DVD Review: Little Town of Bethlehem
November 17, 2010 at 3:25 pm | Posted in cross-cultural | Leave a commentTags: Ethnographic Media, Little Town of Bethlehem DVD review, Middle East Peace
Bethlehem, today, as seen through the eyes and life of three men, a Jew, a Palestinian Christian and a Palestinian Muslim is the premise for this DVD. It follows some events from their lives and how they each got to the point of being involved in non-violent protest of the Israeli occupation of Palestine. At times the story moves along very slowly. But it is worth watching.
The documentary uses a mixture of black and white film and color film to tell its story. The use of historical film clips alone is worth the time to watch this movie. There is some good history presented here. The present day clips attempt to show what life is currently like in the Middle East. Almost every American that views this would have no idea of what life is like in a war zone. Watching this aspect of the film is a good learning experience.
The three men are the main characters and the movie moves through different parts of their lives. It is interesting to watch the dramatic reenactments of what they have gone through. When viewed as current events and history it is interesting. Each of the men has some kind of personal struggle and difficulty they have to work through.
One of the difficulties for me was how slow the story progressed at times. I also did not care for the way the closing song was performed. There did not seem to be much of a solution for the problem in the Middle East presented either. But my personal view is there will be no peace in the Middle East until the Prince of Peace, Jesus, returns to establish His Kingdom. Putting all of that aside it was an interesting documentary.
Through the use of film, pictures and words it showed what daily life may be like in the Middle East. That alone should motivate us to pray for the peace of Jerusalem. The documentary is produced by EthnoGraphic Media. I received this DVD for free to review and offer objective feedback.
GRACE and peace to you,
Bill
(Romans 15:13; Micah 7:14-20)
Diligence in the Smallest Service
November 16, 2010 at 10:25 am | Posted in William Gurnall | Leave a commentTags: Colossians 3:23-24, Diligence in the Smallest Service, Joshua 1:5-6, Matthew 28:19-20, William Gurnall
Wisdom from William Gurnall
God sets some men on the high places of the earth and appoints them to exciting challenges. But He orders others to pitch their tents on lower ground and not be ashamed of their assignment, no matter how inferior it seems. Now to encourage every Christian to be faithful in his particular place, God has made promises which apply to them all. And His promises are like the beams of the sun: they shine as freely though the window of the poor man’s cottage as through the prince’s palace.
God’s promises strengthen our hands and hearts against the discouragement that is most likely to weaken us in His service. They support and guard us against the furious opposition of an angry world: “I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. Be strong and of a good courage” (Joshua 1:5-6). This was a promise God gave to Israel’s chief magistrate. And the minister’s promise agrees with it, having generally the same trials, enemies, and discouragements: “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations…… and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world” (Matthew 28:19-20).
The temptation which usually troubles those in lower callings is envy to see themselves on the floor and their brothers elevated to higher service. Sometimes these temptations produce dejection when the believers feel like eunuchs who bring no glory to God, dry trees which are unprofitable in His kingdom.
To arm the Christian against discontent and discouragement, God promises as a great a reward for faithfulness in the most menial service as He gives in more honorable service. Is anything more degrading than the role of a slave? Yet nothing less than heaven itself is promised to the faithful servant: “Whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ” (Colossians 3:23-24). – Taken from The Christian in Complete Armour, November 16. Edited by James S. Bell, Jr. Moody Publishers Edition, 1994.
A Warrior’s Prayer
November 11, 2010 at 8:22 am | Posted in Veterans, warriors | Leave a commentTags: J.D. Wetterling, Lacy Veach, pray for veterans, The Warrior's Prayer, Veterans Day
In honor of Veterans Day I wanted to re-post one of my earlier articles. It has been one of my most read posts and the prayer still gets viewed. *Remember to tell a Veteran “thank you for serving our country” today. You and I have the freedoms we do because those Veterans served before or are serving today and tomorrow. My wife and I offer our thanks to you Vets and appreciate your service and sacrifice. God bless you.
