I'm Back

Howdy everyone! It has been almost a week since my last post. Time flies by super fast these days. Sunday was my 56th birthday! Fifty-six marvelous years. Wow. It doesn't seem possible. However, as my balding head attests, time has gone by.

One of the nice things about baldness is that once it has happened you don't have to worry about it. (Not that I ever worried about baldness before.) It is one of the mysteries of life. Some gene somewhere deep in the storage vault of DNA tells your head to start shedding about age 35. The next thing you know you figure that God must like shiny heads because He made so many of them. Today it is all the rage as men with a full head of hair actually try to shave below the skin barrier to get what I have been given naturally. Ain't God grand?


There is more rain in the forecast for later this week. This is a good thing. We need more fresh water so we can fill our swimming pools and hot tubs with a clear conscience.


Aragorn stands alone facing the oncoming horde of Orcs. What does he do? He runs toward them to engage them in battle. One against the horde. This scene is what makes the LOTR: The Fellowship of the Ring so special to me. At this moment you knew that Aragorn had what it takes to live a noble life. He was willing to live (and die if necessary) for a cause that was greater than himself.

The amazing thing about this scene is that it is played out in every generation. Men and women in every era have faced the same situation and responded as Aargon did. In the battle of Leyte Gulf between the US Navy and Japanese Navy in WWII this scene played out before us. The Japanese Navy fleet surprised a strike force of light cruisers in Leyte Gulf. The Japanese fleet was vastly superior in numbers of ships and firepower. Surprised to realize the Japanese fleet was upon them, Lieutenant Commander Robert Copeland addressed the crew of the destroyer escort USS Samuel B. Roberts with these words,

"This will be a fight against overwhelming odds

from which survival cannot be expected.

We will do what damage we can."

And with these words he ordered his ship to head directly toward the Japanese fleet to possibly buy time for the rest of the strike force to prepare for battle. We know what happened because against all odds, they not only survived the battle, they WON the battle.

Lord, fill us with courage to fight and not run, no matter the odds facing us.

Incidentally, FYI: The battle of Leyte Gulf was the last naval battle ever fought with battleships and destroyers. Ever since this battle took place submarines and aircraft carriers dominate naval combat operations. Now you know!


Blessings