A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....02-06-03...A Pit Stop by John Huang

JohnHuang2, Billie, Dutchess | JohnHuang2

[jwfiv]

At the end of a long day, just before turning in, I get to read JH2's most excellent portrait of my hero and unofficially adopted dear ol' Uncle Dubya, our Servant and Commander...puts a glow into my heart as I head off to dreamland.

Thank you all...)

[Diver Dave]

Indeed, almost from the moment George W. Bush set foot in the White House, his leadership has been tested. And, on each occasion, with grace and eloquence, wisdom and style, he's more than met the challenge head on.

Quite a contrast to the previous 8 years. No Travelgate, no filegate, no whitewater, no pizza delivering interns - you get the picture. Just straight forward honest leadership.

Excellent commentary JH2. Keep up the good work.

Atta Girl, Dutchess. Now go to bed. It's late.

[dutchess]

Another fine day at the finest...please join us for coffee, tea and tasty treats as we enjoy another fine essay from our finest resident author John Huang...and the beautiful graphics, pictures thanks to MeekinMing and layout...Billie saved my hide today....

[dutchess]

Dang...you guys did it to me again!!! I'm going through the rest of my checklist.... I was tied up until late today and Billie saved my butt..I got the pictures for her...last night (thank you meekie)but didn't she do a great job....A powerful presentation. Love you guys! Night...

[dutchess]

Below are names of some of our FReepers' loved ones who are serving our country. (Thank you, Kayak and LadyX for this list)

If you have someone you would like to add, please let us know, and we would love to 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.

OhioWfan .... son Eric
mystery-ak ..... son Jonathan and husband
Gogrammy ..... grandson
Inspectorette ..... son Eric
LBGA ..... son is deployed
Slip18 ..... nephew is aboard ship - active duty USN
anniegetyourgun ..... nephew Josh
Himyar ..... son Robert
Doug from Upland ....son in law
severa .... husband
G'nad .... active duty Marine
LongCut .... active duty Navy
Trish .... active duty Marine
Maigrey ... cousin Sgt.C. Cole
ladtx .... 2 of his sons
Mama_Bear .... nephew
gator girl .... husband
Blessed American .... nephew
Pippin ... a niece and a nephew
SK1 Thurman .... active duty
David Osborne .... active duty


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Almighty God, we commend to your gracious care and keeping all the men and women of our armed forces at home and abroad. Defend them day by day with your heavenly grace; strengthen them in their trials and temptations; give them courage to face the perils which beset them; and grant them a sense of your abiding presence wherever they may be; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

[dutchess]

John...your words are like music....it is a pleasure to help do your essay...and while I visualized what I wanted and got the pictures...billie was the one who pulled it together today.... You guys are like words and music (ever see the movie "eddie and the cruisers?"

[kayak]

Passionate yes, yet a master of his passion

With that phrase, John, you may have caught the very essence of this man we are blessed to have as our President during these troubled times.

Years ago, while studying the words of William Barclay in preparation to teach a Sunday school lesson on the Beatitudes, I learned something I have never forgotten ...... the word meek is probably one of the most misunderstood and mis-used words in the English language. I could not find Barclay's comments on the internet but I found some writings by Pastor Scott L. Harris Of Grace Bible College in Wappingers Falls, New York that refer to both Barclay and others. Here are some quotes from his message:

"Contrary to common thought, the truly meek person is anything but weak. In fact it takes great strength to be a meek person."

"This quality of meekness is dependent upon being "poor in spirit," for until a person realizes they are inadequate themselves and must rely upon God, they cannot be meek for the fundamental quality of meekness is its dependance upon God. In addition meekness also builds upon the idea of mourning over sin because it demands that we respond correctly to others regardless of what they say or do to us. If we already mourn over our own sin, it is easier to accept the correction of someone else who may point out our sin. If we already mourn over the sin of others and the general effects of sin in the world, we can respond with godliness rather than self defense or self pity when someone does something to us unjustly. Meekness demands seeing things from God's perspective and then responding from that and not our own selfishness."

"The Greek philosopher Aristotle used the word to describe one of the "virtues of life." Aristotle said it was the man "who is angry on the right occasion and with the right people at the right moment and for the right length of time." It was the "mean between excessive anger and the inability to show anger." William Barclay described this beatitude in light of Aristotle's usage of the term as, "Blessed is the man who is always angry at the right time and never angry at the wrong time" . . . "neither too hasty nor too slow tempered." Barclay went on to say that the wrong time was when it was due to personal insult or injury to ourselves. The right time was the selfless anger emerging over someone else being injured."

"The Christian knows that he/she is nothing and can do nothing apart from Christ, therefore the believer must trust Christ completely and be obedient to His directions for life. Every instinct and every passion is to be brought under the control of the Holy Spirit. The Christian is to trust in the Lord, Delight in the Lord, Commit their way to the Lord and rest in the Lord. Barclay comments that the blessed man is "not the man who is self-controlled, for such self-control is not in man's power as all experience shows, but the man who is God-controlled.

"Meekness then is dependent upon being controlled by God. It is marked by a subservient and trusting attitude toward God."

Your phrase sums up the quality of meekness, John, and I think it describes and explains much about our President.

/sermon

You may now return to your regularly scheduled thread ...... :-)

[JohnHuang2]

Beautiful job with the graphics -- second to none! Morning, my friend =^)

[JohnHuang2]

Thanks, friend -- and G'nite, sleep well.

[JohnHuang2]

Thanks, friend

Quite a contrast to the previous 8 years. No Travelgate, no filegate, no whitewater, no pizza delivering interns - you get the picture. Just straight forward honest leadership.

Amen.

[JohnHuang2]

John...your words are like music....

Aw, shucks -- cut it out! hehe ;^)

[JohnHuang2]

/sermon

I like your sermon! Very interesting take on the meaning of 'meekness'. Thanks again, my friend =^)

[JudyB1938]

I love you, JohnHuang2. FReeRepublic would have a hole in its heart if you weren't here.

God bless and keep you.

Your friend,
Judy

[JohnHuang2]

Why, that's such a very nice thing to say, friend. Thank you, humbly =^)

[JudyB1938]

What's that face mean? I always thought it was a guy sticking his tongue out. Somehow, I don't think you're doing that to me. LOL

[JohnHuang2]

I always thought it was a guy sticking his tongue out.

No way! lol It's just a funny way to 'do' the eyes ;^)

Maybe I should do it this way --> 8^) ? hehe

[JudyB1938]

You brat! LOL

[JohnHuang2]

hehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehe

[DooDahhhh]

Judy B you are right on here with your analysis!