Duty * Honor * God * Country
The November 2008 Chaplain’s Epistle
HQs. TXSG
Chaplain [COL] Farrar Bentley, Command Chaplain
3502 Chevy Chase, Nacogdoches TX 75965-5839
e.mail: KG5LY@suddenlink.net, Fax: 936.569.7068
936.569.7447 Cell: 936.556.1589
25 October 2008
Veterans’ Day – 11 November 2008
Thanksgiving – 27 November 2008
Advent begins – 30 November 2008
A Veteran
Author unknown
A veteran – whether active duty, National Guard, Reserve, or retired – is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank check made payable to “The United States of America,” for an amount of “up to and including my life.” That is honor, and there are way too many people in this country who no longer understand it.
Prayer for Veterans’ Day
[This was published in the November 2007 of the Military Chaplain]
A Keith Ethridge, Acting Director, DVA, National Chaplain Center
Eternal God, we come together once again in this sacred place surrounded by a great crown of witnesses, whose voices are long silent but whose lives continue to tell freedom’s story. We gather to honor their memory as we honor all American Veterans, past and present, whose sacrifice secured liberty and justice for all. How frightening it is to think what this world would be like without the American Veteran. These heroes of American history have worn many uniforms and have been called by many names: Minutemen, Buffalo Soldiers, Devil Digs, Rangers, Reservists, Coastguardsmen, Green Berets, Leathernecks, SEALS, Seabees, Airborne, Special Forces, Fly Boys, Force Recon, Sailor, Soldier, Guardsman, Marine, but we know them best as father, mother, sister, brother, aunt, uncle, neighbor, and friend - our Nation’s Veterans.
Today we ask your special blessing on all Veterans who have taken the oath of military service. May we as a nation ever keep our promises to those who have been willing to give everything to defend and protect the Constitution of our great nation! In these moments, we especially remember all who grieve the loss of loved ones, all Veterans who bear the scars of battle in their bodies, minds, and spirits. Give them a measure of peace that passes all understanding. May they know that their sacrifices were not in vain and that a grateful nation takes time to stop this day from the hectic pace of life to honor them for who they are and for the great gift of freedom they have given us.
Help us to remember in our hearts and prayers today and everyday those Service Men and Women who continue the honored tradition of defending freedom around the world. We ask you to keep them safe from harm, and bring them safely back home to loved ones dear.
Hear our prayer, oh Lord! We humbly pray. Amen.
Last Living Veterans
American Revolution (1775 – 1783)
Daniel F. Bakeman, died 5 April 1869, age 109
War of 1812 (1812 – 1815)
Hiram Cronk, died 13 May 1905, age 105
Indian Wars (c. 1861 – 1898)
Fredrak Fraske, died 18 June 1973, age 101
Mexican War (1846 – 1848)
Owen Thomas Edgar, died 3 September 1929, age 101
Civil War (1861 – 1865)
Albert Woolson, Union, died 2 August 1956, age 109
John Salling, Confederate, died 16 March 1958, age 112
Spanish-American War (1898)
Nathan E. Cook, died 10 September 1992, age 106
World War I (1914 – 1918)
Last living veteran, Frank Buckles, born 1901
Active in Civic Clubs and drove a tractor until a couple of years ago!
Frank Buckles lived through WW I; visited Germany in the 1930s as a civilian; working for a steamship company in Manila, when in January 1942 he was captured by the Japanese, and was a prisoner for 39 months; and was liberated by the 11th Airborne Division. His comment on being the last living Veteran of WW I, “Someone has to do it. It kind of startles you.” His library contains more than 1000 volumes and his reading includes WW I and WW II history.
World War II (1941 – 1945)
Almost 16.1 million Americans served in WW II. The average enlistment was 33 months; 73% served in combat; and the average individual served 16 months in combat. WW II Veterans are dying at the rate of 1000+ each day.
Korea, Viet Nam, the Cold War, Gulf War I
Afghanistan, Iraq, the War on Terror
These veterans are still active and with us each day. Express your appreciation to each of them for their service. Out Texas Military Forces contain individuals who have served in these wars. Take a moment and listen to their stories.
