Avalon Chronicles #74: "Reflection, Renewal, and Resolutions in the New Year"
by Allen B. Clark
www.combatfaith.com
www.combatfaith.blogspot.com
References:
http://www.combatfaith.com/Battleplantext, Faith to Faith. KCP Publications. 1992.
It was several years ago that I placed on my lay ministry web site (above) what for me was a summarized view of my faith walk and its practical application derived as a sum total of decades of prayer, study, and reading of dozens of books.
On the occasion of the eve of a New Year it is an appropriate time to Reflect, Renew, and Resolve.
In Reflection, allow me to give thought to what we know to be our tripartite self: Body, soul, and spirit. Our soul consists of our mind, emotions, and will and suffers torments due to outside influences from others, personal situations, or worldly conditions. However, there is a significant amount of torments of the soul over which we have complete personal control. Allow me to render proper credit to the now-deceased Nancy Missler and her teachings for the following concept. A major secret to success in reducing the torments of the soul is T.E.C.A.C.. She taught that, if one controls the mind through our Thoughts, then the Emotions can be restrained so that one may exert the will to make wise Choices of Actions to provide Consequences that in more cases than not will be positive rather than negative and provide us peace and tranquility.
This is not easily-accomplished. However, through the personal discipline of constant spiritual Renewal, we are reminded that blessings from our Lord emanate primarily due to living a pure and clean life. This state is achieved by true repentance and confession of sins and forgiveness of all others plus ourselves, which lays the foundation for constant spiritual renewal.
In the upcoming New Year the following are worthy spiritual Resolutions:
1. "Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me." Psalms 51:10 (KJV)
2. "A soft answer turneth away wrath; but grievous words stir up anger." Proverbs 15:1 (KJV)
3. "Holy Spirit, use me to pray for someone today." (Faith April 5)
4. "So determine in your heart today to be loyal to God in every word you speak." (Faith April 4)
5. "In the Name of Jesus, I commit myself from this day forward to live by the Word of God, to live by my faith, and to live by the love of God." (Faith March 8)
REMEMBER: "Sin Shatters the Strength of the Spirit"
Friday, December 30, 2016
Sunday, December 18, 2016
Avalon Chronicles #73: "Battlefields: Then and Now"
Avalon Chronicles #73: "Battlefields: Then and Now"
by Allen B. Clark allenbclark@aol.com
www.combatfaith.com www.combatfaith.blogspot.com
Resource: Archaeological Study Bible NIV Zondervan 1984
Iraq: Ur, Nuzi, and Nineveh
Ur: Then. There is disagreement among scholars as to the exact location of "Ur of the Chaldeans," Some theorize that Abraham traveled to Canaan from a location in the north of Mesopotamia. It appears that this location is more geographically feasible for Abraham's trek. However, another very interesting Ur is in the southeastern part of Iraq. It is an ancient Sumerian temple site, possibly 4000 years old. It is 200 miles south of Baghdad. The founder of the Third Dynasty of Ur, Ur-Nammu, built the Great Ziggurat of Ur in approximately 2100-2000 BC. This Ur became the capitol of Mesopotamia. The remains were first discovered in 1850. In the 1960s and 1970s the Ziggurat began to be reconstructed by the Iraqi Department of Antiquities.
Ur: Now. These two photos were taken and forwarded to me by an Army chaplain during his service in Operation Iraqi Freedom. The ancient southern city of Ur is within what was during our war in Iraq the security perimeter of the U.S. Army installation named Camp Adder. It was Tallil Air Base used by our forces until 2011. Originally it was an Iraqi Air Base built by Yugoslavians before 1985. In the military actions the structure was hit by small arms fire and there were explosions in the vicinity. There was much controversy after the First Gulf War that a nearby ammunition bunker site at An Nasiriyah released chemical agents from demolitions accomplished by our forces on the site.
by Allen B. Clark allenbclark@aol.com
www.combatfaith.com www.combatfaith.blogspot.com
Resource: Archaeological Study Bible NIV Zondervan 1984
Iraq: Ur, Nuzi, and Nineveh
Ur: Then. There is disagreement among scholars as to the exact location of "Ur of the Chaldeans," Some theorize that Abraham traveled to Canaan from a location in the north of Mesopotamia. It appears that this location is more geographically feasible for Abraham's trek. However, another very interesting Ur is in the southeastern part of Iraq. It is an ancient Sumerian temple site, possibly 4000 years old. It is 200 miles south of Baghdad. The founder of the Third Dynasty of Ur, Ur-Nammu, built the Great Ziggurat of Ur in approximately 2100-2000 BC. This Ur became the capitol of Mesopotamia. The remains were first discovered in 1850. In the 1960s and 1970s the Ziggurat began to be reconstructed by the Iraqi Department of Antiquities.
Ur: Now. These two photos were taken and forwarded to me by an Army chaplain during his service in Operation Iraqi Freedom. The ancient southern city of Ur is within what was during our war in Iraq the security perimeter of the U.S. Army installation named Camp Adder. It was Tallil Air Base used by our forces until 2011. Originally it was an Iraqi Air Base built by Yugoslavians before 1985. In the military actions the structure was hit by small arms fire and there were explosions in the vicinity. There was much controversy after the First Gulf War that a nearby ammunition bunker site at An Nasiriyah released chemical agents from demolitions accomplished by our forces on the site.
The Great Ziggurat of Ur was visible from the entire American military base complex.
Nuzi: Then: Extensive archaeological digs (of the ancient city of Nuzi) in an area southwest of modern day Kirkuk, Iraq have uncovered many tablets which indicate cultural customs and laws that render credence to the Genesis accounts of the patriarchal period.
Now. Nuzi today is in the Kurd country of Iraq, in the northern part of Iraq. The Iraqi Kurds are in an oil-rich area of Iraq and according to a senior Army officer, who went to their areas during the war, basically operate as an area autonomous from the central Iraqi government. Their military forces are called the Peshmerga. There are millions of Kurds residing in Iraq, Iran, Syria, and Turkey, where their political presence is reflected in a military organization that carries out terrorist attacks against the Turkish government. Southwest of Kirkuk is Tikrit, where on Dec. 13, 2003 Iraqi president Saddam Hussein was pulled out of an underground hole and eventually executed.
Nineveh: Then: Nineveh in Northern Iraq was a major city in ancient times possibly founded as early as 6000 BC. There are numerous historical references to Nineveh throughout history much less as related to the story of Jonah and the whale. There is some speculation that the Hanging Gardens of Babylon were in Nineveh.
Now: Nineveh was located literally across the Tigris River from Mosul, Iraq which was overtaken by ISIS forces in 2014. Iraqi forces are in the midst since October 2016 of retaking the city. A personal report came to my attention and parts of it are related herein. "Now on the campaign against ISIS, the Iraqi Army has a foothold in Eastern and Southeastern Mosul, a city of over one million that stretches from the plains of Nineveh to the east across the Tigris River. The Iraqi Army is pushing ISIS back block by block in bloody street battles using tanks, armored cars, Humvees, and coalition air support. But the Iraqi Army's main weapon are brave men who risk their lives daily to fight for the liberation of Mosul and take care of each other and the population....During ISIS attacks Iraqi soldiers shielded the civilians and exposed themselves to direct fire as they attempted to stop the ISIS attack....The Iraqi soldiers have done a courageous job of holding back ISIS (which launches its attacks from a network of tunnels, rat holes, suicide vehicles and IED's). Thousands of years after ancient Nineveh was the scene of ferocious fighting by empire after empire, it has not stopped. There is still fighting going on.
PRESUMABLY AS PROPHESIED IN THE BIBLE THERE WILL CONTINUE TO BE CONFLICT WITH DEATHS AND SUFFERING FOR MANKIND UNTIL JESUS' SECOND COMING. ONLY THE DEAD HAVE KNOWN THE END OF WAR.
Afghanistan: Our other war zone where Americans were sacrificed was Afghanistan, which was not conquered by the British in the nineteenth century, nor the Soviets in the twentieth century and is still a battle zone albeit with less American military presence. In a conversation once with an Army Special Forces warrior, who had served in both Iraq and Afghanistan, he related to me some compelling comments about the contrasts he observed between the two countries. In Iraq a much more educated population has allegiance to a central government, whereas in Afghanistan a much less educated population has allegiance toward tribal units. Several years ago there was a published report that Afghanistan sits upon significant mineral riches. It is rich to an extent that the Chinese have begun exerting influence to extract these deposits. I had a conversation with a military veteran of Afghanistan who indicated he had had a personal conversation with a tribal chief who revealed he had "sold" the mineral rights in his tribal area to a Chinese entity. As a "visceral" Vietnam veteran I maintain that, if the Chinese are going to enrich themselves on the spoils in Afghanistan upon our final departure, then it is a travesty of justice. It is assured that their rules of engagement in combatting the Taliban will be substantially less strict than ours have been while we have made our sacrifices in bringing freedom to the Afghans.
Friday, November 18, 2016
Avalon Chronicles #72: "Desmond Doss-The Rest of the Story"
Avalon Chronicles #72: "Desmond Doss-The Rest of the Story"
by Allen B. Clark allenbclark@aol.com
www.combatfaith.com www.combatfaith.blogspot.com
In the course of a conversation at a recent luncheon with some of my veteran friends, the discussion related to the movie Hacksaw Ridge, about which I have written a previous message. One of my friends in 2002 had been the deputy commander of Army troops on Okinawa and found out the island Marines were hosting Desmond Doss, the Medal of Honor Recipient and real live hero of the movie. Been quizzical about how that occurred since Doss was an Army veteran, he inquired and I guess it related to the inordinately efficient Marine public relations influence that they were selected to host Doss. Not withstanding that sponsorship, he became involved with the visit.
Public Broadcasting System was filming a documentary on the action of Doss wherein he received his Medal of Honor for his heroism at the battle in 1945. Doss, his company commander from the battle, and three company mates and their spouses were flown to Okinawa. PBS also found three Japanese veterans who lived on the island, amazingly enough one of whom had been in the same battle in which Desmond Doss moved across the body-strewn battlefield to treat the American wounded soldiers and get them over to a rope system to lower them down the cliff to medical care.
The Japanese soldier who had been in the battle, met Doss and said he knew who he was from the battle! The Japanese soldier said he was a sniper and had picked off and killed several American wounded and related he had had Doss in his sights THREE times to shoot him, but his rifle JAMMED each time!
Doss said very simply, "It was not my time." There was definitely a supernatural intervention by God on behalf of Doss, who continued tirelessly with what could be defined only as a supernaturally gifted physical and emotional strength to go after "One More" brother each time he returned to the battlefield on the ridge top.
If we truly believe the salvation message for eternity after bodily death that is offered by faith in Jesus, we must accept that, when it is our time, it is our time. I have faced a few perils on a battlefield and in medical issues, but believe I will live until I have served my mission on earth just as Doss lived with a much more important mission with his fellow combatants that night, My mission today, for which I constantly request the blessings of our Lord, is to have those "divine encounters" that place me in the paths of my younger veterans today so that I can be a "laborer of the harvest" for their soulful and spiritual healing just as Doss was put in the paths of his comrades for bodily healing.
by Allen B. Clark allenbclark@aol.com
www.combatfaith.com www.combatfaith.blogspot.com
In the course of a conversation at a recent luncheon with some of my veteran friends, the discussion related to the movie Hacksaw Ridge, about which I have written a previous message. One of my friends in 2002 had been the deputy commander of Army troops on Okinawa and found out the island Marines were hosting Desmond Doss, the Medal of Honor Recipient and real live hero of the movie. Been quizzical about how that occurred since Doss was an Army veteran, he inquired and I guess it related to the inordinately efficient Marine public relations influence that they were selected to host Doss. Not withstanding that sponsorship, he became involved with the visit.
Public Broadcasting System was filming a documentary on the action of Doss wherein he received his Medal of Honor for his heroism at the battle in 1945. Doss, his company commander from the battle, and three company mates and their spouses were flown to Okinawa. PBS also found three Japanese veterans who lived on the island, amazingly enough one of whom had been in the same battle in which Desmond Doss moved across the body-strewn battlefield to treat the American wounded soldiers and get them over to a rope system to lower them down the cliff to medical care.
The Japanese soldier who had been in the battle, met Doss and said he knew who he was from the battle! The Japanese soldier said he was a sniper and had picked off and killed several American wounded and related he had had Doss in his sights THREE times to shoot him, but his rifle JAMMED each time!
Doss said very simply, "It was not my time." There was definitely a supernatural intervention by God on behalf of Doss, who continued tirelessly with what could be defined only as a supernaturally gifted physical and emotional strength to go after "One More" brother each time he returned to the battlefield on the ridge top.
If we truly believe the salvation message for eternity after bodily death that is offered by faith in Jesus, we must accept that, when it is our time, it is our time. I have faced a few perils on a battlefield and in medical issues, but believe I will live until I have served my mission on earth just as Doss lived with a much more important mission with his fellow combatants that night, My mission today, for which I constantly request the blessings of our Lord, is to have those "divine encounters" that place me in the paths of my younger veterans today so that I can be a "laborer of the harvest" for their soulful and spiritual healing just as Doss was put in the paths of his comrades for bodily healing.
Wednesday, November 9, 2016
Avalon Chronicles #71: 'Land of the Free Because of the Brave"
Avalon Chronicles #71: "Land of the Free Because of the Brave"
by Allen B. Clark allenbclark@aol.com
www.combatfaith.com www.combatfaith.blogspot.com
Quoted from Streams in the Desert October 25
"During the American Civil War, a certain man had a son who enlisted in the Union army. The father was a banker and although he gave his consent to his son, it seemed as if it would break his heart to let him go.
Once his son had left, he became deeply interested in the plight of soldiers, and whenever he saw one in uniform, his heart went out to him as he thought of his own dear boy. Often to the neglect of his business, he began spending his time and money to care for the soldiers who came home disabled. His friends pleaded with him not to neglect his business in this way, by spending so much time and energy on the soldiers. So he decided to give it all up, taking his friends' advice.
After he had made this decision, however, a young private in a faded, worn uniform stepped into his bank. It was easy to discern from the wounds on his face and hands that he had been in the army field hospital. The poor young man was fumbling in his pocket to find something, when the banker saw him. Perceiving his purpose for coming into the bank , he said to the soldier, 'My dear man, I cannot help you today. I am extremely busy. You will have to go to the army headquarters, where the officers will take care of you.'
The poor wounded soldier still stood there, not seeming to fully understand what was being said to him. He continued to fumble in his pockets and finally pulled out a scrap of dirty paper. He laid the filthy page before the banker, who read the following words written in pencil:
'Dear father,
This is one of my friends, who was wounded in the last battle and is coming to you directly from the hospital. Please receive him as you would me.
Charlie'
All the banker's previous resolve to focus solely on his business instead of soldiers quickly flew away. He took the young man to his own magnificent home and gave him Charlie's room and seat at the dinner table. He cared for him until the food, rest, and love had returned him to health, and then sent him back to his place of service to again risk his life for his country's flag."
We cannot all serve in the armed forces of our nation possibly on dangerous earthly battlefields, but, we all can arm ourselves for the spiritual battlefields of our lives by putting on the "Full Armor of God." Ephesians 6:17 (KJV).
After he had made this decision, however, a young private in a faded, worn uniform stepped into his bank. It was easy to discern from the wounds on his face and hands that he had been in the army field hospital. The poor young man was fumbling in his pocket to find something, when the banker saw him. Perceiving his purpose for coming into the bank , he said to the soldier, 'My dear man, I cannot help you today. I am extremely busy. You will have to go to the army headquarters, where the officers will take care of you.'
The poor wounded soldier still stood there, not seeming to fully understand what was being said to him. He continued to fumble in his pockets and finally pulled out a scrap of dirty paper. He laid the filthy page before the banker, who read the following words written in pencil:
'Dear father,
This is one of my friends, who was wounded in the last battle and is coming to you directly from the hospital. Please receive him as you would me.
Charlie'
All the banker's previous resolve to focus solely on his business instead of soldiers quickly flew away. He took the young man to his own magnificent home and gave him Charlie's room and seat at the dinner table. He cared for him until the food, rest, and love had returned him to health, and then sent him back to his place of service to again risk his life for his country's flag."
