ... because he did his job the best he could, knowing that the lives of soldiers depended on him.  What an incredible burden!  To save a life, he had to take a life.  He witnessed death all around him, and his soul suffered for it.  Yet, he returned, time and again, to a job that haunted him, because others depended on him.  It wasn't only American soldiers that depended on him; Iraqi citizens benefitted from his "job", as well.
     And guess what?  It's not only Texans and millions of American movie-goers that think Kyle was a hero.  According to The Global Post, the movie opened in Baghdad, the capitol of Iraq, to strong crowds and exuberant fans of the movie.  One attendee, named Mohammed, lived through the events that are depicted in the movie.  He admitted it was hard to watch innocent citizens being killed as the Americans fought the terrorists, but overall, he liked the movie.  "I love watching war movies because it gives me the strength to face ISIS," he said.  When asked if he thought the movie was fascist or anti-Arab, he replied, "No, why?  The sniper was killing terrorists; the only thing that bothered me was when he said he didn't know anything about the Quran."
     But in an effort to be intellectually honest, the film was pulled from theaters after one week, because the movie features the killing of Muslims, and it was seen as controversial.  But the interesting thing to me was the fact that Kyle himself did not seem to be condemned as he is here, in his own country.  Writer Frank Rich continued the "racist" mantra of those who misunderstand the label of "savages" that Kyle applied to the Iraqi terrorists.  Why is it to so hard for them to see that Chris clearly distinguished between the good citizens of Iraq and the terrorist monsters when he used that term?
     They try so hard to make the movie into a political statement about the war, when it is clearly a character study of a man sent to war.  They are so desperate to vilify a man who represents the kind of Americans they detest, that they will even go so far as to compare him to the Sandy Hook killer, Adam Lanza!
     I admit that I am not qualified to defend a man like Chris Kyle.  I have not stood in his shoes, nor faced the demons of war.  Only those who have experienced the horrors of this endless war are able to give voice to the message this movie sends.   An anonymous Marine Corps veteran wrote an eloquent response to all the critics:  "The film wasn’t about any of that [politics] because for US, the war wasn’t about any of that.  Do you think any of us gave a f**k about Saddam Hussein, WMD, Bush, Cheney, or any of that s**t that was being ejaculated by the news? The film wasn’t about grey areas, because to us it didn’t matter. All that mattered to us was the guy to our left, and the guy to our right…and especially the guy that still had a can of Skoal. It wasn’t that we were willfully ignorant of the issues surrounding the Iraq War, or that we were in denial, but when your finger is on a trigger, when your face is covered in your friends’ brain matter, you aren’t thinking about “good and evil” or “grey areas.” That is the entire point [the critics] miss; the film was about a man on the ground and the struggle to come home with a head full of grief and regret, not the Iraq war itself."
     Pretty straight-forward, right?  But it was his parting shot that put everything into perspective:  "To those who saw the movie as more of a ‘pro Bush/Iraq/Right Wing/anti-Muslim’ political statement and want to bash it and our military... The movie wasn’t for you,” he concluded. “It was for the guy with mud on his boots and a hole in his heart, and for the families that are left to pick up the pieces. Go back to your latte.”  Perfect!
     Like I said, I may not be able to share the feelings and emotions of Chris Kyle and his family, but I can applaud the objectives of this movie and the voice it lends our military.  God has a purpose for every human being in this world, and our role may not always be pretty or politically correct.  The world can be an ugly place, and He needs warriors (yes, even imperfect warriors) to face Evil head-on; to destroy it in ways that we normal folks could never do.  Chris Kyle answered that call, and many soldiers came home alive because of his skills.  In my book, that makes him a hero.

1 Samuel 15:18     And the Lord sent you on a mission and said, ‘Go, devote to destruction the sinners, the Amalekites, and fight against them until they are consumed.’ 

Samuel Adams: Where Are You Today?

     Being a lover of the history of our Founding and the American Revolution, I eagerly awaited The History Channel's miniseries, titled Sons of Liberty.  I had no illusions that history would be presented accurately, but was curious to see how Hollywood would represent the main characters of our nation's early history; especially Samuel Adams, who has always been a favorite of mine.
     My assumptions were correct ... the facts were skewed; the timelines were often off by years; and the circumstances surrounding the colonists' grievances were repeatedly exaggerated.  For instance, General Thomas Gage's appearance on the scene is ten years later than historical fact; there is no evidence of any relationship between Mrs. Gage and Dr. Joseph Warren; and Samuel Adams was not some dashing young hero, free from family obligations, as depicted in the miniseries.  At the opening of the first episode, in 1765, Sam Adams would have been 43, and the father of two surviving children from his first marriage (his wife died young, along with four other children who died in infancy).  He had remarried and was deeply involved in the politics of the day.  These are just a few of the many dramatizations and misrepresentations of the miniseries.
    Furthermore, Sam Adams was far from being the drunk scoundrel, who owned a tavern frequented by misfits, as the History Channel portrays him.  True, he was an inefficient tax collector; but he was quite successful, within political circles, in urging his fellow colonists to oppose the unjust tax measures being enforced by the King of England.  As for the Sons of Liberty, they were more than impoverished hotheads itching for a fight.  They were a secret society of colonial patriots who were committed to protecting the rights of the colonists and to fighting the abuses of taxation by the British government.

