TWO WOLVES
One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people.
He said, "My son, the battle is between two wolves inside us all.
"One is Evil - It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.
"The other is Good - It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith."
The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather: "Which wolf wins?"
The old Cherokee simply replied, "The one you feed."
Author--Anonymous
Friday, April 30, 2010
Walking With God
The story is told of Charlie Duke in a documentary. Charlie was one of the NASA astronauts of the Apollo 16 which went to the moon back in 1972. While the command ship orbited the moon, he, along with a fellow astronaut landed the lunar module Orion on the surface of the moon. They conducted three days of experiments and collected rocks from the moon’s surface. Apollo 16 and crew then returned safely to earth.
Sometime later, Duke had a spiritual awaking when one of his friends invited him to participate in a Bible study. After studying the Bible, he decided to obey the Gospel of Christ. He said a peace came over him that went beyond words. This experience was so profound that Charlie could not contain himself and wanted to share his spiritual awakening with other people. He told anyone who would listen that his walk on the moon lasted three days and it was a great adventure. But he said his walk with God lasts forever!
The Bible tells us of another man who walked with God. In Genesis 5:24, we read, “Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him.” (See Hebrews 11:5). Our spiritual walk with God lasts beyond this life and enters into eternity. We have so much more to gain when we decide to listen to the Lord. He said that He “is the way, the truth, and the life and no man cometh to the Father except by Him.” (John 14:6).
In James 4:8, we are given this sound advice through Inspiration of the Holy Spirit, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you…” God isn’t going to force Himself upon anyone, but He’s willing and wants to be your Heavenly Father. He has eternal life to give all those who want to spent eternity in that blissful place called Heaven.
We can learn a wonderful lesson from Charlie and Enoch. No matter what your situations are, you can walk with God forever, provided you become obedient to His Will. Are you ready for that journey that transcends this vast universe? Keep eternity’s goal in sight by walking daily in God’s light!
“Let me walk with You, dear Saviour, Side by side and hand in hand; Keep me clean and pure and faithful, Till I reach the heavenly land.” (Hess).
This was not written by me--Tom Stanford
The story is told of Charlie Duke in a documentary. Charlie was one of the NASA astronauts of the Apollo 16 which went to the moon back in 1972. While the command ship orbited the moon, he, along with a fellow astronaut landed the lunar module Orion on the surface of the moon. They conducted three days of experiments and collected rocks from the moon’s surface. Apollo 16 and crew then returned safely to earth.
Sometime later, Duke had a spiritual awaking when one of his friends invited him to participate in a Bible study. After studying the Bible, he decided to obey the Gospel of Christ. He said a peace came over him that went beyond words. This experience was so profound that Charlie could not contain himself and wanted to share his spiritual awakening with other people. He told anyone who would listen that his walk on the moon lasted three days and it was a great adventure. But he said his walk with God lasts forever!
The Bible tells us of another man who walked with God. In Genesis 5:24, we read, “Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him.” (See Hebrews 11:5). Our spiritual walk with God lasts beyond this life and enters into eternity. We have so much more to gain when we decide to listen to the Lord. He said that He “is the way, the truth, and the life and no man cometh to the Father except by Him.” (John 14:6).
In James 4:8, we are given this sound advice through Inspiration of the Holy Spirit, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you…” God isn’t going to force Himself upon anyone, but He’s willing and wants to be your Heavenly Father. He has eternal life to give all those who want to spent eternity in that blissful place called Heaven.
We can learn a wonderful lesson from Charlie and Enoch. No matter what your situations are, you can walk with God forever, provided you become obedient to His Will. Are you ready for that journey that transcends this vast universe? Keep eternity’s goal in sight by walking daily in God’s light!
“Let me walk with You, dear Saviour, Side by side and hand in hand; Keep me clean and pure and faithful, Till I reach the heavenly land.” (Hess).
This was not written by me--Tom Stanford
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Matthew 7:13-27
13) "Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is easy, that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. 14) For the gate is narrow and the way is hard, that leads to life, and those who find it are few. 15) Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16) You will know them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorns, or figs from thistles? 17) So, every sound tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears evil fruit. 18) A sound tree cannot bear evil fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19) Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20) Thus you will know them by their fruits. 21) Not every one who says to me, `Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22) On that day many will say to me, `Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?' 23)And then will I declare to them, `I never knew you; depart from me, you evildoers.' 24) Every one then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house upon the rock; 25) and the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat upon that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 26) And every one who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house upon the sand; 27) and the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell; and great was the fall of it."
13) "Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is easy, that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. 14) For the gate is narrow and the way is hard, that leads to life, and those who find it are few. 15) Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16) You will know them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorns, or figs from thistles? 17) So, every sound tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears evil fruit. 18) A sound tree cannot bear evil fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19) Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20) Thus you will know them by their fruits. 21) Not every one who says to me, `Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22) On that day many will say to me, `Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?' 23)And then will I declare to them, `I never knew you; depart from me, you evildoers.' 24) Every one then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house upon the rock; 25) and the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat upon that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 26) And every one who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house upon the sand; 27) and the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell; and great was the fall of it."
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Fact or Fiction
1. The Post Office. Get ready to imagine a world without the post office. They are so deeply in financial trouble that there is probably no way to sustain it long term. Email, Fed Ex, and UPS have just about wiped out the minimum revenue needed to keep the post office alive. Most of your mail
every day is junk mail and bills.
2. The Check. Britain is already laying the groundwork to do away with checks by 2018. It costs the financial system billions of dollars a year to process checks. Plastic cards and online transactions will lead to the eventual demise of the check. This plays right into the death of the post office. If you never paid your bills by mail and never received them by mail, the post office would absolutely go out of business.
3. The Newspaper. The younger generation simply doesn't read the newspaper. They certainly don't subscribe to a daily delivered print edition. That may go the way of the milkman and the laundry man. As for reading the paper online, get ready to pay for it. The rise in mobile Internet devices and e-readers has caused all the newspaper and magazine publishers to form an alliance. They have met with Apple, Amazon, and the major cell phone companies to develop a model for paid subscription services.
4. The Book. You say you will never give up the physical book that you hold in your hand and turn the literal pages. I said the same thing about downloading music from iTunes. I wanted my hard copy CD. But I quickly changed my mind when I discovered that I could get albums for half the
price without ever leaving home to get the latest music. The same thing will happen with books. You can browse a bookstore online and even read a preview chapter before you buy. And the price is less than half that of a real book. And think of the convenience! Once you start flicking your fingers on the screen instead of the book, you find that you are lost in the story, can't wait to see what happens next, and you forget that you're holding a
gadget instead of a book.
5. The Land Line Telephone. Unless you have a large family and make a lot of local calls, you don't need it anymore. Most people keep it simply because they've always had it. But you are paying double charges for that extra service. All the cell phone companies will let you call customers using the same cell provider for no charge against your minutes.
6. Music. This is one of the saddest parts of the change story. The music industry is dying a slow death. Not just because of illegal downloading.
It's the lack of innovative new music being given a chance to get to the people who would like to hear it. Greed and corruption is the problem.
The record labels and the radio conglomerates are simply self-destructing. Over 40% of the music purchased today is "catalog items," meaning traditional music that the public is familiar with. Older established artists. This is also true on the live concert circuit. To explore this fascinating and disturbing topic further, check out the book, "Appetite for Self-Destruction" by Steve Knopper, and the video documentary, "Before the Music Dies."
7. Television. Revenues to the networks are down dramatically. Not just because of the economy. People are watching TV and movies streamed from their computers. And they're playing games and doing all lots of other things that take up the time that used to be spent watching TV. Prime time shows have degenerated down to lower than the lowest common denominator.