Recommended Reading:
Why We Fight: Moral Clarity and the War on Terrorism
William J. Bennett, PhD
Dr. Bennett takes us from the events of 9/11 and leads into the current protracted and dangerous struggle, unlike any other in our history, where it is important that we confront and respond to our self-doubts as he refutes myths and misconceptions about American’s character and role in world affairs. Once you begin reading, it is a difficult book to put down. Bill Bennett received his PhD from the University of Texas, he has served in a presidential cabinet, and he is the author of numerous books, including: The Book of Virtues and the Moral Compass.
“One Nation, Under God”
Joshua 24:1-3a, 14-25
These are words in the Pledge of Allegiance. We have said them hundreds of times, but do you know why these words were added? On Veterans’ Day we are focused on things patriotic.
Francis Bellamy, a Baptist minister, wrote the Pledge in August 1892. He wrote it for a specific occasion; he created the Pledge for Massachusetts school children to use in a flag raising ceremony on Columbus Day, 1892, the 400th anniversary of Columbus’ landing. He did not mention God.
In 1954 at the height of the Cold War many Americans felt that we had to distinguish ourselves from the Soviet Union. The Knights of Columbus led a nationwide campaign to add these words to the Pledge. President Eisenhower signed the legislation after hearing a clergyman proclaim that little children in Moscow could easily recite a similar pledge to their flag. About the same time, “In God We Trust” was stamped on all of our coins.
Thanksgiving 2008
From the Chaplain…
This year I would like to open this portion of the Epistle with a “thanksgiving” that touches each of us. Within three years, members of the Texas Military Forces have been involved with Katrina, Rita, Dolly, Eduard, Gustav, and Ike. We have seen this nation involved in relief, rescue, and recovery efforts as no other nation on earth could marshal at any given time. Our highways contained convoys of thousands of vehicles with supplies, food, water, ice, equipment, technicians, utility equipment, private industry, state and federal assets, individuals, organizations, the military, and churches, churches, and churches! Professionals and individuals from every walk in life joined together for a common cause. I stand in awe of what I have observed. We read in the Exodus of the Old Testament, that no matter what God provided, there were “murmurings” and “grumblings” and “discontent,” and that was three thousand years ago!
We must put all of this in perspective. Yes, there are lessons to be learned so that we don’t break our arms patting ourselves on the back. But we must also remind ourselves and others of the alternative of not attempting to do anything. All too often the “murmurings” and “grumblings” of the press and politicians have been at the forefront of the news and the political trails. We should and must speak up and remind others to be “thankful” for what has been provided!
After our prayerful “Thanksgivings” for life, our God, our faith, our family, our health, and our forefathers, we must offer and live our “Thanksgivings” for our nation and what we represent.
Our fathers’ God, to thee, author of liberty, to thee we sing;
long may our land be bright with freedom’s holy light,
protect us by thy might, great God our king.
The last stanza of “America’s Hymn”
Say a Prayer
Little Johnny and his family were having dinner at his Grandmother’s house. Everyone was seated around the table as the food was being served. When little Johnny received his plate, he started eating right away.
“Johnny! Please wait until we say our prayer,” said his mother.
“I don’t need to,” the boy replied.
“Of course you do,” his mother insisted, “We always say a prayer before eating at our house.”
“That’s at our house,” Johnny explained. “But this is Grandma’s house and she knows how to cook.”
Just Stay
The Anglican Digest, Pentecost, A. D. 2008
There are some things in this world which are gifts beyond price; gifts that mean so much to another there is no way to fix a value. Sometime we might never know the value of what we do. We do it because it is the right or the appropriate thing to do.
A nurse took the tired, anxious serviceman to the bedside. “Your son is here,” she said to the old man. She had to repeat the words several times before the patient’s eyes opened. He was heavily sedated because of the pain of his heart attack; he dimly saw the young uniformed marine standing outside the oxygen tent. He reached out his hand. The Marine wrapped his toughened fingers around the old man’s limp ones, squeezing a message of love and encouragement. The nurse brought a chair so the Marine could sit beside the bed. All through the night the young marine sat there in the poorly lighted ward, holding the old man’s hand and offering words of love and strength. Occasionally, the nurse suggested that the Marine move away and rest awhile.
He refused. Whenever the nurse came into the ward, the Marine was oblivious to her and to the night noises of the hospital --- the clanking of the oxygen tank, the laughter of the night staff members exchanging greetings, the cries and the moans of other patients in the ward.
