December 25, 2012

Happy Birthday JESUS!



You are in for a treat if you have never heard this version of "Silent Night" as the voices of Leigh Nash & Dan Haseltine sound amazing together!

"This is how the birth of JESUS CHRIST came about: HIS mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the HOLY SPIRIT." — MATTHEW 1:18

"Christmas is built upon a beautiful & intentional paradox; that the birth of the homeless should be celebrated in every home." — G.K. Chesterton

 "As I read the birth stories about JESUS I cannot help but conclude that though the world may be tilted toward the rich & powerful, GOD is tilted toward the underdog." ― Philip Yancey

"How many observe CHRIST's birthday! How few, HIS precepts!" — Benjamin Franklin

Do you think that Mary knew the awesomeness of what her son JESUS would do not only for her, but for all of us?

"If anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward." — MATTHEW 10:42

"Unless we make Christmas an occasion to share our blessings, all the snow in Alaska won't make it 'white'." ― Bing Crosby

"My idea of Christmas, whether old-fashioned or modern, is very simple: loving others. Come to think of it, why do we have to wait for Christmas to do that?" ― Bob Hope

"He who has not Christmas in his heart will never find it under a tree." ― Roy L. Smith

"Christmas is not as much about opening our presents as opening our hearts." ― Janice Maeditere

"She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name JESUS, because HE will save his people from their sins." ― MATTHEW 1:21

"If you confess with your mouth, “JESUS is LORD,” & believe in your heart that GOD raised HIM from the dead, you will be saved." ― ROMANS 10:9

"Christmas can be celebrated in the school room with pine trees, tinsel & reindeers, but there must be no mention of the man whose birthday is being celebrated. One wonders how a teacher would answer if a student asked why it was called Christmas." ― Ronald Reagan

The "Preacher’s Wife" is a modern take on "The Bishop’s Wife" & the song "I Love the LORD!" by Whitney Houston begins at 0:30 & takes it up a notch at 1:45.

Even if you don't like church or haven't been to church, this amazing rendition will either disgust you or the joy of the presence of the LORD may get you on your feet to dance as David danced!

"Joy to the World" is a classic song that seems to always sound the same.

Until now!

Enjoy Dominic Balli's acoustic version with some additional lyrics after the familiar lines we have heard so often.

May we always be filled with Faith, Hope, Joy, Love, & Peace!

"Great is our LORD & mighty in power; HIS understanding has no limit." ― PSALM 147:5

"Truth is like the sun. You can shut it out for a time, but it ain't going away." — Elvis Presley

"All truths are easy to understand once they are discovered; the point is to discover them." — Galileo 


October 1, 2012

When the Music Stopped ...



When the Music Stopped...

(For those who are unaware: At all military base theaters, the National Anthem is played before the movie begins.)
 
This is written from a Chaplain in Iraq : 

I recently attended a showing of 'Superman 3' here at LSA Anaconda. We have a large auditorium we use for movies, as well as memorial services and other large gatherings. As is the custom at all military bases, we stood to attention when the National Anthem began before the main feature. All was going well until three-quarters of the way through The National Anthem, the music stopped.
  
Now, what would happen if this occurred with 1,000 18-22 year-olds back in the States? I imagine there would be hoots, catcalls, laughter, a few rude comments, and everyone would sit down and yell for the movie to begin. Of course, that is, if they had stood for the National Anthem in the first place.

Here in
Iraq, 1,000 Soldiers continued to stand at attention, eyes fixed forward. The music started again and the Soldiers continued to quietly stand at attention. But again, at the same point, the music stopped.

What would you expect 1000 Soldiers standing at attention to do?? Frankly, I expected some laughter, and everyone would eventually sit down and wait for the movie to start.

But No!!... You could have heard a pin  drop, while every Soldier continued to stand at attention.


Suddenly, there was a lone voice from the front of the auditorium, then a dozen voices, and soon the room was filled with the voices of a thousand soldiers, finishing where the recording left off:
 
"And the rockets' red glare,
    the bombs bursting in air,
    gave proof through the night
    that our flag was still there.
   Oh, say does that Star Spangled Banner yet wave,
   o'er the land of the free,
   and the home of the brave."

It was the most inspiring moment I have had in Iraq and I wanted you to know what kind of soldiers are serving you.

Remember them as they fight for us!

Pass this along as a reminder to others to be ever in prayer  for all our soldiers serving us  here at home and abroad.  Many have already paid the ultimate price.
 

Written by Chaplain Jim Higgins. 
LSA Anaconda is at the Ballad Airport in Iraq, north of Baghdad.

God Bless America and all of our troops serving throughout  the world.

Share this blog!

July 4, 2012

Fly like an eagle!

"They that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles, they shall run & not be weary, & they shall walk & not faint." ― ISAIAH 40:31


"Lone eagles, soaring in the clouds, fly with silent, peaceful poise." ― William Arthur Ward


"A lot of people have heard about the bald eagle, but you don't really appreciate the majestic nature of a bald eagle until you actually get to view one." ― Scott Root


"The eagle is the only bird GOD created with the ability to lock its wings in a fixed position which enables it to be at rest as it soars high above the storm clouds." ― Dr. Myles Munroe


"Eagles: When they walk, they stumble. They are not what one would call graceful. They were not designed to walk. They fly. And when they fly, oh, how they fly, so free, so graceful. They see from the sky what we never see." ― Dr. Thomas C. Lee


"When eagles are weak & depleted, they go to a place where they can be alone, & lie out in the sun, face up, spread-eagled, totally collapsed. GOD has actually outfitted the eagle with eyes that can look at the sun without any damage, & that's what the powerless eagle does. It focuses its eyes on the sun & lies there until its strength comes back. The eagle crashes, but it knows how to come back to soar again!" ― Ron Hutchcraft


"Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of GOD." — 1 PETER 2:16

"Vivan como gente libre, pero no usen su libertad como excusa para hacer el mal. Vivan como siervos de DIOS." — 1 PEDRO 2:16 

Share this blog! 

May 28, 2012

Memorial Day!


My words just can't express all that Memorial Day means, so please enjoy a poem that I didn't write along with my special salute to all soldiers past, present, & those who will serve in the future!


"It is the Soldier" by Dennis Edward O'Brien 

It is the Soldier,
not the reporter,
who has given us freedom of press.

It is the Soldier,
not the poet,
who has given us freedom of speech.

It is the Soldier,
not the campus organizer,
who gives us freedom to demonstrate.

It is the Soldier who salutes the flag,
who serves beneath the flag,
and whose coffin is draped by the flag,
who allows the protester to burn the flag. 


WOW!

Thank you Dennis Edward O'Brien!

After that, all I can say is that if a picture is worth a thousand words, then enjoy my Fifty Thousand word photo essay!

FYI: As you scroll through my
50,000 word photo essay which = a grand total of 50 photos, click on this link for "Brothers In Arms" by Dire Straits & enjoy their original video or better yet come back to this page while listening to the song to see the 50 photos I have chosen to honor all soldiers!


  

 
 
 


 








































 Share this blog!