Much GRACE and peace to you,
Bill
Romans 15:13
Pray for Veterans, part 5
May 28, 2010
This Friday prayer reminder I thought I would let a veteran speak to us. Even though Lacy has gone on to be with the Lord his words still speak strongly. I found this on this story and prayer back in April and I hope I have give proper credit to www.jdwetterling.com because I found this on his site. Remember to thank a veteran this weekend for their sacrificial service to our country. Remember to pray for a veteran and his family too. Take time to go watch a Memorial Day parade out of respect to the veterans who have died in service to their country.
You can go back and read any of the four previous Pray for Veterans posts for an idea of how to pray. I hope you and your family and friends have a good Memorial Day weekend. I also hope the words of this testimony and prayer bless you and encourage you like they did for me.
Much GRACE and peace to you,
Bill (a fellow-laborer)
Romans 15:13; Psalm 138:1-3
Lacy Veach was my friend and roommate in a tiny trailer on skids parked among lots of trailers on the beach of the South China Sea at Tuy Hoa Airbase, South Vietnam, in 1968-69. He died October 3, 1995, when cancer attacked his brilliant mind. Lacy did it all in his short life. He was a USAF Academy graduate, F-100 pilot, Misty FAC (the bravest of the brave), F-105 Wild Weasel pilot (just brave), solo pilot with the USAF Thunderbirds, astronaut, husband, father and born again child of God. I flew top cover for his rescue when he was shot down over the Ho Chi Minh trail in Laos. On October 22, 1992 I watched him blast into space aboard the Columbia (STS 52) on a clear Florida day from my backyard in Tampa. His voice coming over my TV as he rode that rocket into the wild blue was a couple octaves lower than it was the day he hung from his parachute atop a tall tree in Laos, calling for help. If Lacy knew the Lord back then he kept it a secret from me (he probably thought the same about my faith), but his dying prayer below removes all doubt in my mind. Every fighter pilot considers himself the world’s greatest fighter pilot, but I’ll confess now, 35 years later, that Lacy was a better “stick” than I. A few weeks before he succumbed to cancer he wrote the following prayer with the help of Kathleen Golgin Ph.D. At his request, his space shuttle commander and good friend, Astronaut Mike Coats, read it at his funeral. His ashes were dropped from a plane over home state of Hawaii.
My friend for eternity, Lacy Veach, speaks for me from heaven this Veterans Day, 2004.
May God continue to have mercy on America.
JD Wetterling
The Warrior’s Prayer
Lord, I am a warrior…
My education began early in life. I studied the ancient civilizations and learned of modern politics. Mankind’s history, I discovered, swelled and ebbed with the seemingly perpetual tides of war. Military campaigns and strategies, past and present, were made familiar to me, as were expert soldiers who fought for justice and those who did not.
From the passionately fierce and ruthless Attila, who assailed and subdued the Roman Empire, I remembered a shameless declaration which, nevertheless captured his fighting spirit’s uncompromising singularity of purpose:
“Nothing brings greater joy to my heart,” Attila cried, “than to murder my enemies and pillage his flocks and fields.”
Here for all time was the clear and unromanticized reality of war.
From Scottish warrior Robert Bruce, who freed Scotland from English rule, emerged, for me, one of the justifications for taking up arms. Declared Bruce:
“We fight not for honor, nor glory, nor for wealth. But only and alone we fight for freedom, which no good man surrenders but with his life.”
To fight in the defense of freedom, in the defense of justice, in defense of eternal principals of morality transcendentally ordained. To fight against oppression and wickedness. To fight what Milton would call, “The Adversary of God and Man.” For these reasons I am a warrior, Lord.
It was to establish justice and forge freedom that I was once locked in a battle to survive, to survive in a sky thundering with gunfire and clouded by the smoke of exploding rockets. Lord, in those moments, I knew what it was to implore Your protection….to be shielded by Your mercy.