Cable rates are skyrocketing and commercials run about every 4 minutes and 30 seconds. I say good riddance to most of it. It's time for the cable companies to be put out of our misery. Let the people choose what they want to watch online and through Netflix.
8. The "Things" That You Own. Many of the very possessions that we used to own are still in our lives, but we may not actually own them in the future. They may simply reside in "the cloud." Today your computer has a hard drive and you store your pictures, music, movies, and documents. your software is on a CD or DVD, and you can always re-install it if need be. But all of that is changing. Apple, Microsoft, and Google are all finishing up their latest "cloud services." That means that when you turn on a computer, the Internet will be built into the operating system. So, Windows, Google, and the Mac OS will be tied straight into the Internet. If you click an icon, it will open something in the Internet cloud. If you save something, it will be saved to the cloud. And you may pay a monthly subscription fee to the cloud
provider.
In this virtual world, you can access your music or your books, or your whatever from any laptop or handheld device. That's the good news. But, will you actually own any of this "stuff" or will it all be able to disappear at any moment in a big "Poof?" Will most of the things in our lives be disposable and whimsical? It makes you want to run to the closet and pull out that photo album, grab a book from the shelf, or open up a CD case
and pull out the insert.
9. Privacy. If there ever was a concept that we can look back on nostalgically, it would be privacy. That's gone. It's been gone for a long time anyway. There are cameras on the street, in most of the buildings, and even built into your computer and cell phone. But you can be sure that 24/7, "They" know who you are and where you are, right down to the GPS coordinates, and the Google Street View. If you buy something, your habit is put into a zillion profiles, and your ads will change to reflect those habits. And "They" will try to get you to buy something else. Again and again.
All we will have that can't be changed are Memories.
This was not written by me—Tom Stanford
1. The Post Office. Get ready to imagine a world without the post office. They are so deeply in financial trouble that there is probably no way to sustain it long term. Email, Fed Ex, and UPS have just about wiped out the minimum revenue needed to keep the post office alive. Most of your mail
every day is junk mail and bills.
2. The Check. Britain is already laying the groundwork to do away with checks by 2018. It costs the financial system billions of dollars a year to process checks. Plastic cards and online transactions will lead to the eventual demise of the check. This plays right into the death of the post office. If you never paid your bills by mail and never received them by mail, the post office would absolutely go out of business.
3. The Newspaper. The younger generation simply doesn't read the newspaper. They certainly don't subscribe to a daily delivered print edition. That may go the way of the milkman and the laundry man. As for reading the paper online, get ready to pay for it. The rise in mobile Internet devices and e-readers has caused all the newspaper and magazine publishers to form an alliance. They have met with Apple, Amazon, and the major cell phone companies to develop a model for paid subscription services.
4. The Book. You say you will never give up the physical book that you hold in your hand and turn the literal pages. I said the same thing about downloading music from iTunes. I wanted my hard copy CD. But I quickly changed my mind when I discovered that I could get albums for half the
price without ever leaving home to get the latest music. The same thing will happen with books. You can browse a bookstore online and even read a preview chapter before you buy. And the price is less than half that of a real book. And think of the convenience! Once you start flicking your fingers on the screen instead of the book, you find that you are lost in the story, can't wait to see what happens next, and you forget that you're holding a
gadget instead of a book.
5. The Land Line Telephone. Unless you have a large family and make a lot of local calls, you don't need it anymore. Most people keep it simply because they've always had it. But you are paying double charges for that extra service. All the cell phone companies will let you call customers using the same cell provider for no charge against your minutes.
6. Music. This is one of the saddest parts of the change story. The music industry is dying a slow death. Not just because of illegal downloading.
It's the lack of innovative new music being given a chance to get to the people who would like to hear it. Greed and corruption is the problem.
The record labels and the radio conglomerates are simply self-destructing. Over 40% of the music purchased today is "catalog items," meaning traditional music that the public is familiar with. Older established artists. This is also true on the live concert circuit. To explore this fascinating and disturbing topic further, check out the book, "Appetite for Self-Destruction" by Steve Knopper, and the video documentary, "Before the Music Dies."
7. Television. Revenues to the networks are down dramatically. Not just because of the economy. People are watching TV and movies streamed from their computers. And they're playing games and doing all lots of other things that take up the time that used to be spent watching TV. Prime time shows have degenerated down to lower than the lowest common denominator.
Cable rates are skyrocketing and commercials run about every 4 minutes and 30 seconds. I say good riddance to most of it. It's time for the cable companies to be put out of our misery. Let the people choose what they want to watch online and through Netflix.
8. The "Things" That You Own. Many of the very possessions that we used to own are still in our lives, but we may not actually own them in the future. They may simply reside in "the cloud." Today your computer has a hard drive and you store your pictures, music, movies, and documents. your software is on a CD or DVD, and you can always re-install it if need be. But all of that is changing. Apple, Microsoft, and Google are all finishing up their latest "cloud services." That means that when you turn on a computer, the Internet will be built into the operating system. So, Windows, Google, and the Mac OS will be tied straight into the Internet. If you click an icon, it will open something in the Internet cloud. If you save something, it will be saved to the cloud. And you may pay a monthly subscription fee to the cloud
provider.
In this virtual world, you can access your music or your books, or your whatever from any laptop or handheld device. That's the good news. But, will you actually own any of this "stuff" or will it all be able to disappear at any moment in a big "Poof?" Will most of the things in our lives be disposable and whimsical? It makes you want to run to the closet and pull out that photo album, grab a book from the shelf, or open up a CD case
and pull out the insert.
9. Privacy. If there ever was a concept that we can look back on nostalgically, it would be privacy. That's gone. It's been gone for a long time anyway. There are cameras on the street, in most of the buildings, and even built into your computer and cell phone. But you can be sure that 24/7, "They" know who you are and where you are, right down to the GPS coordinates, and the Google Street View. If you buy something, your habit is put into a zillion profiles, and your ads will change to reflect those habits. And "They" will try to get you to buy something else. Again and again.
All we will have that can't be changed are Memories.
This was not written by me—Tom Stanford
A Cup of Coffee
You will never look at a cup of coffee the same way again...
A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed that when one problem was solved, a new one arose.
Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to a boil. In the first, she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs, and the last she placed ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil, without saying a word. In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners. She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl.
Turning to her daughter, she asked, "Tell me, what do you see?"
"Carrots, eggs, and coffee," she replied.
She brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they were soft. She then asked her to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard-boiled egg. Finally, she asked her to sip the coffee. The daughter smiled as she tasted its rich aroma. The daughter then asked, "What does it mean, Mother?"
Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity--boiling water--but each reacted differently.
The carrot went in strong, hard, and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak.
The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior. But, after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened.
The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water, they had changed the water.
"Which are you?" she asked her daughter. "When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg, or a coffee bean?"
Think of this: Which am I?
Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity, do I wilt and become soft and lose my strength? Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat? Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a death, a breakup, a financial hardship or some other trial, have I become hardened and stiff? Does my shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and hardened heart?
Or am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot water, the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavor. If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get better and change the situation around you. When the hour is the darkest and trials are their greatest, do you elevate to another level?
How do you handle adversity? Are you a carrot, an egg, or a coffee bean?
This was not written by me--Tom Stanford
You will never look at a cup of coffee the same way again...
A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed that when one problem was solved, a new one arose.
Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to a boil. In the first, she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs, and the last she placed ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil, without saying a word. In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners. She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl.
Turning to her daughter, she asked, "Tell me, what do you see?"
"Carrots, eggs, and coffee," she replied.
She brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they were soft. She then asked her to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard-boiled egg. Finally, she asked her to sip the coffee. The daughter smiled as she tasted its rich aroma. The daughter then asked, "What does it mean, Mother?"
Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity--boiling water--but each reacted differently.
The carrot went in strong, hard, and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak.
The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior. But, after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened.
The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water, they had changed the water.
"Which are you?" she asked her daughter. "When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg, or a coffee bean?"
Think of this: Which am I?
Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity, do I wilt and become soft and lose my strength? Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat? Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a death, a breakup, a financial hardship or some other trial, have I become hardened and stiff? Does my shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and hardened heart?
Or am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot water, the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavor. If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get better and change the situation around you. When the hour is the darkest and trials are their greatest, do you elevate to another level?
How do you handle adversity? Are you a carrot, an egg, or a coffee bean?
This was not written by me--Tom Stanford
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
White House History
For more than 200 years, the White House has been more than just the home of the Presidents and their families. Throughout the world, it is recognized as the symbol of the President, of the President's administration, and of the United States.
About the Building
For two hundred years, the White House has stood as a symbol of the Presidency, the United States government, and the American people. Its history, and the history of the nation's capital, began when President George Washington signed an Act of Congress in December of 1790 declaring that the federal government would reside in a district "not exceeding ten miles square…on the river Potomac." President Washington, together with city planner Pierre L’Enfant, chose the site for the new residence, which is now 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. As preparations began for the new federal city, a competition was held to find a builder of the "President’s House." Nine proposals were submitted, and Irish-born architect James Hoban won a gold medal for his practical and handsome design.
Construction began when the first cornerstone was laid in October of 1792. Although President Washington oversaw the construction of the house, he never lived in it. It was not until 1800, when the White House was nearly completed, that its first residents, President John Adams and his wife, Abigail, moved in. Since that time, each President has made his own changes and additions. The White House is, after all, the President’s private home. It is also the only private residence of a head of state that is open to the public, free of charge.
The White House has a unique and fascinating history. It survived a fire at the hands of the British in 1814 (during the war of 1812) and another fire in the West Wing in 1929, while Herbert Hoover was President. Throughout much of Harry S. Truman’s presidency, the interior of the house, with the exception of the third floor, was completely gutted and renovated while the Trumans lived at Blair House, right across Pennsylvania Avenue. Nonetheless, the exterior stone walls are those first put in place when the White House was constructed two centuries ago.
Presidents can express their individual style in how they decorate some parts of the house and in how they receive the public during their stay. Thomas Jefferson held the first Inaugural open house in 1805. Many of those who attended the swearing-in ceremony at the U.S. Capitol simply followed him home, where he greeted them in the Blue Room. President Jefferson also opened the house for public tours, and it has remained open, except during wartime, ever since. In addition, he welcomed visitors to annual receptions on New Year’s Day and on the Fourth of July. In 1829, a horde of 20,000 Inaugural callers forced President Andrew Jackson to flee to the safety of a hotel while, on the lawn, aides filled washtubs with orange juice and whiskey to lure the mob out of the mud-tracked White House.
After Abraham Lincoln’s presidency, Inaugural crowds became far too large for the White House to accommodate them comfortably. However, not until Grover Cleveland’s first presidency did this unsafe practice change. He held a presidential review of the troops from a flag-draped grandstand built in front of the White House. This procession evolved into the official Inaugural parade we know today. Receptions on New Year’s Day and the Fourth of July continued to be held until the early 1930s.
•There are 132 rooms, 35 bathrooms, and 6 levels in the Residence. There are also 412 doors, 147 windows, 28 fireplaces, 8 staircases, and 3 elevators.
•At various times in history, the White House has been known as the "President's Palace," the "President's House," and the "Executive Mansion." President Theodore Roosevelt officially gave the White House its current name in 1901.
•Presidential Firsts while in office... President James Polk (1845-49) was the first President to have his photograph taken... President Theodore Roosevelt (1901-09) was not only the first President to ride in an automobile, but also the first President to travel outside the country when he visited Panama... President Franklin Roosevelt (1933-45) was the first President to ride in an airplane.
•With five full-time chefs, the White House kitchen is able to serve dinner to as many as 140 guests and hors d'oeuvres to more than 1,000.
•The White House requires 570 gallons of paint to cover its outside surface.
•For recreation, the White House has a variety of facilities available to its residents, including a tennis court, jogging track, swimming pool, movie theater, and bowling lane.
This was not written by me--Tom Stanford
For more than 200 years, the White House has been more than just the home of the Presidents and their families. Throughout the world, it is recognized as the symbol of the President, of the President's administration, and of the United States.
About the Building
For two hundred years, the White House has stood as a symbol of the Presidency, the United States government, and the American people. Its history, and the history of the nation's capital, began when President George Washington signed an Act of Congress in December of 1790 declaring that the federal government would reside in a district "not exceeding ten miles square…on the river Potomac." President Washington, together with city planner Pierre L’Enfant, chose the site for the new residence, which is now 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. As preparations began for the new federal city, a competition was held to find a builder of the "President’s House." Nine proposals were submitted, and Irish-born architect James Hoban won a gold medal for his practical and handsome design.
Construction began when the first cornerstone was laid in October of 1792. Although President Washington oversaw the construction of the house, he never lived in it. It was not until 1800, when the White House was nearly completed, that its first residents, President John Adams and his wife, Abigail, moved in. Since that time, each President has made his own changes and additions. The White House is, after all, the President’s private home. It is also the only private residence of a head of state that is open to the public, free of charge.
The White House has a unique and fascinating history. It survived a fire at the hands of the British in 1814 (during the war of 1812) and another fire in the West Wing in 1929, while Herbert Hoover was President. Throughout much of Harry S. Truman’s presidency, the interior of the house, with the exception of the third floor, was completely gutted and renovated while the Trumans lived at Blair House, right across Pennsylvania Avenue. Nonetheless, the exterior stone walls are those first put in place when the White House was constructed two centuries ago.
Presidents can express their individual style in how they decorate some parts of the house and in how they receive the public during their stay. Thomas Jefferson held the first Inaugural open house in 1805. Many of those who attended the swearing-in ceremony at the U.S. Capitol simply followed him home, where he greeted them in the Blue Room. President Jefferson also opened the house for public tours, and it has remained open, except during wartime, ever since. In addition, he welcomed visitors to annual receptions on New Year’s Day and on the Fourth of July. In 1829, a horde of 20,000 Inaugural callers forced President Andrew Jackson to flee to the safety of a hotel while, on the lawn, aides filled washtubs with orange juice and whiskey to lure the mob out of the mud-tracked White House.
After Abraham Lincoln’s presidency, Inaugural crowds became far too large for the White House to accommodate them comfortably. However, not until Grover Cleveland’s first presidency did this unsafe practice change. He held a presidential review of the troops from a flag-draped grandstand built in front of the White House. This procession evolved into the official Inaugural parade we know today. Receptions on New Year’s Day and the Fourth of July continued to be held until the early 1930s.
•There are 132 rooms, 35 bathrooms, and 6 levels in the Residence. There are also 412 doors, 147 windows, 28 fireplaces, 8 staircases, and 3 elevators.
•At various times in history, the White House has been known as the "President's Palace," the "President's House," and the "Executive Mansion." President Theodore Roosevelt officially gave the White House its current name in 1901.
•Presidential Firsts while in office... President James Polk (1845-49) was the first President to have his photograph taken... President Theodore Roosevelt (1901-09) was not only the first President to ride in an automobile, but also the first President to travel outside the country when he visited Panama... President Franklin Roosevelt (1933-45) was the first President to ride in an airplane.