Now and then she heard him say a few gentle words. The dying man said nothing, only held tightly to his son all through the night. Along towards dawn the old man died. The Marine released the now lifeless hand and went to tell the nurse. While she did what she had to do, he waited.
Finally she returned. She started to offer words of sympathy, but the Marine interrupted her. “Who was that man?” he asked. The nurse was startled. “He was your father,” she replied. “No, he wasn’t, the Marine replied. I never saw him before in my life.”
“Then why didn’t you say something when I took you to him?”
“I knew right away there had been a mistake, but I also knew he needed his son, and his son wasn’t here. When I realized that he was too sick to tell whether or not I was his son, knowing how much he needed me, I stayed.”
The next time someone needs you --- just be there. Just stay. Some food for thought…
Ignatian Skill Set
The Rev. Frank Majka, S. J., Associate Director, University Ministry, Marquette University
In the Principal and Foundations of the Spiritual Exercises, St. Ignatius wrote that all human beings are created to “praise, reverence and serve God our Lord.” We will be able to follow the example set by St. Ignatius more naturally and more consistently if we work on some spiritual skill building.
Praise of God arises from an awareness of who God is and what God has done. To praise God, we have to spend time observing our wonderful world – not just the big things (such as the universe) but small things as well, like the color of a blue jay, the smell after a warm rain, or the way a friend smiles. Taking time (always a challenge in our busy culture) to notice the details provides more opportunities to praise God. When we practice seeing what God had made, including the whole world of peoples’ gifts and talents, we move more naturally into honoring the One whose beauty and goodness they mirror.
Reverence depends on our ability to value things as they deserve to be valued. When we believe that God merits our total love and loyalty, we reverence God with our respect and love. God told us that showing respect for him requires that we also show respect and love for other people, including people we don’t necessarily like or agree with. When we become more practiced in valuing God, people and the world around us (including our planet and its resources), we become better at showing appropriate reverence and respect.
Finally, we are made to serve God, to put ourselves at God’s disposal so that he can accomplish his purposes in and through us. We do this more easily when we have developed the attitude of “Thy will, not mine be done” and when we let God have the final word. It’s easier to do this if we have trust that God will do what is best. We also practice serving God by putting ourselves in the service of others --- these are skills that help us praise, reverence, and serve God our Lord. Like all skills, they need cultivation and frequent use so that they become habits that lead not only to the shaping of our souls, but with God’s help, to the saving of them as well.
Unanswered Prayer
The preacher’s 5-year-old daughter noticed that her father always paused and bowed his head for a moment before beginning his sermon. One day she asked him why.
“Well honey,” he began, proud that his daughter was so observant of his messages. “I’m asking the Lord to help me preach a good sermon.”
“How come he doesn’t answer it?” she asked.
Doing the Right Thing
The Anglican Digest, Michaelmas, A.D. 2008
Doing the right thing may have a price but the witness is worth it. With two runners on base and a strike against her, Sara Tucholsky of Western Oregon University uncorked her best swing and did something she had never done in high school or college. She hit her first home run. The ball cleared the center field fence, but it seemed to be the shortest of dreams-come-true when she missed first base, started back to tag it, and collapsed with a knee injury.
She crawled back to first but was in such pain, she could do no more. The first base coach said she would be called out if her teammates tried to help her. “Or,” the umpire said, “a pinch runner could be called in, and the homer would count as just a single.”
Then members of the opposing Central Washington University team stunned their home crowd in Ellingsburg by carrying Tucholsky around the bases so the three-run homer would count – an act that ultimately contributed to their own elimination in the playoffs.
Central Washington first baseman Mallory Holtman, the all time home run leader in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference, asked the umpire if she and her teammates could help Tucholsky. The umpire said there was no rule against it. So Holtman and shortstop Liz Wallace put their arms under Tucholsky’s legs and she put her arms over their shoulders. The three headed around the base paths, stopping to let Tucholsky touch each base with her good leg.
“It was the right thing to do,” Holtman told Early Show co-anchor Julie Chen. She hit it over the fence. She deserved the home run.”
“We didn’t know that she was a senior or that this was her first home run,” Wallace added.
“The only thing I remember is that Mallory asked me which leg was the one that hurt,” Tucholsky said. “I told her it was my right leg and she said, ‘OK, we’re going to drop you down gently and you need to touch it with your left leg,’ and I said ‘OK, thank you very much.’”
As the trip reached home the entire Western Oregon team was in tears.
