The rules of the game are posted at the beginning. Each player answers the questions about himself. At the end of the post, the player stabs tags five people and posts their names, then goes to their homes blogs and leaves them each a comment, letting them know that they have been tagged.

10 years ago
I was teaching at the school of the americas- a joint teaching position at Fort Benning, Georgia. I was teaching democratic sustainment, human rights and just war theory. It was a challenging job in that the course work was at the college level and all the instruction to include lesson plans were written and taught in Spanish. Probably, one of the most difficult things that I have done in that my native language is English. I enjoyed the officers from central and south America. They would bring their families with them, their children and spouses. Many of the spouses were well educated - doctors, lawyers, dentists. However, all the women were deeply invested in their families. They treated me like a Catholic priest. They all called me Padre, and I was an integral part of their lives, i.e., visiting their homes, taking them to church and blessing their families (literally).
5 things on my to do list today

Church
Interview with Christine
Attend Fireside on B of M
Schedule out the week
Prepare talk on Tithing and Fast Offerings for HC

5 snacks I enjoy
Cracker Jacks - What do you got when you have to have something
String cheese
Almonds
Popcorn - Carmel
Wheat thins
Tortilla chips

What I would do if I was given a billion dollars
I thing I would invest it, and give a majority of it away. I don't believe too much money is good for the soul
3 bad habits

Leaving my wet towel on the bed after a shower
Leaving the refrigerator door open
Not exercising daily

5 places I have lived

Honolulu, HI
Fairbanks, AK
Fayetteville, NC
Fort Benning, Georgia
Schweinfurt, Germany

5 jobs I have had

Zimi Man BYU
Steel Worker
Teacher
Ground Crew
Working with migrants


5 things people don't know about me

I love to cross country ski
I am a bungalow ficionado
I played in the symphony at BYU
I use to go to the formula 500 race ca events - watching parneli jones, and AJ foyt.
I love louis Lamoir novels

Commitment

Scripture: Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

The other day I was thinking about a young Army black hawk pilot who lost her life while flying in Iraq. She was a young woman in the prime of her life. She had dreams and goals. She wanted children, and she could hardly wait until her time was done in the service so that she could become a mother. She was married to a wonderful husband who was also serving in Iraq at the time of her death. They were both serving their country, and they both were excited about life. She would often comment to me how important her family was to her, and that when this conflict was over how excited she was to get on with life.

However, she had a commitment to fulfill. She did, indeed, fulfill that commitment. Sometimes things do not turn out the way we want them. Sometimes our commitments in life seem unjust. We don’t like the way things turn out and many times we can not see another solution. My father would always tell me that there will be another day, and that there will be another time. For this young pilot, there will not be another day. However, I know that one’s life is not done with this mortal existence.

So, what caused me to think of this young Soldier? We all need to fulfill our commitments whatever they might be. There is honor in persevering. Usually, the easy road is not the best road. And, the cup that we drink from though it be bitter, at times, can also be sweet.

Just a thought

Here Christine and I are with the Chief of Chaplains of the Army. We are hosting him at the Hong Kong Harbor View Restaurant at the Aloha tower next to the wharf. We all chuckled at the end of the dinner because one of the dinner cruise ships pulled along side the wharf where we were eating dinner. It was like having a floor show out our window with the Polynesians and Tahition dancers doing the hula and their typical routines. We all laughed as only religious people can. They all thought that I had planned the gala afair. The Chief of the Chaplains is the gentleman on the right in the second row with the Hawaiian shirt. Of course, you can see Christine and Vance in their aloha regalia. Dinner for us was (me) sweet and sour pork, Christine - sesame chicken. It was yummy and the decor was grand.

This picture finds me riding the retro scooter with the local Harley on safety day. This was posted through out the island on the Army side of the house. I must admit I received alot of snickers from Soldiers and chuckles from friends. So enjoy, it's a hot ride!

Hieftz was a famous violinist. When I was a lad of twelve, my father took me to San Luis Obispo to meet his brother. Dad wanted to move to San Luis Obispo and teach at the local university. It never came to fruition, but I enjoyed visiting someone who had a famous brother.

The National Prayer Breakfast

SCRIPTURE: Isaiah 40:31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

Last week was the national prayer breakfast. I enjoyed listening to the music, hearing the scriptures read and the buzz of the crowd. Prayers were given for our nation, our leaders, our Soldiers, and for our families. We enjoyed the breakfast, and the fellowship one with another.

The speaker was the Chief of Chaplain of the Army, Chaplain (MG) Douglas Carver. He was introduced as an old Southern Baptist. The audience chuckled and we prepared to enjoy his sermon. He started with the usual greeting to Soldiers and distinguished guests. When it was over, everyone clapped and we departed with a good feeling. As I was going to my car getting ready to return to post, I asked myself, “What was the message of Chaplain Carver? What did I remember from his sermon?’.

It was that all us in our life at one time or another feel like we are in a pit. It may be the pit of depression, adversity or just feeling like life is unfair. Most of the time we quickly try to get out of the pit, but what do we learn while we are waiting in the pit?

Do we listen to the Lord and wait? Chaplain Carver pointed out that we wait to come home from war. We wait to get promoted. We wait to get married. We wait to have a baby (nine months). We wait for our tours to end. We wait for retirement. What are we learning from the Lord as we wait. We know that the Lord strengthens and blesses those who wait upon the Lord-Jonah waiting in the belly or the whale, Daniel waiting in the Den of Lions, Joshua waited in the desert with the Lord. The Children of Israel wondered and waited in the desert for forty years until they were delivered.

What do we learn from the Lord in our time of waiting? Do we learn from our experience or do we just complain? Is our wait one of futility or one of growth. The prayer breakfast ended with a good feeling. As I wait and journey through this life, it is my pray that we will be blessed by the Lord and be uplifted, and strengthened in whatever life presents to us.

Just a thought.

Swing Low, Sweet Chariot

I looked over Jordan and what did I see
Coming for to carry me home
A band of angels coming after me
Coming for to carry me home

Swing low, sweet chariot
coming for to carry me home Swing low, sweet chariot

Coming for to carry me home
(chorus)

Sometimes I'm up and sometimes I'm down
Coming for to carry me home
But still my soul feels heavenly bound
Coming for to carry me home

This morning I was listening to a CD which had one of my favorite songs on it, “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot.” An African American Negro spiritual first sung in 1862, by slaves yearning to be free. The slave’s faith and belief in God with their trust in the scriptures instilled in them a belief that one day they would, indeed, be free.

Swing Low, Sweet Chariot is included in the list of songs of the Century. That dream or the essence of the song, freedom, was further fulfilled by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., a civil rights leader who was instrumental in the civil rights movement of the 1960s.

Their faith (the slaves), coupled with their desire as a people to not succumb to that which was wrong, is the essence of what we celebrate, as a nation, on Martin Luther King Jr. day. It is an American holiday which honors the man, and his fight for civil rights.

The feeling of the song, Sweet Low, Sweet Chariot, when sung gives one hope in a world where many injustices still occur. Its message is one of faith in God. We can still, today, like the slaves of old be uplifted by its message. We can all be inspired by its lyrics. They are performed in a blues/jazz like style that when sung the feeling of the music, and rhythm of the beat, inspire and uplift ones soul.

Our souls can still feel heavenly bound, even in our darkest hours and we can all have that belief that one day all will be well.

Just a thought