From the Inside Out

Tomorrow is the fourth of July. It’s the day we celebrate our independence from Britain and the day democracy was born. For most Americans, it will be filled with family gatherings, picnics, parades, and fireworks. We will laugh, and we will play. We will celebrate a day off from work. We will enjoy the freedoms our country generously grants to us.

Amidst all of the fun, let’s not forget that freedom isn’t free. A high price was paid for the liberty we enjoy. Even today, many brave men and women are sacrificing their time and their freedom to fight for our country. They stand between us and those who want to cause us harm. They vow to protect us and our liberty — even at the expense of their own lives.

As you celebrate the holiday tomorrow, don’t forget to say a quick prayer for the men and women who are fighting daily to protect us. And when you watch the fireworks light up the night sky, remember those who paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.

Happy Birthday America!

In honor of Father’s day…

A dad is someone who
wants to catch you before you fall
but instead picks you up,
brushes you off,
and lets you try again.

A dad is someone who
wants to keep you from making mistakes
but instead lets you find your own way,
even though his heart breaks in silence
when you get hurt.

A dad is someone who
holds you when you cry,
scolds you when you break the rules,
shines with pride when you succeed,
and has faith in you even when you fail…

~By Susan Ceylise.~

I love you, Dad. Happy Father’s Day.

Instead of pondering the reason for the holiday, I spent 12 hours at the church working on the set of “Pirates of Patmos.” I’m not sure why it took so long, but it did. I’d hoped we would finish by early afternoon so we could relax and enjoy the last few hours of the holiday before regrouping for rehearsal tonight. Alas, it wasn’t in the cards.

It’s almost midnight now, and I’m exhausted. Before I head off to bed, I want to give honor to the brave men and women who gave the ultimate sacrifice to protect our freedom and preserve peace. Without them, I wouldn’t have the liberty I so richly enjoy every day.

Regardless of how differently you and I may have spent this day, lets not forget the real reason behind the holiday. Hundreds of thousands of soldiers have paid the price for our freedom. Please remember to honor them and keep their families in your prayers.

The Cost of a Soldier

A True Soldier is tough indeed
standing tall and strong when there is a need
A Soldier also feels sadness, pain, and sorrow
Sometimes not looking forward to the trials of tomorrow

When a Soldier is wounded in battle
the nerves of his buddies it does rattle
When news reaches friends and family at home
how their worries and minds begin to roam

A wounded Soldier feels inadequate at best
stopping him from much needed healing rest
A wounded Soldiers wonders will he ever be alright,
trusting in God that he’ll make it through the night.

When a Soldier is wounded far beyond repair
the loss and pain felt can not compare
The Cost of a Soldier is set so very high
they assure our freedom will always apply

To stand beside a Soldier and walk through his pain
will humble a civilian, no longer to complain
Love, patience, trust and hope is what a Soldier needs
to get them through some very treacherous deeds

Dear Lord please watch over our Military today
as they work to keep our freedom everyday
For the wounded and the families of Soldiers lost
Please Bless them with abundant love, for we know not the cost.

The Cost of a Soldier is set so very high
our support for them we should never deny

Denise Girod

Mother’s day reaches its 100th anniversary on Sunday.  I find it interesting that a woman who never married and never had children was the one who started it all.  Anna Jarvis organized the first mother’s day service in 1908, three years after her mother died.  Even though she wasn’t a mother, she felt it was important to recognize these hard working women and create a memorial for them. 

West Virginia became the first state to recognize Mother’s Day in 1910. President Woodrow Wilson approved a resolution in 1914 marking the second Sunday in May a nationwide observance.  Now 52 countries across the world celebrate this day in May.

The celebrations have changed greatly over time.  With 83 million mothers in the USA alone, retailers have seized the opportunity and commercialized the holiday.  That was not part of Anna’s vision.  She had only intended for mothers to be honored with a single white carnation.  She didn’t like the idea of people buying cards either.  Anna felt that in purchasing a card, people were being too lazy to write a personal greeting to the women who reared them.

Anna had a point.   The National Retail Federation estimates that Americans will spend $15 billion this year honoring their mothers. Dining out is expected to be the No. 1 expense.  Amidst all of the shopping and eating, we may neglect the one thing that is most important — a personal word of thanks for all the sacrifices our moms made throughout the years. 

As you send flowers, mail your cards, and eat dinners with your mothers on Sunday, don’t neglect the most important thing.  Tell your mom how much she means to you.  I know I will.

What do these three things have in common?  They are today’s top April Fool’s pranks.  Check ‘em out:

1.  WestJet issues a fake press release about their new “sleeper cabins”, which allow passengers to sleep in the overhead bins where luggage is typically held.  They even issued pictures…hilarious!  She does look comfortable, though.  Maybe it’s not such a bad idea?

2.  BMW introduces Canine Repellent Alloy Protection (CRAP), an ingenious system of delivering an electric shock to any dog thinking of relieving itself against a BMW wheel.

3.  Google introduces Virgle, complete with a FAQ, press release, and a 100 year plan.  Starting in 2014, Virgin founder Richard Branson and Google co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin will be leading hundreds of users on one of the grandest adventures in human history: Project Virgle, the first permanent human colony on Mars.

And my all time favorite prank, The Taco Liberty Bell:

According to the Museum of Hoaxes, “in 1996 the Taco Bell Corporation announced that it had bought the Liberty Bell and was renaming it the Taco Liberty Bell. Hundreds of outraged citizens called the National Historic Park in Philadelphia where the bell was housed to express their anger. Their nerves were only calmed when Taco Bell revealed, a few hours later, that it was all a practical joke. The best line of the day came when White House press secretary Mike McCurry was asked about the sale. Thinking on his feet, he responded that the Lincoln Memorial had also been sold. It would now be known as the Ford Lincoln Mercury Memorial. “ 

Brilliant!