We cannot all serve in the armed forces of our nation possibly on dangerous earthly battlefields, but, we all can arm ourselves for the spiritual battlefields of our lives by putting on the "Full Armor of God." Ephesians 6:17 (KJV).
Sunday, November 6, 2016
Avalon Chronicles #70: "Fallen From Grace"
Avalon Chronicles #70: "Fallen From Grace"
by Allen B. Clark allenbclark@aol.com
www.combatfaith.com www.combatfaith.blogspot.com
"For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world." I John 2:16 (KJV)
Linda and I are five episodes of ten through a new Netflix series, "The Crown," relating the stories of the United Kingdom's current royal family. Of course, there is related the abdication of Queen Elizabeth's uncle due to the desire to marry a twice-divorced American, the flirtations of Princess Margaret with married Group Captain Townsend, political machinations in the premiership of Winston Churchill, and tradeoffs at the highest levels of the British Empire. Presumably, ahead for our viewing "pleasure," are the shenanigans and falling from grace of Prince Charles, Prince Albert, Princess Anne, divorces, and the "mysterious" death of Diana. However, I am struck by the "dignity" of the life of future Queen Elizabeth II and her father, King George VI. One of the most poignant scenes is that of her father rehearsing with a young Elizabeth, prior to his own coronation, the sacred anointing with oil by the Archbishop of Canterbury by the application to the forehead, the heart, and the palm, (the soul, the spirit, and the body) with the sign of the cross. Episode five ends with the same ceremony for the new queen in Westminster Abbey. This all represents assuredly the merging of church and state in what was once the most powerful position in the world.
Our Declaration of Independence and Constitution make clear our own founding was based upon separation of church and state. Our nation originally was founded by "escapees" from the intolerance of the Church of England. These adherents of a sincere belief in our God ruling their lives came upon our shores for freedom from the monarchies and oppressions of Europe. Our colonists picked up pitchforks and muskets and succeeded in our Revolution with securing freedom from the ancestors of the royalty of "The Crown." Who cannot be reminded of the dignity of a George Washington, becoming our first president, a leader in a position, which arguably would eventually be considered the most powerful position in the world, the leader of our own American Empire?
On November 8, 2016 we again will pick from one of two candidates to become our president, the most powerful position in the world. Whereas our examples have been the dignity of a George Washington and a Queen Elizabeth II, we are confronted today in our election with claims, counterclaims and charges of "misogyny, liar, abuser, criminal, divorced, corrupt, treason, traitor, sexting, illegitimate son, lesbianism, 'orgy island,' temperamental, 'play for pay,' obstruction of justice, coarse language, illegal contributions." Have I missed anything? Ah, yes, add "murder, adultery, pedophilia, bribery, access peddling, a porn star, nude modeling!" It is sickening! How far have we "Fallen From Grace?" I am distinctly saddened and appalled at the depths to which the standards of our Lord, that He has laid out for us in no uncertain terms in the Holy Scriptures, have descended! Americans will wake up on November 9, 2016 and almost half will be devastated at the choice determined and a few more will be elated that their candidate won. However, our great America, the land of the free because of the brave will have lost and "Fallen From Grace."
What can we as individuals do? Where does this election put us? It puts us individually to aspire to seek the example of the words of John in Revelation 1:6 (KJV):
"And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever."
Admittedly this was written to describe what we are to be in eternity in the Kingdom of God, but I submit we can strive to reflect this in our lives today. The Abingdon Bible Commentary (Abingdon Press 1929) footnotes the passage thusly,"...Individually they are priests having access through His Blood into the Holy of Holies, offering living, reasonable, and spiritual sacrifices, making intercession for all men." The intercession must be extended by us to all in authority. They need it!
The footnote in (KJV) for Hebrews 13:15 indicates, "A sacrifice of praise today would include thanking Christ for His sacrifice on the cross and telling others about it."
As citizens of this great land, America, with our magnificent contributions to the world and with the majority of us striving mightily to live by standards in our faith and to reflect dignity, we must pick up where the political world has let us down. In the 1980s I attended a Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge dinner in Dallas, honoring a Highland Park school teacher. I recall only one thing she said, "If it is to be, it is up to me." We each have a responsibility to speak positive words and to be loyal to God. We can be part of a Second Revolution, a spiritual one. The question I ask myself is, "If not I, who? If not now, when?"
This is a worthy prayer: "In the Name of Jesus, I commit myself from this day forward to live by the Word of God, to live by my faith, and to live by the love of God." The country is pretty far gone, but we need not personally be so!!! We can, in military parlance, "Prep the landing zone," to be prepared for Christ's return.
by Allen B. Clark allenbclark@aol.com
www.combatfaith.com www.combatfaith.blogspot.com
"For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world." I John 2:16 (KJV)
Linda and I are five episodes of ten through a new Netflix series, "The Crown," relating the stories of the United Kingdom's current royal family. Of course, there is related the abdication of Queen Elizabeth's uncle due to the desire to marry a twice-divorced American, the flirtations of Princess Margaret with married Group Captain Townsend, political machinations in the premiership of Winston Churchill, and tradeoffs at the highest levels of the British Empire. Presumably, ahead for our viewing "pleasure," are the shenanigans and falling from grace of Prince Charles, Prince Albert, Princess Anne, divorces, and the "mysterious" death of Diana. However, I am struck by the "dignity" of the life of future Queen Elizabeth II and her father, King George VI. One of the most poignant scenes is that of her father rehearsing with a young Elizabeth, prior to his own coronation, the sacred anointing with oil by the Archbishop of Canterbury by the application to the forehead, the heart, and the palm, (the soul, the spirit, and the body) with the sign of the cross. Episode five ends with the same ceremony for the new queen in Westminster Abbey. This all represents assuredly the merging of church and state in what was once the most powerful position in the world.
Our Declaration of Independence and Constitution make clear our own founding was based upon separation of church and state. Our nation originally was founded by "escapees" from the intolerance of the Church of England. These adherents of a sincere belief in our God ruling their lives came upon our shores for freedom from the monarchies and oppressions of Europe. Our colonists picked up pitchforks and muskets and succeeded in our Revolution with securing freedom from the ancestors of the royalty of "The Crown." Who cannot be reminded of the dignity of a George Washington, becoming our first president, a leader in a position, which arguably would eventually be considered the most powerful position in the world, the leader of our own American Empire?
On November 8, 2016 we again will pick from one of two candidates to become our president, the most powerful position in the world. Whereas our examples have been the dignity of a George Washington and a Queen Elizabeth II, we are confronted today in our election with claims, counterclaims and charges of "misogyny, liar, abuser, criminal, divorced, corrupt, treason, traitor, sexting, illegitimate son, lesbianism, 'orgy island,' temperamental, 'play for pay,' obstruction of justice, coarse language, illegal contributions." Have I missed anything? Ah, yes, add "murder, adultery, pedophilia, bribery, access peddling, a porn star, nude modeling!" It is sickening! How far have we "Fallen From Grace?" I am distinctly saddened and appalled at the depths to which the standards of our Lord, that He has laid out for us in no uncertain terms in the Holy Scriptures, have descended! Americans will wake up on November 9, 2016 and almost half will be devastated at the choice determined and a few more will be elated that their candidate won. However, our great America, the land of the free because of the brave will have lost and "Fallen From Grace."
What can we as individuals do? Where does this election put us? It puts us individually to aspire to seek the example of the words of John in Revelation 1:6 (KJV):
"And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever."
Admittedly this was written to describe what we are to be in eternity in the Kingdom of God, but I submit we can strive to reflect this in our lives today. The Abingdon Bible Commentary (Abingdon Press 1929) footnotes the passage thusly,"...Individually they are priests having access through His Blood into the Holy of Holies, offering living, reasonable, and spiritual sacrifices, making intercession for all men." The intercession must be extended by us to all in authority. They need it!
The footnote in (KJV) for Hebrews 13:15 indicates, "A sacrifice of praise today would include thanking Christ for His sacrifice on the cross and telling others about it."
As citizens of this great land, America, with our magnificent contributions to the world and with the majority of us striving mightily to live by standards in our faith and to reflect dignity, we must pick up where the political world has let us down. In the 1980s I attended a Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge dinner in Dallas, honoring a Highland Park school teacher. I recall only one thing she said, "If it is to be, it is up to me." We each have a responsibility to speak positive words and to be loyal to God. We can be part of a Second Revolution, a spiritual one. The question I ask myself is, "If not I, who? If not now, when?"
This is a worthy prayer: "In the Name of Jesus, I commit myself from this day forward to live by the Word of God, to live by my faith, and to live by the love of God." The country is pretty far gone, but we need not personally be so!!! We can, in military parlance, "Prep the landing zone," to be prepared for Christ's return.
Thursday, November 3, 2016
Avalon Chronicles #69: "One More"
Avalon Chronicles #69: "One More"
by Allen B. Clark allenbclark@aol.com
www.combatfaith.com www.combatfaith.blogspot.com
"But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint." Isaiah 40:31 (KJV).
On Nov. 2, 2016 this verse was remembered by me when first quoted by then 2nd. Lt. Bob Dees (later a Major General U.S. Army) upon visiting around 1972-1973 a Bible study in Dallas, led by my classmate Andy Seidel and his wife Gail. Dees spoke about what sustained him spiritually in what may be considered the most physically challenging Army training, Ranger school. It had come to my mind again when there was a gathering of my veteran clan, comprising as it is written in I Chronicles 7:2 (KJV), "...they were valiant men of might in their generation;" Doug, John, Patrick, Don, Woody, Chuck, Hamp, Al, Curtis, Ira, Scott,Hank, Karl, Jess, Wade, Gene, John, Ben, Chris, Lewis, and Steven.
They and other veterans, their spouses, and VA personnel had gathered for a showing of a new movie about to be released Nov. 4, "Hacksaw Ridge," directed by Mel Gibson, who starred in other great movies such as "Braveheart" and "We Were Soldiers." The movie will not soon be forgotten by me. Desert Storm veteran Wade Myers (Ranger-qualified by the way), who organized the showing (with the assistance of Marine Gene Blanton and myself) had his adorable ten year old daughter Sophia lead us in the singing of our National Anthem. And, by the way, no one in the theatre "took a knee."
It was my privilege to introduce the film and these are the words I spoke, not yet even having seen it; "It is not entertaining. The takeaways are faith, courage, inspiration, cameraderie, devotion to duty, and sheer determination to serve the cause of freedom so children like Sophia all over the world can live in freedom. Bow your heads please as I offer a blessing for all those who have lived in and served this land of the free because of the brave." The movie about Medal of Honor Recipient Desmond Doss on Okinawa in 1945 encompassed all of the above attributes and much much more. The Purple Hearters, Combat Medics, and Navy Corpsmen were recognized.
I prayed, "Our Father in Heaven, we come before you in this assembly with gratitude for our great land, for gratitude as the Chronicles in our Bible relate about the valiant men of might in their generations, for our men and women present, who have sacrificed blood, sweat, and tears in faraway lands against enemies of justice and liberty. May our wounds of body, soul, and spirit be healed as we recognize the value of our endeavors. We pray this in the Name of Jesus the Christ. Amen."
The movie commenced with a scene of incredible violence and carnage on that Okinawa battlefield. Violence was all-pervasive throughout the film. Wade Myers, who had personally previously met and conversed with Mel Gibson, said Gibson explained the violence had to be extended to reflect indelibly on the viewers the miraculous nature of the courage exhibited by Doss as he moved through shelling and close by enemy soldiers to carry off the battlefield no less than seventy five wounded Americans. On lighter notes there is a warm romantic appeal in the courting and marriage before his departure of a local nurse.
In 1992 in Tennessee it had been my privilege to meet the "real-life" Desmond Doss at a national cemetery ceremony. How well I recollect the still slight and thin Doss, humble and unassuming. At the beginning of WWII Doss was living in Lynchburg, VA, a devout member of the Seventh Day Adventist denomination. He took literally the Commandment, "Thou shalt not kill" and thus joined the Army, undergirded with a strong conviction of personal faith in his Christian upbringing that he would not go into harms way armed with a rifle. Only a man of strong faith with the power of God within him could have withstood discrimination in the Army because he refused to carry a rifle, sticking to a belief to become a combat medic and "save" rather than "take" lives. He claimed Conscientious Objector status and off he went to the Pacific with the 77th Infantry Division. One must see the movie itself to grasp the extraordinary and perhaps even superhuman feats he accomplished as he evacuated wounded fellow comrade after fellow comrade. Each time he returned to the corpse-strewn battlefield, scarred by shelling, he repeated, "One More." He did not stop until all he found were evacuated.
It is not within the small range of my verbal ability to place in appropriate words the scope of what this film reflects in faith in God, conviction, redemption, forgiveness, and sheer physical courage. One must see the movie for oneself to grasp the message.
Doss' division was the "Statue of Liberty" Division. Mark Alexander of the "Patriot Post" reviewed the film and quoted President Ronald Reagan:
"In 1992, during one of Ronald Reagan's last public addresses, he offered these words about honoring our legacy of freedom: 'My fondest hope for each one of you is that you will love your country, not for her power or wealth, but for her selflessness and her idealism. May each of you have the heart to conceive, the understanding to direct, and the hand to execute works that will make the world a little better for your having been here. May all of you as Americans never forget your heroic origins, never fail to seek divine guidance, and never lose your natural, God-given optimism. And finally, my fellow Americans, may every dawn be a great new beginning for America and every evening bring us closer to that shining city upon a hill.'"
Our heroic origins have been kept alive and flourished again and again in our nation's history because of the valiant men and women who put their lives on the line to serve in the armed forces of the land of the free because of the brave, the United States of America. Desmond Doss represented the epitome of the attributes that have represented our great America.
My final observation for each of us is, will we individually be that "One More" that believes Jesus is truly the Son of God? Will we take to heart the responsibility to extend the Gospel message to reach that "One More" spiritually to live in Heaven just as Desmond Doss kept saving off the secular battlefield just "One More."
by Allen B. Clark allenbclark@aol.com
www.combatfaith.com www.combatfaith.blogspot.com
"But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint." Isaiah 40:31 (KJV).
On Nov. 2, 2016 this verse was remembered by me when first quoted by then 2nd. Lt. Bob Dees (later a Major General U.S. Army) upon visiting around 1972-1973 a Bible study in Dallas, led by my classmate Andy Seidel and his wife Gail. Dees spoke about what sustained him spiritually in what may be considered the most physically challenging Army training, Ranger school. It had come to my mind again when there was a gathering of my veteran clan, comprising as it is written in I Chronicles 7:2 (KJV), "...they were valiant men of might in their generation;" Doug, John, Patrick, Don, Woody, Chuck, Hamp, Al, Curtis, Ira, Scott,Hank, Karl, Jess, Wade, Gene, John, Ben, Chris, Lewis, and Steven.
They and other veterans, their spouses, and VA personnel had gathered for a showing of a new movie about to be released Nov. 4, "Hacksaw Ridge," directed by Mel Gibson, who starred in other great movies such as "Braveheart" and "We Were Soldiers." The movie will not soon be forgotten by me. Desert Storm veteran Wade Myers (Ranger-qualified by the way), who organized the showing (with the assistance of Marine Gene Blanton and myself) had his adorable ten year old daughter Sophia lead us in the singing of our National Anthem. And, by the way, no one in the theatre "took a knee."
It was my privilege to introduce the film and these are the words I spoke, not yet even having seen it; "It is not entertaining. The takeaways are faith, courage, inspiration, cameraderie, devotion to duty, and sheer determination to serve the cause of freedom so children like Sophia all over the world can live in freedom. Bow your heads please as I offer a blessing for all those who have lived in and served this land of the free because of the brave." The movie about Medal of Honor Recipient Desmond Doss on Okinawa in 1945 encompassed all of the above attributes and much much more. The Purple Hearters, Combat Medics, and Navy Corpsmen were recognized.
I prayed, "Our Father in Heaven, we come before you in this assembly with gratitude for our great land, for gratitude as the Chronicles in our Bible relate about the valiant men of might in their generations, for our men and women present, who have sacrificed blood, sweat, and tears in faraway lands against enemies of justice and liberty. May our wounds of body, soul, and spirit be healed as we recognize the value of our endeavors. We pray this in the Name of Jesus the Christ. Amen."
