[The Mayor]

[The Mayor]

Welcome Home David !

[The Mayor]

August 22, 2005

Keep The Goal In View

Read:
1 Timothy 4:1-11

Reject profane and old wives' fables, and exercise yourself toward godliness. —1 Timothy 4:7

Bible In One Year: 1 Chronicles 1-3

Bible scholar William Barclay tells of his walks through the meadow with his bull terrier Rusty. Whenever his dog came to a shallow creek, he jumped in and started removing stones, one by one, dropping them haphazardly on the shore. This pointless activity would go on for hours.

Barclay says that Rusty's strange behavior reminds him of some self-proclaimed experts on the Bible. They expend enormous energy and countless hours trying to interpret obscure passages, but all their effort does nothing to edify themselves or others.

Through the years I have received long letters from people like that. Some show me how to know exactly who the Antichrist will be. Others claim to have found the key to certain Bible mysteries by studying the meaning of names in the lists of genealogies.

Apparently there were some teachers in Ephesus who were trying to impress the believers by weaving myths and fables into their interpretation of the Bible. But what they taught did nothing to promote godliness. It was therefore as pointless as Rusty's stone removal project.

Paul said to Timothy, "Exercise yourself toward godliness." That's the most important goal to keep in view as we study the Bible. —Herb Vander Lugt

Oh, grant us grace, Almighty Lord!
To read and mark Thy holy Word,
Its truths with meekness to receive,
And by its holy precepts live. —Boddome

Don't study the Bible to be able to quote it; study it to obey it.

FOR FURTHER STUDY
Knowing God Through The Whole Bible

[The Mayor]

Below are names of some of our FReepers' loved ones who are serving our country. If you have someone you would like to add, please address a post to Billie; Mama_Bear; Dutchess; Dansangel; Aquamarine, and we will add their name to this list. As we pray for them, we pray also for all our nation’s leaders, and military personnel, and their families and friends. May God hold them close to His heart.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Maigrey...................cousin OhioWfan........................son mystery-ak..........son, husband Gogrammy................grandson Inspectorette...................son Blessed American..........nephew Slip18..........................nephew anniegetyourgun...........nephew Diver Dave.......niece, nephew ConspiracyGuy........2 nephews Pippin..........niece, loved one Pippin...nephew & his fiancee weldgophardline.....brotherinlaw jamaly.................brotherinlaw Future Snake Eater..........cousin WaterDragon.............grandson WaterDragon...........son-in-law BeforeISleep...................son kimmie7......................brother Armymarinemom............3 sons american_ranger.............son LadyX.........................grandson fawn796.......................nephew Dubya............................nephew StarCMC......................brother ValerieUSA..................2 sons Lakeside......................2 sons LakeLady.....................nephew Spruce.....................daughter Philman_36..............2 nephews bjcintennessee.......son, niece Ladysmith..nephew, friend's son tina07......soninlaw & his friend Katydidnt..........................son MontanaCowgirlCop.......brother Warrior Nurse...........active duty SK1 Thurman...........active duty David Osborne.........active duty fc2tomschermuly......active duty bkwells..................active duty LongCut..................active duty cjk..........................active duty Trish.......................active duty ODC-GIRL.................active duty AF_Blue..................active duty Notwithstanding.....active duty thumperusn.............active duty Q6-God.....................active duty Q6-God...................twin brother Veloxherc.................active duty Don Simmons...........active duty wingnutx..................active duty Old Sarge................active duty Bykrbayb.........................son Hope and Glory................son Walkenfree............2 grandsons, 3 nephews, 1 granddaughter ariamne.....................2 cousins Zechariah_8_13..brother-in-law, cousin El Gato.....................nephew MississippyMuddy.............sister MississippyMuddy.....2 nephews Kramster......................stepson veeceeque................active duty freema.............. nephew and son Jemian............................ son Lone Red Ranger...Brother in law

scubachick...............husband ladtx........................2 sons Its_me_K.E.T...................son gator girl.................husband severa.......husband, brother Hostel......................cousin MozartLover......son, nephew LBGA...............................son katykelly......................son cookcounty.....................son SpookBrat...nephew, cousin Doug from Upland...son-in-law Himyar..........................son boxerblues................2 sons the piper.........................son sheeza.......................husband kemathen7.................husband Tiffee4Bob.................boyfriend deadhead......................cousin JimRobinson.........2 nephews TexKat..............son, step-son Consort..2 daughters,son-in-law Darheel.........................niece Donaeus......................nephew dixie sass...................nephew BeAllYouCanBe...................son Repubmommy...............brother AgThorn.........................2 sons homeschoolmama.......nephew kneezles.............................son Rose inRoseBear...cousin's hubby Skimask.......................Son Atomic Conspiracy..half-brother Atomic Conspiracy...nephew Atomic Conspiracy..........niece Sunflowergal..............grandson visualops.......................cousin Alouette..............................son mrstank.......................husband MrsMike31..................husband eaglesiniowa......................son auboy............................cousin spotbust1...................husband Leofl.................................son chena................................son campfollower...................fiance LUV W..............................son painter.........................nephew ProudAFDad......................son TheMayor....friends'son & nephew mhking............................cousin Misty4jc.......................husband Colorado Slim.............. nephew Tapatio......................2 nephews CGblue......................active duty ak_daddoo.........................nephew DirtyHarryY2K............daughter, son-in-law nelibeli......................................nephew bigghurtt...............................Active duty frankiep................................Active duty Palladin...............................grandson Gonzo...............................friend's son jkphoto............................nephew JRios1968..........Active Duty rahbert............................son sneakers……….son

[Temple Owl]

Hi Mayor and all. Have a great Military Monday.

