MEMORIAL DAY 2011 – WE STILL REMEMBER!

Sgt. Buddy James Hughie

HUSBAND, FATHER, SON, FRIEND

KILLED IN ACTION FEBRUARY 19, 2007

TWO BRONZE STAR (medals) WITH VALOR, PURPLE HEART

Entered into eternal rest serving in Operation Enduring Freedom

Afghanistan, Asia

Killed in Action (KIA) with a single shot from a Taliban sniper while rendering aid to Afghan Army Nationals.  Sgt Hughie went where no other dared.  He saved the lives of two men who were of a different race, a different religion, who lived in a foreign land and they spoke a different language. In the process, his heroic actions cost him his life.  Sgt Hughie stepped out and went where others refused go.

We love him and miss him dearly.  If you have not visited  the links “Our American Hero” and “Sgt Buddy James Hughie” on this home page please take time to do so and get to know our American Hero.  He is the one we knew as Buddy, the one with the radiant white smile who was always willing to help you with whatever needed to be done.  The world is a little darker without Buddy Hughie.

Today as you storm the beaches remember those whom stormed beaches long ago.

Enjoy your freedoms for they are bought with the blood from our American Heros.

I Have a Friend in Golden Amber

I don’t know why she does it.  I met Amber in the blogosphere.  We both have/had a WordPress Blog and would read each other’s writings.  She is a much more accomplished writer than I.  But then again she seems to be accomplished at many things.

Although she has an ongoing issue with her health she always seems to make time for other people.  She has become an accomplished photographer, business owner, baker, medical expert and the list goes on.

Do you know the type of person who will help you simply because they see that you can use it and they can make the time to make a difference?  Well that’s my Blogging friend Amber.  Just take a look at the new lay out of my Blog!  She did that all by her lonesome!  What a fabulous job!

I just wanted to take a moment to give her whatever credit I could by means of this simple -

THANK YOU!!

Amber, it is very likely that we will never meet face to face but over the last couple of years (in some of my darkest times) you have offered some very poignant advice and tangible acts of kindness.   The world would be a much, much better place if more people would follow your example.  Seriously.

 

VETERANS DAY 2009

Today is the official day to recognise the individuals who have served the USA by putting on military uniforms and (in most cases) going into harms way to preserve and defend our way of life.

As a child I remember looking at the pictures of my dad in his army uniform.  My dad served in the European Theater during WWII.  While driving a jeep one day a grenade exploded behind his seat.  Dad carried shrapnel in his back for the rest of his life.  Understandably he always had back issues.

One thing I think most people don’t realize is that during WWII Uncle Sam gave free cartons of cigarettes to those men and women in uniform.  I guess they figured they needed something to help calm their nerves.  I suppose that there are a number of those same veterans who got hooked on the nicotine who later died on the battle field of lung cancer.  But that is complete conjecture on my part.  True and correct but conjecture none-the-less.

Myself, I served seven years in the US Navy.  I was mostly in the aviation wing of the Navy and made three cruises aboard the USS John F. Kennedy (9, 11 & 13 months).  There’s something unique about sailing the Medeteranian Ocean with five thousand of your “closest friends.”

I saw lots of jets crash (on deck, in the ocean, into the arresting nets).  I saw a few guys get killed because they were careless.  The flight deck of an aircraft carrier is not the place to be careless… it is a very unforgiving environment.

I can still remember all the countries we visited (Spain, Italy, Greece, France, Scotland, Jamaica, Cuba and Crete).  Scotland was my favorite because I could understand the language and I remember it was sooooo green too!  France was my favorite because of the beaches (hey, I was young and stupid then).

I’ve been thinking about Buddy and Alexis and little Cooper a good bit lately.  Cooper will be three years old in a little over a week.  He was only three months old when Buddy was killed by that Taliban sniper.  If you haven’t read about him here are some links: http://mssc54.wordpress.com/buddy/  Buddy was truly a remarkable young man and would have been the best daddy.  If you want a glimpse of what (some) families go through when those two green uniforms walk up to their front door I have written about our journey here: http://mssc54.wordpress.com/our-american-hero/ .  Without question the most difficult experience(s) my family has ever experienced.

My family is not special, in the sense that we are the only ones who have experienced such sudden and profound grief.  There have been hundreds of thousands of families just like ours.  Sadly there will, undoubtedly, be thousands more.