•With five full-time chefs, the White House kitchen is able to serve dinner to as many as 140 guests and hors d'oeuvres to more than 1,000.
•The White House requires 570 gallons of paint to cover its outside surface.
•For recreation, the White House has a variety of facilities available to its residents, including a tennis court, jogging track, swimming pool, movie theater, and bowling lane.
This was not written by me--Tom Stanford
Monday, April 26, 2010
The Last Word
Daily Devotional for Sunday, April 26, 2010
These days, as we watch our nation and world spiral into a spiritual abyss, the only real answer is helping the lost find Christ. You can make a difference. Sharing our faith is what God has called us to do. We, "True Christians", are the ones God has called to take the Gospel to this lost and dieing world. May we all be encouraged and faithful in fulfilling God's call.
When they padlock the doors of the churches in the United States! Impossible you say? That day is closer than you think. If you would have told someone just 50 years ago, that there would no longer be prayer in our schools, that it would be illegal to display the 10 commandments in a courthouse, or that there would be efforts to take "under God " out of the Pledge of Allegiance and "In God We Trust" off of our money, they would have called you crazy.
Here is some more reality for you. Things are not going to get any better! I am thankful for all of those who love God and work so diligently in leading the lost to Christ. But here is the problem. This nation is becoming more Godless every single day! It is happening right before our very eyes. We are fast becoming a Godless society.
So what is next for our nation? False religions will continue to grow. False religions are based on the writings of men and prey on the fact people are looking for answers, but use man's sinful condition to lead them into deception. Perverting the things of God that we used to honor will continue to get worse. Marriage has already become little more than a legal date to most people. Sex with the same sex and people you are not married to will continue to destroy the family and create more generations of people totally void of God in their life, meaning, the nation will adopt their Godless values.
In this nation, we still enjoy freedom to share the Word of God. We must take advantage of it. Jesus said that we had to work while it was still light because the night was coming when no one can work. We have got to stop playing games and get serious, because we have a very real enemy who is deadly serious. It is time to stop worrying about being politically correct and start being Biblically correct!
Jesus is coming back for His church, that time is truly very short now. We are living in a very evil and dark world. This nation has rapidly deteriorated spiritually right before our very eyes over the past 50 years. But God has always had a remnant of His people. I pray today that you will be part of that remnant God will use to bring in this great harvest.
The Bible proclaims that the gates of hell shall not prevail against the church. That is because the church is not a building, it is all the people that have been baptized into Christ and will follow Him to their death. That is the true church, and that is why they can padlock the doors of a building, but they will never stop the work of God! GOD WILL HAVE THE LAST WORD!
Copied--Not written by me--Tom Stanford
Daily Devotional for Sunday, April 26, 2010
These days, as we watch our nation and world spiral into a spiritual abyss, the only real answer is helping the lost find Christ. You can make a difference. Sharing our faith is what God has called us to do. We, "True Christians", are the ones God has called to take the Gospel to this lost and dieing world. May we all be encouraged and faithful in fulfilling God's call.
When they padlock the doors of the churches in the United States! Impossible you say? That day is closer than you think. If you would have told someone just 50 years ago, that there would no longer be prayer in our schools, that it would be illegal to display the 10 commandments in a courthouse, or that there would be efforts to take "under God " out of the Pledge of Allegiance and "In God We Trust" off of our money, they would have called you crazy.
Here is some more reality for you. Things are not going to get any better! I am thankful for all of those who love God and work so diligently in leading the lost to Christ. But here is the problem. This nation is becoming more Godless every single day! It is happening right before our very eyes. We are fast becoming a Godless society.
So what is next for our nation? False religions will continue to grow. False religions are based on the writings of men and prey on the fact people are looking for answers, but use man's sinful condition to lead them into deception. Perverting the things of God that we used to honor will continue to get worse. Marriage has already become little more than a legal date to most people. Sex with the same sex and people you are not married to will continue to destroy the family and create more generations of people totally void of God in their life, meaning, the nation will adopt their Godless values.
In this nation, we still enjoy freedom to share the Word of God. We must take advantage of it. Jesus said that we had to work while it was still light because the night was coming when no one can work. We have got to stop playing games and get serious, because we have a very real enemy who is deadly serious. It is time to stop worrying about being politically correct and start being Biblically correct!
Jesus is coming back for His church, that time is truly very short now. We are living in a very evil and dark world. This nation has rapidly deteriorated spiritually right before our very eyes over the past 50 years. But God has always had a remnant of His people. I pray today that you will be part of that remnant God will use to bring in this great harvest.
The Bible proclaims that the gates of hell shall not prevail against the church. That is because the church is not a building, it is all the people that have been baptized into Christ and will follow Him to their death. That is the true church, and that is why they can padlock the doors of a building, but they will never stop the work of God! GOD WILL HAVE THE LAST WORD!
Copied--Not written by me--Tom Stanford
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Orville and Wilbur Wright Cycle Shop
Originally built in Dayton Ohio, at 1127 West Third Street, the Wright Cycle Company stood on a commercial street while the Wright Brothers home was situation in a residential neighborhood four blocks from the shop. Today they stand next to each other in Greenfield Village.
Orville and Wilbur Wright were originally in the bicycle business which provided the necessary income to pay for the Brother’s experiments regarding flight. Milton Wright, their father, had no problem with the boys spending their money on whatever they liked -- that is, as long as they earned the money themselves.
While living and working in the cycle shop, in 1903 Orville and Wilbur, who were self-trained in the science and art of aviation, constructed the world’s first successful, powered heavier-than-air flying machine capable of free, controlled, and sustained flight in the workroom at the back of this shop. The Wright Brothers continued to perfect their invention during 1904 and 1905 in their hometown of Dayton. Income from the sale and repair of bicycles helped support their aviation experiments between 1900 and 1907.
This post was not written by me--Tom Stanford
Originally built in Dayton Ohio, at 1127 West Third Street, the Wright Cycle Company stood on a commercial street while the Wright Brothers home was situation in a residential neighborhood four blocks from the shop. Today they stand next to each other in Greenfield Village.
Orville and Wilbur Wright were originally in the bicycle business which provided the necessary income to pay for the Brother’s experiments regarding flight. Milton Wright, their father, had no problem with the boys spending their money on whatever they liked -- that is, as long as they earned the money themselves.
While living and working in the cycle shop, in 1903 Orville and Wilbur, who were self-trained in the science and art of aviation, constructed the world’s first successful, powered heavier-than-air flying machine capable of free, controlled, and sustained flight in the workroom at the back of this shop. The Wright Brothers continued to perfect their invention during 1904 and 1905 in their hometown of Dayton. Income from the sale and repair of bicycles helped support their aviation experiments between 1900 and 1907.
This post was not written by me--Tom Stanford
Friday, April 23, 2010
The Star Spangled Banner Lyrics
By Francis Scott Key 1814
Oh, say can you see by the dawn's early light
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars thru the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming?
And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?
On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep,
Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,
In full glory reflected now shines in the stream:
'Tis the star-spangled banner! Oh long may it wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!
And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion,
A home and a country should leave us no more!
Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps' pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave:
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!
Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved home and the war's desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heav'n rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: "In God is our trust."
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!
By Francis Scott Key 1814
Oh, say can you see by the dawn's early light
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars thru the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming?
And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?
On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep,
Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,
In full glory reflected now shines in the stream:
'Tis the star-spangled banner! Oh long may it wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!
And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion,
A home and a country should leave us no more!
Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps' pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave:
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!
Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved home and the war's desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heav'n rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: "In God is our trust."
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!
Thursday, April 22, 2010
A Teacher's Story
There is a story many years ago of an elementary teacher.
Her name was Mrs. Thompson. She stood in front of her 5th grade class on the very first day of school. She looked at her students and said that she loved them all the same. In the front row, slumped in his seat, was a little boy named Teddy.
Mrs. Thompson had watched Teddy the year before and noticed
that he didn't play well with the other children, that his
clothes were messy and that he constantly needed a bath.
And Teddy could be unpleasant. It got to the point where
Mrs. Thompson would actually take delight in marking his
papers with a broad red pen, making bold X's and then putting
a big "F" at the top of his papers.
At the school where Mrs. Thompson taught,
she was required to review each child's past records
and she put Teddy's off until last.
However, when she reviewed his file,
she was in for a surprise.
Teddy's first grade teacher wrote,
"Teddy is a bright child with a ready laugh.
He does his work neatly and has good
manners...he is a joy to be around."
His second grade teacher wrote,
"Teddy is an excellent student,
well-liked by his classmates, but he is troubled
because his mother has a terminal illness and life
at home must be a struggle."
His third grade teacher wrote,
"His mother's death has been hard on him.
He tries to do his best but his father doesn't
show much interest and his home life will soon affect
him if some steps aren't taken."
Teddy's fourth grade teacher wrote,
"Teddy is withdrawn and doesn't show much interest in school.
He doesn't have many friends and sometimes sleeps in class."
By now, Mrs. Thompson realized the problem and she was
ashamed of herself. She felt even worse when her students
brought her Christmas presents, wrapped in beautiful ribbons
and bright paper, except for Teddy's.
His present was clumsily wrapped in the heavy,
brown paper that he got from a grocery bag.
Mrs. Thompson took pains to open it in the middle
of the other presents. Some of the children started to
laugh when she found a rhinestone bracelet with some of the
stones missing and a bottle that was one quarter full of perfume.
She stifled the children's laughter when she exclaimed
how pretty the bracelet was, putting it on, and dabbing some
of the perfume on her wrist.
Teddy stayed after school that day just long
enough to say, "Mrs. Thompson, today you
smelled just like my Mom used to."
After the children left she cried for at least an hour.
On that very day, she quit teaching
reading, and writing, and arithmetic.
Instead, she began to teach children.
Mrs. Thompson paid particular attention to Teddy.
As she worked with him, his mind seemed to come alive.
The more she encouraged him, the faster he responded.
By the end of the year, Teddy had become one of the smartest
children in the the class and, despite her lie that she would love
all the children same, Teddy became one of her "teacher's pets."
A year later, she found a note under her door, from Teddy,
telling her that she was still the best teacher he
ever had in his whole life.
Six years went by before she got another note from Teddy.
He then wrote that he had finished high school,
second in his class, and she was still the best teacher
he ever had in his whole life.
Four years after that, she got another letter, saying that while
things had been tough at times, he'd stayed in school,
had stuck with it, and would soon graduate from college
with the highest of honors. He assured Mrs. Thompson that she was
still the best and favorite teacher he ever had in his whole life.
Then four more years passed and yet another letter came.
This time he explained that after he got his bachelor's degree,
he decided to go a little further. The letter explained that she
was still the best and favorite teacher he ever had. But now
his name was a little longer. The letter was signed,
Theodore F. Stollard, M.D.
The story doesn't end there.
You see, there was yet another letter that spring.
Teddy said he'd met this girl and was going to be married.
He explained that his father had died a couple
of years ago and he was wondering if Mrs. Thompson might
agree to sit in the place at the wedding that was usually
reserved for the mother of the groom.
Of course, Mrs. Thompson, did. And guess what?
She wore that bracelet, the one with several rhinestones missing.
And she made sure she was wearing the perfume
that Teddy remembered his mother wearing on their last
Christmas together.
They hugged each other,
and Teddy whispered in Mrs. Thompson's ear,
"Thank you, Mrs. Thompson, for believing in me.
Thank you so much for making me feel important
and showing me that I could make
a difference."
Mrs. Thompson, with tears in her eyes, whispered back.
She said, "Teddy, you have it all wrong.
You were the one who taught me that I could make a difference.
I didn't know how to teach until I met you."
This story was copied---Not written by me---Tom Stanford
There is a story many years ago of an elementary teacher.
Her name was Mrs. Thompson. She stood in front of her 5th grade class on the very first day of school. She looked at her students and said that she loved them all the same. In the front row, slumped in his seat, was a little boy named Teddy.
Mrs. Thompson had watched Teddy the year before and noticed
that he didn't play well with the other children, that his
clothes were messy and that he constantly needed a bath.
And Teddy could be unpleasant. It got to the point where
Mrs. Thompson would actually take delight in marking his
papers with a broad red pen, making bold X's and then putting
a big "F" at the top of his papers.
At the school where Mrs. Thompson taught,
she was required to review each child's past records
and she put Teddy's off until last.
However, when she reviewed his file,
she was in for a surprise.
Teddy's first grade teacher wrote,
"Teddy is a bright child with a ready laugh.
He does his work neatly and has good
manners...he is a joy to be around."
His second grade teacher wrote,
"Teddy is an excellent student,
well-liked by his classmates, but he is troubled
because his mother has a terminal illness and life
at home must be a struggle."
His third grade teacher wrote,
"His mother's death has been hard on him.
He tries to do his best but his father doesn't
show much interest and his home life will soon affect
him if some steps aren't taken."
Teddy's fourth grade teacher wrote,
"Teddy is withdrawn and doesn't show much interest in school.
He doesn't have many friends and sometimes sleeps in class."
By now, Mrs. Thompson realized the problem and she was
ashamed of herself. She felt even worse when her students
brought her Christmas presents, wrapped in beautiful ribbons
and bright paper, except for Teddy's.
His present was clumsily wrapped in the heavy,
brown paper that he got from a grocery bag.
Mrs. Thompson took pains to open it in the middle
of the other presents. Some of the children started to
laugh when she found a rhinestone bracelet with some of the
stones missing and a bottle that was one quarter full of perfume.
She stifled the children's laughter when she exclaimed
how pretty the bracelet was, putting it on, and dabbing some
of the perfume on her wrist.
Teddy stayed after school that day just long
enough to say, "Mrs. Thompson, today you
smelled just like my Mom used to."
After the children left she cried for at least an hour.
On that very day, she quit teaching
reading, and writing, and arithmetic.
Instead, she began to teach children.
Mrs. Thompson paid particular attention to Teddy.
As she worked with him, his mind seemed to come alive.
The more she encouraged him, the faster he responded.
By the end of the year, Teddy had become one of the smartest
children in the the class and, despite her lie that she would love
all the children same, Teddy became one of her "teacher's pets."
A year later, she found a note under her door, from Teddy,
telling her that she was still the best teacher he
ever had in his whole life.
Six years went by before she got another note from Teddy.
He then wrote that he had finished high school,
second in his class, and she was still the best teacher
he ever had in his whole life.
Four years after that, she got another letter, saying that while
things had been tough at times, he'd stayed in school,
had stuck with it, and would soon graduate from college
with the highest of honors. He assured Mrs. Thompson that she was
still the best and favorite teacher he ever had in his whole life.
Then four more years passed and yet another letter came.
This time he explained that after he got his bachelor's degree,
he decided to go a little further. The letter explained that she
was still the best and favorite teacher he ever had. But now
his name was a little longer. The letter was signed,
Theodore F. Stollard, M.D.
The story doesn't end there.
You see, there was yet another letter that spring.