Central Washington coach Gary Frederick, 70, a 14-year coaching veteran, called the act of sportsmanship “unbelievable.”
“It’s a great story,” Pam Knox, Tucholsky’s coach, observed. “Something I’ll never forget --- the game’s about character and integrity and sportsmanship… it’s not always about winning and losing.”
Her home run sent Western Oregon to a 4-2 victory, ending Central Washington’s chances of winning the conference and advancing to the playoffs, but… it was the right thing to do.
Some food for thought…
Living Thanksgiving
By Pamela Kennedy
From the earliest days, I taught my children to say “thank you” when they received something. Good manner required it. Saying “thank you” was the proper thing to do. Before long the words popped out of their mouths with regularity and, as with most habits, little thought. When they were old enough to print, we moved on to thank you notes. These were required to be written before a gift could be enjoyed (good manners again). My intent was for my children to incorporate the giving of thanks as a lifestyle, but often they view the inevitable thank-you note as a chore and the thankful sentiments on the note seldom reflected heartfelt gratitude. Just a few days ago I was leafing through a book catalogue and saw an advertisement for a book claiming to contain “just the right words” for any situation, from thank-you notes to condolences. I wondered if those all-purpose sentiments would be as those of my reluctant children.
Whereas our spoken and written words are certainly important, perhaps a more meaningful expression of thanks is to live in such a way that our actions and attitudes reflect the gratitude in our hearts. There are many beautiful examples of this kind of living thanksgiving found on the pages of the Bible. King Solomon built the greatest temple Israel ever knew as an offering of thanksgiving to God. This magnificent structure was looted and destroyed by conquering invaders, but over 400 years later, the prophet Ezra supervised a rebuilding effort that resulted in a second temple. Although Ezra’s temple lacked the beauty and grandeur of Solomon’s, the motivation for its construction was the same; and when the re-gathered people of Israel laid the foundation, Scripture tells us they sang to God with praise and thanksgiving (Ezra 3:11). In the pages of the Gospels we read of a poverty-stricken outcast who learned that Jesus was dining with a Pharisee. She risked all she had to enter the wealthy man’s home, anoint the Lord with perfume, wash his feet with her tears, and dry them with her hair. And what was her motivation? Jesus said it was gratitude (Luke 7:36-50).
These examples of thanksgiving go far beyond the spoken or written word. They are living thank-you notes scripted in acts of devotion and compassion. How would our lives and those around us be changed if we began living our thanksgiving? We might not be able to build a grand temple, but we could build hope in others by lending a hand when they are in need. We can donate time, money, or expertise to projects that train people to rebuild their own lives. We cannot minister to Jesus directly, but hasn’t he said whatever we do for the least of his children, we do for him? In his name we can wipe away the tears of a frightened child or pour the perfume of kindness on someone in despair. We can listen to one who is lonely and hold the hand of one who is in grief.
There is no need to limit our thank you to notes and phone calls. When we allow gratitude for what God has done for us to spill over into the lives of others we become examples of living thanksgiving.
Values Are Your Most Important Parenting Tool
Stanton L. and Brenna B. Jones
Think of all the different things one can value, good and bad, as ways to get the acceptance and love we need: communication, beauty, vivaciousness, domination, going along with the crowd, superficiality, politeness, humor, seductiveness, honesty, sexual conquest. And any of the following and more can be thought of as ways to achieve significance: punctuality, workaholism, diligence, wealth, power, deceit, frugality, competitiveness, precision, evasion of responsibility. One person develops an unspoken plan for achieving significance by compulsive work habits that will force his supervisors to respect him; another attempts to meet the deep need for relatedness by a series of superficial and promiscuous sexual relationships. A young teenager, despairing of real purpose for her life, tries to fill the gaping void with slavish conformity to her peer group. The kinds of goals we work toward range from the grandiose to the pathetic. One person yearns to be President or to posses a million dollars by age forty.
Another lives day to day trying desperately to avoid criticism that would be devastating, or to receive the approval of others who are seen as respected or esteemed.
What we say about our goals or values is important, but our goals and values are probably most honestly and directly expressed in the choices we make. The father who says he values time with his children but never makes the choices necessary to spend that time with them is speaking clearly about his real values through his actions. People often seem blind to their own values. We know what we ought to value much more intimately than what we truly value.
