May 25, 2008
Patriotism is not a short and frenzied burst of emotion but the long and steady dedication of a lifetime. Thomas Jefferson
"The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly; it is dearness only that gives everything its value. I love the man that can smile in trouble, that can gather strength from distress and grow brave by reflection. 'Tis the business of little minds to shrink; but he whose heart is firm, and whose conscience approves his conduct, will pursue his principles unto death." Thomas Paine
If you look at what you do not have in life, you don’t have anything.
If you look at what you have in life, you have everything. Author Unknown
The Handshake
We live in a divided world. Nations are divided. We see it in the Middle East and across Africa. All over the world nations not only are striving against one another, but they are torn by strife within. It is a problem as old as humanity itself.
I was interested to read somewhere about the origin of the custom of handshaking. In ancient times, men always carried daggers. When a traveler met a man he didn't recognize, he automatically reached for his weapon, as did the stranger. The two would then circle each other until they knew what the situation called for. If the stranger was not a threat, both men would sheath their daggers. Then they would extend their right hands, their weapon hands, as a token of goodwill. This explains why women never developed the custom of handshaking. They did not carry weapons.
It appears to me that in today's world we are still circling each other as we always have, still checking each other out. The nations of the world are not ready to shake hands. They are divided.
Looking for Security
In a Peanuts cartoon, Linus tells Charlie Brown, “When I hear those coyotes howling at night, it totally depresses me. I start to feel lonely . . . Then I get scared.”
Charlie Brown says, “I thought holding onto that blanket made you secure.”
Linus replies, “I think the warranty has run out.”
That’s the problem with most security blankets. Their warranty runs out.
I have so much to do today, I don’t know which to put off first.
I called a company the other day who said on their voice recording that my call was important to them but not important enough for them to pick up the phone .
They ought to put expiration dates on men’s clothes so we will know when they are out of date.
Pledge of Allegiance by Red Skelton
As a schoolboy, one of Red Skelton's teachers explained the words and meaning of the Pledge of Allegiance to his class. Skelton later wrote down, and eventually recorded, his recollection of this lecture. It is followed by an observation of his own.
I - Me, an individual, a committee of one.
Pledge - Dedicate all of my worldly good to give without self-pity.
Allegiance - My love and my devotion.
To the Flag - Our standard; Old Glory; a symbol of Courage; and wherever she waves there is respect, because your loyalty has given her a dignity that shouts, Freedom is everybody's job.
of the United - That means that we have all come together.
States - Individual communities that have united into forty-eight great states. Forty-eight individual communities with pride and dignity and purpose. All divided by imaginary boundaries, yet united to a common cause, and that is love of country, of America..
And to the Republic - A Republic - a sovereign state in which power is invested in the representatives chosen by the people to govern. And the government is the people; and it's from the people to the leaders, not from the leaders to the people.
For which it stands
One Nation One Nation - meaning, so blessed by God.
Indivisible - Incapable of being divided.
With Liberty - Which is Freedom; the right of power for one to live his own life, without fears, threats, or any sort of retaliation.
And Justice - The principle, and qualities, of dealing fairly with others.
For All - For All - that means, boys and girls, it's as much your country as it is mine.
Now, let me hear you recite the Pledge of Allegiance:
I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic, for which it stands; one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
Since I was a small boy, two states have been added to our country, and two words have been added to the Pledge of Allegiance: Under God.
Mantra of contemporary TV: Love everyone and especially me !
How many times does the word “America” appear in the Star Spangled Banner?
“In a consumer society, there are invariably two kinds of slaves: the prisoners of addiction and the prisoners of envy.” (Ivan Illich)
Get your facts first and then you can distort them in any way you please.
Who Says?
Philosophers say… Think your way out.
Intellectuals say… Read your way out.
Artists say… Create your way out.
Scientists say… Invent your way out.
Politicians say… Legislate your way out.
Industrialists say… Work your way out.
Businessmen say… Spend your way out.
Satan says… There is no way out.
Jesus says… “I am the Way the Truth and the Life: no man comet unto the Father but by Me.”