I am an old warrior now, Lord, and, as the saying goes, perhaps “a wiser one.” And, I now know of a war waged between Time and Eternity. A war, which if lost makes empty the victory of all others. A war which, if finally fought and won, would make all other wars unnecessary, indeed, impossible.
In this siege I need no spears or scimitars, no ballistics or gunners.
I NEED ONLY THE LIGHT OF YOUR LOVE
I NEED ONLY THE SPLENDOR OF YOUR WISDOM
IN NEED ONLY THE GUIDANCE OF YOUR WORD
In this war, the strategy is as simple as it is profound. For this is a Crusade of the Soul. And in this Crusade, the battle cry is clear:
“Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all Thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it; Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. Upon these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”
Let my warrior’s life begin with end. Lord, I pray when You crack the sky, that You will find me….find me faithful.
I AM A WARRIOR, LORD.
NO….I AM YOUR WARRIOR, LORD.
Lacy Veach
Excerpted from MISTY, edited by Maj. Gen. Don Shepperd, USAF (Ret.)
I got this information from www.jdwetterling.com
Read his article: Still the Noblest Calling
Coffee Review: Kicking Horse Coffee’s Three Sisters Blend
November 10, 2010 at 12:07 pm | Posted in Coffee Reviews | Leave a commentTags: Chemex coffee maker, Clever Coffee Dripper, coffee review, French Press, Kicking Horse Coffee, Three Sisters Blend
We have been doing some traveling and have been able to try some pretty good coffee and visit some good coffee shops. Trying new coffee and visiting new shops doesn’t get old for us. We were looking forward to trying this Three Sisters Blend from Kicking Horse Coffee (www.kickinghorsecoffee.com). It is our first coffee from a Canadian roaster and hopefully not our last. No, we didn’t make it out to British Columbia but we would like to visit there. Especially during hockey season.
Three Sisters Blend is described as a triple punch of light, medium and dark flavors. They use a medley of Indonesian, Central and South American beans to make up the blend. It is a fair trade, shade grown organic coffee. It comes in a can made of recycled steel. If you live near Kicking Horse you can get the can refilled. They offer a lot of other good sounding coffees and teas.
We started with our trusty old auto-drip and there is a sweet, somewhat acidic aroma. I thought it was interesting. There is a spicy taste, almost like pepper to me that hits the front and sides of the tongue. This coffee made me think and I was looking forward to the other brewers.
The Chemex coffee maker cleaned up the taste and brought out more of a chocolate undertone. It also toned down or smoothed out the tartness. The coffee seemed less spicy and it tasted better as it cooled. We have started making some extra coffee and letting it cool to taste the flavor profile.
The French Press brought out more of the roast flavor and a good aftertaste. That spicy flavor is there, but not so much pepper. It is an interesting taste in this coffee. It had a heavier feel in the mouth but we still think it has a medium body.
I tried it a couple of times in the Clever Coffee Dripper and enjoyed each cup. Kim thought it went well with chocolate, cherries and dates and was o.k. with vanilla, cinnamon and almonds. She didn’t like it paired with lemon because it made it too tart. Overall we and our friends liked this Three Sisters Blend. If you are adventurous want to try an intriguing coffee from a Canadian roaster we encourage you to give this one a try. We received this coffee for free and offer objective feedback. Until next time remember to stop and enjoy the coffee and conversations.
Much GRACE and peace to you,
Bill and Kim
Romans 15:13; Psalm 34:1-10
Happy 235th Birthday to the Marines
November 10, 2010 at 6:14 am | Posted in Veterans | Leave a commentTags: Marines, Marines' Birthday, Psalm 144:1-2, Psalm 18, Romans 15:13, USMC, Veterans
If you would like to learn more about the Marines the following sites will help you.
Thank you to all the Marines for serving our country. Your service and sacrifice are greatly appreciated. God bless you and your families.
