Freedom Requires Sacrifice

Our country seems to forget the blood that has been shed to keep us free.Wars need to be run by generals not politicians. We are in a battle against an satanic evil force. The apostle Paul said it very clearly in Epesians 6:12. Our country has strayed away from God and he will not bless us until we ask forgiveness and seek to follow Him.

This weekend , I remember two uncles I had that fought in World War II. One was Donald Book who spent the war fighting in the Philippine jungles. He never said much about the war but after his death I received his bayonet. Recently I took it out of the original leather sheath and studied it. The knife blade had black pockets in the metal. They didn't have stainles steel knives then. I realized that the marks were made from blood that will eat small pockets in metal if it isn't cleaned immediately. I suddenly was aware that I was holding a piece of history. History hidden in the knife that I will never know. The other uncle was Donald Swartz who was in the navy in the north Atlantic. He was lost overboard and his body never recovered. I have some dark blue navy issued pants that were his. Again a part of history.

I thank my uncles for their sacrifices so I was allowed to grow up in a free country. I thank all our military for the job they are trying to do.

ALL GAVE SOME, SOME GAVE ALL

Heros

As a young boy my heros were Roy Rogers, Gene Autry, and Davy Crockett. As I grew older, I realized heros were ordinary people doing extra ordinary things. My Dad was my hero. He only had an eighth grade education yet people from our community sought his advice and counsel. His flower gardens were award winning quality. Another hero was my Grandpa Swartz who was a large framed man of quiet demeanor. He played a mean game of checkers and the first time I beat him at checkers, I knew I won fair and square. He still remains large in my life. My father-in-law was my hero. His body was inflicted with arthritic pain yet he had a smile and never complained. Heros are made not born.

Some of my more recent heros are men like Clebe Mc Clary, a Vietnam Marine whose body was shattered by a grenade and was never supposed to walk but who has not only walked but is a runner! He is a patriot and a warrior for Jesus. The five men I meet with each week that are my band of brothers are my heros. Without them I would not be growing and changing.

Anyone in the military is a hero. They put it on the line for us daily. One of them is Marine Terry Dunn who was injured in Iraq and is back serving his country. Another hero is Sgt. Brandon Adam who lost both legs in an explosion in Iraq. He is a fighter and God will raise him up to be a great man. HE WILL WALK AGAIN.

Heros live by Phillipians 4:13. I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.

Larry

Caterpillars and butterflies

The other day I saw my first swallowtail butterfly of the year. It was enjoying the sunny day and came by fluttering and seemed to say "Hello" and then went on its way. Our grand daughters love butterflies and scream in delight when they see one.

It is interesting how God takes a lowly caterpillar and turns it into a beautiful butterfly. The caterpillar has to crawl everywhere eating vegetation and butterfly gets to fly around drinking sweet nectar from colorful flowers. People are like that too. Many people never leave the caterpillar stage of life. They are content to keep crawling around ; their life is dull, boring and unfruitful. Others are like the butterfly; free flying, joyous and on a miision. They drink from the nectar of life. Their strength comes from knowing Jesus as their Friend, Lord , and Savior. When the winds of life try to blow them backwards; they receive the power through Christ to fly onward. They use Phillipians 4:13 to remind them where the strength comes from.

If you are a caterpillar let God change you through the power of Jesus into a butterfly so He can use you to do wonderous works. He will give you a new mind and you will see things differently by flying instead of crawling through life.
Larry

Lessons learned from canada geese

This morning I was working at a property along the shores of Lake Pend Oreille. The snow covered peaks of the Cabinet Mountains stood like sentinels over the valleys . Emerald green waves lapped quietly at the shore. Peaceful! Suddenly I was visited by the transient neighbors. I sometimes envy them as they make their summer home on this beautiful lake. God provides food for them and they often go south for the winter. They are canada geese; several pairs showed up with about 50 goslings.

As I watched them I thought about what they can teach us on marriage and raising a family. Canada geese mate for life. They don't fight or get divorced and always watch out for each other. As parents, they are very protective of their young. Females often take care of other goslings in the area. I noticed the young dutifully followed the adults. There was dicipline amoung the younsters.

Wouldn't it be nice if people could do the same. God put the same love those geese have for each other in humans too. God formed us to be loving and devoted to our spouses and to raise up children of character.

Larry

Listen for the Lord

Monday evening, Ardella and I went bear hunting. We stopped to look over a clearcut where bears like to hang out on a green strip of old road. The woods were quiet except for the distant calling of a great grey owl. The snow covered peaks of the Selkirk Range were magnificent and reminded me of the majesty of God. What an awesome Creator! We were greeted by a female mountain bluebird as she perched in a small cedar tree. Suddenly she flew to the top of a dead cedar snag and was joined by her mate. They were busy inspecting a nest cavity for their coming family. The bluebirds picked a tree with a tremendous view. They continued to fly around close to us and the colors of blue were spectacular. We also noticed a pair of robins busy feeding their little ones in a nest low to the ground in a small hemlock tree. It was tempting to go closer but we respected their privacy.

Psalm 46:10 says " Be still and know that I am God." Sometimes we need to slow down so we can listen to God . Take some time to to listen . Even Jesus went into the hills and wilderness to hear what his Father wanted to tell him. So go to the mountains , a lake shore , or a quiet place and listen for God. He will tell you some amazing things.

Larry Book