Teddy said he'd met this girl and was going to be married.
He explained that his father had died a couple
of years ago and he was wondering if Mrs. Thompson might
agree to sit in the place at the wedding that was usually
reserved for the mother of the groom.
Of course, Mrs. Thompson, did. And guess what?
She wore that bracelet, the one with several rhinestones missing.
And she made sure she was wearing the perfume
that Teddy remembered his mother wearing on their last
Christmas together.
They hugged each other,
and Teddy whispered in Mrs. Thompson's ear,
"Thank you, Mrs. Thompson, for believing in me.
Thank you so much for making me feel important
and showing me that I could make
a difference."
Mrs. Thompson, with tears in her eyes, whispered back.
She said, "Teddy, you have it all wrong.
You were the one who taught me that I could make a difference.
I didn't know how to teach until I met you."
This story was copied---Not written by me---Tom Stanford
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
The Gettysburg Address
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
November 19, 1863
On June 1, 1865, Senator Charles Sumner commented on what is now considered the most famous speech by President Abraham Lincoln. In his eulogy on the slain president, he called it a "monumental act." He said Lincoln was mistaken that "the world will little note, nor long remember what we say here." Rather, the Bostonian remarked, "The world noted at once what he said, and will never cease to remember it. The battle itself was less important than the speech."
Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.
Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.
But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate -- we can not consecrate -- we can not hallow -- this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.
Written by U.S. Senator Charles Sumner
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
November 19, 1863
On June 1, 1865, Senator Charles Sumner commented on what is now considered the most famous speech by President Abraham Lincoln. In his eulogy on the slain president, he called it a "monumental act." He said Lincoln was mistaken that "the world will little note, nor long remember what we say here." Rather, the Bostonian remarked, "The world noted at once what he said, and will never cease to remember it. The battle itself was less important than the speech."
Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.
Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.
But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate -- we can not consecrate -- we can not hallow -- this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.
Written by U.S. Senator Charles Sumner
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
TAPS
We in the United States have
all heard the haunting song,
"Taps."
It's the song that gives us
that lump in our throats and
usually tears in our eyes.
But, do you know the story behind
the song? If not, I think you will
be interested to find out about
its humble beginnings.
Reportedly, it all began in 1862
during the Civil War when
Union Army Captain Robert Ellicombe
was with his men near Harrison's
Landing in Virginia.
The Confederate Army was on the
other side of the narrow strip
of land. During the night,
Captain Ellicombe heard the moans
of a soldier who lay severely
wounded on the field.
Not knowing if it was a Union or
Confederate soldier, the Captain
decided to risk his life and
bring the stricken man back
for medical attention.
Crawling on his stomach through
the gunfire, the Captain reached
the stricken soldier and began
pulling him toward his encampment.
When the Captain finally reached
his own lines, he discovered it was
actually a Confederate soldier,
but the soldier was dead.
The Captain lit a lantern and
suddenly caught his breath and
went numb with shock. In the dim
light, he saw the face of the soldier.
It was his own son. The boy had been
studying music in the South when the
war broke out. Without telling his
father, the boy enlisted in
the Confederate Army.
The following morning, heartbroken,
the father asked permission of his
superiors to give his son a full
military burial, despite his enemy
status. His request was only
partially granted.
The Captain had asked if he could have
a group of Army band members play a
funeral dirge for his son at the funeral.
The request was turned down since the
soldier was a Confederate. But out of
respect for the father, they did say
they could give him only one musician.
The Captain chose a bugler. He asked the
bugler to play a series of musical notes
he had found on a piece of paper in the
pocket of the dead youth's uniform.
This wish was granted.
The haunting melody, we now know as
"Taps" ...
used at military funerals was born.
The words are:
Day is done ...
Gone the sun ...
From the lakes ...
From the hills ...
From the sky ...
All is well ...
Safely rest ...
God is nigh...
Fading light ...
Dims the sight ...
And a star ...
Gems the sky...
Gleaming bright ...
From afar...
Drawing nigh ...
Falls the night ..
Thanks and praise ...
For our days ...
Neath the sun ...
Neath the stars ...
Neath the sky ...
As we go ...
This we know ...
God is nigh ...
This post was copied--Tom Stanford
We in the United States have
all heard the haunting song,
"Taps."
It's the song that gives us
that lump in our throats and
usually tears in our eyes.
But, do you know the story behind
the song? If not, I think you will
be interested to find out about
its humble beginnings.
Reportedly, it all began in 1862
during the Civil War when
Union Army Captain Robert Ellicombe
was with his men near Harrison's
Landing in Virginia.
The Confederate Army was on the
other side of the narrow strip
of land. During the night,
Captain Ellicombe heard the moans
of a soldier who lay severely
wounded on the field.
Not knowing if it was a Union or
Confederate soldier, the Captain
decided to risk his life and
bring the stricken man back
for medical attention.
Crawling on his stomach through
the gunfire, the Captain reached
the stricken soldier and began
pulling him toward his encampment.
When the Captain finally reached
his own lines, he discovered it was
actually a Confederate soldier,
but the soldier was dead.
The Captain lit a lantern and
suddenly caught his breath and
went numb with shock. In the dim
light, he saw the face of the soldier.
It was his own son. The boy had been
studying music in the South when the
war broke out. Without telling his
father, the boy enlisted in
the Confederate Army.
The following morning, heartbroken,
the father asked permission of his
superiors to give his son a full
military burial, despite his enemy
status. His request was only
partially granted.
The Captain had asked if he could have
a group of Army band members play a
funeral dirge for his son at the funeral.
The request was turned down since the
soldier was a Confederate. But out of
respect for the father, they did say
they could give him only one musician.
The Captain chose a bugler. He asked the
bugler to play a series of musical notes
he had found on a piece of paper in the
pocket of the dead youth's uniform.
This wish was granted.
The haunting melody, we now know as
"Taps" ...
used at military funerals was born.
The words are:
Day is done ...
Gone the sun ...
From the lakes ...
From the hills ...
From the sky ...
All is well ...
Safely rest ...
God is nigh...
Fading light ...
Dims the sight ...
And a star ...
Gems the sky...
Gleaming bright ...
From afar...
Drawing nigh ...
Falls the night ..
Thanks and praise ...
For our days ...
Neath the sun ...
Neath the stars ...
Neath the sky ...
As we go ...
This we know ...
God is nigh ...
This post was copied--Tom Stanford
Monday, April 19, 2010
IF
BY RUDYARD KIPLING
If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or, being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or, being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise;
If you can dream - and not make dreams your master;
If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with triumph and disaster
And treat those two imposters just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with wornout tools;
If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breath a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on";
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings - nor lose the common touch;
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run -
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a Man my son!
Written by Rudyard Kipling
BY RUDYARD KIPLING
If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or, being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or, being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise;
If you can dream - and not make dreams your master;
If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with triumph and disaster
And treat those two imposters just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with wornout tools;
If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breath a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on";
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings - nor lose the common touch;
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run -
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a Man my son!
Written by Rudyard Kipling
Sunday, April 18, 2010
"OLD GLORY!"
This explains why we call the United States Flag "OLD GLORY".
This famous name was coined by Captain William Driver, a shipmaster of Salem, Massachusetts, in 1831. As he was leaving on one of his many voyages aboard the brig CHARLES DOGGETT - and this one would climax with the rescue of the mutineers of the BOUNTY - some friends presented him with a beautiful flag of twenty four stars. As the banner opened to the ocean breeze for the first time, he exclaimed "Old Glory!"