Much GRACE and peace to you,
Bill
Romans 15:13; Psalm 18:1-50, 144:1-2
God Seals Christ’s Atonement For Sin
November 9, 2010 at 11:52 am | Posted in William Gurnall | Leave a commentTags: atonement, Romans 3:25, Romans 3:26, The Christian in Complete Armour, William Gurnall
Wisdom from William Gurnall
Christ is the One “whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood” (Romans 3:25). He is the One the Father has sealed and singled out from all others and set forth as the Person chosen to make atonement for sinners, as the lamb was taken out of the flock and set apart for the Passover.
Therefore when Satan lines up the believer’s sins against him and confronts him with their severity, faith runs under the shelter of this Rock. “Surely,” says faith, “my Savior is infinitely greater than my greatest sins. I would be rejecting the wisdom of God’s choice to doubt.” God knew what a heavy burden He had to lay upon Christ’s shoulders but He was fully persuaded of His Son’s strength to carry it. A weak faith may save but a weak Savior cannot. Faith has Christ to plead for it but Christ had none to plead for Him. Faith leans on Christ’s arm, but Christ stood alone. If the burden of our sins had prevailed against Him, no one in heaven or on earth could have helped Him stand.
God’s mercy declares his righteousness. Everyone believes God is merciful to forgive; but it is harder to believe how He can be righteous in forgiving sinners. “To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus” (Romans 3:26). God was saying, “I know why it seems so incredible that I should pardon all your iniquities. You think because I am a righteous God that I would rather damn a thousand worlds of sinners than bring My name under the least suspicion of unrighteousness. I would indeed damn them over and over again, rather than stain the honor of My justice – which is Myself. But I command you and the greatest sinners on earth to believe it: I can be just and yet the justifier of those sinners who believe in Jesus.”– taken from The Christian in Complete Armour, November 7; edited by James S. Bell, Jr. Moody Publishers Edition, 1994.
Just a Great Commercial
November 8, 2010 at 10:32 am | Posted in men, Veterans | Leave a commentTags: Drill Sergeant, Geico commercial, therapist
My oldest son first told me about this commercial. He saw it before I did and he liked it and thought I would like it also. The question is; “Does a former drill sergeant make a terrible therapist?” The answer is; “Heck no!” We enjoy watching it when we see it. I am posting a link to it this week in honor of the Marines 235th birthday and Veterans Day. I hope you enjoy the commercial: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JhlWddAXSRA.
Bill (a fellow laborer)
Romans 15:13
The Marines’ Hymn
November 7, 2010 at 8:44 am | Posted in hymns | Leave a commentTags: Marine Band, Marines' Birthday, Marines' Hymn, USMC Band, Veterans Day
The Marines’ Hymn
In 1929 the Commandant of the Marine Corps authorized the following verses of The Marines’ Hymn as the official version:
“From the Halls of Montezuma
To the shores of Tripoli;
We fight our country’s battles
On the land as on the sea;*
First to fight for right and freedom
And to keep our honor clean;
We are proud to claim the title
Of United States Marine.
Our flag’s unfurled to every breeze
From dawn to setting sun;
We have fought in ev’ry clime and place
Where we could take a gun;
In the snow of far-off Northern lands
And in sunny tropic scenes;
You will find us always on the job
The United States Marines
Here’s health to you and to our Corps
Which we are proud to serve;
In many a strife we’ve fought for life
And never lost our nerve;
If the Army and the Navy
Ever look on Heaven’s scenes;
They will find the streets are guarded
By United States Marines.”
*Nov. 21, 1942, the Commandant of the Marine Corps approved a change in the words of the fourth line of the first verse to read, “In air, on land, and sea.”
– Taken from www.marineband.usmc.mil “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band. You can listen to the hymn at this site by the following tabs: Learning Tools > Library And Archives > Resources And References : The Marines’ Hymn
The Marine’s 235th birthday is this coming Wednesday November 10, 2010. I want to personally thank every Marine past, present and future for serving their country. I appreciate your service and sacrifice. God bless all of you and your families.