     And speaking of unjust taxes, the broadcast missed a huge opportunity to educate any young people who might have been captivated by the dare-devil antics of the Hollywood version of Sam Adams.  There was no real attempt to mention the various Acts imposed by the British Crown to keep the colonists in tow.  As a member of the Caucus Club, one of Boston's local political organizations, Adams was incensed over the 1764 Sugar Act, which imposed a tax on Boston merchants for their purchase of molasses.  He began a writing campaign, attacking the Sugar Act as an unreasonable law. Adams argued that the law violated colonists' rights because it had not been imposed with the approval of an elected representative.  He argued that there should be "no taxation without representation"; a slogan which would become a lightning rod in the colonists' ever-increasing desire for independence.
     For the next decade, Adams continued to write essays concerning the growing divide between England and her colonies.  He condemned the Stamp Act of 1765, which placed a tax on printed materials throughout the American colonies.  During this time he was elected a member of the Massachusetts legislature, and would serve in that capacity until 1774.  In the meantime, he continued his fiery essays against the Townshend Acts of 1767, which placed customs duties on imported goods.  None of this was mentioned in the miniseries; only the celebrated Boston Tea Party, which saw the colonists refusing to pay the taxes levied by the Tea Act of 1773, and subsequently dumping the tea in Boston Harbor.
     (Consider this:  I recently watched a TV survey of college students who could not identify which country we won our independence from.  The History Channel could have served a greater purpose with this fictionalized account of history, don't you think?  Lord knows, I was ashamed at the realization that our youth have lost all interest and knowledge in the narrative of our country.)
     I understand that action sells better than politics, and I am not disputing the role that a passionate and dedicated Samuel Adams played in the years preceding the opening shots at Lexington and Concord.  It is indisputable, as the miniseries portrayed, that he played a dynamic behind-the-scenes role in urging the populace and their colonial leaders towards independence.
    In fact, history has always been fascinated with the part he played in securing our Liberty.  During the 19th Century, when America still clung to her patriotic principles and valued an individual's liberty and right to succeed, Samuel Adams was recognized as a hero of the Revolution.  But the 20th Century saw the genesis of socialism and progressivism taking root in our political consciousness, and Sam Adams gained a negative reputation.  His brilliant essays were viewed as propaganda, and he was painted as an avid promoter of revolution who incited mob violence to push his political agenda.    Today's Progressives would likely call him a "domestic terrorist"; even the modern Tea Party movement, which has become part of his legacy, is disparaged and impugned.
     But whichever version of Samuel Adams you choose to embrace, no one can dispute that he played one of the most important roles in the founding of this nation.  He believed in a "republican" form of government, which advocated that power should be held by the people and their elected representatives, rather than a monarch or dictator.  His writings also show that he believed that force against the government of a nation was only justified when the constitutional rights of the people were threatened, and were so grave that the "body of the people" recognized the danger, and only after "all peaceful means of redress had failed."  Revolution was his last choice.  But shortly after he signed the Declaration of Independence, he delivered these words in a speech at the State House in Philadelphia:

"If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude than the animating contest of freedom, go from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains sit lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that ye were our countrymen."
   
     How we need Sam Adams today!  He was able to see the road to Liberty perhaps clearer than any other patriot of his time.  He was able to speak boldly and plainly to the people, championed public virtue in the culture and politics, and believed strongly in a true representative government.  He continued to serve his country in the First and Second Continental Congresses, and was instrumental in drafting the Bill of Rights.  Although The History Channel dramatized only the early days of his political involvement, and much of their storyline was inflated and blurred the historical facts, I am loathe to completely condemn the presentation.
     I believe the miniseries captured the spirit of those passionate days ... days when God placed the right men, at the right time, in the right place.  God had a plan for this nation, and He raised up men like Samuel Adams and Paul Revere and Dr. Joseph Warren and George Washington to lead mankind into a new era.  These men were able to breed a desire in their fellow countrymen to live their lives as free men; exercising their Natural Rights to Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.
     It is my hope that The History Channel's excessive and outrageous version of Samuel Adams's life encourages our citizens of all ages to seek more knowledge about him and the American Revolution.  And I further hope it awakens them to just how glorious and miraculous is our history.  The politics of that day were just as controversial and embattled as they are today.  But there burned a fire in the hearts of men that I fear we've lost.  May God rekindle His Spirit in our nation, and the Spirit of '76!

Psalm 33:12   "Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people whom He has chosen as His heritage!"
   









   

You Can't Take Our Heroes Away From Us!

     Well, that didn't take long!  Nearly as soon as the news broke that the movie American Sniper was breaking all kinds of box office records, the haters in Hollywood came unglued.  Michael Moore and Seth Rogen couldn't wait to denigrate the memory of Navy Seal, Chris Kyle.  I wonder if they've even seen the movie.  But, as evidenced by the 10,000+ comments to their disrespectful tirades, the public doesn't give a damn what they think.  
     It is quite apparent that the Haters, and others like them, do not understand why millions like myself, who saw the film, sat in reverent silence as the final minutes on screen showed the motorcade carrying his body for burial at the Texas State Cemetery in Austin.  I don't think they can even imagine why thousands of people lined the 200-mile route along Interstate 35, during a cold, rainy day, to pay tribute to a man who stood for the American values of God, Country, and Family.