If you want to be there when the roll is called up yonder, you best be present when the roll is called down here.
How busy is not as important as why busy. The bee is praised: the mosquito is swatted.
Don’t pray “Our Father” on Sunday and then spend the rest of the week living like an orphan.
Joy comes by making Jesus first, others second, and yourself last - and distantly so !
The closer we are to the Shepherd, the farther we are from the wolf.
Some people go through life standing at the complaint counter.
I am neither for or against apathy.
“The hero reveals the possibilities of human nature.
The celebrity reveals the possibilities of the press and media.
Celebrities are people who make news, but heroes are people who make history.
Time makes heroes but dissolves celebrities.”
ON THE COURSE: Too many amateur golfers are inclined to play "winter rules," even during the perfect conditions of summer. They move the ball into their own fairway, perhaps even in the rough, before hitting it. The more serious golfer will typically play it as it lies. There ware many advantages to doing this. One is that it gives you practice hitting the ball from the kinds of lies that occur on the golf course - a ball sitting in a deep divot, nasty sloping lies, and those bothersome tufts of grass behind the ball. Then, in tournament play, the player is more prepared for those uncomfortable situations. Furthermore, for the purist, it's simply a matter of playing each round according to the rules so you have the satisfaction of knowing your true score.
IN LIFE: In life we also must "play it as it lies." There are no free lifts or "bumps." We have to learn to deal with the circumstances that come our way. Difficult situations are simply a part of life. Maturity comes as we learn to cope with these challenges and allow them to make us stronger people.
SWING THOUGHT: Trust God to give you the ability (provision) to play out of any difficult "lie" that comes your way. He will hear your prayer and give you the courage you need to play on.
It is the VETERAN, not the preacher, who has given us freedom of religion.
It is the VETERAN, not the reporter, who has given us freedom of the press.
It is the VETERAN, not the poet, who has given us freedom of speech.
It is the VETERAN, not the campus organizer, who has given us freedom to assemble
It is the VETERAN, not the lawyer, who has given us the right to a fair trial.
It is the VETERAN, not the politician, Who has given us the right to vote.
"The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly; it is dearness only that gives everything its value. I love the man that can smile in trouble, that can gather strength from distress and grow brave by reflection. 'Tis the business of little minds to shrink; but he whose heart is firm, and whose conscience approves his conduct, will pursue his principles unto death." Thomas Paine
If you look at what you do not have in life, you don’t have anything.
If you look at what you have in life, you have everything. Author Unknown
The Handshake
We live in a divided world. Nations are divided. We see it in the Middle East and across Africa. All over the world nations not only are striving against one another, but they are torn by strife within. It is a problem as old as humanity itself.
I was interested to read somewhere about the origin of the custom of handshaking. In ancient times, men always carried daggers. When a traveler met a man he didn't recognize, he automatically reached for his weapon, as did the stranger. The two would then circle each other until they knew what the situation called for. If the stranger was not a threat, both men would sheath their daggers. Then they would extend their right hands, their weapon hands, as a token of goodwill. This explains why women never developed the custom of handshaking. They did not carry weapons.
It appears to me that in today's world we are still circling each other as we always have, still checking each other out. The nations of the world are not ready to shake hands. They are divided.
Looking for Security
In a Peanuts cartoon, Linus tells Charlie Brown, “When I hear those coyotes howling at night, it totally depresses me. I start to feel lonely . . . Then I get scared.”
Charlie Brown says, “I thought holding onto that blanket made you secure.”
Linus replies, “I think the warranty has run out.”
That’s the problem with most security blankets. Their warranty runs out.
I have so much to do today, I don’t know which to put off first.
I called a company the other day who said on their voice recording that my call was important to them but not important enough for them to pick up the phone .
They ought to put expiration dates on men’s clothes so we will know when they are out of date.
Pledge of Allegiance by Red Skelton
As a schoolboy, one of Red Skelton's teachers explained the words and meaning of the Pledge of Allegiance to his class. Skelton later wrote down, and eventually recorded, his recollection of this lecture. It is followed by an observation of his own.