The movie commenced with a scene of incredible violence and carnage on that Okinawa battlefield. Violence was all-pervasive throughout the film. Wade Myers, who had personally previously met and conversed with Mel Gibson, said Gibson explained the violence had to be extended to reflect indelibly on the viewers the miraculous nature of the courage exhibited by Doss as he moved through shelling and close by enemy soldiers to carry off the battlefield no less than seventy five wounded Americans. On lighter notes there is a warm romantic appeal in the courting and marriage before his departure of a local nurse.
In 1992 in Tennessee it had been my privilege to meet the "real-life" Desmond Doss at a national cemetery ceremony. How well I recollect the still slight and thin Doss, humble and unassuming. At the beginning of WWII Doss was living in Lynchburg, VA, a devout member of the Seventh Day Adventist denomination. He took literally the Commandment, "Thou shalt not kill" and thus joined the Army, undergirded with a strong conviction of personal faith in his Christian upbringing that he would not go into harms way armed with a rifle. Only a man of strong faith with the power of God within him could have withstood discrimination in the Army because he refused to carry a rifle, sticking to a belief to become a combat medic and "save" rather than "take" lives. He claimed Conscientious Objector status and off he went to the Pacific with the 77th Infantry Division. One must see the movie itself to grasp the extraordinary and perhaps even superhuman feats he accomplished as he evacuated wounded fellow comrade after fellow comrade. Each time he returned to the corpse-strewn battlefield, scarred by shelling, he repeated, "One More." He did not stop until all he found were evacuated.
It is not within the small range of my verbal ability to place in appropriate words the scope of what this film reflects in faith in God, conviction, redemption, forgiveness, and sheer physical courage. One must see the movie for oneself to grasp the message.
Doss' division was the "Statue of Liberty" Division. Mark Alexander of the "Patriot Post" reviewed the film and quoted President Ronald Reagan:
"In 1992, during one of Ronald Reagan's last public addresses, he offered these words about honoring our legacy of freedom: 'My fondest hope for each one of you is that you will love your country, not for her power or wealth, but for her selflessness and her idealism. May each of you have the heart to conceive, the understanding to direct, and the hand to execute works that will make the world a little better for your having been here. May all of you as Americans never forget your heroic origins, never fail to seek divine guidance, and never lose your natural, God-given optimism. And finally, my fellow Americans, may every dawn be a great new beginning for America and every evening bring us closer to that shining city upon a hill.'"
Our heroic origins have been kept alive and flourished again and again in our nation's history because of the valiant men and women who put their lives on the line to serve in the armed forces of the land of the free because of the brave, the United States of America. Desmond Doss represented the epitome of the attributes that have represented our great America.
My final observation for each of us is, will we individually be that "One More" that believes Jesus is truly the Son of God? Will we take to heart the responsibility to extend the Gospel message to reach that "One More" spiritually to live in Heaven just as Desmond Doss kept saving off the secular battlefield just "One More."
Sunday, October 23, 2016
Avalon Chronicles #68: "Red, White, and Blue Night"
Avalon Chronicles #68: "Red, White, and Blue Night"
by Allen B. Clark allenbclark@aol.com
www.combatfaith.com www.combatfaith.blogspot.com
For five straight years now Linda and I have been privileged to be attendees at what unarguably is the most patriotic event staged in America to celebrate our nation and its patriots who serve in the military. SkyBall is a fund-raiser for a multitude of most worthy veteran and military causes, the most notable being Snowball Express, which is an annual gathering of the children and their surviving parent of our Killed in Action in the warfare since Sep. 11, 2001 and the Gary Sinise Foundation, which provides homes for severely wounded veterans. There are many others. A major sponsor is American Airlines in whose monstrous hanger at DFW Airport the event is held annually. Last night 3000 attendees were welcomed, seated and served by 800 volunteers, mostly American Airlines employees.The sponsoring organization is the Fort Worth Airpower Foundation, consisting of an incredible group of patriotic and public-spirited citizens of that terrific city to the west of my own Dallas. The honored group of military at last night's extravaganza was our Special Operations Command. This comprises our Army Special Forces; Navy SEALS; Air Force Commandos; Marine Force Recon units; Army Rangers; and the 160th Aviation Brigade, the "Night Stalkers." There are others to include Delta Force, but readers get the picture! Jim Palmersheim, an American Airlines Captain, is the big sparkplug and organizer of the annual event.
Linda and I were able to meet and visit with some amazing people. We met and conversed with five Medal of Honor Recipients beginning with Navy SEAL Michael Thornton, who gifted us a copy of his newly-published book, By Honor Bound, the story of his and fellow SEAL Lt. Tom Norris' actions in Vietnam, which led to their receiving the Medal of Honor. Mike Thornton is one of the most inspiring speakers I have ever heard. We also visited with other MOH Recipients like Bruce Crandall, the valorous helicopter pilot featured in the movie, "We Were Soldiers;" Paul W. Bucha, West Point class of 1965; Roger (and Norma) Donlon, my long-time fellow Vietnam veteran, who received his MOH for actions in 1964 in the defense of Nam Dong, a Special Forces "A"camp; and Gary Littrell, who served four years as President of the Medal of Honor Society. We met the forty year long President of the Metro Washington USO, Elaine Rogers; Tig Teigen, one of the featured combatants of the fierce fighting after the Benghazi outpost attack; and Lt. Gen. John Mulholland, retiring soon from many decades of service to our nation. We were blessed to be at a table with three young Navy SEALs, one of whom is my dear friend, Ryan Parrott, who oversees a charity for burn victims, Sons of the Flag. Tim McGraw was the featured headliner entertainer and at lunch we just "happened" to cross paths with his two sisters, one of whom is Tracey Jewell, a Desert Storm Army veteran, who oversees McGraw's charity. Our dear friend, "Maggie" (and wife Carol) Megellas, ninety nine years young, was in attendance, just as lucid and alert as ever. He received a Distinguished Service Cross with the 82nd Airborne Division in Europe in WWII.
My dear wife Linda, capsulized what is always a special event for us, "The entire event was extraordinary! It represented all that is the best of America. We had breakfast with one of the Recipients. He is strong, stable, devout, an honest American hero. I could still be there listening and talking to him. He represented all that is good about this country and the kind of person who has made it great. The whole event was filled with good people. It was wonderful, just wonderful. We were able to see many people we knew and meet many more really sterling and outstanding people.This year's SkyBall was the best yet! I teared up during the program thinking how beautiful the true spirit of America is and that we are in danger of losing all of this, the land of the free because of the brave. My parents gave many of their young years during WWII (almost five years) to protect this land from the evil of their time. I was almost five years old before my father came home. They suffered much to give us what we have as many of their generation did."
My own personal comments are, "We are a proud and strong homeland because of the sacrifices of blood, sweat, and tears of so many of our patriots, who went to countries, whose language we did not speak, to bring them freedom and protect our own. The spiritual dimension of our great land has strengthened and sustained our history. May we never depart from the spiritual and traditional values which have been our foundation. If we do, we will go the way of every great empire in the world's history, to the ash heaps in the history books."
President Ronald Reagan once said, "Freedom is a fragile thing and is never more than one generation from extinction. It is not ours by inheritance; it must be fought for and defended constantly by each generation, for it comes only once to a people. Those who have known freedom and then lost it, have never known it again." Last night Linda and I were amongst those of true nobility, who have fought for those freedoms to be preserved.
by Allen B. Clark allenbclark@aol.com
www.combatfaith.com www.combatfaith.blogspot.com
For five straight years now Linda and I have been privileged to be attendees at what unarguably is the most patriotic event staged in America to celebrate our nation and its patriots who serve in the military. SkyBall is a fund-raiser for a multitude of most worthy veteran and military causes, the most notable being Snowball Express, which is an annual gathering of the children and their surviving parent of our Killed in Action in the warfare since Sep. 11, 2001 and the Gary Sinise Foundation, which provides homes for severely wounded veterans. There are many others. A major sponsor is American Airlines in whose monstrous hanger at DFW Airport the event is held annually. Last night 3000 attendees were welcomed, seated and served by 800 volunteers, mostly American Airlines employees.The sponsoring organization is the Fort Worth Airpower Foundation, consisting of an incredible group of patriotic and public-spirited citizens of that terrific city to the west of my own Dallas. The honored group of military at last night's extravaganza was our Special Operations Command. This comprises our Army Special Forces; Navy SEALS; Air Force Commandos; Marine Force Recon units; Army Rangers; and the 160th Aviation Brigade, the "Night Stalkers." There are others to include Delta Force, but readers get the picture! Jim Palmersheim, an American Airlines Captain, is the big sparkplug and organizer of the annual event.
Linda and I were able to meet and visit with some amazing people. We met and conversed with five Medal of Honor Recipients beginning with Navy SEAL Michael Thornton, who gifted us a copy of his newly-published book, By Honor Bound, the story of his and fellow SEAL Lt. Tom Norris' actions in Vietnam, which led to their receiving the Medal of Honor. Mike Thornton is one of the most inspiring speakers I have ever heard. We also visited with other MOH Recipients like Bruce Crandall, the valorous helicopter pilot featured in the movie, "We Were Soldiers;" Paul W. Bucha, West Point class of 1965; Roger (and Norma) Donlon, my long-time fellow Vietnam veteran, who received his MOH for actions in 1964 in the defense of Nam Dong, a Special Forces "A"camp; and Gary Littrell, who served four years as President of the Medal of Honor Society. We met the forty year long President of the Metro Washington USO, Elaine Rogers; Tig Teigen, one of the featured combatants of the fierce fighting after the Benghazi outpost attack; and Lt. Gen. John Mulholland, retiring soon from many decades of service to our nation. We were blessed to be at a table with three young Navy SEALs, one of whom is my dear friend, Ryan Parrott, who oversees a charity for burn victims, Sons of the Flag. Tim McGraw was the featured headliner entertainer and at lunch we just "happened" to cross paths with his two sisters, one of whom is Tracey Jewell, a Desert Storm Army veteran, who oversees McGraw's charity. Our dear friend, "Maggie" (and wife Carol) Megellas, ninety nine years young, was in attendance, just as lucid and alert as ever. He received a Distinguished Service Cross with the 82nd Airborne Division in Europe in WWII.
My dear wife Linda, capsulized what is always a special event for us, "The entire event was extraordinary! It represented all that is the best of America. We had breakfast with one of the Recipients. He is strong, stable, devout, an honest American hero. I could still be there listening and talking to him. He represented all that is good about this country and the kind of person who has made it great. The whole event was filled with good people. It was wonderful, just wonderful. We were able to see many people we knew and meet many more really sterling and outstanding people.This year's SkyBall was the best yet! I teared up during the program thinking how beautiful the true spirit of America is and that we are in danger of losing all of this, the land of the free because of the brave. My parents gave many of their young years during WWII (almost five years) to protect this land from the evil of their time. I was almost five years old before my father came home. They suffered much to give us what we have as many of their generation did."
My own personal comments are, "We are a proud and strong homeland because of the sacrifices of blood, sweat, and tears of so many of our patriots, who went to countries, whose language we did not speak, to bring them freedom and protect our own. The spiritual dimension of our great land has strengthened and sustained our history. May we never depart from the spiritual and traditional values which have been our foundation. If we do, we will go the way of every great empire in the world's history, to the ash heaps in the history books."
President Ronald Reagan once said, "Freedom is a fragile thing and is never more than one generation from extinction. It is not ours by inheritance; it must be fought for and defended constantly by each generation, for it comes only once to a people. Those who have known freedom and then lost it, have never known it again." Last night Linda and I were amongst those of true nobility, who have fought for those freedoms to be preserved.
Wednesday, October 12, 2016
Avalon Chronicle #67: "Focus: Flowers or Weeds?"
Avalon Chronicles #67: "Focus: Flowers or Weeds?"
by Allen Clark allenbclark@aol.com
www.combatfaith.com www.combatfaith.blogspot.com
I do not have the original sources in many cases. They have been collected through the years.
Next to my bedside table I have a laminated card I read when I arise. The most important sentence on it is, "Do not give nourishment to the bad weeds this day!" Yesterday I thought about focusing on the flowers each day. The most beautiful flower in my life is my wife Linda. I asked her what flower she would choose to be, if she were to be one. Before she answered, "lily," I thought of the lily as being appropriate for her. She asked me how I knew that. I said, "I guess I just know you well." I asked her why she chose a lily? She said because it is graceful, simple, and beautiful. That describes my Linda!
I have other laminated cards in the books and daily meditations I read each day. I thought I would send to you randomly some of these that have been important enough to me through the years that I would have them laminated and recollect them each day.
"Before you arise from your bed in the morning, I have already arranged the events of your day."
Jeremiah 29:13: (KJV) "And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. And I will be found of you, saith the Lord:...""
"So determine in your heart today to be loyal toward God in every word you speak."
"Holy Spirit, use me to pray for someone today. I offer you my measure of faith."
"No prayer is ever lost, or any prayer breathed in vain.There is no such thing as prayer unanswered or unnoticed by God, and some things we see as refusals or denials are simply delays."
Horatio Bonar. Streams in the Desert Jul 10.
"The very instant you wholeheartedly turn away from every symptom of discouragement and lack of trust, the blessed Holy Spirit will reawaken your faith and breathe God's divine strength into your soul. Initially you may be unaware that this is happening, but as you determine to uncompromisingly shun every attack of even the tendency toward doubt and depression, you will quickly see the powers of darkness being turned away." Streams in the Desert. April 1.
Prov 15:1 (KJV) "A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger."
Psalm 51:10 (KJV): "Create in me a clean heart, O Go; and renew a right spirit within me."
Romans 6:12 (NIV): Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires."
2 Corinthians 7:1 (KJV) "Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God."
Romans 13:14 (KJV) "But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof." Note: (LASB) Tyndale page 1987: "We also must not give our desires any opportunity to lead us into sin. Avoid those situations that open the door to gratifying sinful desires."
"This is the distinctive mark of the born-again child of God. He is no longer a slave of sin and Satan. He is a Son of God. As such, he possesses a new authority. He no longer succumbs to temptation or opposition. He meets and overcomes these things by virtue of the new life within him."
Derek Prince.
"In the Name of Jesus, I commit myself from this day forward to live by my faith, and to live by the love of God. Decide today to give the devil no place."
by Allen Clark allenbclark@aol.com
www.combatfaith.com www.combatfaith.blogspot.com
I do not have the original sources in many cases. They have been collected through the years.
Next to my bedside table I have a laminated card I read when I arise. The most important sentence on it is, "Do not give nourishment to the bad weeds this day!" Yesterday I thought about focusing on the flowers each day. The most beautiful flower in my life is my wife Linda. I asked her what flower she would choose to be, if she were to be one. Before she answered, "lily," I thought of the lily as being appropriate for her. She asked me how I knew that. I said, "I guess I just know you well." I asked her why she chose a lily? She said because it is graceful, simple, and beautiful. That describes my Linda!
I have other laminated cards in the books and daily meditations I read each day. I thought I would send to you randomly some of these that have been important enough to me through the years that I would have them laminated and recollect them each day.
"Before you arise from your bed in the morning, I have already arranged the events of your day."
Jeremiah 29:13: (KJV) "And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. And I will be found of you, saith the Lord:...""
"So determine in your heart today to be loyal toward God in every word you speak."
"Holy Spirit, use me to pray for someone today. I offer you my measure of faith."
"No prayer is ever lost, or any prayer breathed in vain.There is no such thing as prayer unanswered or unnoticed by God, and some things we see as refusals or denials are simply delays."
Horatio Bonar. Streams in the Desert Jul 10.
"The very instant you wholeheartedly turn away from every symptom of discouragement and lack of trust, the blessed Holy Spirit will reawaken your faith and breathe God's divine strength into your soul. Initially you may be unaware that this is happening, but as you determine to uncompromisingly shun every attack of even the tendency toward doubt and depression, you will quickly see the powers of darkness being turned away." Streams in the Desert. April 1.
Prov 15:1 (KJV) "A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger."
Psalm 51:10 (KJV): "Create in me a clean heart, O Go; and renew a right spirit within me."
Romans 6:12 (NIV): Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires."
2 Corinthians 7:1 (KJV) "Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God."
Romans 13:14 (KJV) "But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof." Note: (LASB) Tyndale page 1987: "We also must not give our desires any opportunity to lead us into sin. Avoid those situations that open the door to gratifying sinful desires."
