Posted on 09/29/2010 3:37:57 PM PDT by Dubya
BAGHDAD, Sept. 29, 2010 – A U.S. soldier deployed here teamed with his father to deliver free soccer equipment to appreciative Iraqi children.
Armor crewman Pfc. Dominick Skompski and some of his fellow soldiers distributed more than 30 donated soccer balls to Iraqi children living at various farms in the Baghdad area Sept. 13.
Skompski, who has played soccer since he was a child, said it felt good to hand out soccer balls to the children.
The young Iraqis “don’t really have a lot out here,” said Skompski, who serves here with Company D, 3rd Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment, 1st Advise and Assist Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, U.S. Division–Center.
Skompski said the Iraqi children were very happy to get the soccer balls.
“It’s not much, but it’s something for them,” he said.
Skompski had enlisted the help of his father, Joe D’Alessandro, the president of the Cohansey Soccer Club in Upper Deerfield Township, N.J.
(Excerpt) Read more at defense.gov ...
Army Pfc. Dominick Skompski, right, an Iraq-deployed armor crewman with Company D, 3rd Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment, 1st Advise and Assist Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, U.S. Division–Center, passes out soccer balls to Iraqi children in a rural area of Baghdad.
I will merely say that this is naive times two. sd
Armor crewman Pfc. Dominick Skompski and some of his fellow soldiers distributed more than 30 donated soccer balls to Iraqi children living at various farms in the Baghdad area Sept. 13.
This is wonderful, Dubya! I’m sure those kids are happy to receive these soccer balls. Those kids are so serious looking. Bless their little hearts.
An Iraqi youth who lives in a rural area near Baghdad shows off his handstand skills after he’d received a soccer ball from U.S. soldiers Sept. 13, 2010. The soccer balls were donated through the non-profit Winning Hearts and Minds project, created by Skompski’s father, Joe D’Alessandro, president of the Cohansey Soccer Club in Upper Deerfield Township, N.J. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Mary S. Katzenberger
Quote
“Manners are a sensitive awareness of the feelings of others. If you have that awareness, you have good manners, no matter what fork you use.”
~ Emily Post
“Driving Around”
I tell you, men drivers are a hazard to traffic. Driving to work this morning on Highway 11 from Albert Street, I looked over to my left and there’s this man in a Mustang doing 95 miles per hour with his face up next to his rear view mirror.... shaving!!!
I looked away for a couple of seconds and when I looked back, he’s halfway over in my lane.
It scared me so bad I almost dropped my eye liner pencil in my coffee.
Bad Headlines
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Hershey Bars Protest
Saving the Worst for Last?
“But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet show I unto you a more excellent way.” 1 Corinthians 12:31
Satan always gives the best first and the worst last. For example, Proverbs 20:17 says, “The bread of deceit is sweet, but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.” With Satan, it always starts sweet, but it does not end that way.
Satan is a counterfeiter and a deceiver, and he is guilty of false advertising.
* He doesn’t show the drunkard in the gutter covered with flies.
* He doesn’t show the addict shaking uncontrollably from another night of detox.
* He doesn’t show the ruined lives from sexually transmitted diseases.
He always gives the best first and the worst last. Jesus gives the best last.
Do you have a teenager in your home? Then, call a homeless shelter or prison and see if you can bring in your teen for a tour.
The Believer’s Valley Experiences
Psalm 23
Where there are mountains, there must also be valleys—it’s a simple fact of the created world. The same is true in our spiritual life. To reach the place where God is leading us, we must sometimes traverse “the valley of the shadow of death” (Ps. 23:4).
Spiritual mountaintops are wonderful spots to rest awhile. At such times, we feel close to God and sure of His love. But we get to those high places by toiling through the valley, where we discover His character, the truth of His promises, and our own weakness. There are aspects of the Lord that we see only as we journey though shadow.
God is a jealous shepherd—He wants His followers relying entirely upon Him. He draws us through valleys in order to remove every habit, thought pattern, or external crutch that we use instead of trusting Him. In the low places, those suddenly seem inadequate. We discover whether our faith, courage, and wisdom are self-created or from the Lord.
While walking in valleys is an inevitable part of life, believers aren’t left comfortless. Verse 5 is about having needs met, including the desire to be soothed. Here is the image of a tender shepherd rubbing oil onto an animal’s scraped skin. God promises assurance, healing, and safety, even in hardship.
Believers can shout, “I trust God,” from the mountain because they have learned to live by faith in the valley. Walking in the shadow of evil is difficult and frightening work. But when we surrender to whatever the Lord has to teach us in this dark place, our spirit is quieted and our faith is strengthened.
Thank you for this thread, Dubya.
God Bless this soldier, his father and the Iraqi children.
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