Veterans Day 2007

Recent news reports claim that veterans comprise 25% of the homeless in the United States. That is 1 in 4 of the homeless. These surviving war heroes who risked life and limb - often sacrificing limbs, health and quality of life - are unable to integrate back into regular society for a variety of reasons.

I would imagine that each story is different, yet essentially the same. The horrors of war take their toll. Many veterans suffer with PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder), which was called shell shock during World War I and combat fatigue during WW II.

Military returning from the Vietman war were heckled and spat on. There were no thanks for a job well done, although the veterans were not responsible for the debacle the federal government created in the way the war was fought or the withdrawing of our troops. The accomplishments of their military service were swept under the rug, as if the veterans should be ashamed of following orders and giving their all. It is only in recent years that Vietnam veterans have been publicly acknowledged and thanked for their sacrifices and service.

It took approximately ten years for the lives of some Vietnam vets to disintegrate into homelessness. There is the possibility the same will happen to a number of military personnel returning from Afghanistan and Iraq war duty.

Some of these men and women are still living in a war zone through memories and flashbacks. Anger, spousal abuse, depression and even suicide are potential fallouts with veterans. We need to consider what we - the parents, siblings, children, friends, neighbors and co-workers - can do to help these veterans to heal from their physical and mental war wounds and to return to life outside a war zone.

We honor all our veterans for their courage and selfless service. They are the backbone of our country's freedom.

www.mercyandpercy.com/

Irena Sendler

A friend sent a link to a story about a Polish woman named Irena Sendler. At great risk to her own life, she smuggled an astonishing number (2,500) of children out of the Warsaw Ghetto during the last three months before its extermination."

Many of the children's parents died in the Holocaust, but after the war ended, Irena Sendler worked diligently to find those children and return them to family members.

There were a number of heroic people who risked their lives to save others during the Holocaust. It is reputed that in Poland alone, six million were killed - three million Jews plus three million Christians and other non-Jews. Today, many scoff at the notion the Holocaust ever happened.

But truth stands, whether or not it is popular, and it should be indelibly recorded in every history book. The Holocaust is a fact of history, not a figment of the imagination. Unfortunately, those remaining of the generation who witnessed or experienced the Holocaust are few and, like Irena Sendler, elderly.

To read her story, click here.

www.mercyandpercy.com/

Pledge of Allegiance

Hmmm. I have no idea why I titled this "Pledge of Allegiance" yesterday. I got it right in the story - the national anthem. Just goes to prove I am not perfect. But those who know me are already aware of that.

I've heard from several that the rendition of the national anthem is terrible, something I already knew because I listened to it before posting it here. Sorry about that, but I can't change it. But I would like to add an update with new links at the end of this story.

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There is an email going around with a picture of Senator Barack Obama, Governor Bill Richardson, Senator Hillary Clinton and Ruth Harkin standing on a platform during the singing of the national anthem. Obama is the only person standing with his hands clasped instead of with his right hand over his heart, as is the American custom to show proper respect when the national anthem is played.

I located a video that relates to the photo.





One would think that a man who is running for President, the highest office in the United States of America, would show proper respect for our flag.

But then, one would think that a nation that has been so wonderfully blessed would show proper respect for God.

UPDATE: I want to add some links for this story because there have been a number of questions emailed to me. Originally, I found the video at snopes.com. (That video stopped working, so I changed it to one from YouTube.) Snopes is good about tracking down rumors, but possibly even they aren't perfect, so I did some more research and found the photo in question was published in the October 1, 2007 edition of "Time Magazine." It was taken at Tom Harkin's Iowa Steak Fry. And in case you didn't notice, the video is from ABC news.

www.mercyandpercy.com/

Bringing Back Russ

I have never seen a Gaither Homecoming video in its entirety. I finally saw a tiny portion of one several months ago when someone sent a link to a short song segment posted on YouTube. As I clicked on related song titles and watched other video snippets, I began to recognize some of the names associated with Bill and Gloria Gaither.

There are so many uplifting and talented artists, but this post is about a specific one - Russ Taff. He spent three years as part of the Gaither Vocal Band before resuming his solo career, which is still going strong.

He is a dynamic singer, with a voice one can quickly learn to recognize. There is something about him that "speaks" to me -- I've lived a hard life, had many trials and taken any number of wrong roads, but God has corrected me, brought me back to my roots and made me whole.

While googling another subject, I came across a recent interview with Russ Taff published on the Today's Pentacostal Evangel website. I hope you will take a moment to read the entire article, in which he speaks about how he became caught up in "the business of Christianity and the business of doing the Lord's work" and how the Holy Spirit led him out of "the business" and into surrender.

Russ Taff came to a point of total surrender in his life. He made the decision to follow God, no matter where or what. It was not easy but it changed his priorities and his life. His career is doing great. His family life is better than ever. And best of all, his faith is stronger.

Unfortunately for folks who sing like I do, if you can't sing on key before you surrender, you most likely won't be able to sing on key afterwards. But surrender all, as Russ did, and God will raise you up in His way, in His time, and in His service.

You can read the TPE article here - "Remembering The Call"

And this is one of my favorite Russ Taff songs - "They Call It Gospel Music."

www.mercyandpercy.com/

Sam Adams for Mayor

This is my chuckle and tale of the ridiculous for the day.

City Commissioner Sam Adams is running for mayor in Portland, Oregon. Two radio personalities from KEX named Mark Mason and Dave Anderson purchased two domain names for Sam Adams to use - www.mayorsamadams.com (not active – he hasn’t been elected yet) and www.samadamsformayor.com.

Unexpectedly, they received a name infringement letter from the Boston Beer Company. Boston Beer uses the trademarks Sam Adams® and Samuel Adams®, so Sam Adams – the human being – was to immediately cease and desist using his own name on a website. The letter the company’s Intellectual Property Manager sent to David Anderson was so ridiculous (and now famous) that it sold for $1475.90 on E-Bay.

It seems we have come a long way into the realm of the ridiculous when a man can’t use his own name to run for public office without causing a furor and a potential lawsuit. I don’t know Sam Adams and I don’t live in Portland, so I won’t be able to vote for or against him for mayor. But I will cast my vote that he be allowed to keep and use his own name.

You can read about the infamous letter and the hullabaloo it caused by clicking here.

http://www.mercyandpercy.com/