Wednesday, November 28, 2012

The Difference Between Religion and The Gospel


The Difference Between Religion and The Gospel

Religion says, if I obey, God will love me. 
Gospel says, because God loves me, I can obey.

Religion has good people & bad people. 
Gospel has only repentant and unrepentant people.

Religion values a birth family. 
Gospel values a new birth.

Religion depends on what I do. 
Gospel depends on what Jesus has done.

Religion has the goal to get stuff from God. 
Gospel has the goal to get God.

Religion sees hardships as punishment for sin. 
Gospel sees hardship as sanctified affliction.

Religion is about me. 
Gospel is about Jesus.

Religion believes appearing as a good person is the key. 
Gospel believes that being honest is the key.

Religion has an uncertainty of standing before God. 
Gospel has certainty based upon Jesus' work.

Religion ends in pride or despair. 
Gospel ends in humble joy.

--edited from Mark Driscoll, on the difference between Religion and the Gospel
@The Timothy Report - use this link to subscribe http://www.timothyreport.com

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Watch Your Language


Watch Your Language!


Ot Yet?

I did my nurse's training at a hospital in Liverpool,
England. My fellow students and I had little money for
meals, so we ate the awful food provided at the hospital
complex.

We often took our breaks in the kitchen and sometimes kindly
visitors would give us some of the treats they had brought
for patients who had not wanted to eat them.

One night a woman brought a pie to the kitchen and said to
me, "Would you eat this up, love?"

Another student and I devoured every delicious crumb!

Soon our benefactor returned, however, and asked, "Is me
'usband's pie 'ot yet, dearie?" (hot yet?)

Received from Thomas Ellsworth.

Monday, November 19, 2012

Again, thanks to all who responded to my query about the switch from reviling military people to honoring them.
A couple of more came in after the original posting, so including those below.



Hoosierland
  I think there is another thing that might play into the present day honoring of vets.  Our country likes get all hyped up about whatever is the latest craze.... tons of flowers at the site of a shooting, vigils on anniversaries, gatherings for causes, etc, etc.  With the media 24/7 and social media bringing instant gatherings, I think a combination of:    a) a determination not to repeat the poor treatment of the Vietnam vets .  Because the war was so hated by the young, the treatment of the men fighting was part of the disdain b) an environment of loving to show caring and appreciation for whatever...  c) a politically correct environment that says our military should be honored even if we don't agree with the war  d) politicians over the past 10 years touting their service even if it was minimal...    It has become the politically correct thing to do and when that is the case, stand aside......


Colorado Vet
   My 2 cents worth.  I believe a strong contributing factor was the Vietnam vets, and perhaps their children, who saw the troops coming home from Iraq and Afghanistan.  They said to themselves: "Even though no one said 'Thanks for serving' when we came home, we're going to make sure that doesn't happen to these men and women."  Sort of a "Do unto others as you wish they had done unto you."  It began in small ways in various places and caught on because people saw it was a good thing to do, the right thing to do.
       By the way, you and I both went through Basic Training at Ft. Ord.  Sun and sand on the rifle range!  And rain, lots of rain.






Wednesday, November 14, 2012


Below are the responses from my question concerning the change in attitude toward military personnel in The US of A. Again, thanks so much for your input. I greatly appreciate it. LeRam


From OK City Sweet Niece

It's actually because of the treatment of Vietnam vets right after the war that people have changed the way they treat vets. Many men were coming home from Vietnam being shunned for fighting in what they(the public) considered to be such a senseless war. In comparison WWII vets were welcomed home with parades and kisses in the streets from nurses. Our country saw a decline in not only voluntary enlistment into the armed forces but also an overall lack of support for it altogether. There were many vets from Vietnam that were treated for PPD and other issues. The public shed a light on it and we've responded. Same issues came up with Iraq war that people disagreed with but the public for the most part never blamed it on the military personnel as they had before. I know I'm proud of the vets that I know and love like you and my dad! 

From Chicago Brain

Don't consider myself as being among the "smart people", but I can tell you that in Chicago they had a parade to honor (literally to welcome them home) Vietnam veterans in either '82 or '83 (mid year).  Long overdue!  I remember seeing many of them in tears and several who had been permanently disabled from wounds suffered during that war.  
I can only guess that a very biased media and an unknown number of corporate executives (who sent their sons to Canada AND then built factories up there with US dollars so they'd have work;  GM is one in particular) that helped create the unpopular image.  Should have been directed at our politicians (and France) in my opinion, NOT at our veterans.  
They simply answered the call (the lottery draft) for the most part.  Do you remember who was President in the '82 ?  Was it Reagan?  Maybe he, or G Bush, his VP, that helped change the attitude.



Dr. Phil in Paris [The TX one]

About 1975...it was when I was in Derm training at Walter Reed, I attended a medical meeting in NYC. We were about to leave and catch the train back to DC and had a little time to kill At least back then, we had to be in uniform at least one day of the meeting and when we traveled. So, I was in the "dress green," of course it has the Medical Corps insignia. D and I were walking through Time's Square and someone behind us screamed. We got to the stoplight and looked at each other and said, "What was that? What did he scream?" A man came up to us and said,"He didn't like you, did he?" We asked what he had screamed and he said,"MURDERER!!!"

Well, that was during Vietnam time. We don't have Jane Fonda going over to see the Taliban and giving us sad stories of their plight from the vicious Americans now either. We didn't have a "9-1-1" to rally around either. 

Otherwise, we have always loved our vets, haven't we?

LeTourneau Univ Lady of Renown 

I have seen a gradual turn towards loving our military men whether from WWI, or WWII or Viet Nam or whatever.  I like it.  I think there were 15 or more chain restaurants giving free meals to vets yesterday and today!