Paying tribute to a hero 

     And I guess there's our explanation why they hate the success that this movie is enjoying ... they hate everything that Chris Kyle held dear.  They hate God; they certainly hate the America that we love and that Chris Kyle fought to protect; and they hate the family values that teach love and respect for all three principles.
     How it must gall them to see a movie like American Sniper be liked, admired, and supported by so many people!  But their hate has so blinded them, that they can't see past it.  They can't see that the movie stands for so much more than the politics of the Iraq War or the reputation of Chris Kyle as "the most lethal sniper in U.S. military history."  I think I can speak for most who stood in endless lines throughout this past weekend to see the movie .... this film captures not only the heart and soul of a patriotic American, but the tremendous toll that our wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have taken upon our military and their families.  And we need to recognize that!  Perhaps better than any other vehicle, American Sniper puts American civilians in the shoes of a combat service member.  We see -- and feel -- what our government has asked our military to do, supposedly on our behalf.  (I applaud the movie for keeping the storyline focused on the impact on Chris Kyle and his family, rather than bringing the Military-Industrial Complex into the picture).  And I hope that the film will start dissolving the psychological and emotional barriers that have occurred between members of the military and the civilian public.
      I read a very well-written review by an Iraq War veteran, Paul Rieckhoff, who is CEO and founder of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA).  In his article, Mr. Rieckhoff stated, "The film exposes the incomparable distance we’ve created (and irresponsibly allowed to grow) in this country between what is now essentially a warrior class and everyone else. It’s tearing open a shameful national boil of a discussion that’s been bubbling below our collective skin for far too long. And with that, it performs an exceptionally important public service in a way only film can."
     Of course, Mr. Rieckhoff views this distance from the warrior class, and seems to view the civilian class as disconnected and disinterested.  I will agree that this is true of some people.  And I understand that it is only natural for those who have experienced the horrors of this war to sequester themselves among fellow warriors.  We cannot possibly understand what they have witnessed and endured.  And any attempt on our part to connect with them has been difficult; from our inability to share their experience, to their reluctance to include us.  That conversation couldn't even take place between Chris and Taya Kyle!  It would be impossible between the Military and the American Public.  Yet, I wish there could be a way for our warriors to understand that so much of the public wanted that conversation; wanted to be able to express our support and our pride, but it was never encouraged, often awkward, and there seemed no way to bridge the divide.
     American Sniper has shown the public the way that war looks, sounds, tastes, smells, and feels ... and it is truly haunting.  It is haunting because of the raw pain Chris Kyle experienced on his way to becoming a legend and a national hero; haunting because this embattled man's job was to take lives in order to save lives; haunting because he felt he hadn't done enough to ensure that more warrior's came home; and haunting because he was on the path to discovering a new purpose, and recovering his joy for life.    

     Hollywood can try to distort his legacy all they want, but we Texans are very proud of our heroes; of men like Chris Kyle and Marcus Luttrell who stand up for old-fashioned and politically incorrect values.  I have had the opportunity to meet Mr. Luttrell and Chris Kyle's parents.  How can one ever express to them what it means to you as an American citizen to know that men like them are willing to take a stand against Evil?  How do you say "thank you" and let them know you will never forget their sacrifice, nor take their service for granted?  Perhaps American Sniper can be the beginning of this much-needed conversation.  The Iraq War has divided much of America.   Maybe this film will be the beginning of reconciliation between those who fought and those who always believed in them.

Psalm 144:1    "Blessed be the Lord my Rock, Who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle—"


   
   

"Unbroken": A Life of Redeeming Faith

     I was one of the millions of people who eagerly awaited the release of the movie Unbroken.  Having read the novel by Laura Hillenbrand of the heroic life of WWII prisoner of war, Louie Zamperini, I was looking forward to seeing his powerful journey portrayed on screen-- from misfit kid, to Olympic track athlete, to tortured prisoner of war, to tormented husband, to at last finding peace and solace in his salvation through Jesus Christ.

Louie (Left) in a Japanese POW concentration camp

     The world needs inspirational movies like Louie's story.  If you've read the book, Unbroken, then you know what I am talking about.  It was a difficult book for me to read.  The sheer depravity and evil that Louie suffered at the hands of "The Bird" in the Japanese concentration camps was hard to digest.  Ms. Hillenbrand was able to capture the pain, and the wretchedness, and the sheer sadism that the prisoners experienced; with Louie, for some reason, becoming the main target of that hellish existence for two terrible years.
     It was hard for me to even contemplate that one man could inflict such torment upon another.  And it gave me a clearer understanding of why my father, a WWII veteran, who served in the Pacific, had a lifelong contempt for the Japanese.  I am not condoning his attitude or feelings, but I'm sure that the memories of hearing the stories firsthand from returning prisoners was something that was hard for him to let go.  It takes the redeeming act of Christ in one's life to overcome the effects of such evil, and that's how Louie was ultimately able to survive.
     His complete rescue did not come immediately upon his return home.  For a time, he endured alcoholism and marriage troubles.  Then on one fateful night, he attended one of a young Billy Graham's first revival meetings, and there he found the saving grace and love of God.  He was able to finally let go of the anger, the hatred, and the burden of his rage against his Japanese captors.  He was able to forgive them, and even personally made a trip to Japan to meet them face to face.  Only "The Bird" refused to see him.  At the end of the book, I was in tears for Louie -- for the agony and the pain that he had endured at the hands of a madman; for the camaraderie and loyalty that helped him and his fellow prisoners endure; for the faith that he found and which he shared for the rest of his life.
      It was this last phase of his life that was all but virtually ignored in the movie, Unbroken, directed by Angelina Jolie.  I applaud the actor who played Louie.  He mirrored the Louie that I imagined while reading the book; his character was reckless, feisty, determined, stubborn, and unbeatable.  The scenes in the concentration camps were realistic and haunting.  Louie's unbroken spirit came through loud and clear.  But I wanted more of him; I wanted the "whole" Louie to be exposed.  What's more, I wanted the audiences across the country to receive the real reason Louie was "unbroken".