"This is the distinctive mark of the born-again child of God. He is no longer a slave of sin and Satan. He is a Son of God. As such, he possesses a new authority. He no longer succumbs to temptation or opposition. He meets and overcomes these things by virtue of the new life within him."
Derek Prince.
"In the Name of Jesus, I commit myself from this day forward to live by my faith, and to live by the love of God. Decide today to give the devil no place."
Wednesday, September 14, 2016
Avalon Chronicles #66: "Incarcerated"
Avalon Chronicles #66: "Incarcerated"
by Allen B. Clark allenbclark@aol.com
www.combatfaith.com www.combatfaith.blogspot.com
After parking, I deposited my wallet, cell phone, and pocket contents in the car storage space, keeping only my glasses and photo ID card. Luckily there was a space adjacent to my destination. Soon I was to receive a second blessing, minor, but, indeed special. As I opened my door to put on my artificial leg, the woman standing behind the adjacent auto was on her cell phone. She finished and said, "The parking fee is $5.00 and lasts until 4pm (it was 12:25). I only used 25 minutes, so take the ticket and you can save $5.00." I did so and by the time I grasped the situation in fairness to turn around and remit $5.00 to her, she had gone.
With a modest amount of trepidation, but no fear, haltingly, as always, I walked up fifteen steps and into Dallas' Lew Sterrett Justice Center to the office designated "Religious Activities," where a pleasant sheriff's deputy inquired about my pocket contents and being told I could walk without my cane, took the cane to leave it in his office. After pinning on my access badge and depositing my ID card, my escort took me through a maze of corridors and offices to our destination. On the way I related to him about having attended several years previously a gathering of combat veterans from four nations, where a Canadian said he had Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, but not from combat, but rather having been employed in a prison after his military service. My host said prison work is most harrowing and dangerous. He related that many of the regular prison inmates (we were in a county jail) were very mean-spirited and would just as soon stab a guard in the heart as anything, if given the opportunity.
The inmates to whom I was being led to talk to were in the county sheriff's jail in downtown Dallas. They were awaiting trial or sentencing. My audience was not in individual "barred" cells, but rather in a "pod," which was open in a large room and populated by about sixty inmates, who were grouped together and desirous of being instructed in anger management and parenting skills among other subjects. My escort entered the the big room to determine if I would address the guys in three smaller groups in a small outer room, where I awaited the decision by sitting on a desk or in the large room all at one time. The larger and entire group became my audience in the pod which was encircled on an upper tier with double stacked bunks, with an officer stationed at a desk behind me with all the men sitting at tables in a semi-circle around my raised space. The space was reached up a wheelchair ramp with metal railings. Beginning, I decided to brace myself while I stood leaning on the top railing bar. I gazed out at the mostly attentive men (a couple were still in their bunks), began, and one hour later looked up at the clock.
I do not recall all that I related, but without notes, I spoke of my time in Vietnam and the details of my wounding and rehabilitation, but, focused on the spiritual aspects of my salvation message and belief in Jesus the Christ and my maturation to the Lordship level of Christian faith. My remarks related to strategic spiritual warfare, that of God versus the devil in the heavens, and the tactical spiritual warfare we all encounter with individual demonic attacks. In no uncertain terms I spoke of Jesus' death on the cross and that significance for us, about confession of sins with its attendant forgiveness, and forgiveness of all others. I said I knew they desired physical freedom from incarceration, but, more importantly, they must seek spiritual freedom from the incarceration of their souls. I spoke about what I call my spiritual audit of writing down in column one on a sheet of paper all their unmet needs, unhealed hurts, and unresolved issues, then writing down in column two what it would take to resolve and address the three areas, then pray to God to answer through prayer the column two list.
I had prayed in agreement with Linda for an anointing by the Holy Spirit for what I would say and had requested classmates and friends to begin praying for me at 1pm that day. Several responded that they would do so or said they did. There was intermittent humor to elevate the spirits of the men residing in a very drab physical and emotional environment. Only a handful indicated they were veterans. When I asked if there were any amputees among them, one only said he lost a leg. I told him. "That's not good enough, you only lost one!" There was pretty good laughter with that one. At some time during the one hour while remaining standing, my escort handed me my cane, which he had called to be brought up from downstairs.
It ended with only a few questions, a prayer, and a STANDING OVATION, which sometimes I do not receive even in the "free" world. One fellow shouted out, "When are you coming back?" I said, I don't have anything else to say." He said, 'We have turnover." Another said, "Thank you for your service." Another said, "You look pretty good for 74." I responded, "I will tell my wife," and cutting up with the group, who all were under my age, flexed my muscle like the body-builders due at their events! Another right at a table at the front twice closed his fist and pumped his heart.
Upon my departure my escort said these men have really experienced life on the streets. I could only imagine. We went to the outreach program's director and my host reported, 'They had been very quiet." When I returned to my car, it felt great to be free and breathing fresh air and also to know after many decades of diligently seeking the truths taught by Jesus, that I had loosed the greater majority of the multitude of the issues that had incarcerated my soul and that also I am free!
by Allen B. Clark allenbclark@aol.com
www.combatfaith.com www.combatfaith.blogspot.com
After parking, I deposited my wallet, cell phone, and pocket contents in the car storage space, keeping only my glasses and photo ID card. Luckily there was a space adjacent to my destination. Soon I was to receive a second blessing, minor, but, indeed special. As I opened my door to put on my artificial leg, the woman standing behind the adjacent auto was on her cell phone. She finished and said, "The parking fee is $5.00 and lasts until 4pm (it was 12:25). I only used 25 minutes, so take the ticket and you can save $5.00." I did so and by the time I grasped the situation in fairness to turn around and remit $5.00 to her, she had gone.
With a modest amount of trepidation, but no fear, haltingly, as always, I walked up fifteen steps and into Dallas' Lew Sterrett Justice Center to the office designated "Religious Activities," where a pleasant sheriff's deputy inquired about my pocket contents and being told I could walk without my cane, took the cane to leave it in his office. After pinning on my access badge and depositing my ID card, my escort took me through a maze of corridors and offices to our destination. On the way I related to him about having attended several years previously a gathering of combat veterans from four nations, where a Canadian said he had Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, but not from combat, but rather having been employed in a prison after his military service. My host said prison work is most harrowing and dangerous. He related that many of the regular prison inmates (we were in a county jail) were very mean-spirited and would just as soon stab a guard in the heart as anything, if given the opportunity.
The inmates to whom I was being led to talk to were in the county sheriff's jail in downtown Dallas. They were awaiting trial or sentencing. My audience was not in individual "barred" cells, but rather in a "pod," which was open in a large room and populated by about sixty inmates, who were grouped together and desirous of being instructed in anger management and parenting skills among other subjects. My escort entered the the big room to determine if I would address the guys in three smaller groups in a small outer room, where I awaited the decision by sitting on a desk or in the large room all at one time. The larger and entire group became my audience in the pod which was encircled on an upper tier with double stacked bunks, with an officer stationed at a desk behind me with all the men sitting at tables in a semi-circle around my raised space. The space was reached up a wheelchair ramp with metal railings. Beginning, I decided to brace myself while I stood leaning on the top railing bar. I gazed out at the mostly attentive men (a couple were still in their bunks), began, and one hour later looked up at the clock.
I do not recall all that I related, but without notes, I spoke of my time in Vietnam and the details of my wounding and rehabilitation, but, focused on the spiritual aspects of my salvation message and belief in Jesus the Christ and my maturation to the Lordship level of Christian faith. My remarks related to strategic spiritual warfare, that of God versus the devil in the heavens, and the tactical spiritual warfare we all encounter with individual demonic attacks. In no uncertain terms I spoke of Jesus' death on the cross and that significance for us, about confession of sins with its attendant forgiveness, and forgiveness of all others. I said I knew they desired physical freedom from incarceration, but, more importantly, they must seek spiritual freedom from the incarceration of their souls. I spoke about what I call my spiritual audit of writing down in column one on a sheet of paper all their unmet needs, unhealed hurts, and unresolved issues, then writing down in column two what it would take to resolve and address the three areas, then pray to God to answer through prayer the column two list.
I had prayed in agreement with Linda for an anointing by the Holy Spirit for what I would say and had requested classmates and friends to begin praying for me at 1pm that day. Several responded that they would do so or said they did. There was intermittent humor to elevate the spirits of the men residing in a very drab physical and emotional environment. Only a handful indicated they were veterans. When I asked if there were any amputees among them, one only said he lost a leg. I told him. "That's not good enough, you only lost one!" There was pretty good laughter with that one. At some time during the one hour while remaining standing, my escort handed me my cane, which he had called to be brought up from downstairs.
It ended with only a few questions, a prayer, and a STANDING OVATION, which sometimes I do not receive even in the "free" world. One fellow shouted out, "When are you coming back?" I said, I don't have anything else to say." He said, 'We have turnover." Another said, "Thank you for your service." Another said, "You look pretty good for 74." I responded, "I will tell my wife," and cutting up with the group, who all were under my age, flexed my muscle like the body-builders due at their events! Another right at a table at the front twice closed his fist and pumped his heart.
Upon my departure my escort said these men have really experienced life on the streets. I could only imagine. We went to the outreach program's director and my host reported, 'They had been very quiet." When I returned to my car, it felt great to be free and breathing fresh air and also to know after many decades of diligently seeking the truths taught by Jesus, that I had loosed the greater majority of the multitude of the issues that had incarcerated my soul and that also I am free!
Sunday, August 28, 2016
Avalon Chronicles #65: "East Meets West"
Avalon Chronicles #65: "East Meets West"
by Allen B. Clark allenbclark@aol.com
www.combatfaith.com www.combatfaith.blogspot.com
They Came by Air, Land, and Sea
On April 30, 1975, when the final evacuation of Saigon in Vietnam occurred, I had been returned from Vietnam for eight years. After transfusions of twenty pints of blood, fifteen months at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio from June 1967 to September 1968, twelve surgical procedures, probably 150 stitches, and a very severe case of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, I was in Dallas with a wonderful job at a bank, two young daughters, and a new found faith walk in which I was growing by leaps and bounds. I began to perceive that my involvement in Vietnam as an Army captain assigned to the Green Berets in an intelligence gathering operation in Vietnam was as a white pawn on a huge chess board of history with the two king antagonists being good versus evil, my Lord God, combating in spiritual warfare the forces of evil, led by Satan, commanding the dark set of pieces on the board.
There began to be news reports of the Vietnamese "Boat People" escaping the now Communist country of Vietnam. At the time I paid scant attention to the news because I was consumed with my new civilian career and family life. In 1981 I was in the third year of my service to my state of Texas as a special assistant to Texas Governor Bill Clements. Some of the "Boat People" had immigrated as new refugees on the Texas coast in several fishing communities where they were making a new life for themselves by building fishing boats and working long hours to make a living in competition with long-time native Texas fisherman, who had derived their own living for decades in the fishing industry. The competition and imposition of the Vietnamese refugees into the business environment in quiet Texas fishing communities was reaching the stage where it was close to violence. The Governor assigned me the responsibility to conduct a fact-finding trip to the coast to present him with recommendations to address the issues. My very small "task force" visited three towns within which we met separately with all the five affected and involved parties; law enforcement, government officials, American fishermen, Vietnamesese, and culminating with a town hall meeting at one of which my answer was displeasing to about fifteen members of the local Ku Klux Klan, who staged an immediate walkout from the room! After my visits and some actions accomplished, the towns became more quiet and for the time being things settled down. My gratitude was expressed by the American fishermen in Rockport inviting me and my family on a shrimp boat fishing trip and a spaghetti dinner at one of their homes. After that I moved to Washington D.C. and had no further involvement for many years with the refugees from the country to which I had deployed as a soldier to preserve their freedom.
My involvement began anew in a very significant and deeply emotional fashion on August 25, 2016, when an American of Vietnamese ancestry, Andy Nguyen, invited me to Arlington, Texas for a celebration commemorating his sixth year as an elected public service as a County Commissioner in Tarrant County (main city Fort Worth). It was my honor to be able to relate the story of my time in his former homeland of Vietnam and especially my healing from my wounds, which had necessitated the amputation of both my legs below my knees. Many of his guests were Americans, who had escaped from Vietnam at the end of the war or in the following years. To report to you that the evening, the conversations, the stories related to Linda and me of their refugee sagas, and their starting all over to fulfill their "Living the American Dream," so magnificently reflected by Andy Nguyen and his wife Julie, was not of such a nature admittedly literally to tear at our heart strings would do it an injustice.
During the course of the evening I offered for purchase my two published books, one especially Valor in Vietnam, and the purchasers allowed Linda and me to hear first hand many poignant, compelling, and, yes, harrowing accounts of these warm and wonderful first generation immigrants from the country where I had made such a huge sacrifice as a soldier to maintain their freedoms. We heard the narratives of the lives of families, wherein their parents were members of the Vietnamese Army and Navy, policemen, public officials, and merchants. Some I had heard previously such as a small family with only wife and two children being crowded into the cockpit of a small plane, which landed on the deck of a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier. Another story was of a family escaping on a small boat, which was intercepted by pirates, who raped and killed the wife and mother and threw her overboard.
That night we had extended conversations with several attendees. Andy and Julie Nguyen had departed Vietnam at separate times and on different boats. As a young student another related how two groups of students had begun traveling cross country to traverse Laos to reach safety in Thailand through the area in Kontum province near my Special Forces camp of Dak To. One group made it, but the attendee with whom I spoke was apprehended and imprisoned. He later left by boat and displays in his living room a picture of the U.S. Navy ship that rescued him.
Another gentleman to whom Linda and I became quickly attached had escaped on a boat with his high-ranking Vietnamese Army officer father. He has been successful in business and has not forgotten his original homeland where he returns to help in building schools and bridges and donating shoes.
I have left my final story to the older couple with whom I spoke at the end of the evening. She was four months pregnant on April 29, 1975, the day before the final evacuation of Saigon. Her husband had been a police officer who got on a boat still in uniform. She had gone behind him to board to be sure he got away because he would have been targeted for death as a police officer by the fast-approaching Communists. The wife would have been left behind as the boat pushed away from the pier, but one of the men placed a board across to the pier and she got aboard! The passengers survived several days with no food nor water. When the boat was met again by the angels of the U.S. Navy in international waters, she was the last to disembark and discovered on the deck among the residue a Christian cross left behind! I inquired whether she had been of the Buddhist or Christian faith upon her escape. She related she had been neither, but rather adhered to "ancestor worship" only. I noted she now wore a Christian cross adorning her neck and asked her about it. She said after being the last passenger on the boat, discovering the cross, coming to America only with the clothes she wore on the boat, and working several jobs without federal assistance to become self-sufficient as a refugee, she knew there was a God!
At the culmination of my presentation, literally with tears wetting my cheeks, I looked over at Julie and Andy and the audience of very much so assimilated refugees, who sincerely appreciated America and did not take their freedom here for granted, and said I had often agonized over the worth of my sacrifice in their former country, but, being there with Julie and Andy as the living embodiment of successful immigrants, who represented "Living the American Dream,' I proclaimed that their successes and the assimilation of all in meaningful pursuits in the land of the free because of our bravery as Vietnam veterans made much of it finally worthwhile! It was an amazing closure fifty years after my Vietnam War experience commenced in August 1966. I complete this message again with tears of gratitude in my eyes for my freedom and theirs. God has blessed America. May we continue to deserve the gift.
Monday, August 15, 2016
Avalon Chronicles #64: "Compromised-Part One"
Avalon Chronicles #64: "Compromised"
by Allen B. Clark allenbclark@aol.com
www.combatfaith.com www.combatfaith.blogspot.com
Fifty years ago in August 1966 I was deployed to South Vietnam to serve my country in our effort to preserve freedom from communism for that troubled land. My assignment as a prisoner of war interrogator was unfulfilling as no prisoners made it to my military intelligence detachment located in Nha Trang, the Riviera of South Vietnam. It would have been a comfortable and safe war for me as I enjoyed Nha Trang's beautiful beach every day, when I finished my daily duties. A chance encounter with fellow West Pointer, Lieutenant Colonel Lee Parmly (class of 1946), on a plane motivated me to a probable much more satisfying and rewarding opportunity by transferring to his unit of the Army's Special Forces (the Green Berets), also headquartered in Nha Trang. As occurs sometimes, my orders were changed from his unit to that of Detachment B-57 of Special Forces, a newly-formed clandestine organization headquartered in the capitol, Saigon, where I was required to be clothed in civilian apparel and to store my military uniforms. That led to an incredibly exciting tour of duty, encompassing debriefing a defector from Cambodia (who was later murdered with his case making the front page of the New York Times), residing in safe houses as I trained young Cambodian anti-communists for helicopter infiltration missions on the border, and eventual assignment in the spring of 1967 to an isolated Special Forces camp in what was called the "Tri-Border" area, where South Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia come together.