Children Are Watching
Parents teach their values to their children most powerfully by the values they as parents live by. This is one of the most frightening facts about parenthood. Our children read us like a book for what we value. Our lives tell our children what we deem important and not important. Do we overdose on work and put little effort in friendship?
Have we despaired of ever being significant and thus hide behind a sneering veneer of cynicism about our own vocation and those of others? Are we slaves to the approval of others and evidence little commitment to goals which are ours alone and for which we need no one else’s approval? Do we take greater joy in our material possessions than in the service of the Lord? Do we always have time for television and other recreational pursuits and no time for community service? It behooves all of us to do an honest assessment of where our time is going and what this says about our values. Then we have to go the additional step and ask, “Is this what I want to teach my child to value; is this what really matters?
We also communicate our values in our praise. Do we praise our children for grades they get, or for the skills they are developing? For winning, or for using their gifts well? For being quiet, unobtrusive, and leaving us alone, or for doing something right even if it makes us uncomfortable? Do we praise our children for fitting in, for being popular, for going with the flow, or for showing strength, independence, and character even when, because of it they are not accepted by others as they might otherwise have been?
We need to think deliberately as Christians about the values we want our children to manifest. It is vital that we get down to the most fundamental levels of what we value, and make sure that we are always encouraging that in our children. A vibrant faith is the most fundamental need for the future. We try to shape our children to value such a faith by modeling that faith ourselves, by talking openly about how important that faith is, and by praising any manifestation of such faith in our children. We often remind our children, “We really are proud of that you are doing well in school (or piano, baseball, friendships, Bible school, etc.), but never forget (and help me never forget) that the only thing that matters is whether you love your God with your whole heart and are following him in obedience.
If you do that, then your life will have value. Without that, nothing really matters. God is calling you right now to be a student (pianist, second baseman, etc.), and I think God is happy that you are doing well at that for him.
ADVENT
Many Christian traditions celebrate Advent as a time of preparation for the annual observance of the Birth of Christ. Advent (from the Latin, Adventus, “coming,” as of Christ) is the liturgical season immediately before Christmas. In Western Christianity, the first Sunday of Advent, is the Sunday nearest to Saint Andrew’s Day (30 November). This year Advent Sunday falls on the 30th of November. The season of Advent begins the ecclesiastical year. There are four Sundays in Advent. In Eastern/Orthodox Christianity Advent is longer and begins earlier in November. The Advent Season is celebrated with candles, Advent calendars, and with the lections/lessons from the Old and New Testaments, and the Gospels preparing the faithful for the birth of Christ. This is a beautiful season where Scripture and tradition keep the individual focused and at peace, as opposed to the excesses and materialism of the secular season.
Prayer for the Election
Almighty God, to whom we must account for all our powers and privileges: Guide the people of the United States in the election of officials and representatives; that, by faithful administration and wise laws, the rights of all may be protected and our nation be enabled to fulfill your purposes; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen, The Book of Common Prayer
Prayer for our Country
Almighty God, who hast given us this good land for our heritage: we humbly beseech thee that we may always prove ourselves to be a people mindful of thy favor and glad to do thy will. Bless our land with honorable industry, sound learning, and pure manners. Save us from violence, discord, and confusion; from pride and arrogance, and from every evil way. Defend our liberties, and fashion into one united people the multitudes brought hither out of many kindreds and tongues. Endue with the spirit of wisdom those to whom in thy name we entrust the authority of government, that there may be justice and peace at home, and that, through obedience to thy law, we may show forth thy praise among all nations of the earth. In the time of prosperity, fill our hearts with thankfulness, and in the day of trouble, suffer not our trust in thee to fail; all which we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. The Book of Common Prayer
Prayer for our Enemies
O God, the Father of all, whose Son commanded us to love our enemies: lead them and us from prejudice to truth; deliver them and us from hatred, cruelty, and revenge; and in your good time enable us to all stand reconciled before you; through Jesus Christ. Amen. The Book of Common Prayer
Reminders
- In your daily prayers remember all members of the military service and their families.
- In your service to the Guard, do not neglect your family responsibilities.
- Be respectful of the religious beliefs of others.
- Live what Eleanor Roosevelt wrote in 1937, “One can only be made to feel inferior (or offended) with his own permission.”
- Be thankful of all blessings – and they come in various forms and fashions – avoid complaining!
- Thank God for the opportunity to serve others!
|