Louie (on left), with Billy Graham

     Instead, what we got was a few sentences in white type, on a black screen at the end of the movie, that explained that Louie found God at a Billy Graham meeting and his faith lasted throughout the remainder of his life.  For the Director, Angelina Jolie, it was enough to "hint" at his faith.  "That is what we tried to get into the film. We wanted people to understand that it is not that you suddenly realize there is something beyond you in the world," Jolie told Christian Broadcasting Network.  "That man is not alone is something we wanted to say from early on in the raft to the prison camp, that there is this, whatever your faith, there is something there," she added. "And whether you choose to see it is your choice and when you come to it and when you feel it, it is there for you ... And so, it was very important to us that sometimes in the mother praying, sometimes in the sunrise, there is always what we would refer to as the light in the film," she said.
     But that does not do justice to Louie Zamperini, or to his faith.  What he believed in was not merely what one sees in the sunrise, or the providential appearance of food after tortuous days at sea on a raft.  Louie believed in what the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ on the cross did for him.  It allowed him to forgive his enemies; the forgiveness that was Christ's gift to him, he was now able to extend to those who had made his life hell.  In one interview on Youtube, Louie recounts how he fell to his knees at that Billy Graham revival, and asked God to forgive him for not keeping the promises he had made while on that life raft or in that concentration camp.  He asked Christ into his heart, and he said, within mere seconds he knew that he no longer craved alcohol; and that his anger and confusion over his captivity were all gone.  He was a new creation.
     That would have been a powerful testimony for the conclusion of Louie's life, yet it was decided not to include these years in the movie.  Why should I be surprised?  Hollywood would rather glorify the perversion of sex in a graphic preview of the movie Fifty Shades of Grey, than the grace and mercy that comes with accepting Jesus as your Savior.  And perhaps Hollywood is only able to see Louie as a hero when he overcomes sadistic physical enemies.  It is sad they don't see that overcoming spiritual enemies makes him a greater hero to those who need to hear his testimony.
     We know that Angelina Jolie was able to share the movie with Louie (on her laptop computer) in his hospital room before he died in July of this year.  We can only hope that he was able to share his faith with her, and that his story might impact her life, as it has everyone who has been touched by this brave and faithful man.  Rest in peace, Mr. Zamperini!  Your life is still reaching people for God's Kingdom.

You can also read Louie Zamperini's own account of his war years and the lessons his faith has taught him.  This book, titled "Don't Give Up, Don't Give In: Lessons from an Extraordinary Life", was delivered to the publisher just days before his death in July, 2014.  