Cambodia was targeted by the United States because it was a supposed "neutral" country in which Chief of State Sihanouk acquiesced to allowing the North Vietnamese Army, after their travels down the Ho Cho Minh Trail, to establish base camps from which they attacked our troops and the South Vietnamese, and then retreated to the safety of their sanctuaries. He probably did it out of fear for his personal safety, if not for political belief.
At Dak To I was an infantry captain under cover with an assumed name with a mission, through a Vietnamese interpreter and a Montagnard mercenary, to recruit other Montagnards, the mountain natives of the rugged triple canopy jungle area, to travel through the jungle toward Cambodia to collect intelligence on enemy bases and activities. My mission was nearly impossible as it was a fifteen mile trek to the border through what I discovered later was the most heavily populated enemy positions possibly in the country in underground supply points, hospitals, and base camps. In early June 1967 my Vietnamese interpreter informed me that one of our "agents" had informed his village chief that he was to be paid for his mission by someone in the Special Forces camp. My mission had been "compromised" and I was at risk of being targeted when I made my frequent visits to neighboring villages. This was an example at the lowest tactical level of a "compromised" spying operation. My operation actually was closed down a few days later because one of those North Vietnamese Army units from Cambodia attacked our camp in an intense mortar barrage on June 17, 1967 in which I was wounded, losing both my legs below the knee from heavy shrapnel wounds.
With my background in Army intelligence it has always spurred on my interest in reading spy stories. The world of spying at the higher strategic level, way above where I had been, is pregnant with individuals and operations being compromised, sometimes due to agents being revealed and sometimes to moral problems of either the agents or their "handlers" due to disloyalty or being desirous of intrigue, money, substance abuse or illicit romantic escapades.
When a compromise occurs, there is a breaking down of a commitment and obligation to perform as expected to fulfill the "handler's" mission for their country, etc. or for that of the agent. As an Army officer I took very seriously my loyalty to my country and my mission to be disciplined to perform my duties. Many missions are aborted or compromised due to alcohol or drug abuse, corruption in handling of the monies involved for paying agents, or inappropriate romantic activities in an arena that lends itself to immorality.
Even when we accept Jesus Christ as Savior and thereby become a committed "Christian", we are forever tempted, as we enter the next level of faith, the "Lordship" phase of our faith walk, to compromise ourselves with disloyalty to our principles, those we love, and ultimately in each case to our Lord with sins, big and little. Our self with its attendant pride becomes preeminent in guiding us to forego what we know to be appropriate behavior. One of the most important aspects of the Christian faith is that we can be returned to "friendly territory" after entering "enemy territory" by sincere repentance and confession of our sins in the Name of Jesus. We reenter the friendly lines for our safety and peace. Just as I was loyal to my country, we must be loyal to our Father, His Son, and the Holy Spirit with righteous living. If there is a final judgment in Heaven and I believe there will be, we should all hope it is short because we maintained our loyalty to our faith and our principles
We must praise our Lord for His mercy, grace, and love that endures forever. It should be the ultimate motivator for our righteous behavior in our earthly life.
by Allen B. Clark allenbclark@aol.com
www.combatfaith.com www.combatfaith.blogspot.com
Fifty years ago in August 1966 I was deployed to South Vietnam to serve my country in our effort to preserve freedom from communism for that troubled land. My assignment as a prisoner of war interrogator was unfulfilling as no prisoners made it to my military intelligence detachment located in Nha Trang, the Riviera of South Vietnam. It would have been a comfortable and safe war for me as I enjoyed Nha Trang's beautiful beach every day, when I finished my daily duties. A chance encounter with fellow West Pointer, Lieutenant Colonel Lee Parmly (class of 1946), on a plane motivated me to a probable much more satisfying and rewarding opportunity by transferring to his unit of the Army's Special Forces (the Green Berets), also headquartered in Nha Trang. As occurs sometimes, my orders were changed from his unit to that of Detachment B-57 of Special Forces, a newly-formed clandestine organization headquartered in the capitol, Saigon, where I was required to be clothed in civilian apparel and to store my military uniforms. That led to an incredibly exciting tour of duty, encompassing debriefing a defector from Cambodia (who was later murdered with his case making the front page of the New York Times), residing in safe houses as I trained young Cambodian anti-communists for helicopter infiltration missions on the border, and eventual assignment in the spring of 1967 to an isolated Special Forces camp in what was called the "Tri-Border" area, where South Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia come together.
Cambodia was targeted by the United States because it was a supposed "neutral" country in which Chief of State Sihanouk acquiesced to allowing the North Vietnamese Army, after their travels down the Ho Cho Minh Trail, to establish base camps from which they attacked our troops and the South Vietnamese, and then retreated to the safety of their sanctuaries. He probably did it out of fear for his personal safety, if not for political belief.
At Dak To I was an infantry captain under cover with an assumed name with a mission, through a Vietnamese interpreter and a Montagnard mercenary, to recruit other Montagnards, the mountain natives of the rugged triple canopy jungle area, to travel through the jungle toward Cambodia to collect intelligence on enemy bases and activities. My mission was nearly impossible as it was a fifteen mile trek to the border through what I discovered later was the most heavily populated enemy positions possibly in the country in underground supply points, hospitals, and base camps. In early June 1967 my Vietnamese interpreter informed me that one of our "agents" had informed his village chief that he was to be paid for his mission by someone in the Special Forces camp. My mission had been "compromised" and I was at risk of being targeted when I made my frequent visits to neighboring villages. This was an example at the lowest tactical level of a "compromised" spying operation. My operation actually was closed down a few days later because one of those North Vietnamese Army units from Cambodia attacked our camp in an intense mortar barrage on June 17, 1967 in which I was wounded, losing both my legs below the knee from heavy shrapnel wounds.
With my background in Army intelligence it has always spurred on my interest in reading spy stories. The world of spying at the higher strategic level, way above where I had been, is pregnant with individuals and operations being compromised, sometimes due to agents being revealed and sometimes to moral problems of either the agents or their "handlers" due to disloyalty or being desirous of intrigue, money, substance abuse or illicit romantic escapades.
When a compromise occurs, there is a breaking down of a commitment and obligation to perform as expected to fulfill the "handler's" mission for their country, etc. or for that of the agent. As an Army officer I took very seriously my loyalty to my country and my mission to be disciplined to perform my duties. Many missions are aborted or compromised due to alcohol or drug abuse, corruption in handling of the monies involved for paying agents, or inappropriate romantic activities in an arena that lends itself to immorality.
Even when we accept Jesus Christ as Savior and thereby become a committed "Christian", we are forever tempted, as we enter the next level of faith, the "Lordship" phase of our faith walk, to compromise ourselves with disloyalty to our principles, those we love, and ultimately in each case to our Lord with sins, big and little. Our self with its attendant pride becomes preeminent in guiding us to forego what we know to be appropriate behavior. One of the most important aspects of the Christian faith is that we can be returned to "friendly territory" after entering "enemy territory" by sincere repentance and confession of our sins in the Name of Jesus. We reenter the friendly lines for our safety and peace. Just as I was loyal to my country, we must be loyal to our Father, His Son, and the Holy Spirit with righteous living. If there is a final judgment in Heaven and I believe there will be, we should all hope it is short because we maintained our loyalty to our faith and our principles
We must praise our Lord for His mercy, grace, and love that endures forever. It should be the ultimate motivator for our righteous behavior in our earthly life.
Tuesday, August 9, 2016
Avalon Chronicles #63: "No Dread of Death"
Avalon Chronicles #63: "No Dread of Death"
by Allen B. Clark and Linda Frost-Clark
www.combatfaith.com www.combatfaith.blogspot.com
allenbclark@aol.com
The triggers of our memories are rarely deleted. Yesterday Linda went to lunch at Northpark Shopping Center in Dallas and passed the area in front of Neiman Marcus, where she looked wistfully and nostalgically upon a simple structure, that children instinctively with great glee, liked to slide down. She recollected, when her young son Vincent would rush off ahead of her to slide over and over, until she passed him and he would run to catch up.
August 10, 2016 marks the one year anniversary of the demise of Vincent, who, at 52 and as her only child, succumbed to a probable heart attack. The normal order of life is that parents predecease their children. It has been a tumultuous year for Linda, but herewith we present you an uplifting update.
Awhile back I recommended that Linda read Imagine Heaven by Pastor John Burke. She has read it three times! We heartily recommend it as a book to relate collected reports of a multitude of individuals, who encountered what is termed "Near Death Experiences (NDEs)," wherein they were transported to Heaven after some life-threatening situation, where they viewed Heaven's awesomeness, beauty, and unimaginable tranquility. They were allowed to return quite and decidedly unwillingly to the mundane normalcy of Mother Earth, never again to be the same. The book is an eye and soul-opener to be sure!
Linda has had a full year to grieve Vincent's death, but she is delighted to express some of the spiritual happenings that have transpired.
It is indeed challenging for us to hear of certain encounters and happenings in our lives that verge on the supernatural and we are wont not to lend them credence. However, when they are related by the balanced, credible, and stable person that is my dear Linda, they are distinctly believable. One morning during her quiet time she had a demonstrably strong impression from Vincent declaring, "Mom, I am so happy. Now you try to be happy too." Linda knew it was a divine communication from Vincent allowed by our Lord to comfort her. It granted her tremendous contentment and peace to know he is free from the bonds of our lives, free from pain and conflict. Because of that she knows she will be reunited and see him again. For her there is no dread of physical death because her spirit will live on.
Linda is assured that the Lord is her strength and Vincent is with him. For several decades she has been consumed in the hours upon hours dedicated to her formal worship, Bible study, and prayer life. She received another impression from our Father, that, those endeavors and strivings to understand His Word, had created a sustenance/deposit, which can now be drawn upon to support her during this time of her grieving.
We commend to all reading these words to be convicted and convinced that there is life in the spirit after physical death. It is available to all who confess with their mouth and believe in their heart that Jesus is Who He said He was, died on the cross for the redemption of our sins, and all who believe this simple message need not dread death. For us it means we pass on to an incredible existence in Heaven.
"We can have the joy that overcomes the spirit of heaviness, with which we are burdened so painfully so many times and in so many ways," declares Linda. For Linda the bottom line is that God the Father in the Name of Jesus and by the Holy Spirit is the power that has sustained her because she knows her beloved Vincent is with our Lord.
When Linda returned from her walk this morning, she related how she had prayed to the Lord to gift her the spirit of joy instead of the spirit of heaviness. With the confidence this joy displays and with the certainty that Vincent is with the Lord, this is a witness to the hope of eternal life.
by Allen B. Clark and Linda Frost-Clark
www.combatfaith.com www.combatfaith.blogspot.com
allenbclark@aol.com
The triggers of our memories are rarely deleted. Yesterday Linda went to lunch at Northpark Shopping Center in Dallas and passed the area in front of Neiman Marcus, where she looked wistfully and nostalgically upon a simple structure, that children instinctively with great glee, liked to slide down. She recollected, when her young son Vincent would rush off ahead of her to slide over and over, until she passed him and he would run to catch up.
August 10, 2016 marks the one year anniversary of the demise of Vincent, who, at 52 and as her only child, succumbed to a probable heart attack. The normal order of life is that parents predecease their children. It has been a tumultuous year for Linda, but herewith we present you an uplifting update.
Awhile back I recommended that Linda read Imagine Heaven by Pastor John Burke. She has read it three times! We heartily recommend it as a book to relate collected reports of a multitude of individuals, who encountered what is termed "Near Death Experiences (NDEs)," wherein they were transported to Heaven after some life-threatening situation, where they viewed Heaven's awesomeness, beauty, and unimaginable tranquility. They were allowed to return quite and decidedly unwillingly to the mundane normalcy of Mother Earth, never again to be the same. The book is an eye and soul-opener to be sure!
Linda has had a full year to grieve Vincent's death, but she is delighted to express some of the spiritual happenings that have transpired.
It is indeed challenging for us to hear of certain encounters and happenings in our lives that verge on the supernatural and we are wont not to lend them credence. However, when they are related by the balanced, credible, and stable person that is my dear Linda, they are distinctly believable. One morning during her quiet time she had a demonstrably strong impression from Vincent declaring, "Mom, I am so happy. Now you try to be happy too." Linda knew it was a divine communication from Vincent allowed by our Lord to comfort her. It granted her tremendous contentment and peace to know he is free from the bonds of our lives, free from pain and conflict. Because of that she knows she will be reunited and see him again. For her there is no dread of physical death because her spirit will live on.
Linda is assured that the Lord is her strength and Vincent is with him. For several decades she has been consumed in the hours upon hours dedicated to her formal worship, Bible study, and prayer life. She received another impression from our Father, that, those endeavors and strivings to understand His Word, had created a sustenance/deposit, which can now be drawn upon to support her during this time of her grieving.
We commend to all reading these words to be convicted and convinced that there is life in the spirit after physical death. It is available to all who confess with their mouth and believe in their heart that Jesus is Who He said He was, died on the cross for the redemption of our sins, and all who believe this simple message need not dread death. For us it means we pass on to an incredible existence in Heaven.
"We can have the joy that overcomes the spirit of heaviness, with which we are burdened so painfully so many times and in so many ways," declares Linda. For Linda the bottom line is that God the Father in the Name of Jesus and by the Holy Spirit is the power that has sustained her because she knows her beloved Vincent is with our Lord.
When Linda returned from her walk this morning, she related how she had prayed to the Lord to gift her the spirit of joy instead of the spirit of heaviness. With the confidence this joy displays and with the certainty that Vincent is with the Lord, this is a witness to the hope of eternal life.
Thursday, July 7, 2016
Avalon Chronicles #62: "America's Documents and Our Legacy of Virtue"
Avalon Chronicles #62: "America's Documents and Our Legacy of Virtue"
by Allen B. Clark allenbclark@aol.com
www.combatfaith.com www.combatfaith.blogspot.com
Reference: Unto the Generations the Roots of True Americanism
Daniel L. Marsh Life Chancellor Boston University
The Long House, Inc: New Canaan, CT. 1968
For a recent church presentation in Terrell, Tx. on July 3, 2016 I pulled from my book shelves the above book which I probably had not opened since our Bicentennial year 1976. My next eight Chronicles will be written based on the contents of this exceptional book, a treasure indeed! After my talk a mother, home-schooling four children, approached me in the parking lot and said she was ordering the book to introduce it to her children. I commented it surely must be out of print. She said she had already ordered it on Amazon!
The author's motivation to write it in the turbulent 1960s is expressed thusly:
"Almost a generation later conditions throughout the country became in many ways parallel to those of the 1930s, only now they had become truly alarming. Our systems of government-local, State, and national-were honeycombed with corruption and malfeasance, and sinister legislation was being bought and paid for by those whom it would benefit. Vice and crime of every sort was transmuting our urban and rural thoroughfares into labyrinths of danger. It is hardly necessary to further recite the obvious."
Two generations later in 2016 how would he view the further deterioration of the moral and ethical conditions of our land? Many of us truly weep as we view the landscape of our land. It is appears a Trojan Horse in the dark of night, while we have slept, has emptied its combatants into our "City on a Hill." They are pillaging what is expressed by my friend Bill Wilson (www.DailyJot.com), "The Founding Fathers chose a Constitutional Republic as the governmental system because they wanted the rule of law in our nation. They wanted one law for all so that the rich, the mighty, the despot would not be able to escape justice; so that the poor, the weak, the lesser in society would have the same justice as all citizens....The Biblical principle behind the rule of law is God's way to hold society accountable and provide individual protections....The beauty of the American Republic was that people were not above the law."