He retired to Nashville in 1837, taking his treasured flag from his sea days with him. By the time the Civil War erupted, most everyone in and around Nashville recognized Captain Driver's "Old Glory." When Tennesee seceded from the Union, Rebels were determined to destroy his flag, but repeated searches revealed no trace of the hated banner.
Then on February 25th, 1862, Union forces captured Nashville and raised the American flag over the capital. It was a rather small ensign and immediately folks began asking Captain Driver if "Old Glory" still existed. Happy to have soldiers with him this time, Captain Driver went home and began ripping at the seams of his bedcover. As the stitches holding the quilt-top to the batting unraveled, the onlookers peered inside and saw the 24-starred original "Old Glory"!
Captain Driver gently gathered up the flag and returned with the soldiers to the capitol. Though he was sixty years old, the Captain climbed up to the tower to replace the smaller banner with his beloved flag. The Sixth Ohio Regiment cheered and saluted - and later adopted the nickname "Old Glory" as their own, telling and re-telling the story of Captain Driver's devotion to the flag we honor yet today.
Captain Driver's grave is located in the old Nashville City Cemetery, and is one of three (3) places authorized by act of Congress where the Flag of the United States may be flown 24 hours a day.
A caption above a faded black and white picture in the book, The Stars and the Stripes, states that " 'Old Glory' may no longer be opened to be photographed, and no color photograph is available." Visible in the photo in the lower right corner of the canton is an appliqued anchor, Captain Driver's very personal note. "Old Glory" is the most illustrious of a number of flags - both Northern and Confederate - reputed to have been similarly hidden, then later revealed as times changed. The flag was given to his granddaughter or neice and she later donated it to the Smithsonian.
This post was not written by me--Tom Stanford
This explains why we call the United States Flag "OLD GLORY".
This famous name was coined by Captain William Driver, a shipmaster of Salem, Massachusetts, in 1831. As he was leaving on one of his many voyages aboard the brig CHARLES DOGGETT - and this one would climax with the rescue of the mutineers of the BOUNTY - some friends presented him with a beautiful flag of twenty four stars. As the banner opened to the ocean breeze for the first time, he exclaimed "Old Glory!"
He retired to Nashville in 1837, taking his treasured flag from his sea days with him. By the time the Civil War erupted, most everyone in and around Nashville recognized Captain Driver's "Old Glory." When Tennesee seceded from the Union, Rebels were determined to destroy his flag, but repeated searches revealed no trace of the hated banner.
Then on February 25th, 1862, Union forces captured Nashville and raised the American flag over the capital. It was a rather small ensign and immediately folks began asking Captain Driver if "Old Glory" still existed. Happy to have soldiers with him this time, Captain Driver went home and began ripping at the seams of his bedcover. As the stitches holding the quilt-top to the batting unraveled, the onlookers peered inside and saw the 24-starred original "Old Glory"!
Captain Driver gently gathered up the flag and returned with the soldiers to the capitol. Though he was sixty years old, the Captain climbed up to the tower to replace the smaller banner with his beloved flag. The Sixth Ohio Regiment cheered and saluted - and later adopted the nickname "Old Glory" as their own, telling and re-telling the story of Captain Driver's devotion to the flag we honor yet today.
Captain Driver's grave is located in the old Nashville City Cemetery, and is one of three (3) places authorized by act of Congress where the Flag of the United States may be flown 24 hours a day.
A caption above a faded black and white picture in the book, The Stars and the Stripes, states that " 'Old Glory' may no longer be opened to be photographed, and no color photograph is available." Visible in the photo in the lower right corner of the canton is an appliqued anchor, Captain Driver's very personal note. "Old Glory" is the most illustrious of a number of flags - both Northern and Confederate - reputed to have been similarly hidden, then later revealed as times changed. The flag was given to his granddaughter or neice and she later donated it to the Smithsonian.
This post was not written by me--Tom Stanford
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Flag Folding Ceremony
The flag folding ceremony described by the Uniformed Services is a dramatic and uplifting way to honor the flag on special days, like Memorial Day or Veterans Day, and is sometimes used at retirement ceremonies.
Here is a typical sequence of the reading:
(Begin reading as Honor Guard or Flag Detail is coming forward).
The flag folding ceremony represents the same religious principles on which our country was originally founded. The portion of the flag denoting honor is the canton of blue containing the stars representing the states our veterans served in uniform. The canton field of blue dresses from left to right and is inverted when draped as a pall on a casket of a veteran who has served our country in uniform.
In the Armed Forces of the United States, at the ceremony of retreat the flag is lowered, folded in a triangle fold and kept under watch throughout the night as a tribute to our nation's honored dead. The next morning it is brought out and, at the ceremony of reveille, run aloft as a symbol of our belief in the resurrection of the body.
(Wait for the Honor Guard or Flag Detail to unravel and fold the flag into a quarter fold--resume reading when Honor Guard is standing ready.)
The first fold of our flag is a symbol of life.
The second fold is a symbol of our belief in the eternal life.
The third fold is made in honor and remembrance of the veteran departing our ranks who gave a portion of life for the defense of our country to attain a peace throughout the world.
The fourth fold represents our weaker nature, for as American citizens trusting in God, it is to Him we turn in times of peace as well as in times of war for His divine guidance.
The fifth fold is a tribute to our country, for in the words of Stephen Decatur, "Our country, in dealing with other countries, may she always be right; but it is still our country, right or wrong."
The sixth fold is for where our hearts lie. It is with our heart that we 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.
The seventh fold is a tribute to our Armed Forces, for it is through the Armed Forces that we protect our country and our flag against all her enemies, whether they be found within or without the boundaries of our republic.
The eighth fold is a tribute to the one who entered in to the valley of the shadow of death, that we might see the light of day, and to honor mother, for whom it flies on mother's day.
The ninth fold is a tribute to womanhood; for it has been through their faith, love, loyalty and devotion that the character of the men and women who have made this country great have been molded.
The tenth fold is a tribute to father, for he, too, has given his sons and daughters for the defense of our country since they were first born.
The eleventh fold, in the eyes of a Hebrew citizen, represents the lower portion of the seal of King David and King Solomon, and glorifies, in their eyes, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
The twelfth fold, in the eyes of a Christian citizen, represents an emblem of eternity and glorifies, in their eyes, God the Father, the Son, and Holy Ghost.
When the flag is completely folded, the stars are uppermost, reminding us of our national motto, "In God we Trust."
(Wait for the Honor Guard or Flag Detail to inspect the flag--after the inspection, resume reading.)
After the flag is completely folded and tucked in, it takes on the appearance of a cocked hat, ever reminding us of the soldiers who served under General George Washington and the sailors and marines who served under Captain John Paul Jones who were followed by their comrades and shipmates in the Armed Forces of the United States, preserving for us the rights, privileges, and freedoms we enjoy today.
This post was not written by me--Tom Stanford
The flag folding ceremony described by the Uniformed Services is a dramatic and uplifting way to honor the flag on special days, like Memorial Day or Veterans Day, and is sometimes used at retirement ceremonies.
Here is a typical sequence of the reading:
(Begin reading as Honor Guard or Flag Detail is coming forward).
The flag folding ceremony represents the same religious principles on which our country was originally founded. The portion of the flag denoting honor is the canton of blue containing the stars representing the states our veterans served in uniform. The canton field of blue dresses from left to right and is inverted when draped as a pall on a casket of a veteran who has served our country in uniform.
In the Armed Forces of the United States, at the ceremony of retreat the flag is lowered, folded in a triangle fold and kept under watch throughout the night as a tribute to our nation's honored dead. The next morning it is brought out and, at the ceremony of reveille, run aloft as a symbol of our belief in the resurrection of the body.