1 Corinthians 10:13   "No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it."

In Honor Of Heroes

     The world needs heroes right now.  And today is an important anniversary for some great national heroes.  It was 70 years ago today that the legendary Battle of Bastogne ended.  Fought from December 20th - 27th, 1944, it was part of the historic Battle of the Bulge.
     I just finished re-watching the HBO miniseries Band of Brothers.  I am always overcome with emotion and pride that this group of average American men (some barely more than boys) endured the hell of war in a courageous battle against Evil.  While I believe all wars are fought with ulterior motives of Power and Financial Gain, this may be one in which there is no question that Satan was at the helm.
     At this particular time during WWII, Easy Company, part of the 101st Airborne Division, were tasked with holding the line at Bastogne against superior German artillery fire.  They accomplished their mission without winter clothing and with limited rations and ammunition.  I think, of the 10 episodes of the globally successful miniseries, the one titled "Bastogne" was the hardest to watch.
     But it wasn't hard to get attached to the characters in Band of Brothers.  They became an extraordinary group of battle-hardened veterans.  The men of Easy Company began as part of an experimental airborne regiment created in 1942 at Camp Toccoa, Georgia. Easy Company missions were to involve being parachuted from C-47 transport airplanes over hostile territory (Wikipedia).  They accomplished that directive as part of Operation Overlord, on D-Day.
     As one follows them through their battles in the Netherlands, the ill-fated Operation Market Garden, and on into Belgium, you cannot help but mourn the loss of each soldier.  They are no longer simply names, but real people with real stories of what war was like at close range.  As miserable and wretched as the miniseries portrayed those days and nights in the Ardennes forest near Bastogne, I doubt that it comes close to what those men actually experienced.
    But let me share a bit of the history from one man who was there, Colonel Edward Shames:  "[On the evening of December 17, 1944] we ended up in a 10-ton open tractor-trailer truck without a top, freezing our tails off. We had no ammo, no good clothing, and ended up in a place that we had no idea where it was. Some of the men even had no weapons, unbelievable, but very true. We thought we were cold that night, but we did not know that ride would become a Sunday excursion compared to what we were to experience later that month.
     When we offloaded the trucks that morning, I do not believe there was a single man that had the foggiest notion as to where we were. It was cold as hell, and very foggy. We saw hordes of our soldiers running towards us down the middle of the road, and watched them throw their weapons and equipment to the ground. They were yelling, Don't go up there! The Germans are going to kill everyone! Run as fast as you can! They are coming, run! These were American soldiers, both officers and men. I repeat, both officers and men. I was never more ashamed of my countrymen than at that moment, before or since. I will never forget that sight as long as I live.
     One good thing came about in those moments; we were able to retrieve some equipment, clothing, and ammo from what was being discarded, and there was a ton of it scattered all over the area. This material was being thrown away to lighten the load of these people, these hysterical people, so they could run faster. I refused to call them soldiers. As I recall, it was fairly early in the morning, and very foggy. You could hardly see more than 100 feet in front of you, if that. It was cold as hell, as I said before, and the enemy was very close; we felt it in our bones."
     The Facebook page for Easy Company, 506th Paratroopers Infantry Regiment of the 101at Airborne Division, gives this account:  Bastogne was to become the key to the battle. Control of its network of roads and railway systems was a critical and highly sought after military objective by both the Americans and the Germans. By the dreadful night of the 20th of December, the 101st Airborne found themselves completely surrounded at the besieged town of Bastogne along with the 705th Tank Destroyer Battalion and elements of the 10th Armored Division. The 101st would form a defensive perimeter by digging foxholes into the hard and cold snow around the outskirts of the Bastogne forested area. The 101st held their position and beat back the determined and repeated attacks by overwhelming German forces. The "Battered Bastards of Bastogne" would hold the line.
     As we focus on the birth of our Savior, it is hard to reconcile that innocent child with the horrendous headlines proclaiming Evil around the world.  And this event of 70 years ago in a far-off war may seem like just a footnote in history.  But it is precisely because of the reasons those brave men found themselves in that frozen hell, that He came -- to bring Light to a dark world.  But the world refuses to embrace Him.  So just as the world witnessed the wickedness of the Holocaust, we are now observers of the heinous persecutions against Christians, Jews, and other innocents by a murderous horde of barbarians.  The peace that came after the "War that was to end all wars" only lasted 70 years.  Our hope now lies in the faith that our Savior will return to end this Evil for all time.  Until that happens, we can look upon the remarkable bravery of a small band of men who stood against the evil of their time, and did their part to stand in the gap.  We can celebrate the extraordinary actions of ordinary men, and honor their memory.  I honor the lives of the 18 surviving members of Easy Company, and the memories of their fallen brothers, on this, their 70th anniversary of "holding the line".  We salute you!

Proverbs 27:17    "Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another." 


   
   

Chris Kyle: The Character Of A Man

   

     February 2, 2014 was the first-year anniversary of the death of Chris Kyle, ex-Navy Seal and the most lethal sniper in American military history.   Here in Texas, he will never be forgotten and that's why when our friends Chris and Darcy Douglas approached  my husband and I about serving on the Board of Directors for a charitable event that would honor his memory, we never hesitated.  It was their brainchild to develop the first Annual Chris Kyle Memorial Roping and Auction; an event that would benefit Base Camp 40, a group close to Chris Kyle's heart.  Through their love for Country and our Veterans, Base Camp 40 desires to give back to, and honor, military veterans with outdoor hunting adventures and an opportunity to taste what they've fought so hard for... freedom.  That exemplified Chris Kyle, and was why he had made BC40 part of his efforts to give back to those who have so valiantly served our country.
     So while the first Annual Chris Kyle Memorial Roping and Auction was to benefit BC40, it was very much a weekend about Chris Kyle.  I regret that we never had the opportunity to meet Chris in person, but we've been blessed to spend some time with, and have had the opportunity to get to know, Wayne and Deby, his parents.  It didn't take long to see where he got his reputation for compassion, patriotism and toughness.  We have reveled in their stories of the son who always kept them on their toes; and their pride in his achievements were justifiable.
     But that pride wasn't centered on the many military honors he was awarded during his four tours in Iraq --  two Silver Stars, five Bronze Stars with Valor, two Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals, and one Navy and Marine Corps Commendation -- they were equally proud of the man he was.  And if it's true that you can judge a man's character by the friends he surrounds himself with, then Chris Kyle was every inch the American hero they say he was.
     We met some of the most amazing people this weekend; friends that Chris grew up with and who knew him in college.  When you talked to these good folks (and I'm not using that term lightly) you heard in their voices, more than the words they were speaking, just how much Chris meant to them.  Yes, he was the best selling author and "celebrity Seal", but to them, and with them, he was still their larger-than-life, dare-devil, crazy, caring friend.  They shared so many memories with us; we spent a lot of hours smiling and laughing as they told their stories.  But inevitably, the laughter turned to suppressed tears as it was evident that they miss him terribly.  The same was true of others who worked with him in and out of the military; he was a guy who made an impression.
     So, it wasn't surprising that they agreed to volunteer 15-plus hour days during the coldest, most miserable Texas winter weather I have experienced in a long time.  They worked at selling clothing and merchandise for the memorial event; helped set up and man a Silent Auction; decorated tables for a VIP dinner; helped coordinate the purchases from a Live Auction that alone netted nearly $55,000 for Base Camp 40; and carried/lifted more boxes, cartons, and cases, while running any and all errands that were requested of them.  They never complained, because they were doing it for their friend Chris Kyle ... as was everyone who was involved with the event this weekend.