I - Me, an individual, a committee of one.
Pledge - Dedicate all of my worldly good to give without self-pity.
Allegiance - My love and my devotion.
To the Flag - Our standard; Old Glory; a symbol of Courage; and wherever she waves there is respect, because your loyalty has given her a dignity that shouts, Freedom is everybody's job.
of the United - That means that we have all come together.
States - Individual communities that have united into forty-eight great states. Forty-eight individual communities with pride and dignity and purpose. All divided by imaginary boundaries, yet united to a common cause, and that is love of country, of America..
And to the Republic - A Republic - a sovereign state in which power is invested in the representatives chosen by the people to govern. And the government is the people; and it's from the people to the leaders, not from the leaders to the people.
For which it stands
One Nation One Nation - meaning, so blessed by God.
Indivisible - Incapable of being divided.
With Liberty - Which is Freedom; the right of power for one to live his own life, without fears, threats, or any sort of retaliation.
And Justice - The principle, and qualities, of dealing fairly with others.
For All - For All - that means, boys and girls, it's as much your country as it is mine.
Now, let me hear you recite the Pledge of Allegiance:
I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic, for which it stands; one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
Since I was a small boy, two states have been added to our country, and two words have been added to the Pledge of Allegiance: Under God.
Mantra of contemporary TV: Love everyone and especially me !
How many times does the word “America” appear in the Star Spangled Banner?
“In a consumer society, there are invariably two kinds of slaves: the prisoners of addiction and the prisoners of envy.” (Ivan Illich)
Get your facts first and then you can distort them in any way you please.
Who Says?
Philosophers say… Think your way out.
Intellectuals say… Read your way out.
Artists say… Create your way out.
Scientists say… Invent your way out.
Politicians say… Legislate your way out.
Industrialists say… Work your way out.
Businessmen say… Spend your way out.
Satan says… There is no way out.
Jesus says… “I am the Way the Truth and the Life: no man comet unto the Father but by Me.”
If you want to be there when the roll is called up yonder, you best be present when the roll is called down here.
How busy is not as important as why busy. The bee is praised: the mosquito is swatted.
Don’t pray “Our Father” on Sunday and then spend the rest of the week living like an orphan.
Joy comes by making Jesus first, others second, and yourself last - and distantly so !
The closer we are to the Shepherd, the farther we are from the wolf.
Some people go through life standing at the complaint counter.
I am neither for or against apathy.
“The hero reveals the possibilities of human nature.
The celebrity reveals the possibilities of the press and media.
Celebrities are people who make news, but heroes are people who make history.
Time makes heroes but dissolves celebrities.”
ON THE COURSE: Too many amateur golfers are inclined to play "winter rules," even during the perfect conditions of summer. They move the ball into their own fairway, perhaps even in the rough, before hitting it. The more serious golfer will typically play it as it lies. There ware many advantages to doing this. One is that it gives you practice hitting the ball from the kinds of lies that occur on the golf course - a ball sitting in a deep divot, nasty sloping lies, and those bothersome tufts of grass behind the ball. Then, in tournament play, the player is more prepared for those uncomfortable situations. Furthermore, for the purist, it's simply a matter of playing each round according to the rules so you have the satisfaction of knowing your true score.
IN LIFE: In life we also must "play it as it lies." There are no free lifts or "bumps." We have to learn to deal with the circumstances that come our way. Difficult situations are simply a part of life. Maturity comes as we learn to cope with these challenges and allow them to make us stronger people.
SWING THOUGHT: Trust God to give you the ability (provision) to play out of any difficult "lie" that comes your way. He will hear your prayer and give you the courage you need to play on.
It is the VETERAN, not the preacher, who has given us freedom of religion.
It is the VETERAN, not the reporter, who has given us freedom of the press.
It is the VETERAN, not the poet, who has given us freedom of speech.
It is the VETERAN, not the campus organizer, who has given us freedom to assemble
It is the VETERAN, not the lawyer, who has given us the right to a fair trial.
It is the VETERAN, not the politician, Who has given us the right to vote.
posted by joypastordon at 8:54 PM
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