A Hollywood Oasis

I don't know what brought about the switch but am thankful for it also. Especially for young people to appreciate this country and the high price that has been paid to keep it free.

Insuring E. Texas Lady

I do not know why attitudes changed, but I am glad.  I guess some things about America are better than they used to be....( I’m looking for positives to hang on to!)….

Spokane Deaf Dear

We should all be thankful - it's a free country. We should also remember those families who lost loved ones in the wars. We can all remember them in our hearts as Jesus takes care of them in Heaven. My dad and two uncles fought in WWII.  When they saw wounded soldiers coming home on the trains, it hit them hard. They were scared to see them. 
I give thanks for our country because we are free. Bless the soldiers who serve our country.




Salem Sister

Every good and perfect gift comes from God - some are waking up to the fact that our men and women who protect us with their lives are worthy of many thanks and much gratitude.



Dalhart Doc

I believe a lot of the change was brought about by CNN during the First
Gulf War.  When I went to the Navy's Officer Indoctrination School in
Newport Rhode Island in 1990 some of the college kids down from Boston for
the weekends still threw beer bottles at us on the streets and shouted
"baby killers!"
After CNN showed every moment of Operation Desert Storm and Americans had
seen the sacrifice and professionalism of the servicemen, it was
different.  People secretly paid for our meals at restaurants.  People
gave up their first class seats on planes for servicemen.
I think the way CNN used embedded reporters and satellites link-ups to
show the unfiltered behavior and unscripted heroism of servicemen did a
lot to open people's eyes to the character of our servicemen, especially
when contrasted right there on the television screen with atrocities being
committed at the same time around the world by other militaries in Bosnia
and Somalia and the Middle East.


From Pittsburgh [not TX] Robosmart Person

Then there was the draft. 
Now it's all volunteer.

Then it was a new time of realizing that one had the ability to 
choose against the rules of the Establishment. Many did not 
accept the reasons for the war in southeast Asia and felt that 
those who participated chose to be immoral.

Now many recognize that there may be legitimate reasons, but
nevertheless, it is not the fault of those serving.  Those serving
need support while they are deployed, and when they come home.

The big shift is separating the blame of war so that it rests on the 
leaders and not also on the soldiers.

I'm glad your service is now being respectfully recognized.


Albuquerque Smart People

As two of your "smart friends" , the change occurred gradually when people finally realized that blaming the vets for the Vietnam War was not right. Vietnam has been widely regarded as a mistake, but it certainly wasn't the vets' mistake. They were not responsible for the decisions that led to our involvement. The whole country sort of felt guilty for how returning vets had been treated.
   So as the memories of the Vietnam War era faded, when new wars arose, people were determined not to blame the soldiers. To some extent it was a conscious decision. I remember reading articles saying as much. Now people bend over backwards to honor vets, and when atrocities are committed by our soldiers, we carefully avoid painting the whole army with that brush.
   Getting rid of the draft is part of the change too. For better or worse, people don't get nearly as upset about war as they used to because wars now are fought by volunteers.
   So that is our two cents worth. Give our love to your family.


Dallas Dude

The reason why the army has changed in perception is because criminals are not 'given a second' chance anymore by going into the military so in my view it is somehow more of an august profession although after reading about pat tillman's time there I don't know. Also Vietnam was a war that really had nothing connected to the states except theory. And then there were no major conflicts for so long. Persian gulf war was clean and tidy and the Iraq war was based on a misguided theory but America wanted revenge so it was more palatable.
 I believe that most veterans are treated better now but it's mainly just window dressing. When they return they are not given much help except to be tossed handfuls of anti depressants. The suicide rate is way too high. My buddy I worked with in Chicago had been on two tours in Iraq by 2006 and he had seen and done a lot of stuff but mainly kept it to himself. I think he was able to disassociate himself so that was good and he had strong family, friends and got right into a job. Oh and bombs went off around him but he never was close enough to get brain injury so that probably helped a lot. Now if we can get back to being on ships instead of land I think most guys will be better off. 


Bright Star Answer Lady

To answer your question I think the change has been slow but because of the way the vets were treated in the Viet Nam era people have begun to re-think where they would be without them. There was a low military force because men did not want to be treated as they saw the vets treated. 
Dessert Storm was a success story  and things turned with that war as well and then when the trade tower were attacked and our USA got hit PERSONALLY that really helped. It was not longer "their war- over there" it had arrived on our soil.

Whatcom County First Lady

 I have to tell you a story that happen during Jacks first 4 years (2002-2005)as Mayor of Lynden.
The local Lynden Chamber of Commerce hosted a Veterans Dinner, during a Memorial Day weekend for those who had served.

In all my years as being the Mayor's wife, this is one of my most memorable events. The dinner was well attended and we heard many stories of service in Vietnam. The one that really stood out in my mind was from a man who was a helicopter gunner. An intense position to serve. He didn’t say much about being the gunner, just said he was a gunner…I didn’t need to ask what that meant. This man was an acquaintance, I knew his family, I never knew he was a gunner. He is a man of quiet character and we often see him and his wife out walking in Lynden.

Jacks speech to the Vets was very honest. He said how much he appreciated the opportunity to be with them and hear their stories, but how inadequate he felt to speak to them because he himself had never served. He did say that he wanted to thank them for their service and great sacrifice that they gave for our country.  He acknowledged the many who did not return home. But to them he said: THANK YOU. 

So why this day is so memorable was because Vet after Vet came up after to tell Jack that he was the first government official to say THANK YOU. We had no idea they had not been acknowledged. We were shocked.
So to answer your question: “When did the attitude switch?” I do not know when a change took place. But you made me think.

Jack thinks it’s Desert Storm and the radical 60’s & 70’s kids grew up!