Author Marsh has compiled some monumental documents of America into a sequencing that relate to our Christian Bible in a very unique and creative fashion. The Foreword by John Howard relates that these documents can only be held valid to people of virtue. He describes the documents to be pregnant with wisdom that does not fail to be impactful and enduring, if we but reflect on their timeless content. He wrote, "Here are giants of American history, men who not only led our Nation through times of stress, but lived their religious faith, and earnestly and humbly sought to do their utmost for the lasting good of their fellow beings."
May these recollections of our past inspire us to emulate their ideals for our future.
by Allen B. Clark allenbclark@aol.com
www.combatfaith.com www.combatfaith.blogspot.com
Reference: Unto the Generations the Roots of True Americanism
Daniel L. Marsh Life Chancellor Boston University
The Long House, Inc: New Canaan, CT. 1968
For a recent church presentation in Terrell, Tx. on July 3, 2016 I pulled from my book shelves the above book which I probably had not opened since our Bicentennial year 1976. My next eight Chronicles will be written based on the contents of this exceptional book, a treasure indeed! After my talk a mother, home-schooling four children, approached me in the parking lot and said she was ordering the book to introduce it to her children. I commented it surely must be out of print. She said she had already ordered it on Amazon!
The author's motivation to write it in the turbulent 1960s is expressed thusly:
"Almost a generation later conditions throughout the country became in many ways parallel to those of the 1930s, only now they had become truly alarming. Our systems of government-local, State, and national-were honeycombed with corruption and malfeasance, and sinister legislation was being bought and paid for by those whom it would benefit. Vice and crime of every sort was transmuting our urban and rural thoroughfares into labyrinths of danger. It is hardly necessary to further recite the obvious."
Two generations later in 2016 how would he view the further deterioration of the moral and ethical conditions of our land? Many of us truly weep as we view the landscape of our land. It is appears a Trojan Horse in the dark of night, while we have slept, has emptied its combatants into our "City on a Hill." They are pillaging what is expressed by my friend Bill Wilson (www.DailyJot.com), "The Founding Fathers chose a Constitutional Republic as the governmental system because they wanted the rule of law in our nation. They wanted one law for all so that the rich, the mighty, the despot would not be able to escape justice; so that the poor, the weak, the lesser in society would have the same justice as all citizens....The Biblical principle behind the rule of law is God's way to hold society accountable and provide individual protections....The beauty of the American Republic was that people were not above the law."
Author Marsh has compiled some monumental documents of America into a sequencing that relate to our Christian Bible in a very unique and creative fashion. The Foreword by John Howard relates that these documents can only be held valid to people of virtue. He describes the documents to be pregnant with wisdom that does not fail to be impactful and enduring, if we but reflect on their timeless content. He wrote, "Here are giants of American history, men who not only led our Nation through times of stress, but lived their religious faith, and earnestly and humbly sought to do their utmost for the lasting good of their fellow beings."
May these recollections of our past inspire us to emulate their ideals for our future.
Tuesday, June 21, 2016
Avalon Chronicles #61: "Religion and Morality"
Avalon Chronicles #61: "Religion and Morality"
by Allen B. Clark allenbclark@aol.com
www.combatfaith.com www.combatfaith.blogspot.com
There are incredible gems of wisdom, patriotism, good government, and all matters of personal and public conduct in George Washington's Farewell Address.
Actually he began writing this valedictory letter to the American people to be delivered after what he had planned to be only one term in office, but he decided to run for a second term as president due to the "...rancor between his Secretary of the Treasury, Alexander Hamilton (later killed in a duel by Aaron Burr) and his Secretary of State, Thomas Jefferson..." (Wikipedia) which reflected significant political disunity in the new country between the two new parties recently formed (Federalist and Republican). So what is else is new 220 years later? He believed his leadership was needed to keep America on a strong course. He put the letter aside until his second term was at its end and he declined a third term. He was completing 20 years of service to the new country.
The Wikipedia page on the Address (accessed June 21, 2016) has this to say: "One of the most referenced parts of Washington's letter was his strong support of the importance of religion and morality in not only promoting private and public happiness, but also in promoting the public prosperity of the nation. He argues that religious principles promote the protection of property, reputation, and life that are the foundations of justice. Washington goes so far as to say that the nation's morality cannot be maintained without religion and, since morality is necessary in popularly elected governments, religious principle is vital in maintaining the popularly elected government of the United States. He writes."
"Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism, who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of men and citizens. The mere politician, equally with the pious man, ought to respect and cherish them. A volume could not trace all their connections with private and public felicity. Let it simply be asked: Where is the security for property, for reputation, for life, if the sense of religious obligation desert the oaths which are the instruments of investigation in courts of justice? And let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion. Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education on minds of peculiar structure, reason and experience both forbid us to expect, that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle."
Amendment 1 to the Constitution states: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;..." This amendment to the Bill of Rights was ratified (with the other nine) on December 15, 1791. A major reason for this amendment was so that no denomination or specific faith would be favored as had been the case for the Church of England's influence in the colonies. It did not abolish religion per se nor its freedom to be exercised by any means. It definitely did not preclude the free expression of morality so lacking then and especially as I view the landscape of our land today. My honor code at West Point was that a cadet would not lie, cheat, nor steal, nor tolerate those who did. This surely would be an appropriate practical application of Washington's passage above for private and public lives.
by Allen B. Clark allenbclark@aol.com
www.combatfaith.com www.combatfaith.blogspot.com
There are incredible gems of wisdom, patriotism, good government, and all matters of personal and public conduct in George Washington's Farewell Address.
Actually he began writing this valedictory letter to the American people to be delivered after what he had planned to be only one term in office, but he decided to run for a second term as president due to the "...rancor between his Secretary of the Treasury, Alexander Hamilton (later killed in a duel by Aaron Burr) and his Secretary of State, Thomas Jefferson..." (Wikipedia) which reflected significant political disunity in the new country between the two new parties recently formed (Federalist and Republican). So what is else is new 220 years later? He believed his leadership was needed to keep America on a strong course. He put the letter aside until his second term was at its end and he declined a third term. He was completing 20 years of service to the new country.
The Wikipedia page on the Address (accessed June 21, 2016) has this to say: "One of the most referenced parts of Washington's letter was his strong support of the importance of religion and morality in not only promoting private and public happiness, but also in promoting the public prosperity of the nation. He argues that religious principles promote the protection of property, reputation, and life that are the foundations of justice. Washington goes so far as to say that the nation's morality cannot be maintained without religion and, since morality is necessary in popularly elected governments, religious principle is vital in maintaining the popularly elected government of the United States. He writes."
"Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism, who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of men and citizens. The mere politician, equally with the pious man, ought to respect and cherish them. A volume could not trace all their connections with private and public felicity. Let it simply be asked: Where is the security for property, for reputation, for life, if the sense of religious obligation desert the oaths which are the instruments of investigation in courts of justice? And let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion. Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education on minds of peculiar structure, reason and experience both forbid us to expect, that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle."
Amendment 1 to the Constitution states: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;..." This amendment to the Bill of Rights was ratified (with the other nine) on December 15, 1791. A major reason for this amendment was so that no denomination or specific faith would be favored as had been the case for the Church of England's influence in the colonies. It did not abolish religion per se nor its freedom to be exercised by any means. It definitely did not preclude the free expression of morality so lacking then and especially as I view the landscape of our land today. My honor code at West Point was that a cadet would not lie, cheat, nor steal, nor tolerate those who did. This surely would be an appropriate practical application of Washington's passage above for private and public lives.
Wednesday, June 15, 2016
Avalon Chronicles #60: "Liberty and America"
Avalon Chronicles #60: "Liberty and America"
by Allen B. Clark allenbclark@aol.com
www.combatfaith.com www.combatfaith.blogspot.com
In light of all the recent political rhetoric and especially after the horrendous attack in Orlando, I was moved to read George Washington's Farewell Address delivered to Congress on September 17, 1796, Constitution Day. There is magnificent wisdom in his address. Recall he would have had to write it out long-hand, no computer, and most probably no speech writer! We were much smaller then and less diverse than today, but, if any desire to reflect on some unchangeable sentiment about our foundations and values, we could go no further than to recollect the richness of these remarks.
"The unity of government, which constitutes you one people is also now dear to you. It is justly so, for it is a main pillar in the edifice of your real independence, the support of your tranquillity at home, your peace abroad; of your safety; of your prosperity; of that very liberty which you so highly prize. But as it is easy to foresee that, from different causes and from different quarters, much pains will be taken, many artifices employed to weaken in your minds the conviction of this truth; as this is the point in your political fortress against which the batteries of internal and external enemies will be most constantly and actively (though often covertly and insidiously) directed, it is of infinite moment that you should properly estimate the immense value of your national union to your collective and individual happiness; that you should cherish a cordial, habitual and immovable attachment to it; accustoming yourselves to think and speak of it as of the palladium of your political safety and prosperity; watching for its preservation with jealous anxiety; discountenancing whatever may suggest even a suspicion that it can in any event be abandoned; ...
For this you have every inducement of sympathy and interest. Citizens, by birth or choice, of a common country, that country has a right to concentrate your affections. The name of American, which belongs to you in your national capacity, must always exalt the just pride of patriotism more than any appellation derived from local discriminations....You have in a common cause fought and triumphed together; the independence and liberty you possess are the work of joint counsels, and joint efforts of common dangers, sufferings, and successes."
REMEMBER OUR ROOTS AS AMERICANS!
by Allen B. Clark allenbclark@aol.com
www.combatfaith.com www.combatfaith.blogspot.com
In light of all the recent political rhetoric and especially after the horrendous attack in Orlando, I was moved to read George Washington's Farewell Address delivered to Congress on September 17, 1796, Constitution Day. There is magnificent wisdom in his address. Recall he would have had to write it out long-hand, no computer, and most probably no speech writer! We were much smaller then and less diverse than today, but, if any desire to reflect on some unchangeable sentiment about our foundations and values, we could go no further than to recollect the richness of these remarks.
"The unity of government, which constitutes you one people is also now dear to you. It is justly so, for it is a main pillar in the edifice of your real independence, the support of your tranquillity at home, your peace abroad; of your safety; of your prosperity; of that very liberty which you so highly prize. But as it is easy to foresee that, from different causes and from different quarters, much pains will be taken, many artifices employed to weaken in your minds the conviction of this truth; as this is the point in your political fortress against which the batteries of internal and external enemies will be most constantly and actively (though often covertly and insidiously) directed, it is of infinite moment that you should properly estimate the immense value of your national union to your collective and individual happiness; that you should cherish a cordial, habitual and immovable attachment to it; accustoming yourselves to think and speak of it as of the palladium of your political safety and prosperity; watching for its preservation with jealous anxiety; discountenancing whatever may suggest even a suspicion that it can in any event be abandoned; ...
For this you have every inducement of sympathy and interest. Citizens, by birth or choice, of a common country, that country has a right to concentrate your affections. The name of American, which belongs to you in your national capacity, must always exalt the just pride of patriotism more than any appellation derived from local discriminations....You have in a common cause fought and triumphed together; the independence and liberty you possess are the work of joint counsels, and joint efforts of common dangers, sufferings, and successes."
REMEMBER OUR ROOTS AS AMERICANS!
Thursday, May 26, 2016
Avalon Chronicles #59: "Jesus is Lord"
Avalon Chronicles #59: "Jesus is Lord"
by Allen B. Clark www.combatfaith.com
allenbclark@aol.com www.combatfaith.blogspot.com
Romans 10: 9-10 NIV Life Application Study Bible
"That if you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved."
In this my 59th message I relate the most important of all I have ever written. For those that have been recipients of these messages over approximately five years I have related special spiritual and patriotic thoughts. This is the culmination of all before!
This is the Big Picture very simplistically. I am not one to know doctrine or theology. I have always attempted to use my Christianity in practical application. In the military we used the K.I.S.S. formula. Keep It Simple Stupid.
Here goes. It is generally accepted that God created and placed Adam and Eve in the Garden approximately 6000 years ago. For the next 4000 years he was laying the groundwork for a momentous happening which occurred 2000 years ago. He brought forth Abraham from the land today comprising Iraq (a full circle historic occurence with all its attendant contemporary publicity) to Palestine and with his descendants, Isaac and Ishmael, laid the foundation for what became the three major world religions Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Judaism in the Old Testament was full of "Religious Ritual" as is evident today in much of current day "faith" expression.
For 4000 years there were constant conflicts, crises, murders and abominable behaviors amongst humanity, the created of God. I am what is defined as a Trintarian, meaning I believe in the Trinity, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. The only way God could reach "humans" was to send among us another human. This was His Son, Jesus the Christ. The New Testament very simply stated is the biography of Jesus. Jesus came to set an example for living and loving. The New Testament is POWERFUL! If one desires to have a guideline or a blueprint for life, read, study, and appropriate for one's healthy attitudes, motivations, and emotional balance, what has been written, preserved, and available for us today, the Holy Bible. We spend hours in front of the television, pursue cultural trivia, read self-help books, and worship our cars, homes, stars, celebrities, money, pleasures, etc., all the current day idols of our normal secular lives. Time is short not to get with God's program. It is time to graduate from head knowledge of God and develop an inner faith in the living God with a 'Personal Relationship with Jesus." If not now, when?
It is time to believe, God created all. He is worthy of worship, not worship of all He created. He sent His Son to die on the cross for our redemption from sins, which, when confessed, are all cleansed and gone. When we truly believe "Jesus is Lord," my Christianity teaches me I will live in eternity upon my earthly death. I believe that! When Jesus returned to Heaven, he left here for us a Helper, the Holy Spirit, available and ready to be our partner each and every day for every challenge. Prayer works. God must be asked to open up floodgates of blessings. Pray for your unhealed hurts, unmet needs, unresolved issues in the "Name of Jesus."
Vincent, Linda's only child, died on August 10 last year at age 52 of a heart attack. Linda's greatest joy and comfort is that, because he believed and lived what is written above, he is in Heaven and undeniably and definitely believably, she will join and see him again someday.
It takes three simple audible words spoken personally for you to claim a new life, "Jesus is Lord." If you already know Jesus, do not be hesitant to leave a legacy, especially for your family members to impart to them what you know and believe. Tell them and others, in a manner that is loving and not pushy. Live it as Jesus did, not just speaking of it.
by Allen B. Clark www.combatfaith.com
allenbclark@aol.com www.combatfaith.blogspot.com
Romans 10: 9-10 NIV Life Application Study Bible
"That if you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved."
In this my 59th message I relate the most important of all I have ever written. For those that have been recipients of these messages over approximately five years I have related special spiritual and patriotic thoughts. This is the culmination of all before!
This is the Big Picture very simplistically. I am not one to know doctrine or theology. I have always attempted to use my Christianity in practical application. In the military we used the K.I.S.S. formula. Keep It Simple Stupid.
Here goes. It is generally accepted that God created and placed Adam and Eve in the Garden approximately 6000 years ago. For the next 4000 years he was laying the groundwork for a momentous happening which occurred 2000 years ago. He brought forth Abraham from the land today comprising Iraq (a full circle historic occurence with all its attendant contemporary publicity) to Palestine and with his descendants, Isaac and Ishmael, laid the foundation for what became the three major world religions Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Judaism in the Old Testament was full of "Religious Ritual" as is evident today in much of current day "faith" expression.
For 4000 years there were constant conflicts, crises, murders and abominable behaviors amongst humanity, the created of God. I am what is defined as a Trintarian, meaning I believe in the Trinity, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. The only way God could reach "humans" was to send among us another human. This was His Son, Jesus the Christ. The New Testament very simply stated is the biography of Jesus. Jesus came to set an example for living and loving. The New Testament is POWERFUL! If one desires to have a guideline or a blueprint for life, read, study, and appropriate for one's healthy attitudes, motivations, and emotional balance, what has been written, preserved, and available for us today, the Holy Bible. We spend hours in front of the television, pursue cultural trivia, read self-help books, and worship our cars, homes, stars, celebrities, money, pleasures, etc., all the current day idols of our normal secular lives. Time is short not to get with God's program. It is time to graduate from head knowledge of God and develop an inner faith in the living God with a 'Personal Relationship with Jesus." If not now, when?