"From Cowboy Boots to Combat Boots"

     Another extraordinary aspect of this weekend was to see the cowboy and military cultures come together; each to honor one of their own.  It's not everyday that you see cowboys in their boots and hats, along with low-key Navy Seals, Special Forces and Marines -- and all sharing the same stage.  It was simply the unifying spirit of Chris Kyle that brought them together.

      You may not be aware of it, but before Chris was a Navy Seal, he was every inch a cowboy.  My husband painted him as a young man, an image that his father, Wayne, wanted him to be remembered by.  And the Professional Bull Riders organization were huge backers of this event.  (See article). As Chris's brother, Jeff, who served in the Marines, said, "This organization (PBR) is all like-minded people, just like the military. We all have the same mentality, same mindset to get out there and get it done no matter what the cost is. From day one since the tragedy, just to see -- no matter where we’re at in the country -- just to see the outpouring of support that we get from our fellow Americans; to stand up and show their support for my brother and to our family ... it goes without saying, it’s unbelievable.”
     During a recent PBR event, Wayne Kyle had this to say:  "This means a lot to us and to see all the people that recognize Chris for what he accomplished and what he stood for. Not just because I’m his father, but he was a true American hero, and he hated that. He hated that label. He said the heroes are the ones that are still over there fighting. He said the heroes are the ones that had gone before him.”
     And that's why me, my husband, Chris's friends, and all the people who volunteered at this latest memorial event showed up.... to carry on his legacy of serving those who have served us.  Despite the cold, the aching feet, the tired backs, we were all there with one person on our minds... Chris Kyle.

Honor guard for
Chris Kyle

     The past year has been difficult for the Kyle family, and there have been a number of events that sought to honor and memorialize the man the country knew as a hero, but to them was their son and brother. According to Wayne, his son may have been so many things to so many people, but to himself he was “just a normal guy.”  And sharing memories with people who have sought the family out has been bitter sweet.  "The stories have warmed our hearts, but then that brings up the memories and we miss him—that void that’s there. We’re thankful that we still have Jeff and his family. Yeah, it’s good to be a part of this event. If Chris was still here today, that’s what he would be doing. If somebody would have approached him about doing an event like that, oh, he would have jumped at the chance."
      And that's exactly why it was important to make this event the success that it was.  Because his closest friends told us that he would have loved what this event stood for, and would have been pleased with how it was conducted, it made the success of this event even sweeter.  And it was important to help the Kyle family, who has made it their goal to carry on his legacy.  Chris Kyle may no longer be with us, but it is quite evident that in the state of Texas his legacy will live on.  As he said in his book, American Sniper, "I've lived the literal meaning of the 'Land of the Free' and 'Home of the Brave'.  It's not corny for me.  I feel it in my heart.  I feel it in my chest."
     This past weekend, there was lots of energy, emotion, laughter and tears; none dared call it corny, and it goes without saying that we all felt it in our hearts, too.  It went by many names:  honor, respect, integrity and love; but it all added up to one thing: a tribute to a man of great character.  And that's worth celebrating.

To Jill and Bo, Jon, Bridgette, Kristen, Ron:  You all helped Chris be more than the legend to us.  Thank you for sharing your memories.  And we celebrate these new friendships in his honor.  And to Wayne, Deby, and Jeff:  we hope this weekend showed you how much all of us respect the memory of your son and brother.  Thank you for letting us be a part of it. 

Mark 10:45   "For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."
       
   
   

Overcoming Tremendous Odds: Can We Do It Again?

     Today is a very important day in our country's history, but how many will reflect on it; and how many of our younger generation even know about it?  I am talking about the morning of December 26th, 1776.