[Lakeside]

Good Military Monday, Mayor, and all the Finest.

A very special "good morning!" to you, LUV W. Give your David a big 'hello' and 'well done!' from all us Finest folk.

We've heard from son Daniel. He's doing great and says that his unit's morale is high.

[JustAmy]

Mayor and Billie ..... thank you for bringing us another Military Monday.

Today is a busy day in and around Fresno.

The ""You Don't Speak for Me, Cindy" Caravan will be stopping in Fresno tonight. We are trying to get the word out in hopes of drawing a large crowd of Troop Supporters.

After the media event in Fresno, several of us will join the caravan for about 20 miles to a rest stop where Fresno Freepers will furnish snacks and drinks.

Tell everyone you know about the Rally in Crawford on the 27th.

[OESY]

Too Good Not To Post: The Military

The average age of the military man is 19 years. He is a short haired, tight-muscled kid who, under normal circumstances is considered by society as half man, half boy. Not yet dry behind the ears, not old enough to buy a beer, but old enough to die for his country. He never really cared much for work and he would rather wax his own car than wash his father's; but he has never collected unemployment either.



He's a recent High School graduate; he was probably an average student,pursued some form of sport activities, drives a ten year old jalopy, and has a steady girlfriend that either broke up with him when he left, or swears to be waiting when he returns from half a world away.

He listens to rock and roll or hip-hop or rap or jazz or swing and 155mm howizzitor.

He is 10 or 15 pounds lighter now than when he was at home because he is working or fighting from before dawn to well after dusk.

He has trouble spelling, thus letter writing is a pain for him, but he can field strip a rifle in 30 seconds and reassemble it in less time in the dark.

He can recite to you the nomenclature of a machine gun or grenade launcher and use either one effectively if he must.

He digs foxholes and latrines and can apply first aid like a professional.

He can march until he is told to stop or stop until he is told to march.



He obeys orders instantly and without hesitation, but he is not without spirit or individual dignity. He is self-sufficient.

He has two sets of fatigues: he washes one and wears the other. He keeps his canteens full and his feet dry. He sometimes forgets to brush his teeth, but never to clean his rifle.

He can cook his own meals, mend his own clothes, and fix his own hurts.

If you're thirsty, he'll share his water with you; if you are hungry, his food. He'll even split his ammunition with you in the midst of battle when you run low.

He has learned to use his hands like weapons and weapons like they were his hands. He can save your life - or take it, because that is his job.

He will often do twice the work of a civilian, draw half the pay and still find ironic humor in it all.

He has seen more suffering and death then he should have in his short lifetime.




He has stood atop mountains of dead bodies, and helped to create them. He has wept in public and in private, for friends who have fallen in combat and is unashamed.

He feels every note of the National Anthem vibrate through his body while at rigid attention, while tempering the burning desire to 'square-away' those around him who haven't bothered to stand, remove their hat, or even stop talking.

In an odd twist, day in and day out, far from home, he defends their right to be disrespectful.

Just as did his Father, Grandfather, and Great-grandfather, he is paying the price for our freedom. Beardless or not, he is not a boy.

He is the American Fighting Man that has kept this country free for over 200 years.




He has asked nothing in return, except our friendship and understanding.

Remember him, always, for he has earned our respect and admiration with his blood.

And now we even have woman over there in danger, doing their part in this tradition of going to War when our nation calls us to do so.

As you go to bed tonight, remember this shot.

A short lull, a little shade and a picture of loved ones in their helmets.




NOTE from John Schroeder, La Crescenta, California: This came to me from a soldier friend recent returned from Iraq. It is too good not to pass on. -- blogotional.blogspot.com/2005/08/too-good-not-to-post.html

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

050819-N-6932B-072 Pacific Ocean (Aug. 19, 2005) - The Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Preble (DDG 88) fires her MK 45 5-inch/62 caliber lightweight gun during a Pre-aim Calibration Fire (PACFIRE) in the Pacific Ocean. The PACFIRE is part of an upcoming training exercise where Preble and several other U.S. Navy assets will sink the decommissioned destroyers USS Oldendorf (DD 972) and USS Fife (DD 991). U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 1st Class Richard J. Brunson (RELEASED)

050820-N-6727S-505 Chicago (Aug. 20, 2005) - An F/A-18F Super Hornet, assigned to the "Gladiators" of Strike Fighter Squadron One Zero Six (VFA-106), conducts a high-speed pass over North Avenue Beach during the Chicago Air and Water Show. VFA-106 is the East Coast Fleet Replacement Squadron for all models of the F/A-18 Hornet aircraft and is stationed at Naval Air Station Oceana, Va. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 1st Class Steve Schmidt (RELEASED)

050818-N-8154G-001 Caribbean Sea (Aug. 18, 2005) - Fire protrudes from the barrels of a Close In Weapon System (CIWS) during a test fire aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5) in the Caribbean Sea. CIWS is the self-defense system that combines a 20mm gatling gun with search and tracking radar to provide surface ships with terminal defense against anti-ship missiles. Bataan is underway for exercises in the Southern Command Area of Responsibility. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate Airman Jeremy L. Grisham (RELEASED)

[GodBlessUSA]

Having these pictures is incredible! You did a fantastic job putting them all together to present. Thank You, The Mayor!

[Billie]

Good morning! LUV, how wonderful and how excited you must be that your son is on his way home!!!! YIPPEEEE!!!

Tuesday Thread: What's in a Name?