(Wait for the Honor Guard or Flag Detail to unravel and fold the flag into a quarter fold--resume reading when Honor Guard is standing ready.)
The first fold of our flag is a symbol of life.
The second fold is a symbol of our belief in the eternal life.
The third fold is made in honor and remembrance of the veteran departing our ranks who gave a portion of life for the defense of our country to attain a peace throughout the world.
The fourth fold represents our weaker nature, for as American citizens trusting in God, it is to Him we turn in times of peace as well as in times of war for His divine guidance.
The fifth fold is a tribute to our country, for in the words of Stephen Decatur, "Our country, in dealing with other countries, may she always be right; but it is still our country, right or wrong."
The sixth fold is for where our hearts lie. It is with our heart that we 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.
The seventh fold is a tribute to our Armed Forces, for it is through the Armed Forces that we protect our country and our flag against all her enemies, whether they be found within or without the boundaries of our republic.
The eighth fold is a tribute to the one who entered in to the valley of the shadow of death, that we might see the light of day, and to honor mother, for whom it flies on mother's day.
The ninth fold is a tribute to womanhood; for it has been through their faith, love, loyalty and devotion that the character of the men and women who have made this country great have been molded.
The tenth fold is a tribute to father, for he, too, has given his sons and daughters for the defense of our country since they were first born.
The eleventh fold, in the eyes of a Hebrew citizen, represents the lower portion of the seal of King David and King Solomon, and glorifies, in their eyes, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
The twelfth fold, in the eyes of a Christian citizen, represents an emblem of eternity and glorifies, in their eyes, God the Father, the Son, and Holy Ghost.
When the flag is completely folded, the stars are uppermost, reminding us of our national motto, "In God we Trust."
(Wait for the Honor Guard or Flag Detail to inspect the flag--after the inspection, resume reading.)
After the flag is completely folded and tucked in, it takes on the appearance of a cocked hat, ever reminding us of the soldiers who served under General George Washington and the sailors and marines who served under Captain John Paul Jones who were followed by their comrades and shipmates in the Armed Forces of the United States, preserving for us the rights, privileges, and freedoms we enjoy today.
This post was not written by me--Tom Stanford
Friday, April 16, 2010
I Believe....
That maturity has more to do with what types of experiences you've had
And what you've learned from them and less to do with how many birthdays you've celebrated.
I Believe.....
That our background and circumstances
May have influenced who we are,
But, we are responsible for who we become.
I Believe...
That the happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything;
They just make the most of everything they have.
That maturity has more to do with what types of experiences you've had
And what you've learned from them and less to do with how many birthdays you've celebrated.
I Believe.....
That our background and circumstances
May have influenced who we are,
But, we are responsible for who we become.
I Believe...
That the happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything;
They just make the most of everything they have.
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Editors note: This article is one of many written by Charles Hodge, a popular lecturer. This article is a reprint from the Gospel Advocate. This article is submitted for your study and inspiration.)
Are Christians still under the Great Commission? Do we have a message? Are we to preach it boldly? Does the church exist to convert sinners? If not, why are we here? Recently, .'Letters to the Editor" in a large newspaper had a spate of letters declaring without argument, "No one has the right to convert another." That's exactly what they want to do! Do we not have the right to challenge any man or statement? Are we to sit quietly doing nothing?
A reporter for the Dallas Morning News went bonkers over a church sign (Dec. 22, 2002). A church sign? This was the crime of crimes, the unpardonable sin, or perhaps the end of the world. The church sign read, "It' s Jesus- Or Else!" This is clumsy or perhaps even coniical- but not of earthquake proportions. The sin? It violated political correctness. Truthfully, Christianity cannot be stated simply upon a bumper sticker. Yet we have gone sappy over the fear that someone would be offended. Our job is to deliver the message in 1ove. Regardless, the truth must be preached.
This post was not written by me--Tom Stanford
Are Christians still under the Great Commission? Do we have a message? Are we to preach it boldly? Does the church exist to convert sinners? If not, why are we here? Recently, .'Letters to the Editor" in a large newspaper had a spate of letters declaring without argument, "No one has the right to convert another." That's exactly what they want to do! Do we not have the right to challenge any man or statement? Are we to sit quietly doing nothing?
A reporter for the Dallas Morning News went bonkers over a church sign (Dec. 22, 2002). A church sign? This was the crime of crimes, the unpardonable sin, or perhaps the end of the world. The church sign read, "It' s Jesus- Or Else!" This is clumsy or perhaps even coniical- but not of earthquake proportions. The sin? It violated political correctness. Truthfully, Christianity cannot be stated simply upon a bumper sticker. Yet we have gone sappy over the fear that someone would be offended. Our job is to deliver the message in 1ove. Regardless, the truth must be preached.
This post was not written by me--Tom Stanford
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
It isn’t popular in our society to be different, is it? Peer pressure doesn’t affect just kids and teenagers. Adults are also worried about what others may think or say. We are afraid to speak up at work or in various meetings. We don’t like attention drawn to us. We don’t want to “rock the boat.” We don’t want to be different.
But Jesus was different. Jesus didn’t conform to the preconceived ideas that everyone had for Him. Instead, the Lord chose to be different. There was a difference in the way He was born. There was a difference in the way He lived and taught. There was a difference in the way He prayed and in the way He treated others. There was a difference in the way he endured suffering. There was a difference in the way He died.
The word Peter uses in his letters to portray Jesus’ difference is the word “holy.” Holy means to be set apart (for a special or religious purpose). Unger’s Bible Dictionary defines holy as “separation from all that is sinful, or impure, or morally imperfect.” Peter’s call to us today is to adopt this holiness that Jesus portrayed for our own lives. In I Peter, the apostle encourages his readers to “be holy, because I (God) am holy” (1:16). In II Peter 1:5-9, we are persuaded to grow in our faith so that our holiness will grow and the more we grow in holiness, the more like Jesus we become.
Since Jesus was willing to be different (holy), it follows that His people should be, too. Would those around you every day consider you to be different (holy)? Jesus warns us that by being His disciples, the world considers us to be different (John 15:19).
But think of the end result—eternal life with God. That should be plenty of motivation to help you put up with the temporary troubles of this life. Thinking of heaven helps us to be holy in all that we do (II Peter 3:11).
This post was copied---Not written by me--Tom Stanford
But Jesus was different. Jesus didn’t conform to the preconceived ideas that everyone had for Him. Instead, the Lord chose to be different. There was a difference in the way He was born. There was a difference in the way He lived and taught. There was a difference in the way He prayed and in the way He treated others. There was a difference in the way he endured suffering. There was a difference in the way He died.
The word Peter uses in his letters to portray Jesus’ difference is the word “holy.” Holy means to be set apart (for a special or religious purpose). Unger’s Bible Dictionary defines holy as “separation from all that is sinful, or impure, or morally imperfect.” Peter’s call to us today is to adopt this holiness that Jesus portrayed for our own lives. In I Peter, the apostle encourages his readers to “be holy, because I (God) am holy” (1:16). In II Peter 1:5-9, we are persuaded to grow in our faith so that our holiness will grow and the more we grow in holiness, the more like Jesus we become.
Since Jesus was willing to be different (holy), it follows that His people should be, too. Would those around you every day consider you to be different (holy)? Jesus warns us that by being His disciples, the world considers us to be different (John 15:19).
But think of the end result—eternal life with God. That should be plenty of motivation to help you put up with the temporary troubles of this life. Thinking of heaven helps us to be holy in all that we do (II Peter 3:11).
This post was copied---Not written by me--Tom Stanford
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