     In the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, Washington, by author Ron Chernow, this epic moment in our nation's story is simply called "The Crossing".  Of course, I am talking about the crossing of the Delaware, a heroic and miraculous venture that played an important part in securing our freedom.  It is a legendary story, and one that, as a child, produced much pride and reverence, and stirred my imagination.  Sadly, I doubt that today's schoolchildren even know of its profound influence on the founding of this nation.  So let's take a moment to give this day its due.
     At approximately 8 a.m. on the morning of December 26, 1776, General George Washington's Continental Army reaches the outskirts of Trenton, New Jersey.  According to Chernow's novel, Washington's army was beleaguered; a raggedy band of only a few thousand men.  They had trekked across New Jersey, in the dead of winter; "they had worn out their shoes and crafted makeshift footwear by slaughtering cattle, skinning their hides, and wrapping crude sections around their bare feet."
     This ragtag American Army was cold, miserable, hungry and discouraged.  It took them 5 days to cross the Delaware River into Pennsylvania near Trenton.  Imagine the logistics of ferrying horses and heavy artillery across an icy, frozen river!  But it wasn't only planning and coordination that General Washington was contemplating.  He was "concerned with the decay of patriotic support" and the "extreme disarray of American finances."  He faced a total depreciation of the continental currency, and feared that the game was "pretty near up".
     Against these incredible odds, Washington banked on his troops personal loyalty to him as he asked them to gamble everything on one final roll of the dice.  Washington and his generals decided to cross the Delaware River on the night of Christmas Day and catch the Hessian mercenaries off guard. It has long been an incorrect legend that the Hessians were able to be defeated because they were sleeping off their drunken Christmas revelry.  In truth, they were on high alert, and likely exhausted from constant drills and patrol duty.  Washington had shrewdly kept them occupied with "irregular raids and small skirmishes".  It is more likely that they were crippled by their low estimation of the American army, and never conceived that the rebels could pull off such a daring plot.
     So it was; and Washington watched his troops commence the crossing, their bare feet "tracing bloody streaks in the snow."  Once across, the plan was for them to march another 9 miles to Trenton in the dark and cold and arrive by 5 a.m. on the 26th.
     As history tells it, a light rain began to fall at sundown, and Washington crossed the Delaware in advance of his men (the dangerous side of the river in this insane assault).  If news of the raid leaked out, he stood to be captured and killed, and the fate of our nation would have been sealed.  Yet, he remained with his men, and oversaw Marblehead, Massachusetts fisherman John Glover and his "amphibious regiment" ferry 2400 men, skittish horses, and 18 field guns (weighing nearly 400 tons!) across the 800-foot stretch of the Delaware River -- in "a bone-chilling mixture of rain, sleet and wind."
     Around 11 p.m., the boats were hit with a terrible northeaster, causing the waters to churn and the men to be bombarded with snow and hail.  This resulted in a frozen river, and the already exhausted troops had to break passage through the solid ice.  Since most of the soldiers could not swim, you can imagine the fear and panic they must have experienced at the thought of capsizing!
     But here is where the story takes on a supernatural quality.  The weather elements should have doomed the expedition, and in fact, they caused a serious delay of 3 hours.  So although the army was supposed to be across by midnight, the last man set foot on shore at 3 a.m., and not one soldier was lost in the events of that perilous night.  While the delay was costly in time, the howling weather also muted the sounds of the approaching army, and the blinding conditions hid them from the view of the enemy.

     The remaining 9-mile march to Trenton commenced at 4 a.m., with the men marching into a driving gale of sleet, ice and snow.  Washington kept pace with them on horseback and despaired that his army was only half-way to Trenton when the daylight broke at 6 a.m.  He decided to keep to his original plan, and divide his army into columns, attacking Trenton from both the high and low roads.
     Imagine his distress when informed that the weather conditions had rendered his men's weapons useless.  "Tell [General Sullivan] to use the bayonet," Washington said.  "He then galloped along the lines trying to speed the march's tempo in the brightening morning light.  Press on, he urged the men.  Press on, boys!"
     As the bone-tired American troops emerged from the woods near Trenton at 8:00, their Commander-in-Chief rode at the head of the middle of three columns.  His men rallied at his side and by sheer determination caused such "hurry, fright and confusion of the enemy... [not] unlike that which will be when the last trump shall sound", reported General Henry Knox.
     Author Ron Chernow sums up this historic day in a concise and factual statement ... "The American triumph was accomplished in less than an hour."  It has further been written by early 20th century historian George Trevelyan, "It may be doubted whether so small a number of men ever employed so short a space of time with greater and more lasting effects upon the history of the world."  To that point, the toll on the Hessians was great:  22 killed, 84 wounded and nearly 900 captured.  There were only 2 American deaths attributed to combat, and possibly 4 or 5 due to exposure to the cold.  But the impact went far beyond numbers of casualties.
     This victory at Trenton gave General Washington a much-needed boost in confidence and gave our cause legitimacy.  The events that happened 237 years ago this morning should be taught to every schoolchild.  And they should give every American the courage to soldier through whatever adversities we may face in the coming months and years.  Then as now, Washington's crossing and the Battle of Trenton were emblematic of the American Patriots' surprising ability to overcome the tremendous odds they faced in challenging the wealthy and powerful British empire.
     I ask you, do we face any less of a formidable enemy?  Let us adopt Washington's wisdom, his courage, his resilience and his determination.  Abigail Adams proclaimed what she thought was his best trait ... "Affliction is the good man's shining time."  Let it be ours, as well.

Isaiah 40:29-31     "He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint."


   
      

Operation Underground Railroad

  