Sometimes I think about Buddy and the joys he must be experiencing in his eternal home.  On an eternal scale I think that Buddy and those (who believe in the Savior) are the ones who kind of “made out” the best.  They (in their eternal home) no longer have to deal with this fallen world.

Just think, there are Veterans right this second who are dealing with profound injuries and the constant struggle those injuries bring in day to day life.  However, we should  not only think about those Veterans, but think too of their spouses, children, moms, dads, friends and relatives.  Every one of their lives have  beenchanged too… forever.  What would our life be like should we have to be the primary care giver to a profoundly disabled loved one?  God bless and strengthen each one of them.

I encourage you, my fellow citizens, seek out your local Veterans.  Really, intentionally seek them out shake their hands, ask them if you can visit with them for a few minutes.  Sit with them and listen to the stories of their lives.  Contact the “nursing homes” in your area and ask them if they have any Veteran residents.  Forge a relationship with them.  Would it be so difficult for each of us to sacrifice thirty minutes of our time once a month for such a noble cause?  Bring your children and teach them what it means to go outside their comfort zones.  Teach your children to serve those who have served and sacrificed.

There is one thing that I very often wonder about.  I see those yellow magnetic “ribbons” on automobiles that say “Support our troops” or something like that.  I wonder what that means to the person behind the wheel of that vehicle.

So I have a couple of questions if you will indulge me, please.

1.  What does it mean to you to support our troops?

2.  How many of your family members have served in uniform and which branch?

3.  Would you like to share their story with us?

In closing I would like to say THANK YOU to all of our service men and women.  And may the Lord, God Almighty not only bless the United States of America but may He bless the multitudes of the world.

Thank you for visiting my ramblings.

M

I’m not broken but I am cracked.

Today I celebrate my 55th birthday.  Now that I have some age and experience under my proverbial belt I have become somewhat (more) reflective.  And with the intentional and directed reflection on my life, has come some rather painful revelations.  Guess what, I’m not perfect!  But then again I’m not broken either.

Okay, so now I’ve pin-pointed a few areas that I feel I need to work on.  Now what.  I’ve decided to ”speak” with a professional who can help direct me with some behavior modification issues.  As a matter of fact, this morning from 8-9 was my fifth appointment.    Is it easy?  NO!  Has it been painful?  Yes,at times it has.  However, most things worth pursuing are difficult and somewhat painful?  Aren’t they?  Heck even if you want to lose weight, that too involves sacrifice and pain.  How many of us have tried dieting instead of changing our life style?

So, I have determined to persue a path of life style change.  Most of the time I just say or do whatever is “right” (in my own eyes of course).  There is no “governor” between the area of my brain and my tongue, so it can get pretty ugly.  Pretty much whatever I think rolls right off my tongue and out of my mouth.   As you may imagine, over the years my words and actions have caused a great deal of pain to a great many people.  Many Most people who are not required to be around me, because they are related to me, determined long ago that I’m just not worth the effort.  Who can blame them?!  I mean I certainly don’t go places where I know there is a high degree of likelihood that I will be made fun of or otherwise ridiculed.  Survival is key.

I have already figured out that I need to “lengthen my fuse.”   If I can just keep my mouth shut, even for  a few seconds, before I react then I can respond.  A response is much healthier than a reaction. 

You know, in spite of all my frailties, faults and inconsistencies, I have for quite some time been able to receive constructive criticism from (some) people and work with it.  Now is the time for me to become more intense and deliberate with these things.  I not only want to become a better husband, father and friend but I need to become the man who God imagined me to be when He thought about creating ME!  It’s not like God needed just another caucasian male on the face of the earth.  There have been billions of men like me over the millennia.

Now is the time for me to rise up and become!  What about you?

Stop The Blame and Take Responsibility!

Some times I look back on my life and try to evaluate the times where I felt like my world was falling apart.  What happened?  What role did I play?  What responsibility did I have?  What can I learn from that?  How should I respond in the future?    Wouldn’t it be great if I could learn (the first time) from where/when I make a poor choice?

As I have been (intentionally) reviewing one specific event in my life (see previous Blog post)   I have had somewhat of an epiphany.  For over three decades I have allowed this event to shadow me.  I have been looking at how wounded, hurt and traumatized I have been.  Poor, poor me.  I hadn’t for a single second considered how my actions affected everyone else around me.  I have carried anger, resentment and even shame with me for so long that it had become a “right.”  After all I was a mere child.  Bologna!  I knew right from wrong.  I knew that I was challenging the authority over me.  But I wanted to do what I wanted to do.  I wanted to act up and make jokes.  It was all about me!!

