I heard the Billy Ray Cyrus song, "All Gave Some, Some Gave All" on the radio the other day. I hadn't heard it in a while. What a song.
Because of two meetings that got dismissed or moved, I had the opportunity and honor to ride with the Patriot Guard to Vernon today for the funeral service of one of our soldiers who was killed in Iraq last week. The Patriot Guard are motorcyclists who travel to the funerals of our fallen soldiers and veterans. The riders hold large American flags at the church and/or cemetary.
The reason for the Patriot Guard is to be a line of support for the family of the fallen soldier. Who are they being shielded from? Americans (well that's debatable) that's who. Demonstrators at funerals, in our country…I just can't get my mind around the mentality of a person….I'll stop, because it won't be pretty. Any way, the Guard position themselves between any protestors and the family - (note: there were no protestors to disturb the funeral service)
It was something to see riding from the church to the cemetery and seeing flags everywhere, people lining the streets in support. There were something like 86 ½ bikes (one sidecar) and probably 100 to 150 flag holders. I had never been to a full military funeral before, it was something else. Of course, there were flags everywhere but also military presentation complete with buglar playing Taps, a Highlander playing the bag pipes, and a 21 gun salute.
There was also a guy, I believe from Abilene, Texas with replica of the Liberty Bell that was hung between two large stone tablets with the Ten Commandments on them (it all filled a large flatbed trailor). He rang the bell, both at the church and the cemetary - I partially heard that that all the rings represented things.
I did forget my sunscreen (left in a hurry) and my face is burnt to a crisp, but it was an honor to honor someone who gave his life for my freedom. May God protect our troops and bring them home safe and soon.
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Wednesday, May 02, 2007
What a Rip!
I have to share this!
Today, after a meeting I returned to my office to find a message on my phone. I punched up and received a message that I, Pastor Stanford (obviously doesn't know me) was being invited to have dinner with a congressman and President Bush. (SHOCK!)
Okay, first I thought it was a joke. After lunch I googled the congressman's name and the "organization" responsible....(More shock) they were all real and acurate.
So, I called the number and someone from the named organization answered. At this point, I was like, dude, I might be having dinner with the President (no way). So she tells me who they are, what it is and then has me listen to this recording from the congressman...okay, a little weird, but I'll bite. They want info from ordinary citizens on taxes and small businesses (I pay lots of taxes, and my business is pretty small). Then, I'm back to the lady on the other end. Now, here's the kicker. She then informs me of their plan to have all "new members" (I was to join this new council, of course) have their name listed on a major national newspaper page, and of course all members were being asked to contribute................ $500.00. Of course I could make two payments of $250.00 over two months (just nice and matter of fact).
Then comes my nice, polite, dignified answer...."What? I don't have that kind of money to donate." She then understandingly comforts me and says, well yes they understand it is a lot with such short notice and that a donation of one or two hundreds dollars.....[chuckle] .... Okay, then I was less dignified... I mean come on, they're wanting true, small businessmen to discuss the struggles of high taxes and such. So I said, "I'm a children's minister in a small Texas church. I pretty well live paycheck to paycheck." I mean, they did call me at my church office, it's not like they hadn't done some checking. And then she was....
"Oh, I'm sorry...CLICK."
What?....???? Yeah, that was it. No donation, then don't even think about this dinner. Oh, and it was in Washington - so I'm sure I'd be flying myself there, taking care of all my lodging. But yeah, any ordinary citizen, who is involved in any kind of small business is going to drop $500.00 for a newpaper add (or to line someone's pocket) then fly off to Washington to eat probably a $100.00 plate meal in maybe the same building as the President.
So as I hung the phone up, I was like what a rip! This is yet another reason I have nothing to do with politics.These people don't live in the real world, and apparently have no clue how real people live, but of course they're going to start some organization to hear what we think, if we can afford to pay them to listen.
You know, I have no favorites in government...none, but I sure hope these folks have little to do with our President, though they are some how connected to some Republican thing. Okay, I guess I feel a little better.
Last note: If you leave me a comment that's great, but if it's some political statement....I'll delete it. You see, that's my freedom. If you want to know who these folks are, just email me. Figured if I posted it, my dog would end up dead or something (wait, I don't have a dog). Maybe my taxes would go up, wait they already have.
Today, after a meeting I returned to my office to find a message on my phone. I punched up and received a message that I, Pastor Stanford (obviously doesn't know me) was being invited to have dinner with a congressman and President Bush. (SHOCK!)
Okay, first I thought it was a joke. After lunch I googled the congressman's name and the "organization" responsible....(More shock) they were all real and acurate.
So, I called the number and someone from the named organization answered. At this point, I was like, dude, I might be having dinner with the President (no way). So she tells me who they are, what it is and then has me listen to this recording from the congressman...okay, a little weird, but I'll bite. They want info from ordinary citizens on taxes and small businesses (I pay lots of taxes, and my business is pretty small). Then, I'm back to the lady on the other end. Now, here's the kicker. She then informs me of their plan to have all "new members" (I was to join this new council, of course) have their name listed on a major national newspaper page, and of course all members were being asked to contribute................ $500.00. Of course I could make two payments of $250.00 over two months (just nice and matter of fact).
Then comes my nice, polite, dignified answer...."What? I don't have that kind of money to donate." She then understandingly comforts me and says, well yes they understand it is a lot with such short notice and that a donation of one or two hundreds dollars.....[chuckle] .... Okay, then I was less dignified... I mean come on, they're wanting true, small businessmen to discuss the struggles of high taxes and such. So I said, "I'm a children's minister in a small Texas church. I pretty well live paycheck to paycheck." I mean, they did call me at my church office, it's not like they hadn't done some checking. And then she was....
"Oh, I'm sorry...CLICK."
What?....???? Yeah, that was it. No donation, then don't even think about this dinner. Oh, and it was in Washington - so I'm sure I'd be flying myself there, taking care of all my lodging. But yeah, any ordinary citizen, who is involved in any kind of small business is going to drop $500.00 for a newpaper add (or to line someone's pocket) then fly off to Washington to eat probably a $100.00 plate meal in maybe the same building as the President.
So as I hung the phone up, I was like what a rip! This is yet another reason I have nothing to do with politics.These people don't live in the real world, and apparently have no clue how real people live, but of course they're going to start some organization to hear what we think, if we can afford to pay them to listen.
You know, I have no favorites in government...none, but I sure hope these folks have little to do with our President, though they are some how connected to some Republican thing. Okay, I guess I feel a little better.
Last note: If you leave me a comment that's great, but if it's some political statement....I'll delete it. You see, that's my freedom. If you want to know who these folks are, just email me. Figured if I posted it, my dog would end up dead or something (wait, I don't have a dog). Maybe my taxes would go up, wait they already have.
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