It is time to believe, God created all. He is worthy of worship, not worship of all He created. He sent His Son to die on the cross for our redemption from sins, which, when confessed, are all cleansed and gone. When we truly believe "Jesus is Lord," my Christianity teaches me I will live in eternity upon my earthly death. I believe that! When Jesus returned to Heaven, he left here for us a Helper, the Holy Spirit, available and ready to be our partner each and every day for every challenge. Prayer works. God must be asked to open up floodgates of blessings. Pray for your unhealed hurts, unmet needs, unresolved issues in the "Name of Jesus."
Vincent, Linda's only child, died on August 10 last year at age 52 of a heart attack. Linda's greatest joy and comfort is that, because he believed and lived what is written above, he is in Heaven and undeniably and definitely believably, she will join and see him again someday.
It takes three simple audible words spoken personally for you to claim a new life, "Jesus is Lord." If you already know Jesus, do not be hesitant to leave a legacy, especially for your family members to impart to them what you know and believe. Tell them and others, in a manner that is loving and not pushy. Live it as Jesus did, not just speaking of it.
Friday, April 15, 2016
Avalon Chronicles #58: "Grace"
Avalon Chronicles #58: "Grace"
by Allen B. Clark allenbclark@aol.com
www.combatfaith.com www.combatfaith.blogspot.com
"O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever."
I Chronicles 16:34 (KJV)
In my prayers I have said, "I praise you Lord, for your mercy endureth forever." Recently, I've begun adding "and grace" to mercy. Today I thought I would go to my Noah Webster's 1828 dictionary to look up "grace." When I did so, I found 20 usages. The ones I found the most applicable were these:
"Appropriately, the free unmerited love and favor of God, the spring and source of all the benefits men receive from him."
Linda has completed twice and I am in the midst of reading Imagine Heaven by John Burke. Persons who experienced a Near Death Experience frequently indicate that their exposure to God/Jesus reflects his relating to them all their wrongs committed or omissions in an instant, but, what follows is an expression of incredible and forgiving love.
"Favorable influence of God; divine influence or the influence of the spirit, in renewing the heart and restraining from sin."
If we appropriate the divine influence or the influence of the spirit of our Lord, we will reflect in our words and deeds the following definitions of grace, will be gracious and will reflect graciousness.
"Goodwill; kindness; disposition to oblige another; virtuous or religious affection or disposition, as a liberal disposition, faith, meekness, humility, patience, proceeding from divine influence. That in manner, deportment or language which renders it appropriate and agreeable; suitableness; elegance with appropriate dignity."
Linda's and my personal pastor is the Rev. Hugh Morgan of Georgia, retired military chaplain, whom we consider our personal pastor. His example of graciousness is worthy of emulation in our daily encounters and communications. My dear Linda is a lady of extraordinary graciousness and reflects daily the graciousness indicative of the divine influence on her life.
Our neighborhood has recently endured back to back hailstorms, requiring new roof and window repairs. We have received numerous calls from roofers, soliciting a roof repair business, which we have contracted for already with our own insurance company. My responses heretofore have been curt and short to the calls. I have been convicted now to respond, if there are more, "Thank you for this kind offer. I already have made arrangements for my roof repairs. I know you are trying to make a living. May God bless you in this."
It is a small gesture of grace to be imparted indeed, but, perhaps it will lead always in all manners to that extension of graciousness that I know my Lord extends to me
by Allen B. Clark allenbclark@aol.com
www.combatfaith.com www.combatfaith.blogspot.com
"O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever."
I Chronicles 16:34 (KJV)
In my prayers I have said, "I praise you Lord, for your mercy endureth forever." Recently, I've begun adding "and grace" to mercy. Today I thought I would go to my Noah Webster's 1828 dictionary to look up "grace." When I did so, I found 20 usages. The ones I found the most applicable were these:
"Appropriately, the free unmerited love and favor of God, the spring and source of all the benefits men receive from him."
Linda has completed twice and I am in the midst of reading Imagine Heaven by John Burke. Persons who experienced a Near Death Experience frequently indicate that their exposure to God/Jesus reflects his relating to them all their wrongs committed or omissions in an instant, but, what follows is an expression of incredible and forgiving love.
"Favorable influence of God; divine influence or the influence of the spirit, in renewing the heart and restraining from sin."
If we appropriate the divine influence or the influence of the spirit of our Lord, we will reflect in our words and deeds the following definitions of grace, will be gracious and will reflect graciousness.
"Goodwill; kindness; disposition to oblige another; virtuous or religious affection or disposition, as a liberal disposition, faith, meekness, humility, patience, proceeding from divine influence. That in manner, deportment or language which renders it appropriate and agreeable; suitableness; elegance with appropriate dignity."
Linda's and my personal pastor is the Rev. Hugh Morgan of Georgia, retired military chaplain, whom we consider our personal pastor. His example of graciousness is worthy of emulation in our daily encounters and communications. My dear Linda is a lady of extraordinary graciousness and reflects daily the graciousness indicative of the divine influence on her life.
Our neighborhood has recently endured back to back hailstorms, requiring new roof and window repairs. We have received numerous calls from roofers, soliciting a roof repair business, which we have contracted for already with our own insurance company. My responses heretofore have been curt and short to the calls. I have been convicted now to respond, if there are more, "Thank you for this kind offer. I already have made arrangements for my roof repairs. I know you are trying to make a living. May God bless you in this."
It is a small gesture of grace to be imparted indeed, but, perhaps it will lead always in all manners to that extension of graciousness that I know my Lord extends to me
Monday, March 21, 2016
Avalon Chronicles #57: "Who Was Pilate's Wife?"
Avalon Chronicles #57: "Who Was Pilate's Wife"
by Allen B.Clark allenbclark@aol.com,
www.combatfaith.com www.combatfaith.blogspot.com
"While Pilate was sitting on the judge's seat, his wife sent him this message: 'Don't have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him.'"
Matthew 27:19 (NIV)
Poll one hundred non-Biblical scholars and ask,"What is the name of Pontius Pilate's wife?" Probably none will be able to answer. Pilate's wife is only mentioned in this one reference and without her name. She sent her husband the message as it is pictured in the movies with her standing behind a column watching Jesus before Pilate. Presumably Jesus appeared before Pilate in the Antonia Fortress (later the Praetorium) at the northwest corner of the Temple perhaps on Good Friday before he was nailed to the cross at Golgotha. The Romans placed great stock in dreams. They believed that they were sent from heaven as gifts and warnings that were not to be ignored.
Almost two decades ago, my wife Linda, was asked to read at her church on Palm Sunday the message in Matthew 27 about the trials of Jesus. She became curious as to the name of Pilate's wife and began her quest at a nearby Greek Orthodox church where the resident scholar admitted his faith celebrates on October 27 a feast day in celebration of Claudia Procula. The faith believes she became a Believer in Jesus and that her life passed in peace. Linda began a quest to learn more about this woman and what she learned is tremendously fascinating. She learned that Claudia and Pilate both are celebrated on July 25 by the Coptic Church of Ethiopia, which believes they both became Christians.
Claudia Procula was the granddaughter of the Great Roman Emperor Augustus Caesar. She was technically a Roman princess and the daughter of Augustus' daughter Julia. Julia was reported to have had many lovers and it is probable that Claudia was an illegitimate child. She grew up in Norbonne, France about twelve miles from the Mediterranean Sea. This was a Roman outpost in what was then called Gaul. It is not known when she met and married Pilate, who was from an old Roman family and an equestrian in the Roman Cavalry. Possibly the connections of Claudia led Pilate to the governorship of the Roman province of Judea from 26-36 AD. Her influence with Augustus further allowed her to live in Judea with her husband. This was not allowed in other cases by Augustus.
After the death and resurrection of Jesus, Josephus, the eminent Jewish historian, wrote that Pilate had an encounter with some rebellious Samaritans and it ended with some deaths. Pilate was recalled to Rome to report on the issue to the Emperor Tiberius, who died enroute, and when Pilate arrived, Caligula was the new Emperor. It is reported that Pilate was dealt with very harshly and was exiled. In those days if a man was exiled, he faced disgrace and the loss of his wealth, leaving his family destitute. An alternative was to commit suicide, which allowed the family's reputation to be unaffected. This act was not interpreted as one of despair, but one of calculated courage by Pilate.
There are two mountains in Europe named for Pilate and it is speculated that he fell to his death from one of them: Mt. Pilate in France, south of Lyon and Mt. Pilatas, southwest of Lucerne in Switzerland.
Almost two decades ago Linda began her lay ministry by researching woman of the Bible and it has evolved to where today she performs dramatic presentations of the Bible in period costumes she has researched and sews herself. These are done at churches and women's groups. She considers her drama on Claudia to be her flagship performance. Her web site is at http;//voices.name.
This Holy Week we can recall no words more important than those reported in Matthew 27:54 (NIV): "When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, 'Surely he was the Son of God.'"
Assuredly He was, we are convicted of that, and because of that belief, our lives have been changed forever!
by Allen B.Clark allenbclark@aol.com,
www.combatfaith.com www.combatfaith.blogspot.com
"While Pilate was sitting on the judge's seat, his wife sent him this message: 'Don't have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him.'"
Matthew 27:19 (NIV)
Poll one hundred non-Biblical scholars and ask,"What is the name of Pontius Pilate's wife?" Probably none will be able to answer. Pilate's wife is only mentioned in this one reference and without her name. She sent her husband the message as it is pictured in the movies with her standing behind a column watching Jesus before Pilate. Presumably Jesus appeared before Pilate in the Antonia Fortress (later the Praetorium) at the northwest corner of the Temple perhaps on Good Friday before he was nailed to the cross at Golgotha. The Romans placed great stock in dreams. They believed that they were sent from heaven as gifts and warnings that were not to be ignored.
Almost two decades ago, my wife Linda, was asked to read at her church on Palm Sunday the message in Matthew 27 about the trials of Jesus. She became curious as to the name of Pilate's wife and began her quest at a nearby Greek Orthodox church where the resident scholar admitted his faith celebrates on October 27 a feast day in celebration of Claudia Procula. The faith believes she became a Believer in Jesus and that her life passed in peace. Linda began a quest to learn more about this woman and what she learned is tremendously fascinating. She learned that Claudia and Pilate both are celebrated on July 25 by the Coptic Church of Ethiopia, which believes they both became Christians.
Claudia Procula was the granddaughter of the Great Roman Emperor Augustus Caesar. She was technically a Roman princess and the daughter of Augustus' daughter Julia. Julia was reported to have had many lovers and it is probable that Claudia was an illegitimate child. She grew up in Norbonne, France about twelve miles from the Mediterranean Sea. This was a Roman outpost in what was then called Gaul. It is not known when she met and married Pilate, who was from an old Roman family and an equestrian in the Roman Cavalry. Possibly the connections of Claudia led Pilate to the governorship of the Roman province of Judea from 26-36 AD. Her influence with Augustus further allowed her to live in Judea with her husband. This was not allowed in other cases by Augustus.
After the death and resurrection of Jesus, Josephus, the eminent Jewish historian, wrote that Pilate had an encounter with some rebellious Samaritans and it ended with some deaths. Pilate was recalled to Rome to report on the issue to the Emperor Tiberius, who died enroute, and when Pilate arrived, Caligula was the new Emperor. It is reported that Pilate was dealt with very harshly and was exiled. In those days if a man was exiled, he faced disgrace and the loss of his wealth, leaving his family destitute. An alternative was to commit suicide, which allowed the family's reputation to be unaffected. This act was not interpreted as one of despair, but one of calculated courage by Pilate.
There are two mountains in Europe named for Pilate and it is speculated that he fell to his death from one of them: Mt. Pilate in France, south of Lyon and Mt. Pilatas, southwest of Lucerne in Switzerland.
Almost two decades ago Linda began her lay ministry by researching woman of the Bible and it has evolved to where today she performs dramatic presentations of the Bible in period costumes she has researched and sews herself. These are done at churches and women's groups. She considers her drama on Claudia to be her flagship performance. Her web site is at http;//voices.name.
This Holy Week we can recall no words more important than those reported in Matthew 27:54 (NIV): "When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, 'Surely he was the Son of God.'"
Assuredly He was, we are convicted of that, and because of that belief, our lives have been changed forever!
Thursday, March 10, 2016
Avalon Chronicles #56: "Careless Words"
Avalon Chronicles #56: "Careless Words"
by Allen B. Clark allenbclark@aol.com
www.combatfaith.com www.combatfaith.blogspot.com
"But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words will be condemned." (Matthew 12: 36,37, NIV Zondervan). The footnote, "Jesus reminds us that what we say reveals what is in our hearts. What kind of words come from your mouth?... You must allow the Holy Spirit to fill you with new attitudes and motives; then your speech will be cleansed at its source." (1674).
This passage has been part of my daily prayer "ritual" for years. It has always typically only meant for me "bad" language. However, this day I read something written by a minister that opened up to Linda and me an entirely new and profoundly deeper meaning. If you are a reader of my Chronicles, who lends no credence to spiritual warfare, demonic influence in your life, or the strength of your words as to their potential effect in power to be brought to fruition, then read no further.
If you are still with me, then allow me to quote from a book titled The Biblical Guidebook to Deliverance by Randy Clark, DMin, a minister we personally heard at a conference in Chattanooga, Tennessee several years ago. Clark, no relation, has ministered extensively in all parts of the world to tens of thousands. He wrote,
"A curse is an evil appeal for harm to come to someone. Many of us are unaware that words of criticism or condemnation spoken to or about another can actually curse that person. When we speak against someone, we open a door for the demonic to exercise their legal right to attach to that person's life. Something said in anger or frustration can set in motion forces in the supernatural that have the potential to do great harm. Most people are unaware of this dynamic until they come under teaching that brings it to light. This is one category of curses." (80).
Linda and I began to discuss and reflect on the implications of this throughout our past lives. We give great plausibility to this spiritual teaching. We began to consider all the times in our lives when we had spoken negatively of family members, children, friends, or just anyone with whom we had come in contact. It was quite sobering indeed to recognize the possible harm we had done to others much less the spiritual failure we had committed ourselves. If we belief scripture, and especially the words of Jesus, which are these in Matthew, and we do, it will indeed be a part of our future judgment. We do not know how we can undo ill effects of our past careless words, but we are cognizant from here forward of this truth. We requested forgiveness for those past words and requested God in the Name of Jesus to break any past or ongoing negative impacts in those lives.
Not to make light of all this, but we did have a laugh when jointly we said, "This spiritual truth has ruined our day." But, it will not again. Now we know better!
by Allen B. Clark allenbclark@aol.com
www.combatfaith.com www.combatfaith.blogspot.com
"But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words will be condemned." (Matthew 12: 36,37, NIV Zondervan). The footnote, "Jesus reminds us that what we say reveals what is in our hearts. What kind of words come from your mouth?... You must allow the Holy Spirit to fill you with new attitudes and motives; then your speech will be cleansed at its source." (1674).
This passage has been part of my daily prayer "ritual" for years. It has always typically only meant for me "bad" language. However, this day I read something written by a minister that opened up to Linda and me an entirely new and profoundly deeper meaning. If you are a reader of my Chronicles, who lends no credence to spiritual warfare, demonic influence in your life, or the strength of your words as to their potential effect in power to be brought to fruition, then read no further.
If you are still with me, then allow me to quote from a book titled The Biblical Guidebook to Deliverance by Randy Clark, DMin, a minister we personally heard at a conference in Chattanooga, Tennessee several years ago. Clark, no relation, has ministered extensively in all parts of the world to tens of thousands. He wrote,
"A curse is an evil appeal for harm to come to someone. Many of us are unaware that words of criticism or condemnation spoken to or about another can actually curse that person. When we speak against someone, we open a door for the demonic to exercise their legal right to attach to that person's life. Something said in anger or frustration can set in motion forces in the supernatural that have the potential to do great harm. Most people are unaware of this dynamic until they come under teaching that brings it to light. This is one category of curses." (80).
Linda and I began to discuss and reflect on the implications of this throughout our past lives. We give great plausibility to this spiritual teaching. We began to consider all the times in our lives when we had spoken negatively of family members, children, friends, or just anyone with whom we had come in contact. It was quite sobering indeed to recognize the possible harm we had done to others much less the spiritual failure we had committed ourselves. If we belief scripture, and especially the words of Jesus, which are these in Matthew, and we do, it will indeed be a part of our future judgment. We do not know how we can undo ill effects of our past careless words, but we are cognizant from here forward of this truth. We requested forgiveness for those past words and requested God in the Name of Jesus to break any past or ongoing negative impacts in those lives.