The acronym for Operation Underground Railroad also serves as their motto .... O.U.R. Children.  Just what is this worthy organization and why do you need to know about it?  We all know that the original Underground Railroad was a network that existed in nineteenth century America to liberate African slaves. It consisted of secret routes, safe houses, and undercover operatives who would infiltrate the plantation, often pretending to be slaves themselves, then stealthily conduct the captives out of bondage. We often congratulate ourselves for having eradicated nineteenth century slavery. But it has not been eradicated.  It is uglier than ever.  Its victims today include nearly two million precious children in the world.  They are sex slaves!
     And just as it happened a century and a half ago, brave men have made it their mission to rescue these children who are abducted and sentenced to a life of bondage.  Only this time, using cutting-edge computer technology and human intelligence, they are undercover teams of former CIA and Special Ops personnel who go into the darkest corners of the world to help local law enforcement liberate enslaved children and dismantle the criminal networks.
     All you have to do is go to their website (operationundergroundrailraod.org) to read the passion with which these men dedicate their lives to saving children.  Let them tell you in their own words:  These poor children are abused daily, thousands of them being imported every year into developed countries like the United States and Canada. These children range from toddlers to teenagers. People have been talking about this problem for some time. But these children don't need more talk. They need action. They need to be extracted from the hell they are living in. We know how to extract them. This is what we do. We rescue them and place them into safe havens where they can be rehabilitated. Then we go after the bad guys and break their organizations. Help us do this. Help us help the children.
     They have gathered the world's experts in extraction operations and in anti-child trafficking efforts. They are former CIA, FBI, Navy SEALs, and Green Berets. They make up what is called the Underground Jump Team. While the United States government is leading the world in such operations, it is largely hindered by bureaucracy and jurisdictional limitations. If there is no U.S. statute being violated, then no U.S. action can be taken. Because most of these suffering children fall outside of U.S. jurisdiction and often find themselves kidnapped and abused in regions where the resources to save them are scarce, it is time for private citizens and organizations to rise up and help. It is our duty as a free and blessed people. As the operatives, themselves, ask, "If not us, who?"
      They have partnered with private software and data mining companies who have developed cutting edge tools to locate and detain international child trafficking organizations. Over the last decade these tools have led to the rescue of thousands of children and to the apprehension of thousands of pedophile captors. (Note: These tools do not violate privacy rights, as they only mine data that has been publically disseminated by those seeking to sell children.) Sadly, these tools have only been utilized in developed countries, leaving those infected nations with the most enslaved children to fend for themselves. It is the goal of the Underground Jump Team to end this. Partnering with government jurisdictions throughout the world, they will provide these tools free of charge, and will work side by side with our foreign partners until the children on the other end of that dark Internet line are liberated.
     Here is just one of the success stories from Costa Rica:  After Underground Jump Team members learned that children were being sold for sex to Americans in Jaco Beach, Costa Rica, they deployed there. They spent several weeks pounding the pavement in an undercover capacity, and eventually managed to infiltrate the organizations providing the illicit sex. Working with local authorities, two American individuals were arrested as a result of this mission.
     The child sex business and pornography have become a multi-million dollar business and money is made at the expense of victims who are children ranging in age from toddlers to teenagers. People have been talking about this problem for some time. But these children don't need more talk. They need action. They need to be extracted from the hell they are living in, and these brave men are determined to be their rescuers.  I urge you to go to their website and read the entire story and help them stop the child sex slave trade.

Visit www.operationundergroundrailroad.org and donate to this worthy cause.

Matthew 18:10    "Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven."

   

Si Vis Pacem Para Bellum

   

     This is an old Latin saying, meaning "If you want peace, prepare for war."  It has been modernized to imply "Peace through strength", but either way, it is an appropriate thought for today.
     I don't think I've actually viewed Veteran's Day quite as I do today.  I've always had a sentimental, patriotic notion of this day.  I've loved the flag-waving and the fact that our nation officially stops and recognizes the sacrifices that our veterans have made on our behalf and for the cause of freedom.
     I now realize that, in today's world, that is probably naive and a misperception.  Because how many people actually give pause during this day and contemplate ... I mean, really consider ... what a veteran experiences during his service?  Why he steps away from this self-absorbed culture and stands between us and the evils of war?
     As I read more and more about the negative pressure coming against our vets, I wonder how much longer we can expect our young men to continue to volunteer to face death in our stead.  I know there will always be those who are warriors at heart; who bleed red, white, and blue, and will step up to defend Good against Evil, no matter what the price.  I am in awe of these men.
     So I have to tell you that it really pisses me off to read the increasing reports of changes in the military that only seem to demoralize and divide our servicemen and women.  There are actually training manuals that advocate diversity training for the military because white males have an “unfair advantage” compared to other races; or that Christians should be lumped in with jihadists as "extreme radicals".  You have to ask yourself, "What is the real purpose behind these alienating policies?  Is it to create a more unified, cohesive fighting force?  Or is to divide and tear apart the greatest fighting force from within?
     Through our work with the Fisher Foundation, PLW and I have seen the personal effects of our latest efforts to maintain peace through war, and it has cost this nation dearly.  For the last 12 years, our young men and women have paid a tremendous price for standing in the gap.  They are tired; underpaid and overburdened.  Yet their dedication and loyalty to our country never seems to waver.  Don't they deserve better from us and from their leaders?
     This world is changing fast and there will be more Benghazi's; and yes, more devastating events like September 11th.  If we are to survive as a nation, we must build up our military, not tear it down.  Our veterans deserve the very best that we have to offer them; and that includes equipment, training, support and leadership.  The old Latin adage is as accurate today as it was centuries ago.  Peace doesn't just happen.  Capitulating to your enemy only gives them more power over you.  We must always be ready to defend against those who wish to impose their power on us.  If you want peace, prepare for war.  Thank you, Veterans, for being ready and willing to make those vital preparations.  I am one grateful American.

Ezekiel 38:7    “Be ready and keep ready, you and all your hosts that are assembled about you, and be a guard for them."