Much GRACE and peace to you,
Bill
Romans 15:13
Atheism and the Fallen Nature
November 2, 2010 at 9:26 am | Posted in William Gurnall | Leave a commentTags: Atheism and the Fallen Nature, Matthew 4:4, William Gurnall
Atheism and the Fallen Nature
Wisdom from William Gurnall
Our human nature is so blind that we have deformed thoughts of God until with the eye of faith we see His face in the mirror of the Word. With the exception of Jesus, all men are atheist by nature because at the same time as they acknowledge a God they deny His power, presence, and justice. They allow Him to be only what pleases them: “Thou thoughtest that I was altogether such an one as thyself” (Psalm 50:21).
Even if reason could demonstrate all that God is, it would be dangerous to dispute it with Satan. He has sharper reasoning than you. There is more difference between you and Satan than between the weakest idiot and the greatest theologian in the world. But in the Word there is a strong divine authority that builds a throne even in the conscience of the devil himself.
Although Christ was able to baffle the devil by reason, He chose to overthrow him in the way that we ourselves must use in skirmishes with Satan. He repelled him simply by lifting up the shield of the Word: “It is written,” said Christ (Matthew 4:4, 7, 10). It is undeniable that Christ’s quoted word had power to stun Satan; the shrewd enemy had no reply to Scripture but was stilled at the very mention of the Word.
If only Eve had stood by her first answer – “God hath said” (Genesis 3:3) – she too could have silenced Satan. Thus the Christian must stand in the heat of temptation and place God’s own Word between himself and Satan’s blows: “I believe that God is, though I cannot understand His nature; I believe the Word.” When this happens, Satan may trouble him but he cannot hurt him – and he probably cannot even bother him for very long. The devil hates the Word so much that he does not want to hear it. But if you throw down the shield of the Word and try to cut through the temptation by the force of reason, you may soon be surrounded by your subtle enemy. – Taken from The Christian in Complete Armour, November 2; edited by James S. Bell, Jr. Moody Publishers Edition, 1994.
Coffee Review: Cafe Volio Costa Rican
November 1, 2010 at 3:59 pm | Posted in Coffee Reviews | Leave a commentTags: Cafe Volio, Chemex coffee maker, Cleveland, Costa Rican coffee, French Press, light roast, West Side Market
While on vacation recently Kim and I went to the West Side Market in Cleveland Ohio. We had a very good time. If you like farmers markets you would love this place. There are a lot of vendors and a lot of good food to try. Even if you are not familiar with Cleveland or urban driving the market is easy to get to. It is well worth a side trip.
One of the vendors we found tucked in among the produce was Volio Coffee (www.cafevolio.com). This spot is a hidden gem and is the only coffee among the produce vendors. They only roast and sell Costa Rican coffee. You can purchase whole bean or ground. While you talk with their representative you can enjoy a free cup of fresh made coffee too! We will be brewing and reviewing that style of coffee later, but let me tell you it was………
When we got home Kim wanted to try their light roast coffee first. It is 100% Costa Rican Arabica Coffee. The aroma coming from the auto-drip was good. It spread throughout the kitchen and nearby rooms. The coffee had a bright, tart, citrus like taste. It was a little acidic but smooth with a light body. This coffee gets your attention in a good way.
Next up was the Chemex coffee maker and here the tartness was evened out. The citrus undertones are more pronounced and we thought it could almost make you pucker. The aftertaste lingers toward the back of the roof of the mouth. I made a little extra to try when it cooled down because we wanted to taste the flavor profile. Both of us thought this Costa Rican light roast would make an excellent cold or iced coffee.
Finally we used the French Press and the body seems fuller here. There is a natural sweetness and a good roast flavor. There is a touch of citrus and slight tartness. Kim thought this brew tasted good with both lemon curd and almonds. I don’t normally drink light roasts, but I was glad we tried this one. It has a good flavor and is one we would drink again.
If you like light roasts or want to try one for the first time we suggest you give this one a try. We don’t think you will be disappointed. We received this coffee for free and offer objective feedback. Until next time remember to stop and enjoy the coffee and conversations.
Much GRACE and peace to you,
Bill and Kim
Romans 15:13; Psalm 34:1-10
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