Not to make light of all this, but we did have a laugh when jointly we said, "This spiritual truth has ruined our day." But, it will not again. Now we know better!
Friday, February 12, 2016
Avalon Chronicles #55: "Taming the Lion"
Avalon Chronicles #55: "Taming the Lion"
Allen B. Clark allenbclark@aol.com
www.combatfaith.com www.combatfaith.blogspot.com
I Peter 5:8, "Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." (NIV).
John 10:10, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." (NIV).
It is with some trepidation that I write this message and introduce a spiritual topic either mis- or un-understood by many. There are those that will think skeptically of me for introducing what I believe about spiritual warfare and demonology. If you think that, hold your judgment until you read The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis, the eminent Oxford University scholar and prolific author. I am 73 now and I do not know how much longer my good Lord will allow me to serve Him, so I am not going to be, as it is described, "politically correct," especially five years into my Chronicles writings.
In one of my daily Scripture readings I came across the concept of the relative safety of airline travel considering how many flights criss-cross our globe each day. This is because the industry, at least in the United States, is highly-controlled through regulation. With government oversight and industry supervision there are many checks, rules, and laws which minimize accidents.The theory spiritually is that the devil (Satan) has to work very hard to effect disasters because of the control of the aviation industry. The devil has a harder time in airline travel to kill and destroy through causing accidents.
The hypothesis of control and regulation has its comparability in our own lives. Bad things happen to good people and obviously likewise to bad people. In my daily prayers I pray for protection of my family and others from benign neglect, malicious intent, and "stupids". When we are not controlled and alert in our daily actions and behaviors, we make mistakes with negative consequences. The malicious intent danger to us relates practically in our worlds to those who would do us harm and in the spiritual realm to the devil, that "roaring lion," who targets us in our weak areas to wreak havoc in our lives and to take away our lives.
We have a dear and close ministry friend, Everett Cox from Oklahoma City, who has a deliverance ministry (www.delmin.org). He has been a guest in our home and on a cable television program we produced years ago. My affinity for him partially is due to his being a fellow veteran. The benign neglect (and perhaps "stupids") we commit, as it relates especially to sins and withholding forgiveness, allows openings in some instances of "pathways of evil" that authorizes that "roaring lion" to assign a demon(s) in the legions of them he commands to enter our spirit and take us down and work us over.
Those "pathways of evil" to enter and control us must be closed through control and self-regulation just as for airplanes. At my website (http://www.combatfaith.com/QandA.html) I discuss the technique I have learned to close those "pathways" or "doorways" so that the one, who comes to steal and kill and destroy, cannot "devour' us. The closing process requires constant and disciplined confession of our sins, big and little, forgiveness of all others as well as ourselves, and a persistent reflection and examination of our negative attitudes, motives, and emotions. This process is worth considering and implementing. Try it. You'll like it and it will also bring you to a closer relationship with our Savior and Lord, Jesus the Christ, who desires us to live a life of peace in harmony with Him and in victory over our enemy and antagonist.
Allen B. Clark allenbclark@aol.com
www.combatfaith.com www.combatfaith.blogspot.com
I Peter 5:8, "Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." (NIV).
John 10:10, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." (NIV).
It is with some trepidation that I write this message and introduce a spiritual topic either mis- or un-understood by many. There are those that will think skeptically of me for introducing what I believe about spiritual warfare and demonology. If you think that, hold your judgment until you read The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis, the eminent Oxford University scholar and prolific author. I am 73 now and I do not know how much longer my good Lord will allow me to serve Him, so I am not going to be, as it is described, "politically correct," especially five years into my Chronicles writings.
In one of my daily Scripture readings I came across the concept of the relative safety of airline travel considering how many flights criss-cross our globe each day. This is because the industry, at least in the United States, is highly-controlled through regulation. With government oversight and industry supervision there are many checks, rules, and laws which minimize accidents.The theory spiritually is that the devil (Satan) has to work very hard to effect disasters because of the control of the aviation industry. The devil has a harder time in airline travel to kill and destroy through causing accidents.
The hypothesis of control and regulation has its comparability in our own lives. Bad things happen to good people and obviously likewise to bad people. In my daily prayers I pray for protection of my family and others from benign neglect, malicious intent, and "stupids". When we are not controlled and alert in our daily actions and behaviors, we make mistakes with negative consequences. The malicious intent danger to us relates practically in our worlds to those who would do us harm and in the spiritual realm to the devil, that "roaring lion," who targets us in our weak areas to wreak havoc in our lives and to take away our lives.
We have a dear and close ministry friend, Everett Cox from Oklahoma City, who has a deliverance ministry (www.delmin.org). He has been a guest in our home and on a cable television program we produced years ago. My affinity for him partially is due to his being a fellow veteran. The benign neglect (and perhaps "stupids") we commit, as it relates especially to sins and withholding forgiveness, allows openings in some instances of "pathways of evil" that authorizes that "roaring lion" to assign a demon(s) in the legions of them he commands to enter our spirit and take us down and work us over.
Those "pathways of evil" to enter and control us must be closed through control and self-regulation just as for airplanes. At my website (http://www.combatfaith.com/QandA.html) I discuss the technique I have learned to close those "pathways" or "doorways" so that the one, who comes to steal and kill and destroy, cannot "devour' us. The closing process requires constant and disciplined confession of our sins, big and little, forgiveness of all others as well as ourselves, and a persistent reflection and examination of our negative attitudes, motives, and emotions. This process is worth considering and implementing. Try it. You'll like it and it will also bring you to a closer relationship with our Savior and Lord, Jesus the Christ, who desires us to live a life of peace in harmony with Him and in victory over our enemy and antagonist.
Sunday, January 24, 2016
Avalon Chronicles #54: "Raising Our Young"
Avalon Chronicles #54: "Raising our Young"
by Allen B. Clark www.combatfaith.com
www.combatfaith.blogspot.com
Proverbs 22: 6 "Train a child in the way he should go,
and when he is old he will not turn from it."
Zondervan. New International Version. Life Application Study Bible. 1991.
The practical application for this verse was found by me in the American Dictionary of the English Language by Noah Webster 1828. Introduction page 12. Available at www.face.net.
"...Noah Webster's system of education included rather than excluded the influence of the American home:
(Webster wrote:)
'All government originates in families, and if neglected there, it will hardly exist in society...The foundation of all free government and of all social order must be laid in families and in the discipline of youth...The Education of youth, an employment of more consequence than making laws and preaching the gospel, because it lays the foundation on which both law and gospel rest for success.'
Noah Webster's own childhood had been blessed with a Christian home. His Pilgrim heritage through Governor Bradford provided him with the ingredients of Christian self-government, responsibility and work habits which would serve him well throughout a long, active life. When the family farm was mortgaged to send him to Yale College he took his parental benediction with him.
'We wish to have you serve your generation and do good in the world and be useful and may so behave as to gain the esteem of all virtuous people that are acquainted with you and gain a comfortable subsistence, but especially that you may live as to obtain the favor of Almighty God and His grace in this world and a saving interest in the merits of Jesus Christ, without which no man can be happy.'"
Appropriating seriously the merits of Jesus Christ can bring peace and tranquility to all to bring us as much happiness as we can possibly know in our earthly existence.
Approximately two decades ago I procured a copy of this monumental original first edition of Noah Webster's 1828 dictionary. He had traveled to Europe, studied other languages and great literature as well as the Holy Bible to compose his dictionary. I keep it beside my study chair and refer often to it. One will not find slang or the inane terminology used by so many today in it, but one is uplifted and edified to learn the true and correct and beautiful meaning of our language. Noah Webster in my opinion can truly be considered one of the Founding Fathers of America!
by Allen B. Clark www.combatfaith.com
www.combatfaith.blogspot.com
Proverbs 22: 6 "Train a child in the way he should go,
and when he is old he will not turn from it."
Zondervan. New International Version. Life Application Study Bible. 1991.
The practical application for this verse was found by me in the American Dictionary of the English Language by Noah Webster 1828. Introduction page 12. Available at www.face.net.
"...Noah Webster's system of education included rather than excluded the influence of the American home:
(Webster wrote:)
'All government originates in families, and if neglected there, it will hardly exist in society...The foundation of all free government and of all social order must be laid in families and in the discipline of youth...The Education of youth, an employment of more consequence than making laws and preaching the gospel, because it lays the foundation on which both law and gospel rest for success.'
Noah Webster's own childhood had been blessed with a Christian home. His Pilgrim heritage through Governor Bradford provided him with the ingredients of Christian self-government, responsibility and work habits which would serve him well throughout a long, active life. When the family farm was mortgaged to send him to Yale College he took his parental benediction with him.
'We wish to have you serve your generation and do good in the world and be useful and may so behave as to gain the esteem of all virtuous people that are acquainted with you and gain a comfortable subsistence, but especially that you may live as to obtain the favor of Almighty God and His grace in this world and a saving interest in the merits of Jesus Christ, without which no man can be happy.'"
Appropriating seriously the merits of Jesus Christ can bring peace and tranquility to all to bring us as much happiness as we can possibly know in our earthly existence.
Approximately two decades ago I procured a copy of this monumental original first edition of Noah Webster's 1828 dictionary. He had traveled to Europe, studied other languages and great literature as well as the Holy Bible to compose his dictionary. I keep it beside my study chair and refer often to it. One will not find slang or the inane terminology used by so many today in it, but one is uplifted and edified to learn the true and correct and beautiful meaning of our language. Noah Webster in my opinion can truly be considered one of the Founding Fathers of America!
Saturday, January 16, 2016
Avalon Chronicles #53: "Prizes for Secular and Spiritual Discipline"
Avalon Chronicles #53: "Prizes for Secular and Spiritual Discipline"
by Allen B. Clark www.combatfaith.com
www.combatfaith.blogspot.com
Biblical Reference: I Peter (New International Version Life Application Bible by Tyndale House and Zondervan.
Linda and I have completed our move to her deceased son's home. Our early mornings are spent in what we call our sun room with windows on two sides, where the rising sun greets us with its morning presence and the south sun lingers through the afternoon. Also it is where we converse and pray together in our recliners facing each other. The wall across from me has a framed small flintlock pistol and powder horn and a striking original painting of my childhood hero and role model Robert E. Lee as a newly-minted lieutenant graduate of West Point. Across from Linda behind me is displayed a tapestry picturing Jesus and also a framed print of Jesus. These represent, of course, the two worlds in which we have lived, for me the military and, for us both, the spiritual as Christians.
My secular military world was defined in no uncertain terms with obedience and discipline from age eight when I had tunnel vision to study and prepare myself for a cadet appointment at West Point. In my two all male secondary prep schools, I studied literally four to five hours per night. At West Point it is a life of all-consuming obedience and strict discipline to achieve the "prize" of graduation and commissioning as an officer, where the discipline was not as intensive, but yet overarching as I received the "prize" of the pride I felt in being able to serve my country.
In our secular arenas we constantly seek life's earthly "prizes," admission to and graduation from our first choice college, marriage to the spouse of our dreams, advancement in our career fields leading to the "prize" of financial security in our "golden" years. We discipline ourselves to save for the future. We discipline ourselves to eat healthily and exercise (in many instances less successfully than were our goals) to achieve a longer earthly existence. We are obedient and disciplined in our life's work and avocations.
Unfortunately, for our own greater peace and satisfaction, we typically do not exercise the requisite obedience and discipline in our spiritual dimension, where the "report cards" are not as evident. The ultimate "prize" of earthly spiritual existence is eternal life exemplified in (I Peter 1: 3-4), "...In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade-kept in heaven for you,...." This ultimate "prize" of salvation is only achieved by those who, by faith, accept Jesus as Savior.
In my early thirties I moved to the next plateau of my spiritual life, that of the Lordship of Jesus Christ. My dear wife Linda achieved this spiritual level at a much earlier age. This is a state wherein we exert discipline and obedience reflected in lives well-lived as members of the family of God. We are summoned to holiness, "As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: 'Be holy because I am holy.'" (I Peter 1:14-16).
We are told to live our lives in "reverent fear," (healthy respect of a believer for the all-powerful God). Footnote (I Peter 1:17). We are advised (and in military terminology "ordered"), "Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind." (I Peter 2:1). In other words, to live lives of integrity and loving hearts, to become like Christ. We are to, "Live such good lives among the pagans, that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us." (I Peter 2:12).We are to imitate, "Christ in all (our) social roles,...husbands and wives, church members and neighbors." (I Peter 2:18-3:17).
In I Peter 3:18-4:11 we are told by Peter that, "Christ should be our model for obedience to God...." Our greatest obstacle to a life of obedience and discipline is, as it is written, "Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith,..." (I Peter 5:8-9).
A unique contrast is evident in that in the secular world our "prize" comes after exertion and dedication to obedience and discipline. In the spiritual world our "prize" of knowledge of eternal life comes as early as one commits in faith with the consequent expectation from our merciful and gracious Father that in obedience with discipline we will then reflect "good" and do "good works.'
by Allen B. Clark www.combatfaith.com
www.combatfaith.blogspot.com
Biblical Reference: I Peter (New International Version Life Application Bible by Tyndale House and Zondervan.
Linda and I have completed our move to her deceased son's home. Our early mornings are spent in what we call our sun room with windows on two sides, where the rising sun greets us with its morning presence and the south sun lingers through the afternoon. Also it is where we converse and pray together in our recliners facing each other. The wall across from me has a framed small flintlock pistol and powder horn and a striking original painting of my childhood hero and role model Robert E. Lee as a newly-minted lieutenant graduate of West Point. Across from Linda behind me is displayed a tapestry picturing Jesus and also a framed print of Jesus. These represent, of course, the two worlds in which we have lived, for me the military and, for us both, the spiritual as Christians.
My secular military world was defined in no uncertain terms with obedience and discipline from age eight when I had tunnel vision to study and prepare myself for a cadet appointment at West Point. In my two all male secondary prep schools, I studied literally four to five hours per night. At West Point it is a life of all-consuming obedience and strict discipline to achieve the "prize" of graduation and commissioning as an officer, where the discipline was not as intensive, but yet overarching as I received the "prize" of the pride I felt in being able to serve my country.
In our secular arenas we constantly seek life's earthly "prizes," admission to and graduation from our first choice college, marriage to the spouse of our dreams, advancement in our career fields leading to the "prize" of financial security in our "golden" years. We discipline ourselves to save for the future. We discipline ourselves to eat healthily and exercise (in many instances less successfully than were our goals) to achieve a longer earthly existence. We are obedient and disciplined in our life's work and avocations.
Unfortunately, for our own greater peace and satisfaction, we typically do not exercise the requisite obedience and discipline in our spiritual dimension, where the "report cards" are not as evident. The ultimate "prize" of earthly spiritual existence is eternal life exemplified in (I Peter 1: 3-4), "...In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade-kept in heaven for you,...." This ultimate "prize" of salvation is only achieved by those who, by faith, accept Jesus as Savior.
In my early thirties I moved to the next plateau of my spiritual life, that of the Lordship of Jesus Christ. My dear wife Linda achieved this spiritual level at a much earlier age. This is a state wherein we exert discipline and obedience reflected in lives well-lived as members of the family of God. We are summoned to holiness, "As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: 'Be holy because I am holy.'" (I Peter 1:14-16).
We are told to live our lives in "reverent fear," (healthy respect of a believer for the all-powerful God). Footnote (I Peter 1:17). We are advised (and in military terminology "ordered"), "Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind." (I Peter 2:1). In other words, to live lives of integrity and loving hearts, to become like Christ. We are to, "Live such good lives among the pagans, that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us." (I Peter 2:12).We are to imitate, "Christ in all (our) social roles,...husbands and wives, church members and neighbors." (I Peter 2:18-3:17).
In I Peter 3:18-4:11 we are told by Peter that, "Christ should be our model for obedience to God...." Our greatest obstacle to a life of obedience and discipline is, as it is written, "Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith,..." (I Peter 5:8-9).
A unique contrast is evident in that in the secular world our "prize" comes after exertion and dedication to obedience and discipline. In the spiritual world our "prize" of knowledge of eternal life comes as early as one commits in faith with the consequent expectation from our merciful and gracious Father that in obedience with discipline we will then reflect "good" and do "good works.'
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