Well guess what Buck-O.  It wasn’t about just me!  It was about the coaches and the other players too!   It should have been about honoring the authority set over me and complying with their wishes and directives  the first time I was corrected.  But noooooooo, I had to push it (as usual).  My coach held me accountable for my actions.  That’s it.  Nothing more, nothing less.

I can finally look back on the events of that fateful night and see that I was not the only one affected by my actions.  I can now recognise that coach tried to allow me back on the team by letting the entire team vote me on or off.  But I was such a jerk most of the time that not even the other players wanted me around!  I can’t imagine how coach felt when he realized that, in spite of his efforts to reinstate me, it was a done deal.  I’m sure he would have never guessed that the vote would have been so lopsided.

Rarely does life allow us any do-overs.  If I could I would certainly make better choices.  Not only with regards to this event but through most of my adolescence.  My mouth has always been my biggest challenge.  Still is, if you want to know the truth.

I’m sorry coach for not allowing you to do your job without my disruption.  You were a good coach and I did learn a lot from you.  And to my former team mates, I’m sorry that I was such a jerk to be around.  I wish I had been a better player and  I certainly wish I had been a better friend.

And no I’m not beating myself up.  I’m just reviewing the facts of my life and trying to recognise (once again) where it is that I have responsibility!

THE PERFECT STORM (IN AMERICA)

My pastor wrote the following piece and I have posted it here with his permission.

The Perfect Storm

Posted in August 24th, 2009 by Kevin in On my mind

I just finished reading an article by a prophet, John Paul Jackson, entitled, The Coming Perfect Storm. For those of you unfamiliar with the movie that had a similar title, it was about a fishing boat that was caught in the north Atlantic when 2 storms collided and became what meteorologists called, “The Perfect Storm”. This prophetic vision that he sees concerning the future of America has elements of that movie. The article resonated in my spirit and I thought it appropriate to synopsize it for you and of course, give credit to the one who received the insight.

America is approaching a storm that will merge 5 different elements of culture that will be so intertwined that it will be difficult, if not impossible, to distinguish which events are driving the manifestation of the storm. These 5 elements are: religion, politics, economics, war, and geophysical events. Some ripples will be worse than others and different areas of the country will experience different severity’s. Some of the elements could be more accentuated than others, but everyone will be touched at varying degrees. The rapidity of this storm will also make it problematic.

The reason this storm is approaching is due mostly to the fact that the church is no longer the backbone of this nation. From the beginning of this nation, the Christian faith has been the plumb line of most decisions that were made at all levels of life. Our Christian heritage is what has made this nation different than every other nation. Christianity was a part of the USA, DNA. However, we have turned from that foundation. The lines of right and wrong, as well as the holy and the profane are blurring rapidly. The way to God, even in the church, through Jesus Christ alone and by His Cross is no longer seen as an absolute. We are a tepid, superficial church that has lost it’s backbone to stand. Because of that, 5 things are being seen:

1. An attempt on the President’s life by Islamic extremists. The purpose of the attack was to incite a racially motivated upheaval in the USA. There were riots in the street of incredible proportion. The church must pray for the protection of the President and his family to avert the aftermath of such a scenario.

2. Earthquakes are set to strike coastal areas and the mid-west. Thunderstorms will produce huge hail. We will hear of 24 inches of rain in 24 hours and flooding will occur in areas never prone to floods. Tornadoes will come with voracity never before seen. As paradoxical as it may seem, while some experience floods, others will endure droughts. Water will become as expensive as fuel. This nation will experience a food shortage with increased prices.

3. Iran and Russia are preparing to unite and form an alliance. Israel will be forced to bomb Iran. Anti-semitism will begin to soar. A dirty bomb will explode in a coastal city of the United States.

4. God is going to expose rampant immorality in the leadership of larger churches and ministries in this nation. The government will become increasingly hostile towards the tax-exempt status of the church as the economy squeezes resources. Churches will lose tax-exempt status and their properties will begin to be taxed.

5. Commercial buildings are going to become more and more vacant. Notable malls will stand empty and have to be seized by the government to provide housing for the displaced and indigent.

What should we as the Church begin to do under these scenarios:

1. We must return to knowing God and His ways rather than just knowing about God. We have replaced power with programs, revelation with administration, and the Father’s heart with church growth techniques.

2. The Church must learn to contend for the faith again. We are weak, and we fall away so easily when crisis is not at hand. We have not been tested and we have lost our resolve. We understand little of the adversary’s plans. We do not know how to debate our faith without becoming angry, and thus we have few clear, godly voices in the public square. We have lost our witness and we must get it back.

3. The Church must return to the love of God’s Word and the belief that is infallible and inerrant. This would include the conviction that God is absolute, and there is only one way to Him and that is through Jesus Christ. We need a revelation that God’s power is unlimited, His knowledge is unending, and His presence is always with us. We have made the Lord too small and our lives prove it.

4. We need to repent and practice corporate fasting. We need to be grieved for the sins of the Church before we can intercede for the sins of the world. Judgment starts at the House of the Lord. We must put our own house in order before we can put any government house in order.

The truth is, much calamity is a reaping of what we have chosen to follow. Whatever we follow will certainly bear fruit and we can vividly see the fruit that our nation is currently reaping. The good-news is that when crisis hits, and we turn our hearts, then God can move and take action for us (Jeremiah 29:12-13). May our nation understand all that is at stake and may we all again turn our hearts toward the one true and living God. All through Scripture, those who were committed to God’s ways and purposes were shielded by His hand during strenuous and difficult times. Stay focused on the Lord and walk in His ways and He will not overlook your faithfulness.

We are living in the most exciting times the world has ever known! Even so…Come Lord Jesus!

Pastor

Unemployed and no health insurance.

 

Unless you have been living under a rock you should be aware that the US economy is (by most standards) in shambles.

Each month there seems to be more and more joining the ranks of the unemployed .  Then of course there is the mantra about health insurance.  It seems that there are some who want health but for one reason or another are unable to acquire it.  I won’t go into my personal belief about why most people who do not have health insurance do not have it. 

Being the brilliant person that I am, I think I have come up with a solution that will guarantee over sixty-nine thousand people health insurance!!

Recently the Secretary of State, Robert Gates, announced plans to increase the ranks of the US Army by 22k!  Now according to the latest government statistics the size of an average American family is 3.14 people. 

So I suggest that 22k people who are currently unemployed and do not have health insurance go down to your local Army Recruiting office and pledge to defend this nation against all enemies (foreign and domestic).

This single act will insure each family with instant health care but the individual who joins the US Army may be  trained in a new field of work.  Not only those benefits but there are many more benefits that active duty military enjoy.

Don’t forget that the Army is not the only branch of the military that is “hiring.”  Don’t forget the Coast Guard, Air Force, Navy and Marines!

So if you hear of anyone complaining about not being able to find a job or acquire health insurance just guide them over to the nearest US Army Recruiting Office.

Now if some of you can come up with any other suggestions to help those who are (apparrently) unwilling to help themselves maybe we can just turn this thing around!

Cowards…

I found this video on Youtube and feel that it deserves whatever exposure it can get here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jeYscnFpEyA&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fuglyassopinion%2Ecom%2F&feature=player_embedded

Think about it.

ELECTROCUTED!! (an update)

 

 

I talked with my friend’s wife this morning and my friend is doing remarkably well.  HOORAY!!  He is quite sore today since he over did his rehab yesterday.  The therapist told him to do a certain amount of repetitions and he well exceeded that amount.  Hence, he earned the right to be quite sore today.  I really can’t blame they guy too much though.  I’ve been to physical therapy a number of times and I think most of the time the therapists minimize what they want you to do so if you can’t do it you won’t immediately sink into deep depression.  Heck If I were in the hospital for two weeks I would ber a bit anxious to get back into my own bed, eat some totally unhealthy food and snuggle with my wife too!

I also found out that his treatment with the chill blankets will be written about and published in some sort of medical periodical.  It seems that he is the first electrocution patient that they used that treatment on and with the remarkable results they had…

So anyway, my friend is looking better than I’ve ever seen him: he’s lost some weight, his color is good and his attitude is great.  I think his birthday is this weekend, which is another reason he may be anxious to get home.

The carpet cleaning job I did this morning turned out great!  They only have two little dogs instead of the four I originally thought.  So whenever my friend is ready the  hospital releases my friend and he returns home everything should be fresh and clean, his little doggies will be all excited to see him and life will be good.

Accomplishment

On our recent Home Study for the adoption of our new kids the Mrs. and I each had to answer lots of questions.  One of the questions that has stuck with me is:  “What do you consider your greatest accomplishment?”  The question caught us off guard and I think, after much consideration I may give a different answer than what I did “on the spot.”

So, consider the question: What would you consider your greatest accomplishment?